cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biodiversity changes in Cretaceous palynofloras of eastern Asia and western North America

Abstract Palynology has great potential for providing comparative data and interpretations about changes in biodiversity during the Cretaceous Period. This is especially true for both eastern Asia and western North America because of strong floristic similarities that existed between these regions during Cretaceous time. Also, because palynomorphs of terrestrial origin can be deposited in offshore as well as terrestrial environments, significant potential exists for marine-to-continental palynostratigraphic correlations in both regions. Palynological biostratigraphy can improve the geologic dating of changes in biodiversity. During the Early Cretaceous, eastern Asia and western North America lay within the Cerebropollenites palynofloral province, a circumpolar phytogeographic zone characterized by distinctive palynological assemblages. During most of the Late Cretaceous, these regions lay within the palynofloristically unique Aquilapollenites Province, which was more restricted geographically than the Cerebropollenites Province. The most important development during Cretaceous time that is reflected in palynological assemblages was the rise of the angiosperms as the numerically and ecologically dominant forms of vegetation. The most striking short-term palynofloral event in the two regions was the sudden disappearance of species of Aquilapollenites and associated genera at the Cretaceous–Tertiary (K/T) boundary. Both of these occurrences produced major changes in biodiversity in the terrestrial realm. Geologic research in International Geological Correlation Program Project 434 can benefit from applications of palynostratigraphy. Palynologic research within Project 434 could include development of a comprehensive palynostratigraphic zonation for the Cretaceous, the definition of regional palynostratigraphic datums, and investigation of the record of floral change at the K/T boundary.
Heat Flow during the Autogenous GTA Welding of Pipes

A theoretical and experimental study of heat flow during the welding of pipes was carried out. The theoretical part of the study involves the development of two finite difference computer models: one for describing steady state, 3-dimensional heat flow during seam welding, the other for describing unsteady state, 3-dimensional heat flow during girth welding. The experimental part of the study, on the other hand, includes: measurement of the thermal response of the pipe with a high speed data acquisition system, determination of the arc efficiency with a calorimeter, and examination of the fusion boundary of the resultant weld. The experimental results were compared with the calculated ones, and the agreement was excellent in the case of seam welding and reasonably good in the case of girth welding. Both the computer models and experiments confirmed that, under a constant heat input and welding speed, the size of the fusion zone remains unchanged in seam welding but continues to increase in girth welding of pipes of small diameters. It is expected that the unsteady state model developed can be used to provide optimum conditions for girth welding, so that uniform weld beads can be obtained and weld defects such as lack of fusion and sagging can be avoided.
Modeling relative importance of design criteria with a modified pareto preference

Engineering design problems are studied within a multicriteria optimization and decision-making framework. A methodology is developed that modifies the traditional Pareto preference to model designer's preferences reflected in the relative importance of criteria. The intent is to reduce the number of candidate designs to facilitate the selection of a preferred design. The versatility of this preference model allows it to be incorporated into the problem solution process either a priori, a posteriori, or iteratively, each offering different advantages. In the a priori approach, all Pareto efficient designs that do not satisfy the designer's preferences are never computed. In the a posteriori approach, a set of Pareto efficient designs is computed and then easily reduced based on the designer's preferences. Finally, the iterative approach offers the ability to adjust the designer's preferences by exploring their impact on the reduction of the Pareto efficient design set. The methodology is based on the concepts of convex cones and allowable tradeoff values between criteria. The theoretical foundation of the preference model is presented in the context of engineering design and the methodology is illustrated using a bi-criteria structural design problem and a tri-criteria vehicle dynamics design problem.
Metabolic syndrome: Demographic features, etiology, and clinical management

The metabolic syndrome, also known as the dysmetabolic syndrome, syndrome X, or the insulin resistance syndrome, refers to the clustering of cardiovascular disease risk factors that are present in many individuals who are at increased risk for cardiovascular events and/or type 2 diabetes. The criteria for metabolic syndrome include a combination of categorical and borderline risk factors that can be readily measured in clinical practice. Although the Adult Treatment Panel III of the National Cholesterol Education Program set the criteria to identify cardiovascular risk, the syndrome had already been well recognized in the endocrine community as identifying people at risk for diabetes. Recently, the International Diabetes Federation proposed a worldwide definition with ethnic-specific criteria for waist circumference. Therapies targeted to specific components of the metabolic syndrome, such as improving glycemic control, managing dyslipidemia, and reducing the prothrombotic state, should help to minimize cardiovascular risk, particularly if initiated early.
Hardware implementation of a spline-based genetic algorithm for embedded stereo vision sensor providing real-time visual guidance to the visually impaired

