cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonparent Adult Social Support and Depressive Symptoms Among Mexican American and European American Adolescents

The notion that nonparent social support buffers the impact of parent depressive symptoms and substance use on adolescent depressive symptoms was tested in 142 Mexican American and 148 European American families with 12- through 15-year-old adolescents. Parent risk factors and adolescent nonparent adult social support were measured at baseline; adolescent symptoms were measured 1 year later. Analyses revealed significant interactions between social support, gender, ethnicity, and paternal depressive symptoms and substance use. Greater social support related to fewer depressive symptoms at follow-up. Mexican American girls benefited from more social support when fathers had lower depression and substance use scores; European American girls benefited from more social support when fathers had higher depression and substance use scores. No interaction effects emerged for boys or for mother depression and substance use. Variations based on gender, ethnicity, and parent risk factors suggest that nonparent socia...
Effect of vector quantization on ultrasound tissue characterization

This paper presents a case study of the effects of compression error on computerized tissue characterization of normal and fatty ultrasound liver images. Two compression techniques were studied, pruned-tree structured vectored quantization (PTSVQ) and PTSVQ with splitting. Vector quantization is a technique for representing a block of image values, or vector, by the vector in a codebook that is closest to the original vector. Splitting is a technique for decomposing image pixel values into the high and low values. The high values are compressed reversibly while the low values are compressed via PTSVQ. Tissue characterization was accomplished by extracting features from a region of interest (ROI). These features included measuring fractal dimension and statistics concerning run length and co-occurrence probabilities of pixels separated by a given direction and distance. The results were: (1) PTSVQ with splitting produced less image distortion at moderate bit rates than PTSVQ as measured by mean square error; (2) PTSVQ with splitting produced more degradation of the tissue characterizer; and (3) Rotation of the ROIs greatly reduced the degradation of the tissue characterizer for both types of compression. This type of rotation uses interpolation to derive pixel values for rotated lattice points that fall between original lattice points. A possible explanation for these results is that PTSVQ caused irregular distortions at edges depending upon the amount of region information included in the design of the codebook. The interpolation during rotation reduces these irregularities.
Lipopolysaccharide stimulates nitric oxide synthase-2 expression in murine skeletal muscle and C2C12 myoblasts via Toll-like receptor-4 and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase pathways

The inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) catalyzes the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) from arginine in response to injury and infection. NOS2 is expressed predominantly by macrophages and...
Ionospheric movements measured by incoherent scatter: A review

Abstract Precise measurements of the frequency spectra of signals incoherently scattered by ionospheric electrons often reveal slight shifts caused by macroscopic motions of the ions. Drifts measured by radars in France, Peru, Puerto Rico and United States have been reported and attributed to 1. (i) motions of the neutral atmosphere; 2. (ii) electric fields; 3. (iii) expansion and contraction of the F -layer; 4. (iv) gravity waves; and 5. (v) fluxes into or out of the protonosphere. The paper summarizes these measurements, the interpretations placed upon them, and suggests means by which the utility of the incoherent scatter technique could be exploited further.
Biological and psychological aspects of depression

Both biological and psychological factors have been implicated in the etiology and treatment of depression. Simple deficit theories in both domains have given way to more complex models that emphasize multiple regulatory systems. Evidence has accumulated that both biological and psychological factors are important, but questions remain as to how they relate to one another and the extent that each contributes to the etiologies of the various subtypes within the disorder. Current research evidence supports the effectiveness of both pharmacological and psychosocial interventions in the treatment of depression. Although the efficacy of the former is more firmly established, the latter (particularly the cognitive-behavioral approaches) may have a preventive capacity that survives the termination of treatment.
Determination of the Temperature Profile in an Atmosphere from its Outgoing Radiance

A highly convergent relaxation method has been developed for the inversion of the full radiative-transfer equation. The results of the iterative solution indicate that convergence can be achieved over a wide range of initial guesses, enabling the temperature profile of a relatively unknown atmosphere to be unambiguously determined. The method is illustrated by examples for the outgoing radiance in the earth’s atmosphere for the region of the 4.3-μ CO2 band, but can be similarly applied in other frequency ranges.
MPTP-induced ATP depletion and cell death in neuroblastoma × glioma hybrid NG 108-15 cells: Protection by glucose and sensitization by tetraphenylborate

