cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Employment Options for Adults with Developmental Disabilities: A Conceptual Model

There are many paths which one may take when entering the world of work. The conceptual model put forth here, Pathways to Employment, is one which looks at the common avenues available to achieving greater economic self-sufficiency through employment for adults with developmental disabilities. The model acknowledges individual differences among those who enter the employment decision-making process while stressing the concept of the availability of simultaneous choices or paths for the individual. Employment is thus presented as a dynamic rather than a static process. The model has broad application and looks to employment or supported employment as a means to an end and not an end in and of itself. The challenge is to access the real work environment and to provide enough support that the individual will realize an increased level of economic self-sufficiency.
Shape statistics for cell division detection in time-lapse videos of early mouse embryo

We describe a statistical approach to the problem of estimating the times of cell-division cycles in time-lapse movies of early mouse embryos. Our method is based on the likelihoods for cells of certain radii ranges to be in each frame — without actually locating or counting the cells. Computing the likelihoods consists of a voting scheme where votes come form quadruples of points in a way similar to the first step of the Randomized Hough Transform for ellipse detection. To locate divisions, we search for points of abrupt change in the matrix of likelihoods (built for all frames), and pick the two optimal division points using a dynamic programming algorithm. Our results for the first and second cell division cycles differ less than two frames from the medians of the annotated times in a database of 100 annotated videos, and outperform two other recent methods in the same set.
Simplified NMR Spectra of Bifunctional Tropanes Induced by the Paramagnetic Shift Reagent Tris(dipivalomethanato)europium(III)

Tris(dipivalomethanato)europium(III) has been used as an NMR shift reagent to obtain simplified spectra of tropine, pseudotropine, nortropine, nortropinone, and tropinone. All compounds gave spectra at 60 MHz., which could be interpreted with the aid of spin-spin decoupling. Insofar as the Karplus rule holds for the piperidine ring system, deshielded spectra clearly evidenced a distorted chair form predominating in the conformational equilibrium of α- and β-tropines and tropinones. The results demonstrate the applicability of the shift reagent used with bifunctional systems containing two different heteroatoms. The observed order of coordination was secondary amine > secondary alcohol > tertiary amine ≧ ketone.
Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Early Childhood Teacher Preparation: The Impact of Contextual Characteristics on Coursework and Practica.

Abstract The population of children in early childhood settings is becoming increasingly culturally and linguistically diverse, and these changes in demographics have warranted teachers becoming more culturally responsive and better prepared to work with diverse young children and families. Teacher preparation programs across the nation have responded differently to this critical issue, in part because of the different contexts in which they exist. Analyses were conducted using data from the National Prekindergarten Center’s (NPC) National Study of Early Childhood Teacher Preparation Programs and the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) Integrated Post-Secondary Education Dataset (IPEDS). Geographical, program, and institutional characteristics were analyzed from a sample of 416 Bachelor’s degree programs to determine how these variables were associated with the amount of diversity content and experience required in teacher preparation programs. Results indicated that the presence of non-White full-time faculty was positively related to more required coursework focused on working with children and families from culturally diverse backgrounds, while degree of urbanization, governance of institutions, and National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education accreditation were associated with required coursework focused on working with bilingual children and English language learners. The percentage of the non-Hispanic White population in a state and geographic region were both associated with practica requirements focused on working with bilingual children and English language learners. Implications and recommendations for policy, future research, and early childhood teacher preparation are discussed.
L-type Ca2+ channel function during Timothy syndrome.

Voltage-gated, dihydropyridine-sensitive L-type Ca 2+ channels are multimeric proteins composed of a pore-forming transmembrane α 1 subunit (Ca v 1.2) and accessory β, α 2 δ, and γ subunits. Ca 2+ entry via Ca v 1.2 channels shapes the action potential (AP) of cardiac myocytes and is required for excitation-contraction coupling. Two de novo point mutations of Ca v 1.2 glycine residues, G406R and G402S, cause a rare multisystem disorder called Timothy syndrome (TS). Here, we discuss recent work on the mechanisms by which Ca v 1.2 channels bearing TS mutations display slowed inactivation that leads to increased Ca 2+ influx, prolonging the cardiac AP and promoting lethal arrhythmias. Based on these studies, we propose a model in which the scaffolding protein AKAP79/150 stabilizes the open conformation of Ca v 1.2-TS channels and facilitates physical interactions among adjacent channels via their C-tails, increasing the activity of adjoining channels and amplifying Ca 2+ influx.
Nanowires for solar energy and hydrogen production

We report here two approaches that we have developed recently to help solve the problem of energy crisis and global warming facing us today. One approach is to use nanoparticles attached to the end of single-walled carbon nanotubes to catalytically convert CO 2 and CH 4 into hydrogen and carbon fibers, which can then be used in hydrogen fuel cells and as the building material in transportation vehicles and many other structures. The second approach is to use silica nanowires as templates to make nanoscale electrodes to be used in solar cells. The main advantage of this type of solar cells is that it would be easy to incorporate them directly into glass windows on all the buildings.
Coupled tunneling plasmon excitations in a planar array of quantum dots.