Many image and signal processing techniques have been applied to medical and health care applications in recent years. In this paper, we present a robust signal processing approach that can be used to solve the correspondence problem for an embedded stereo vision sensor to provide real-time visual guidance to the visually impaired. This approach is based on our new one-dimensional (1D) spline-based genetic algorithm to match signals. The algorithm processes image data lines as 1D signals to generate a dense disparity map, from which 3D information can be extracted. With recent advances in electronics technology, this 1D signal matching technique can be implemented and executed in parallel in hardware such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to provide real-time feedback about the environment to the user. In order to complement (not replace) traditional aids for the visually impaired such as canes and Seeing Eyes dogs, vision systems that provide guidance to the visually impaired must be affordable, easy to use, compact, and free from attributes that are awkward or embarrassing to the user. "Seeing Eye Glasses," an embedded stereo vision system utilizing our new algorithm, meets all these requirements.
Cybercrime 2.0: when the cloud turns dark

As the Web has become vital for day-to-day transactions, it has also become an attractive avenue for cybercrime. Financially motivated, the crime we see on the Web today is quite different from the...
Evaluation of the Tumor Board as a Continuing Medical Education (CME) Activity: Is it Useful?*

Background. Although it has been previously reported that offering continuing medical education (CME) credit is not a major factor in tumor board attendance, the results/utility of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education mandated evaluations of those tumor boards offering CME credit has not been studied. Methods. We reviewed the CME evaluations of our University Gastrointestinal Tumor Board; this meeting was chosen because it is multidisciplinary, well attended, and offers CME credit contingent on completing a standard CME evaluation form each session. Results. Of the 2736 attendees, 660 (24%) at the 79 consecutive conferences studied completed the evaluation for CME credit. Reported satisfaction was high; the average response on the 4-question satisfaction survey was 5 (Excellent) on a 5-point Likert scale, only 6% of attendees perceived any commercial bias, and only 3 attendees stated that the conference did not achieve the stated objectives. Of the respondents, 42% indicated that the tumor board information would change their practice, although few specific examples were given. A minority of responders provided specific feedback. Conclusions. A minority of attendees at this tumor board utilized CME credit. Although satisfaction and impact ratings were high, potential response set bias, lack of specific feedback, and nonresponse bias were limitations to the evaluations.
A General Iterative Procedure of the Non-Numerical Ranking Preferences Method for Multiple Objective Decision Making

Abstract Multiple objective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs), which are biologically-inspired optimization methods, have become popular approaches to solve problems with multiple objective functions. With the use of MOEAs, multiple objective optimization becomes a two-part problem. First, the multiple objective optimization problem needs to be formulated and successfully solved using an MOEA. Then, a non- dominated set -also known as efficient or Pareto frontier- needs to be analyzed to select a solution to the problem. This can represent a challenging task to the decision-maker because this set can contain a large number of solutions. This decision- making stage is usually known as the post-Pareto analysis stage. This paper presents the generalization of a post-Pareto optimality method known as the non-numerical ranking preferences (NNRP) method originally proposed by Taboada et al . (2007). This method can help decision makers reduce the number of design possibilities to small subsets that clearly reflect their objective function preferences. Previous research has only presented the application of the NNRP method using three and four objective functions but had not been generalized to the case of n objective functions. The present paper expands the NNRP method to be able to consider multiple objective optimization problems with n number of objective functions.
Nonpolar and semipolar GaN heteroepitaxy on sapphire for LED application

There has been increasing research interest in nonpolar and semipolar GaN for high brightness lightemitting application. Due to the very limited supply of GaN bulk substrates, the feasible way of obtaining large-area nonpolar and semipolar GaN material is still through heteroepitaxy on foreign substrates at present. This paper highlighted the major challenges in the heteroepitaxy of nonpolar and semipolar GaN on sapphire and presented the progress in reducing the defect density by a two-step growth technique according to the in situ optical reflectance and the ex situ x-ray analyses and transmission electron microscopy measurements. A defect reduction model was proposed based on the correlation between the morphological evolution and the microstructural development during the two-step growth of nonpolar aplane GaN. The material research status of nonpolar and semipolar GaN was summarized. A promising approach (orientation controlled epitaxy) was pointed out for a further improvement of nonpolar and semipolar GaN material quality.
Effects of transport current and columnar defects on the rf penetration depth of NbSe 2

We report on simultaneous measurements of the dc critical current and rf penetration depth of superconducting 2[ital H]-NbSe[sub 2]. We observed that the large peak in the dc critical current (the peak effect'') occurs at the same applied magnetic field [ital H]([ital T]) as a maximum in the rf penetration depth, indicating that the anomaly in flux-line dynamics is associated with a change in flux-line pinning strength. The anomalies in the critical current and rf penetration depth disappear in a sample with a high density of columnar defects produced by Ag-ion bombardment; both superconducting and charge-density-wave phase transitions are substantially broadened by the defects.
Quality assurance questionnaire for professionals fails to improve the quality of informed consent.