Abstract The toxic effect of the Parkinsonism-producing neurotoxin MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) was investigated using a neuronal cell culture system, namely, neuroblastoma × glioma hybrid NG 108-15. The cells were able to metabolize MPTP into its active metabolite MPP+ (1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion) and to convert its derivative, 2′-methyl MPTP, to the corresponding pyridinium ion. Degenerative changes were observed in NG 108-15 cells when they were examined with a phase-contrast microscope following exposure to MPTP, MPP+, or 2′-methyl MPTP. These compounds also caused an increased leakage of LDH from the treated cells. An enhanced release of [14C]adenine nucleotides was observed from treated cells which were prelabeled with [14C]adenine. The cell death as indicated by the leakage of LDH and the release of adenine nucleotides was markedly reduced in the presence of a high concentration (25 m m ) of glucose in the medium. MPTP and MPP+ induced a drastic depletion in cell ATP content prior to cell death. The ATP depletion was also reduced by the presence of a high concentration of glucose. In contrast, tetraphenylborate, a lipophilic anion, highly potentiated the ATP depletion and the subsequent cell death induced by MPTP. Thus, ATP depletion could be a major factor in MPTP-induced neuronal cell death.
High resolution MEMS accelerometers to estimate VO2 and compare running mechanics between highly trained inter-collegiate and untrained runners.

BACKGROUND: The purposes of this study were to determine the validity and reliability of high resolution accelerometers (HRA) relative to VO(2) and speed, and compare putative differences in HRA signal between trained (T) and untrained (UT) runners during treadmill locomotion. METHODOLOGY: Runners performed 2 incremental VO(2max) trials while wearing HRA. RMS of high frequency signal from three axes (VT, ML, AP) and the Euclidean resultant (RES) were compared to VO(2) to determine validity and reliability. Additionally, axial rms relative to speed, and ratio of axial accelerations to RES were compared between T and UT to determine if differences in running mechanics could be identified between the two groups. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Regression of RES was strongly related to VO(2), but T was different than UT (r = 0.96 vs 0.92; p<.001) for walking and running. During walking, only the ratio of ML and AP to RES were different between groups. For running, nearly all acceleration parameters were lower for T than UT, the exception being ratio of VT to RES, which was higher in T than UT. All of these differences during running were despite higher VO(2), O(2) cost, and lower RER in T vs UT, which resulted in no significant difference in energy expenditure between groups. CONCLUSIONS/ SIGNFICANCE: These results indicate that HRA can accurately and reliably estimate VO(2) during treadmill locomotion, but differences exist between T and UT that should be considered when estimating energy expenditure. Differences in running mechanics between T and UT were identified, yet the importance of these differences remains to be determined.
A single amino acid substitution within the transmembrane domain of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Vpu protein renders simian–human immunodeficiency virus (SHIVKU-1bMC33) susceptible to rimantadine

Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that the transmembrane domain (TM) of the Vpu protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) contributes to the pathogenesis of SHIV(KU-1bMC33) in macaques and that the TM domain of Vpu could be replaced with the M2 protein viroporin from influenza A virus. Recently, we showed that the replacement of the TM domain of Vpu with that of the M2 protein of influenza A virus resulted in a virus (SHIV(M2)) that was sensitive to rimantadine [Hout, D.R., Gomez, M.L., Pacyniak, E., Gomez, L.M., Inbody, S.H., Mulcahy, E.R., Culley, N., Pinson, D.M., Powers, M.F., Wong, S.W., Stephens, E.B., 2006. Substitution of the transmembrane domain of Vpu in simian human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV(KU-1bMC33)) with that of M2 of influenza A results in a virus that is sensitive to inhibitors of the M2 ion channel and is pathogenic for pig-tailed macaques. Virology 344, 541-558]. Based on previous studies of the M2 protein which have shown that the His-X-X-X-Trp motif within the M2 is essential to the function of the M2 proton channel, we have constructed a novel SHIV in which the alanine at position 19 of the TM domain was replaced with a histidine residue resulting in the motif His-Ile-Leu-Val-Trp. The SHIV(VpuA19H) replicated with similar kinetics as the parental SHIV(KU-1bMC33) and pulse-chase analysis revealed that the processing of viral proteins was similar to SHIV(KU-1bMC33). This SHIV(VpuA19H) virus was found to be more sensitive to the M2 ion channel blocker rimantadine than SHIV(M2). Electron microscopic examination of SHIV(VpuA19H)-infected cells treated with rimantadine revealed an accumulation of viral particles at the cell surface and within intracellular vesicles, which was similar to that previously observed to SHIV(M2)-infected cells treated with rimantadine. These data indicate that the Vpu protein of HIV-1 can be converted into a rimantadine-sensitive ion channel with the alteration of one amino acid and provide additional evidence that drugs targeting the Vpu TM/ion channel can be effective anti-HIV-1 drugs.
The role of structure on the thermal properties of graphitic foams