Background The informed consent process for research warrants improvement but approaches designed to enhance informed consent need testing in the context of actual clinical research.Purpose Test the cumulative effect of a retrospective quality assurance questionnaire intended to enhance awareness in the person obtaining informed consent on the quality of the informed consent in clinical trials.Methods In the Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study `Enhancing the Quality of Informed Consent- Self Monitoring', 30 study sites are randomly assigned from five clinical trials to either use a new quality assurance questionnaire after each informed consent encounter or the standard process of obtaining informed consent. The quality of informed consent is evaluated using independent telephone interviews of 836 subjects who had given consent to participate in the clinical trials and the authors' study. The main outcome measures are two previously validated scores derived from an independent telephone interview, measurin...
Research Note: The Performance of Spring- and Summer-Reared Broilers as Affected by Precision Beak Trimming at Seven Days of Age

In each of two duplicate trials approximately 2,500 day-old Peterson x Arbor Acres straight-run broiler chicks were equally divided between two treatments of three pens each. Treatment 1 was maintained as controls (C), and Treatment 2 birds were precision beak-trimmed (PBT) at 7 days of age. Feed and water were supplied for ad libitum consumption to both groups. Trials 1 and 2 were initiated in March and June, respectively. Performance of spring-reared broilers were comparable regardless of beak trimming procedure, except that PBT broilers experienced slightly higher mortality after PBT. Final body weights of the summer-reared broilers were 15% lower than those reared in the spring. Additionally, PBT resulted in significantly reduced final body weights and feed intake. There were no significant differences in mortality or feed conversion due to PBT.
Local mutagenesis of Rous sarcoma virus: The major sites of tyrosine and serine phosphorylation of p60src are dispensable for transformation

Abstract We have constructed mutants of Rous sarcoma virus expressing p60 src that are underphosphorylated on serine or tyrosine, by linker insertion or insertion/ deletion into cloned Rous sarcoma virus DNA, and recovery of mutant virus by transfection of chicken embryo fibroblasts. Cells infected with mutants whose p60 src lack the major site of either serine or tyrosine phosphorylation were morphologically transformed and formed colonies in soft agar. The tyrosine kinase activities of the mutant p60 src measured in vivo and in vitro were close to the wild type activity. Peptide mapping showed that phosphorylation on tyrosine and serine of p60 src is independent: the major phosphorylated tyrosine and the major phosphorylated serine can each be phosphorylated in the absence of phosphorylation of the other.
Interconversion of the Androstenedione Hydroxylase Specificities of Cytochromes P450 2B4 and 2B5 upon Simultaneous Site-Directed Mutagenesis of Four Key Substrate Recognition Residues☆

Abstract Based on recent studies of single reciprocal mutants of cytochrome P450 2B4 and the highly related P450 2B5 at positions 114, 294, 363, and 367 [G. D. Szklarz, Y. Q. He, K. M. Kedzie, J. R. Halpert, and V. L. Burnett (1996) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 327, 308–318], a number of multiple mutants were constructed, expressed in Escherichia coli, and assayed with androstenedione, progesterone, and benzyloxyresorufin. Simultaneous substitutions of Ile-114, Ser-294, Ile-363, and Val-367 in cytochrome P450 2B4 with Phe, Thr, Val, and Ala, respectively from 2B5, resulted in a marked increase in androstenedione 15α- and 16α-hydroxylation compared with the wild-type enzyme and yielded a metabolite profile indistinguishable from that of cytochrome P450 2B5. Likewise, the reciprocal P450 2B5 quadruple mutant exhibited the specificity for 16β-hydroxylation characteristic of the 2B4 wild type. The two reciprocal quadruple mutants of P450 2B4 and 2B5 also displayed benzyloxyresorufin dealkylase activities similar to those of the wild-type P450 2B5 and 2B4, respectively. However, the progesterone metabolite profile of P450 2B5 was not identical to that of the 2B4 quadruple mutant or of a quintuple mutant in which residue 370 was also mutated to the 2B5 residue. Therefore, the 17β-acetyl group on progesterone as opposed to the oxo group on androstenedione may lead to interaction with additional amino acid residues.
Life events, perceived stress and depressive symptoms in a physical activity intervention with young adult women.

Objective Examine interactive effects of life events, perceived stress and depressive symptoms during a randomized controlled aerobics intervention among women (aged 18–30) in the urban U.S. Midwest, 2006–2009.
Relation of sweat chloride concentration to severity of lung disease in cystic fibrosis.

In cystic fibrosis (CF), sweat chloride concentration has been proposed as an index of CFTR function for testing systemic drugs designed to activate mutant CFTR. This suggestion arises from the assumption that greater residual CFTR function should lead to a lower sweat chloride concentration, as well as protection against severe lung disease. This logic gives rise to the hypothesis that the lower the sweat chloride concentration, the less severe the lung disease. In order to test this hypothesis, we studied 230 patients homozygous for the ΔF508 allele, and 34 patients with at least one allele associated with pancreatic sufficiency, born since January 1, 1955, who have pulmonary function data and sweat chloride concentrations recorded in our CF center database, and no culture positive for B. cepacia. We calculated a severity index for pulmonary disease, using an approach which takes into account all available pulmonary function data as well as the patient's current age and survival status. Patients with alleles associated with pancreatic sufficiency had significantly better survival (P = 0.0083), lower sweat chloride concentration (81.4 ± 23.8 vs. 103.2 ± 14.2 mEq/l, P < 0.0001), slower rate of decline of FEV1 % predicted (−0.75 ± 0.34 vs. −2.34 ± 0.17% predicted per year), and a better severity index than patients homozygous for the ΔF508 allele (median 73rd percentile vs. median 55th percentile, P = 0.0004). However, the sweat chloride concentration did not correlate with the severity index, either in the population as a whole, or in the population of patients with alleles associated with pancreatic sufficiency, who are thought to have some residual CFTR function. These data suggest that, by itself, sweat chloride concentration does not necessarily predict a milder pulmonary course in patients with cystic fibrosis. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effects of airway pressure and lung volume on left ventricular transmural pressure-volume relationships in humans

Abstract Positive airway pressure, combined with increased lung volume, decreases left ventricular compllance in dogs. To determine whether airway pressure or lung volume influences left ventricular diastolic properties in humans, we examined two consecutive cineanglograms with simultaneous esophageal and left ventricular pressure recordings in 14 patients. Both studies were performed during sustained inspiration, one with atmospheric airway pressure, and one with positive airway pressure (9.1 ± 2.4 mm Hg). Positive pressure caused higher transpulmonary (airway minus esophageal) pressure and therefore greater lung volume in 10 of 14 patients, while four patients had lower transpulmonary pressures due to decreased inspiratory effort. When positive airway pressure and increased lung volume were present together (n = 10), left ventricular transmural (ventricular minus esophageal) pressure-volume curves revealed higher transmural pressures at comparable diastolic ventricular volumes. For example, at end-diastole mean left ventricular transmural pressure was 25.2 ± 12.9 mm Hg (compared to 20.8 ± 12.3 mm Hg during control studies, p p = NS). When all 14 patients were considered together, this effect was linked more closely to higher transpulmonary pressure than to positive airway pressure. We conclude that human left ventricular transmural pressure-volume relationships are influenced by airway pressure and lung volume. Our findings further suggest that lung volume may be more important than airway pressure in this regard.
Calorimetric measurements of proton adsorption onto Pseudomonas putida

Having an understanding of the reactive nature of the bacterial surface is enhanced when its reactivity is considered in a thermodynamic framework. Towards this end, isothermal titration calorimetry was used to measure heats of proton adsorption onto Pseudomonas putida, a common gram negative soil bacterium. Proton adsorption generated large exothermic heats and proton uptake continued down to pH 2.5. Applying a surface complexation model to the calorimetric data allowed for the derivation of site-specific enthalpies and entropies of proton adsorption. The 4-site non-electrostatic model of Borrok et al. [D.M. Borrok, J.B. Fein, J. Colloid Interface Sci. 286 (2005) 110] was chosen to describe proton adsorption and enabled derivation of site-specific enthalpies of -2.4+/-0.3, -3.7+/-0.2, -9.0+/-0.6, and -36.0+/-1.2 kJ/mol for Sites 1-4, respectively. Entropies of proton adsorption were calculated to be 51+/-3, 75+/-1, 91+/-2, and 55+/-4 J/mol K, for Sites 1-4, respectively. Enthalpies and entropies of Sites 1 and 3 are consistent with that of multifunctional organophosphonic acids, Site 2 is consistent with multifunctional carboxylic acids, and Site 4 is consistent with an amine. Temperature dependence of the acidity constants for Sites 1-3 is predicted to be minimal; however, Site 4 is predicted to more substantially affected by temperature.
Gender, Ethnic, Age, and Relationship Differences in Non-Traditional College Student Alcohol Consumption: A Tri-Ethnic Study

Group differences in four aspects of alcohol consumption behaviors were examined in non-traditional college students (N = 1092; 828 women and 264 men) attending a large, non-residential, urban university. Findings demonstrated several differences between traditional and non-traditional students' drinking behaviors. Specifically, non-traditional students are more likely to abstain; Caucasians are more apt to drink in isolation and experience negative social consequences of drinking; Hispanic and African American women control their alcohol consumption better; and African American men are more likely to experience antisocial consequences due to drinking. These findings have implications for education and prevention efforts targeting non-traditional college students.
Analysis of the Outer Membrane Proteome and Secretome of Bacteroides fragilis Reveals a Multiplicity of Secretion Mechanisms