A high conductivity graphite foam developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) owes its unique thermal properties to the highly aligned graphitic structure along the cell walls. The material exhibits a peak in thermal conductivity at temperatures similar to that of highly ordered natural graphite, indicating the foam has an extremely graphitic nature. This paper explores the graphitic structure of the foam and attempts to correlate the morphology of the ligaments with the bulk thermal properties, up to 182 W/m·K. First, the manufacturing process of the foam and the resulting material properties are reported. Then, several models for representing the bulk materials properties are reviewed. Examination by optical image analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to examine the structure of the graphite foam. In addition, crystallographic structure determined by X-ray diffraction is reported. A simple two parameter model of the morphology was developed and then used to predict the overall thermal properties of the foam based on the assumed highly ordered ligament structure. This new model correlated (within 5%) thermal conductivity to density of several foams, provided the average ligament conductivity could be accurately represented. From the new model and the material characterization data, it was determined that the average ligament thermal conductivity of the foam is >1650 W/m·K at room temperature, and increases to more than 2300 W/m·K at liquid nitrogen temperatures.
The Role of Irrigation Districts in California's Water Development

Summary: Early settlers found that California had excellent soil and tem-perature for agricultural development, but very scanty rainfall in the growing season. Irrigation was introduced on a small, indi-vidual scale, which developed into organized projects through the pioneering of the irrigation-district system. Legislation was passed for a special tax structure by which revenue for mainte-nance and operation of irrigation projects was obtained by taxing the benefited land exclusive of improvements. This unique tax structure encouraged individual ownership of land in units of the most economic size and spurred intensive cultivation and general economic development.
Antipsychotic Induced Gene Regulation in Multiple Brain Regions

The molecular mechanism of action of antipsychotic drugs is not well understood. Their complex receptor affinity profiles indicate that their action could extend beyond dopamine receptor blockade. Single gene expression studies and high-throughput gene profiling have shown the induction of genes from several molecular classes and functional categories. Using a focused microarray approach, we investigated gene regulation in rat striatum, frontal cortex, and hippocampus after chronic administration of haloperidol or olanzapine. Regulated genes were validated by in situ hybridization, real-time PCR, and immunohistochemistry. Only limited overlap was observed in genes regulated by haloperidol and olanzapine. Both drugs elicited maximal gene regulation in the striatum and least in the hippocampus. Striatal gene induction by haloperidol was predominantly in neurotransmitter signaling, G-protein coupled receptors, and transcription factors. Olanzapine prominently induced retinoic acid and trophic factor signaling genes in the frontal cortex. The data also revealed the induction of several genes that could be targeted in future drug development efforts. The study uncovered the induction of several novel genes, including somatostatin receptors and metabotropic glutamate receptors. The results demonstrating the regulation of multiple receptors and transcription factors suggests that both typical and atypical antipsychotics could possess a complex molecular mechanism of action.
O significado da investigação sobre os africanos escapados de navios negreiros no século XIX

Full version of Keynote Address delivered at the IV Encontro Escravidao & Liberdade no Brasil Meridional, Curitiba, May 2009.
Expression of Mir-21 and Mir-143 in Cervical Specimens Ranging from Histologically Normal through to Invasive Cervical Cancer

Background MicroRNA expression is severely disrupted in carcinogenesis, however limited evidence is available validating results from cell-line models in human clinical cancer specimens. MicroRNA-21 (mir-21) and microRNA-143 (mir-143) have previously been identified as significantly deregulated in a range of cancers including cervical cancer. Our goal was to investigate the expression patterns of several well-studied microRNA species in cervical samples and compare the results to cell line samples. Methodology/Principal Findings We measured the expression of mir-21 and mir-143 in 142 formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) cervical biopsy tissue blocks, collected from Dantec Oncology Clinic, Dakar, Senegal. MicroRNA expression analysis was performed using Taqman-based real-time PCR assays. Protein immunohistochemical staining was also performed to investigate target protein expression on 72 samples. We found that mir-21 expression increased with worsening clinical diagnosis but that mir-143 was not correlated with histology. These observations were in stark contrast to previous reports involving cervical cancer cell lines in which mir-143 was consistently down-regulated but mir-21 largely unaffected. We also identified, for the first time, that cytoplasmic expression of Programmed Cell Death Protein 4 PDCD4; a known target of mir-21) was significantly lower in women with invasive cervical carcinoma (ICC) in comparison to those with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (2–3) or carcinoma in situ (CIN2-3/CIS), although there was no significant correlation between mir-21 and PDCD4 expression, despite previous studies identifying PDCD4 transcript as a known mir-21 target. Conclusions Whilst microRNA biomarkers have a number of promising features, more studies on expression levels in histologically defined clinical specimens are required to investigate clinical relevance of discovery-based studies. Mir-21 may be of some utility in predictive screening, given that we observed a significant correlation between mir-21 expression level and worsening histological diagnosis of cervical cancer.
Neural-network-based data analysis for chemical sensor arrays