Bacteroides fragilis is a widely distributed member of the human gut microbiome and an opportunistic pathogen. Cell surface molecules produced by this organism likely play important roles in colonization, communication with other microbes, and pathogenicity, but the protein composition of the outer membrane (OM) and the mechanisms used to transport polypeptides into the extracellular space are poorly characterized. Here we used LC-MS/MS to analyze the OM proteome and secretome of B. fragilis NCTC 9343 grown under laboratory conditions. Of the 229 OM proteins that we identified, 108 are predicted to be lipoproteins, and 61 are predicted to be TonB-dependent transporters. Based on their proximity to genes encoding TonB-dependent transporters, many of the lipoprotein genes likely encode proteins involved in nutrient or small molecule uptake. Interestingly, protease accessibility and biotinylation experiments indicated that an unusually large fraction of the lipoproteins are cell-surface exposed. We also identified three proteins that are members of a novel family of autotransporters, multiple potential type I protein secretion systems, and proteins that appear to be components of a type VI secretion apparatus. The secretome consisted of lipoproteins and other proteins that might be substrates of the putative type I or type VI secretion systems. Our proteomic studies show that B. fragilis differs considerably from well-studied Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli in both the spectrum of OM proteins that it produces and the range of secretion strategies that it utilizes.
The Effects of Simultaneous Prompting on the Acquisition of Calculating Elapsed Time in Children with Autism

Simultaneous prompting has been effective in teaching a variety of skills, of different levels of complexity, to children with learning difficulties. The current study replicated and extended previous research by teaching three children with Autism to calculate elapsed time. Elapsed time is the duration from a start to end time. When the minutes of the start time are greater than the end time, regrouping is necessary. Simultaneous prompting was used to teach participants to discriminate the type of problem and engage in the respective behavior chain for problems that required (5-step) and did not require (3-step) regrouping. Results demonstrated that all three participants readily acquired the respective behavior chains and were able to accurately report the elapsed time for both types of problems.
Ring current asymmetry from global simulations using a high‐resolution electric field model

[1] We study ring current evolution during the 10 January 1997 geomagnetic storm, comparing results from two inner magnetospheric convection electric field models: (1) the Kp-dependent Volland-Stern (V-S) model and (2) the high spatial and temporal resolution assimilative mapping of ionospheric electrodynamics (AMIE) model, coupled with our global ring current model. We have added a penetration electric field (driven by partial ring current closure in the ionosphere) to the AMIE model which improves the agreement at low L shells with Polar/EFI measurements, and we mapped the modified AMIE convection electric potentials (MACEP) to the equatorial plane. Both V-S and MACEP convection models predict a very asymmetric local time distribution of ring current energy density during the main and early recovery phase of the storm. However, the peak of the medium energy ions is located during the main phase near midnight when the MACEP model is used, while it is located near dusk using V-S. In both models the energy density peak is located near dusk during the early recovery, and the ring current becomes symmetric during the late recovery phase. Ring current injection is larger, penetrating to lower L shells, and the Dst index is significantly better reproduced using MACEP rather than using V-S model. We compare model results with Polar data and find reasonably good agreement with both models at larger L shells and near dawn. The enhanced storm time distributions at low L shells near dusk are better modeled with MACEP. Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves are predominantly excited near Dst minimum, have larger wave gain, and cause stronger ion precipitation using the MACEP model. In this case the calculated ion precipitation patterns exhibit features consistent with storm time Polar/IPS observations and show enhancements within the plasmaspheric bulge and along the duskside plasmapause. In the dusk to midnight sector at L > 5, however, there seems to be a need to include the effect of an additional scattering process during highly active conditions.
PROPOSED MOLECULAR TRANSMISSION BAND MODELS FOR LOWTRAN.

A discussion is presented of a proposed modification to the molecular absorption band models in the LOWTRAN code for the uniformly mixed (N2O) CH4, CO, 02, and CO2) and the trace (NO, NO2, NH3 and SO2) gases. The transmission function adopted for each model of a double exponential defined by three absorber parameters and a single spectral parameter. All the parameters were determined optimally through a numerical procedure that incorporates line-by-line and measured transmittance spectra. Vertical concentration profiles are provided for these gases which may be used together with the 33-levels standard atmospheres in the calculation of slant-path transmittances. The present single model for the uniformly mixed gases in LOWTRAN is compared with the combination of the proposed individual models.
Neuromuscular blocking action of two brevetoxins from the Florida red tide organism ptychodiscus brevis

Abstract The action of Ptychodiscus brevis “brevetoxins” T17 and T34 on rat phrenic nerve-stimulated hemidiaphragm contraction is reported. The potency of T34 is greater than the potency of T17, but both cause a complete block of neuromuscular transmission in the nM to pM concentration ranges. Preparations exposed to low concentrations of T17 can recover in the presence of the toxin, whereas the effects of T34 are irreversible. The initial contracture produced by each is prevented by tetrodotoxin or curare. Neuromuscular block does not appear to be due to acetylcholine depletion, as determined by electron microscope examination of the neuromuscular junctions of blocked preparations. Persistent nerve depolarization is believed to be responsible for the neuromuscular block.
Robust designs for femtocell networks with interference from macrocell users