Compact, portable systems capable of quickly identifying contaminants in the field are of great importance when monitoring the environment. In this paper, we examine the effectiveness of using artificial neural networks for real-time data analysis of a sensor array. Analyzing the sensor data in parallel may allow for rapid identification of contaminants in the field without requiring highly selective individual sensors. We use a prototype sensor array which consists of nine tin-oxide Taguchi-type sensors, a temperature sensor, and a humidity sensor. We illustrate that by using neural network based analysis of the sensor data, the selectivity of the sensor array may be significantly improved, especially when some (or all) the sensors are not highly selective.
Estimation of Small Failure Probabilities in High Dimensions by Subset Simulation

A new simulation approach, called 'subset simulation', is proposed to compute small failure probabilities encountered in reliability analysis of engineering systems. The basic idea is to express the failure probability as a product of larger conditional failure probabilities by introducing intermediate failure events. With a proper choice of the conditional events, the conditional failure probabilities can be made sufficiently large so that they can be estimated by means of simulation with a small number of samples. The original problem of calculating a small failure probability, which is computationally demanding, is reduced to calculating a sequence of conditional probabilities, which can be readily and efficiently estimated by means of simulation. The conditional probabilities cannot be estimated efficiently by a standard Monte Carlo procedure, however, and so a Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) technique based on the Metropolis algorithm is presented for their estimation. The proposed method is robust to the number of uncertain parameters and efficient in computing small probabilities. The efficiency of the method is demonstrated by calculating the first-excursion probabilities for a linear oscillator subjected to white noise excitation and for a five-story nonlinear hysteretic shear building under uncertain seismic excitation.
Collaborative Development and Evaluation of an Online Nursing Course

Institutions of higher education acknowledge that online learning represents a growing segment of the modern learning environment, and most students have mastered basic computer skills. However, reluctance to engage in online learning remains among both faculty and students. This article presents a case study of three schools of nursing that collaboratively developed and implemented an online undergraduate-nursing course. The article discusses the challenges that were encountered by faculty and students. The faculty used the distance education literature to address these challenges related to technological, institutional, and pedagogical aspects of online learning, as well as the recruitment and retention of online learners. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the course. The paper concludes with suggestions to overcome the challenges of online learning, such that faculty and students receive the inherent rewards.
LOCATING AND SIZING PARK-RIDE LOTS WITH INTERACTIVE COMPUTER GRAPHS

Two alternative methods for conducting a preliminary analysis of the problem of locating and sizing park-ride lots for an urban bus transit system are examined. These alternative methods are tested using a large and complex street network representing the northern half of the City of Seattle, Washington. Four design criteria are identified and an overall measure of system performance is devised. The problem is to determine the size and location of three park-ride lots that will maximize the performance of the system. The first method utilizes a computing system called LOCATOR II in an interactive graphic mode. In an experimental setting, five students use LOCATOR II to locate three park-ride lots and their solutions are found to exhibit a very high average level of performance. The second method does not involve a direct interaction with the computing system but does use LOCATOR II in a batch mode. Several students participate in three rounds of the batch mode experiment and the performance of their designs is somewhat poorer than the designs found in the interactive graphics experiment. Overall, the experimental results show that relatively inexperienced persons can find a high performance design for a reasonably complex problem quickly and inexpensively. These designs can provide a good starting point for the detailed consideration of many of the other aspects of the problem of providing a high performance bus transit service in an urban area.
Microextensive chaos of a spatially extended system.

By analyzing chaotic states of the one-dimensional Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation for system sizes L in the range $79l~Ll~93,$ we show that the Lyapunov fractal dimension D scales microextensively, increasing linearly with L even for increments $\ensuremath{\Delta}L$ that are small compared to the average cell size of 9 and to various correlation lengths. This suggests that a spatially homogeneous chaotic system does not have to increase its size by some characteristic amount to increase its dynamical complexity.
Predicting the Long-QT Genotype From Clinical Data From Sense to Science

In the past 3 decades, the congenital long-QT syndrome (LQTS) has emerged as an important paradigm for understanding arrhythmogenesis. An understanding of the electrophysiological basis of arrhythmias in LQTS has now merged with new molecular genetics, solving some problems and raising new ones both in clinical management and in basic arrhythmia mechanisms (for review, see Roden and Spooner1 ). In this scientific evolution, the international LQT registry has proved to be of paramount importance. Since 1979, data from this registry have proved to be of great value for the diagnosis, prognosis, and management of LQT patients and their relatives, and in more recent years, data from the registry represent a reliable source for attempts to correlate phenotype with genotype and vice versa. We now understand that LQTS can arise as a result of mutations in multiple genes, each encoding an ion channel structural unit. Because ion channels have different time and voltage characteristics, it is tempting to speculate that the clinical presentation may be gene specific, and indeed emerging data support this idea (Table⇓). Phenotypical differences in genetically distinct forms of LQTS may include every aspect of the clinical presentation, ie, the ECG appearance of the ST-T–wave patterns and arrhythmias, symptoms that trigger arrhythmias, QT dynamics during exercise or other triggers, efficacy of different treatment modalities, and the clinical course of affected patients (Table⇓). View this table: Table 1. Clinical Characteristics in Common Forms of LQTS A gene-differentiating potential has indeed been shown for symptom-related triggers: swimming and acoustic stimuli typically trigger events in LQT1 and LQT2 patients, respectively.2 3 4 5 QT dynamics during exercise vary between genotypes,6 7 and data from the registry have suggested that the clinical course (age of onset, prognosis, etc) relies to some extent on the underlying gene defect.8 Finally, gene-specific ST-T …
Transversely isotropic viscoplasticity model for a directionally solidified Ni-base superalloy

Abstract A transversely isotropic continuum viscoplasticity model has been formulated to capture the fatigue and creep responses of a directionally solidified (DS) polycrystalline Ni-base superalloy used mainly in turbine blades. This model has been implemented as an ABAQUS User MATerial (UMAT) subroutine using a semi-implicit integration scheme. Isothermal uniaxial fatigue data from tests conducted with and without hold times and creep data are used to characterize the stress–strain response at temperatures ranging from 427 °C to 1038 °C. The scheme leads to reduction of the associated computational costs when compared to a crystal viscoplasticity model that explicitly considers 3-D grain structure. The macroscopic elastoviscoplastic model is shown to simulate the homogenized deformation response of the polycrystalline DS alloy for various isothermal histories. The predictive capability of this model is verified using both in-phase and out-of-phase TMF data, and is compared to the results of analysis of a single crystal in terms of stress concentration and stress distribution for a model problem of a plate with a central hole.
Mechanisms of liquid metal ion source operation

Abstract A justification for the Taylor cone shape of a liquid metal ion source (LMIS) is given for the case of nonideal electrodes. Arguments are presented for the formation of a jet at the end of the Taylor cone in terms of hydrodynamic and flow considerations rather than in terms of the need to overcome the excessive space charge at the end of very small diameter protuberances at the apex of Taylor cones.
Glass Transitions in Polylactides

The review focuses on the relationship between the structure and the glass transition temperature in polylactide and its derivatives. Simple design rules for controlling the glass transition temperature are developed and illustrated using examples from homopolymers, copolymers, and polymers derived from AB glycolide monomers. These materials have important applications as structural materials and in biomedical applications for drug delivery, surgical fixtures, and as scaffolds for tissue growth.
Orodigitofacial dysostosis--a new syndrome. A study of 22 cases.

Orodigitofacial dysostosis occurs in approximately 1 in 100 patients with cleft palate and has so far been seen only in females. The most common manifestations are hyperplasia of the frenula, a cleft tongue, and cleft palate. Less commonly there is absence of the lower lateral incisors, alopecia or dryness of the hair, anomalies of the facial or cranial bones, anomalies of the hands, or mental retardation.
The Effect of Aptitude and Experience on Mechanical Job Performance.

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is the test used by the United States military for personnel selection and classification. We evaluated the validity of this selection test to predict mechanical job performance, as measured by five different criteria: a hands-on performance test, a job knowledge test, grade point average in mechanical training, job proficiency ratings, and supervisor ratings. Using a sample of 891 automotive mechanics and 522 helicopter mechanics, we found that a mechanical maintenance composite of the ASVAB predicts hands-on performance, job knowledge, and training grades quite well, with validities corrected for range restriction between 68 and 72; the ASVAB was not as predictive of performance ratings, with validities ranging from .09 to .20. Job experience, measured by time in service, was also important in predicting job performance. No aptitude by experience interaction was found. For hands-on performance and job knowledge, an additional 10 points on the ASVAB composite usually resulted in greater performance than did an additional 12 months of job experience. Conversely, experience was the dominant predictor for performance ratings.
Morphologic Studies of Fusulinids from Lower Permian of West Pakistan: ABSTRACT