Femtocell networking is a promising solution to improve the indoor coverage issue and enhance system throughput for next generation wireless networks. However, one of the main concerns to put through femtocells is the interference issue between macrocell and femtocell networks. In this paper, we consider femtocell uplink transmissions with dynamic interference from macrocell users. Without information exchange or subcarrier reallocation between femtocell and macrocell at any base station, we propose a precoded frequency division multiple access (P-FDMA) transmission with novel detectors to mitigate macrocell-to-femtocell uplink co-channel interference (MFU-CCI). It is shown that our design collects multipath diversity without estimating the interference channels and is robust to MFU-CCI. Simulation results validate our findings.
Proapolipoprotein-converting enzymes and high-density lipoprotein early events in biogenesis.

Abstract The early events in high-density lipoprotein biogenesis invoive the extracellular action of two converting enzymes affecting the cleavage of the prosegment of either proapolipoprotein A-I or proapolipoprotein A-II and the generation of mature apolipoprotein (apo) A-I apo A-II, the main apolipoprotein of high-density lipoproteins. These two converting enzymes differ from each other in mechanism of action and specificity. The observation that they can be secreted by human hepatocarcinoma G2 cells in culture provides an experimental basis for examining the possible coordination between the synthesis and secretion of these two converting enzymes and the events attending the production and cellular export of apo A-I and apo A-II.
Arginine Vasopressin Levels in Nursing Home Residents with Nighttime Urinary Incontinence

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between diurnal urine volume and plasma arginine vasopressin levels (AVP) in nursing home residents with nighttime urinary incontinence and a comparison group of frail but nondemented, continent geriatric board and care residents. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Four nursing homes and two board and care facilities. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-two nursing home residents and 27 board and care residents. MEASUREMENTS: Daytime (7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.) and nighttime (7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) urine volumes of incontinent nursing home residents were measured over 3 days and 3 nights by reweighing preweighed adults diapers and toileting inserts emptied by research staff for the comparison group. AVP levels were drawn in the early morning (5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.) before subjects arose and in the evening after an hour of lying in bed (8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.), and plasma levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Half of the nursing home residents and 82% of the comparison group had night/total urine volume ratios ± 50%. Forty-nine percent of the total of 89 subjects had undetectable morning AVP levels, 61% had undetectable evening AVP levels, and 42% had undetectable AVP levels in both morning and evening. There were no significant differences in AVP levels between those with night/total urine volume ratios ± 50% and < 50% in either the nursing home or comparison groups though the small number of comparison group subjects with ratios < 50% may have limited our statistical power to detect differences. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that a substantial proportion of both nursing home residents with nighttime incontinence and frail geriatric patients with a reversal of the normal diurnal pattern of urine excretion have an accompanying deficiency in AVP production and/or secretion. More detailed physiologic studies are needed to understand better the pathophysiology of geriatric nocturia and nighttime incontinence and the role that AVP deficiency may play in these conditions. Until such studies are carried out, we do not recommend the routine use of exogenous AVP for geriatric patients with unexplained nocturnal polyuria.
Genome stability: Keeping the centrosome cycle on track

The protein kinase Mps1 and p53 both function in centrosome duplication and the spindle cell-cycle checkpoint. Defects in these functions can be potent sources of genomic instability by allowing mitosis to proceed with aberrant mitotic spindles.
Rapid extraction of layer relative humidity, geopotential thickness, and atmospheric stability from satellite sounding radiometer data

Layer moisture and temperature are important variables for forecasting local weather phenomena. The purpose of ths paper is to present a method to rapidly compute layer average relative humidities and geopotential thicknesses from satellite measurements of atmospheric water vapor and oxygen radiation emission to space. Both polar-orbiting and geostationary satellite data are considered. Analyses show that the relative humidity and geopotential thickness patterns from satellite data are consistent with radiosonde data. The relative humidity calculation is insensitive to the assumed temperature profile condition. It is shown that time variations of the atmospheric moisture can be monitored from a GOES-4 VAS sequential image. Also an attempt is made to derive the atmospheric stability index, total–totals, by use of satellite derived relative humidities and geopotential thicknesses. The results show good correspondence between the derived stability patterns and subsequent convective weather.
Approximations of marginal tail probabilities for a class of smooth functions with applications to Bayesian and conditional inference

SUMMARY This paper presents an asymptotic approximation of marginal tail probabilities for a real-valued function of a random vector, where the function has continuous gradient that does not vanish at the mode of the joint density of the random vector. This approximation has error 0(n-312) and improves upon a related standard normal approximation which has error 0(n-1). Derivation involves the application of a tail probability formula given by DiCiccio, Field & Fraser (1990) to an approximation of a marginal density derived by Tierney, Kass & Kadane (1989). The approximation can be applied for Bayesian and conditional inference as well as for approximating sampling distributions, and the accuracy of the approximation is illustrated through several numerical examples related to such applications. In the context of conditional inference, we develop refinements of the standard normal approximation to the distribution of two different signed root likelihood ratio statistics for a component of the natural parameter in exponential families.
Why wine is not glue? The unresolved problem of negative screening in socially responsible investing

The purpose of socially responsible investing (SRI) is to: (1) allow investors to reflect their personal values and ethics in their choices, and (2) encourage companies to improve their ethical, social, and environmental performance. In order to achieve these ends, the means SRI fund managers employ include the use of negative screening, or the exclusion of companies involved in “sinful” industries. We argue that there are problems with this methodology, both at a theoretical and at a practical level. As a consequence, current SRI offerings cannot accurately reflect the values and ethical beliefs they propose to represent. Moreover, the use of a␣priori criteria is potentially misleading, as we show by discussing examples of glue and wine making. Applying this flawed approach SRI funds fail to influence the direction of the firms they deem most in need of re-directing. Rather than engaging in the simple a␣priori assumption that some industries are “saints” while others are “sinners” (Freeman, 2007) we suggest a new framework upon which the SRI screening methodology could be grounded. Embracing the philosophical tradition of American pragmatism, we suggest that SRI methodology could be improved by engaging in an analysis based on (1) the actual impacts of the company’s products and services, (2) the company’s relationships with its specific, real stakeholders, and (3) the contingent environment (social, economic, political, legal, and cultural) in which the business operates.
Crystal-induced acute kidney injury due to ciprofloxacin

Background: Fluoroquinolones are known to cause acute renal failure due to interstitial nephritis. Case Presentation: Here we present an elderly woman who developed oliguric acute kidney injury (AKI) after receiving oral and intravenous ciprofloxacin in a 48-hour period. Recently, several case reports have been published in the literature regarding the presence of crystals in the urine sediment of patients treated with ciprofloxacin for different types of systemic infections. Ciprofloxacin crystals precipitate in alkaline urine and provoke renal failure through intra-tubular precipitation. Conclusions: Conservative measures including intravenous hydration and avoidance of alkalinization of the urine can reverse this condition if applied in time.
Prognosis in Patients with Transient Ischemic Attacks

The prognosis on 144 patients with transient ischemic attacks was determined over a minimum period of three years by quantitating, at intervals, the number of attacks and also the neurological disability by means of a disability score. No patients had neurological disability at the initiation of the study. Total cervicocephalic angiography was performed on 93 patients. Seven of the 144 patients were deceased at the end of the three-year period, five of them due to strokes. Seventeen patients (15.6%) developed persistent neurological disability during the three years, with the mean disability score being much higher for the patients with carotid attacks than those with basilar attacks. The cumulative number of attacks in both carotid and basilar groups rose steadily in the first 18 months, with a much larger number of attacks occurring in the basilar group. The attack rate leveled off after 18 months in the carotid group. Attacks tended to be consistent in nature over a period of time. Twenty-eight percent of those patients with basilar attacks and 12.5% of those patients with carotid attacks showed carotid stenosis on angiography. Study of carotid stenosis associated with subsequent neurological disability revealed that increased risk occurred only when carotid stenosis was more than 70%
Prediction of airplane states

Methods for extrapolation of airplane flight trajectory and orientation history that exploit coordinated flight and other airplane specific grounds are derived and applied. They include extraction of orientation from trajectory with angle-of-attack (AOA) correction, closed-form trajectory extrapolation based on constant longitudinal and transverse acceleration, and a "phugoid scheme" for six degrees-of-freedom extrapolation at constant AOA in coordinated flight. A metric well known in connection with networked simulation shows an advantage of up to a factor of 3 for the new methods. HE state of a rigid body in three-space involves six degrees of freedom (DOF). The motion history of such body is defined by six arbitrary functions. Current extrapolation schemes are based on the assumption that these six functions are smooth. Airplane dynamics admits only four arbitrary functions, and for most practical purposes only three. We exploit this knowledge for improved prediction for airplanes. This work originated in the context of distributed interactive simulation (DIS) and the DIS standard.1 The standard exploits the extrapolation of the motion of simulated entities to reduce data transmissions over the network. An update is broadcast only when the extrapolation breaks a preselected tolerance. In this way, a natural metric for the fidelity of the extrapolation arises: the frequency of required updates becomes the measure of fidelity. The better the prediction of future motion, the less frequent the updates. We compare the new methods, in terms of frequency of required updates, to second-order prediction of position and first-order prediction of orientation (based on constant angular velocity).2 We also compare our results to the use of perfect position or of perfect orientation. Our methods provide an improvement by a factor of 2 to 3 over the generic comparison method. Extracted orientation often rates close to perfect orientation.
Preschoolers Use Intentional and Pedagogical Cues to Guide Inductive Inferences and Exploration