The "Lower Productus Limestone" of West Pakistan yields an abundant and well-preserved fauna of fusulinid Foraminifera. The fusulinids are found in the lower part of the Amb Formation of the Zaluch Group of Early Permian age described by Teichert in 1966. About 50 samples of the fusulinids, collected by C. Teichert in 1961-62 and R. E. Grant in 1964-65, contain the genus Monodiexodina. Each sample of fusulinids is relatively homogeneous in morphologic characters, having a fairly normal distribution of values through a limited range for most characters. There are large differences between many of the samples with little or no overlap in the dimensions of some characters at specified volutions. Distinct species could be described by conventional methods based on a few speci ens or even on reasonably large samples, and statistically meaningful differences could be demonstrated. Cutbill and Forbes' 1967 discussion on the significance of the prolocular diameter and its effect on comparisons by volution has led to a re-evaluation of the data on these samples. Comparison of measurements at equal radii instead of by volution brings out many similarities between samples. For example, two samples that are quite distinct when compared by volution cannot be distinguished at equal radii. The biologic significance of the prolocular diameter needs reconsideration. Microspheric and megalospheric forms End_Page 525------------------------------ are accepted as representing the same species, and Le Calvez and others have shown that several megalospheric generations can develop between microspheric generations. The megalospheric generation groups may not all develop the same size of proloculus. One species could be represented by microspheric forms as well as a wide range of megalospheric forms. Apparent differences which are related directly to prolocular diameter are not considered sufficient evidence for specific discrimination. End_of_Article - Last_Page 526------------
Rank 4 groups with a 3-transitive suborbit

Abstract Rank 4 groups with a 3-transitive suborbit such that the graph constructed with respect to this suborbit is connected and has no quadrangles are investigated. Two cases are considered on the 2-transitive representations of an edge stabilizer on the two sets of vertices adjacent to that edge, viz., when these representations are equivalent, and when they are inequivalent and have different permutation characters. The connection between the latter case and the point-line incidence graphs of desarguesian projective planes is also investigated.
Methane temporary negative ion resonances

Abstract Methane temporary negative ion resonances, of the Feshbach or closed channel type, have been observed at 6.53, 7.37 and 8.15 eV and assigned to Jahn-Teller distorted states designated as 2 B 1 , 2 B 2 and 2 B 1g .
CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACOLOGY OF RING-FLUORINATED CATECHOLAMINES

Abstract Naturally-occurring catecholamines have important and diverse physiological roles, including serving as chemical neurotransmitters. The responses of catecholamines functioning as adrenergic agonists can be profoundly altered by ring fluorination, depending on the site of fluorination and the nature of the agonist. Such ring-fluorinated catecholamines serve as selective pharmacological agents, and can be used to probe enzyme and receptor mechanisms. Studies to understand the molecular mechanism by which fluorine alters ligand-agonist binding have included the synthesis of several new fluorinated agonist analogues, and now have been extended to probing selective interactions with cloned receptors. New catecholamino-acids have been synthesized that are designed to be prodrugs for selective in vivo response.
Secondary erythromelalgia successfully treated with intravenous immunoglobulin

Erythromelalgia is a rare condition characterized by episodic painful erythema and warmth often affecting, but not limited to, the distal extremities. This condition is notoriously difficult to treat. We report a young female patient with seronegative polyarthritis who presented with a 6-year history of recurrent bouts of painful erythema and swelling often triggered by minor trauma. An extensive evaluation was unremarkable. Several medical therapies provided limited and inconsistent relief of her symptoms over many years. Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin significantly decreased the frequency and severity of her symptoms.
Infection status of the swimbladder worm, Anguillicola crassus in silver stage European eel, Anguilla anguilla, from three different habitats in Danish waters

The infection status of silver stage eels, Anguilla anguilla, infected with Anguillicola crassus from three locations, ranging from a lake to seawater, were investigated. Data show a significant difference in mean intensity of Anguillicola crassus in silver stage eels according to the salinity of the habitats.
The role of cell adhesion molecules in neurite outgrowth on Müller cells

The roles of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), L1, N-cadherin, and integrin in neurite outgrowth on various substrates were studied. Antibodies against these cell surface molecules were added to explants of chick retina and the neurites from retinal ganglion cells were examined for effects of the antibodies on neurite length and fasciculation. On laminin, an anti-integrin antibody completely inhibited neurite outgrowth. The same antibody did not inhibit neurite outgrowth on polylysine or Muller cells. Antibodies to NCAM, L1, and N-cadherin did not significantly inhibit neurite outgrowth on laminin but produced significant inhibition on Muller cells. The inhibition of neurite outgrowth on glia by anti-L1 antibodies supports the hypothesis that L1 is capable of acting in a heterophilic binding mechanism. On laminin, both anti-N-cadherin and anti-L1 caused defasciculation of neurites from retinal ganglion cells, while anti-NCAM did not. None of these antibodies produced defasciculation on Muller cells. The results indicate that these three cell adhesion molecules may be very important in interactions with glia as axons grow from the retina to the tectum and may be less important in axon-axon interactions along this pathway. No evidence was found supporting the role of integrins in axon growth on Muller cells.
Theoretical Perspectives on Ethnic Political Behaviours in the USA