Children are judicious social learners. They may be particularly sensitive to communicative actions done pedagogically for their benefit, as such actions may mark important, generalizable information. Three experiments (N = 224) found striking differences in preschoolers’ inductive generalization and exploration of a novel functional property, depending on whether identical evidence for the property was produced accidentally, intentionally, or pedagogically and communicatively. Results also revealed that although 4-year-olds reserved strong generalizations for a property that is pedagogically demonstrated, 3-year-olds made such inferences when it was produced either intentionally or pedagogically. These findings suggest that by age 4 children assess whether evidence is produced for their benefit in gauging generalizability, giving them a powerful tool for acquiring important kind-relevant, generic knowledge. A fundamental aspect of human cognition is our ability to learn from and teach others. Our ability to read others’ intentions and engage in collaborative learning may provide the foundation for human culture, from law and government to industry and education (Gergely & Csibra, 2005; Tomasello, 1999). Children’s understanding of intentions is
The psychobiology of depression and resilience to stress: implications for prevention and treatment.

This review discusses neurobiological and psychosocial factors associated with stress-induced depression and compares these factors with those believed to characterize stress resilience. Neurobiological factors that are discussed and contrasted include serotonin, the 5-HT1A receptor, polymorphisms of the 5-HT transporter gene, norepinephrine, alpha-2 adrenergic receptors, neuropeptide Y, polymorphisms of the alpha-2 adrenergic gene, dopamine, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), cortisol, and CRH receptors. These factors are described in the context of brain regions believed to be involved in stress, depression, and resilience to stress. Psychosocial factors associated with depression and/or stress resilience include positive emotions and optimism, humor, cognitive flexibility, cognitive explanatory style and reappraisal, acceptance, religion/spirituality, altruism, social support, role models, coping style, exercise, capacity to recover from negative events, and stress in...
Feasibility of quality indicators for the management of geriatric syndromes in nursing home residents.

Purpose The assessment and management of dementia, falls and mobility disorders, malnutrition, end-of-life issues, pressure ulcers, and urinary incontinence have been identified as important quality improvement targets for vulnerable elders residing in nursing homes. This study aimed to identify valid and feasible measures of specific care processes associated with improved outcomes for these conditions. Methods Nine experts in nursing home (NH) care participated in a modified Delphi process to evaluate potential quality indicators (QIs) for care in NHs. Panelists met and discussed potential indicators before completing confidential ballots rating validity (process associated with improved outcomes), feasibility of measurement (with charts or interviews), feasibility of implementation (given staffing resources in average community NHs), and importance (expected benefit and prevalence in NHs). The NH panel's median votes were used to identify a final set of QIs that were subsequently reviewed by a clinical oversight committee. Results Sixty-eight geriatric syndrome QIs were identified as valid and important in NH populations. Panelists assessed 12 (18%) of these QIs as having questionable feasibility to implement in average community nursing homes trying to provide quality care. Nine (13%) would not be included in systems assessing quality of care for persons with advanced dementia or poor prognosis. Conclusions Steps of care critical to the assessment and management of geriatric syndromes in NHs were identified. Feasibility is an important issue for a significant number of these, indicating that much remains to be done to design systems that efficiently and reliably implement these care processes.
Austronesian verb-initial languages and wh-question strategies

This paper presents a research agenda for investigating possible implicational universals connecting the syntactic strategy that a verb-initial language uses to derive verb-initial word order (verb raising, VP raising, verb lowering, right hand subjects, etc.) and its strategy for forming wh-questions (wh-in-situ, clefting, wh-fronting, etc.). The Austronesian language family, with its over 1000 members, is taken as a starting point for the investigation because of its abundance of verb-initial languages. The existing analyses of Austronesian languages support one potential universal in this domain: Languages that derive verb-initial word order by VP raising do not have wh-movement. Possible theoretical explanations for this pattern are evaluated. The paper then considers Fijian, a potential counterexample. Further analysis suggests that Fijian is unlikely to be a problem, however, it highlights a main claim of the paper: Careful, in-depth analyses are required to yield robust results in such a typological study.
Design of turning control for a tracked vehicle

The design of a turning control system for an M113 tracked vehicle, which is modeled as a two-input/two-output system, is treated. Since the vehicle model is nonlinear, time varying, and implicit, it is replaced by a set of linear time-invariant models that are valid over certain operation regions. The two inputs to the vehicle are throttle and steering. The two measured output variables are the vehicle's longitudinal speed and heading rate. The quantitative feedback theory (QFT) is used to obtain a robust control system. The control loop for vehicle speed is designed to track the speed command and reject the disturbance caused by steering. The control loop for the vehicle heading rate is designed to track only the rate command, since the disturbance caused by throttle is negligible. The control system is tested by simulation and shows satisfactory results. >