Traditionally, a ‘plural’ society has been defined as one that is ethnically diverse and whose ethnic divisions are politically relevant. Arguably, the US falls within the general purview of this definition and its implications, especially with regard to African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans and non-Hispanic, European Americans. The principal objectives of this study are: with reference to the literature on comparative and international politics, to modify extant theoretical ideas on ethnically based political behaviours so that their scope includes a broader spectrum of phenomena; and to assess the relevance of extant theory and these modifications to the American case. As far as the second objective is concerned, the principal argument is that the American case is not unique, or even singular, in terms of the relevance of this literature, but rather constitutes a variation on the main conceptual themes of actual and potential political behaviours in ethnically diverse societies.
Computed Tomography Assessment of Thoracic Aortic Pathology

Computed tomography technology has improved dramatically in the past decade and now constitutes the backbone of preoperative evaluation for aortic disease. Image acquisition is accomplished with multi-row detectors, and coupled with new reconstruction algorithms provide clinicians with high-resolution images that can be visualized in synch with the cardiac cycle, or as complex three-dimensional renditions of in vivo anatomy. Knowledge regarding the means of data acquisition, reconstruction algorithms, and modes of interpretation are critical for the optimal assessment of aortic disease. These issues are increasingly important as endovascular therapy becomes more commonplace for the treatment of thoracic aortic lesions.
A strategy for newborn screening for resistance to thyroid hormone: possible relevance to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Abstract Introduction: Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) is an autosomal disease characterized by pituitary and peripheral tissue insensitivity to thyroid hormone, exemplified by elevated serum total and free thyroxine (TT 4 , FT 4 ) concentrations coincident with inappropriate levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). The most common clinical manifestation of RTH is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a behavioral disorder affecting 3%–5% of the school age population. Methods: Utilizing the New York State newborn screening hypothyroid program, an anonymous study was performed on 600 filter paper blood specimens exceeding the 99th percentile of TT 4 values in each day's assays. This upper first percentile of TT 4 specimens was assayed for TSH and FT 4 from the same newborn specimen; controls consisted of age-matched specimens with TT 4 values at the 50th percentile. Results: The population mean for TT 4 was expectedly elevated in the test group; while TSH and FT 4 values were similar in both groups. Fourteen specimens displayed both elevated FT 4 and elevated TT 4 levels. Seven of these 14 specimens demonstrated inappropriate TSH levels, suggestive of RTH. Discussion: This anonymous study suggests that it may be feasible to identify newborns presumptively positive for RTH from screening specimens. Identification would be based on elevated TT 4 , elevated FT 4 and inappropriately normal or elevated TSH. Studies to identify mutations in PCR-amplified thyroid receptor DNA from these newborn specimens, as a means of determining whether they represent infants with RTH, are in progress.
Biological Observations on Emphoropsis miserabilis (Cresson), with Comparative Notes on Other Anthophorids (Hymenoptera: Apoidea)

Details on the area of endemism, burrows, cells, and provisions, as well as comments of the larval and pupal development and adult activity are presented. Comparison of the ethological characteristics of Emphoropsis with other subfamilies of the Anthophoridae breaks down the biologically based subfamily distinctions proposed by previous authors. Comments are made to account for the repetition of ethological characteristics that is found among distantly related forms of a single phyletic unit, through fluctuations in stress on genetically influenced behavior patterns of the adult and larva. The value of biologically based phylogenies is questioned, unless the gaps between the taxa to be compared are of considerable magnitude.
Preferred Sound Intensity Increase for Sensation of Half Distance

Two experiments are reported that examine the preferred increase in intensity for creating a percept of half auditory distance from a reference. The results of both experiments indicate that the use of an inverse square law (increments of 6 dB) is not the best signal-processing method for this purpose. The application of the results is potentially useful towards the software design of 3-D auditory display systems that manipulate the perceived distance of auditory inputs in relationship to actual distances of physical objects.
Manufacturing environments in South Korea, Japan and the United States of America: A note

This paper reports a comparative analysis of the manufacturing facilities and the degree of automation of major manufacturing corporations in South Korea, Japan and the United States. We suggest that South Korea is behind Japan and the United States in manufacturing technology, but is aggressively incorporating automated equipment or processes into the manufacturing system.
Prosthetic graft infections involving the femoral artery.

Background Prosthetic graft infection is a major complication of peripheral vascular surgery. We investigated the experience of a single institution over 10 years with bypass grafts involving the femoral artery to determine the incidence and risk factors for prosthetic graft infection. Methods A retrospective cohort single-institution review of prosthetic bypass grafts involving the femoral artery from 2001 to 2010 evaluated patient demographics, body mass index, comorbidities, indications, location of bypass, type of prosthetic material, case urgency, and previous ipsilateral bypass or percutaneous interventions and evaluated the incidence of graft infections, amputations, and mortality. Results There were 496 prosthetic grafts identified with a graft infection rate of 3.8% (n = 19) at a mean follow-up of 27 months. Multivariable analysis showed that redo bypass (hazard ratio [HR], 5.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2-15.0), active infection at the time of bypass (HR, 5.2; 95% CI, 1.9-14.2), female gender (HR, 4.5; 95% CI, 1.6-12.7), and diabetes mellitus (HR, 4.6; 95% CI, 1.5-14.3) were significant predictors of graft infection. Graft infection was predictive of major lower extremity amputation (HR, 9.8; 95% CI, 3.5-27.1), as was preoperative tissue loss (HR, 4.7; 95% CI, 1.8-11.9). Graft infection did not predict long-term mortality; however, chronic renal insufficiency (HR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.6-3.4), tissue loss (HR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.0-1.9), and active infection (HR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.6-3.4) did. Infected grafts were removed 79% of the time. Staphylococcus epidermidis (37%) and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (26%) were the most common pathogens isolated. Conclusions Redo bypass, female gender, diabetes, and active infection at the time of bypass are associated with a higher risk for prosthetic graft infection and major extremity amputation but do not confer an increased risk of mortality. Autologous vein for lower extremity bypass and endovascular interventions should be considered when feasible in high-risk patients
Development of sedimentary strata in Eckernförde Bay, southwestern Baltic Sea

Sediment in central Eckernforde Bay is characterized by beds of clay-sized material, with slightly coarser laminations (~ 10% silt and sand). Excess234Th activity indicates that mixing is limited to the upper 1 cm. Accumulation rates (210Pb geochronology) range from 3 to over 10 mm yr−1. Relatively high accumulation rates and absence of a significant mixed layer in the central bay allow fluctuations of sedimentological processes to be recorded in detail. Sediment-transport studies suggest that the laminations are caused by alternating deposition of storm-suspended sediments from adjacent shallow-water and fair-weather supply of fine suspended material advected from Kiel Bight.
The stability and equation of state of majoritic garnet synthesized from natural basalt at mantle conditions

The high-pressure stability and equation of state of majoritic garnet synthesized from natural basalt have been determined using the laser-heated diamond cell and x-ray diffraction. Natural mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) and tholeiitic basalt transform from a garnet-dominated mineral assemblage to a silicate perovskite-dominated mineralogy near 42 (±3) GPa. Static compression data (at 300 K) for the majoritic garnet synthesized from the natural tholeiitic basalt yields an isothermal bulk modulus, K0T, of 226.2 (±9.3) GPa with dK0T/dP constrained to be 4. An equally acceptable fit to the data is obtained if K0T is constrained to be 180 GPa and dK0T/dP is 7 (±1). Using our new equation of state and phase stability results for basaltic (majorite-structured) garnet, we calculate density models for the subducting oceanic crust at mantle pressures and temperatures, and find that the basaltic crust is 0.4 g/cm³ (9%) less dense than the lower mantle at 660 km depth. If we assume that the subducted crust can delaminate from the underlying lithosphere, a simple buoyancy model for the crustal portion of subducting slabs indicates that basaltic crust may not sink below 660 km in depth.
Observations on the association between mercury and organic matter dissolved in natural waters

Abstract Dissolved mercury in estuarine waters from the Mississippi Delta and Florida Everglades is associated with dissolved organic matter which has the properties of fulvic matter found in soils. Ultrafiltration of water samples demonstrated that mercury and dissolved organic carbon are selectively enriched in the
Boolean models of genomic regulatory networks: reduction mappings, inference, and external control.

Computational modeling of genomic regulation has become an important focus of systems biology and genomic signal processing for the past several years. It holds the promise to uncover both the structure and dynamical properties of the complex gene, protein or metabolic networks responsible for the cell functioning in various contexts and regimes. This, in turn, will lead to the development of optimal intervention strategies for prevention and control of disease. At the same time, constructing such computational models faces several challenges. High complexity is one of the major impediments for the practical applications of the models. Thus, reducing the size/complexity of a model becomes a critical issue in problems such as model selection, construction of tractable subnetwork models, and control of its dynamical behavior. We focus on the reduction problem in the context of two specific models of genomic regulation: Boolean networks with perturbation (BNP) and probabilistic Boolean networks (PBN). We also compare and draw a parallel between the reduction problem and two other important problems of computational modeling of genomic networks: the problem of network inference and the problem of designing external control policies for intervention/altering the dynamics of the model.
AnonDSR: efficient anonymous dynamic source routing for mobile ad-hoc networks

Security, anonymity, and scalability are still important issues for mobile ad hoc network routing protocols. We first expose the limitations of several existing mobile ad hoc network routing protocols with security and anonymity constraints and analyze their scalabilities. Based on the analysis, we propose a new anonymous dynamic source routing protocol (AnonDSR) to provide three levels of security protection. We compare their scalabilities with security constraints, and analyze the new protocol to show it has strong security and anonymity protection, and very good scalability.