We present a quantum-mechanical calculation of the plasmon excitations in a planar array of tunneling quantum dots. The dispersion relations of these modes are derived within the framework of the tight-binding approximation between adjacent dots and the random-phase approximation. In the presence of tunneling, both the depolarization shifts and the splitting between the longitudinal and transverse modes are greatly enhanced and are well above the experimental resolution. This makes the detection of these modes possible in Raman-scattering experiments. The present model also predicts that the gap position of the transverse mode is at the \ensuremath{\Gamma} point.
Prognosis of Negative Adenosine Stress Magnetic Resonance in Patients Presenting to an Emergency Department With Chest Pain

OBJECTIVES This study was designed to determine the diagnostic value of adenosine cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in troponin-negative patients with chest pain. BACKGROUND We hypothesized that adenosine CMR could determine which troponin-negative patients with chest pain in an emergency department have coronary artery disease (CAD) or future adverse cardiac events. METHODS Adenosine stress CMR was performed on 135 patients who presented to the emergency department with chest pain and had acute myocardial infarction (MI) excluded by troponin-I. The main study outcome was detecting any evidence of significant CAD. Patients were contacted at one year to determine the incidence of significant CAD defined as coronary artery stenosis >50% on angiography, abnormal correlative stress test, new MI, or death. RESULTS Adenosine perfusion abnormalities had 100% sensitivity and 93% specificity as the single most accurate component of the CMR examination. Both cardiac risk factors and CMR were significant in Kaplan-Meier analysis (log-rank test, p = 0.0006 and p < 0.0001, respectively). However, an abnormal CMR added significant prognostic value in predicting future diagnosis of CAD, MI, or death over clinical risk factors. In receiver operator curve analysis, adenosine CMR was a more accurate predictor than cardiac risk factors (p < 0.002). CONCLUSIONS In patients with chest pain who had MI excluded by troponin-I and non-diagnostic electrocardiograms, an adenosine CMR examination predicted with high sensitivity and specificity which patients had significant CAD during one-year follow-up. Furthermore, no patients with a normal adenosine CMR study had a subsequent diagnosis of CAD or an adverse outcome.
Theranostic and Molecular Classification of Breast Cancer

Context.—Despite advances in breast cancer management, women continue to relapse and die of breast cancer. Traditionally, evaluation for hormone receptors (estrogen and progesterone), as well as HER2 overexpression, have guided therapy-related decision-making because they are both prognostic and predictive indicators. However, there are limitations with those studies, which can lead to improper treatment. Gene signatures have recently been shown to be of value in identifying molecular portraits of breast carcinoma and are beginning to play role in management and treatment algorithms. Objective.—To provide a summary of the prognostic and predictive indicators of breast cancer, such as hormone receptors, HER2, and molecular gene signatures that currently help guide clinical decision making. Data Sources.—Published articles from peer-reviewed journals in PubMed (US National Library of Medicine). Conclusions.—Emerging evidence shows promise that, in addition to hormone receptors and HER2 studies, evaluating t...
SAR studies of piperidine-based analogues of cocaine. 4. Effect of N-modification and ester replacement.

A series of novel N- and 3α-modified piperidine-based analogues of cocaine were synthesized and tested for their ability to inhibit reuptake of DA, 5-HT, and NE by the DA, 5-HT, and NE transporters. N-Demethylation of trans-(+)-3α-piperidine-based ligands leads to improved activity at the SERT and NET and modest changes at the DAT. Replacement of the N-methyl group in trans-(+)-ester 1a with phenylalkyl groups leads to a modest 2.3-fold improvement in activity at the SERT (Ki ≤ 3.27 μM), insignificant changes at the NET, and a 3.5-fold loss in activity at the DAT (Ki ≥ 810 nM); however, such replacement in cis-(−)-ester 4, the more potent isomer of 1a, leads, in general, to a significant decrease in activity at all monoamine transporters (Ki > 1 μM). Other N-modified ligands, including the ligands with polar groups incorporated in the N-alkyl substituent (3e−g) and ligands lacking the basic nitrogen (3i and 6d), show decreased activity at all monoamine transporters, though ligands 3e−g are similar in pote...
Expression and function of CD9 in melanoma cells

CD9, a member of the tetraspanin family, functions as an organizer in "tetraspanin webs," through interacting with other cell adhesion molecules. It plays a role in differentiation, fertilization, and cell migration. We investigated the expression and function of CD9 in melanoma. CD9 protein expression in B16 mouse melanoma and six human melanoma cell lines was decreased compared to normal melanocytes. B16F1 clones stably overexpressing CD9 had reduced ability to form colonies in soft agar; however, paradoxically these overexpressing clones had increased ability to invade Matrigel. Similarly, transient overexpression of CD9 in the human metastatic melanoma cell line WM9 dramatically decreased anchorage-independent growth, while transient overexpression of CD9 in the radial growth phase cell line SbCl2 resulted in the gain of Matrigel invasion activity. DNA sequencing of CD9 cDNA from all six human melanoma cell lines did not show deletions, insertions, or mutations. Treatment of all six human melanoma cell lines with the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A increased CD9 levels. The DNA methylation inhibitor 5-aza-cytidine also increased CD9 protein levels with greater increases seen in cell lines derived from more malignant melanomas.
Two places at once: A remembrance of Paul Erdös

Note: Professor Pach's number: [122]. Also in: Ket helyen egyszerre (Emlekek Erdos Palrol), Vilagossag, December 1996, 70-79. Reference DCG-ARTICLE-1997-006doi:10.1007/BF03024430 Record created on 2008-11-14, modified on 2017-05-12
A NUMERICAL TAXONOMIC STUDY OF NOSTOC AND ANABAENA1

Thirty characteristics of 14 Nostoc and 10 Anabaena species were analyzed from previously published data. Using standard numerical taxonomic methods, simple matching coefficients were calculated and a phenogram drawn. The analysis revealed that some of the central characteristics of Nostoc are: a punctiforme stage; motile reproductive stage; plant mass with a dull to shiny luster, non-veined surface, and nonfimbriate margin; some spherical vegetative cells; no cylindrical heterocysts; and some spherical, but no cylindrical akinetes. Some of the central characteristics of Anabaena that were revealed are: no punctiforme stage; a motile vegetative stage; plant mass with a shiny luster, veined surface, and fimbriate margin; no spherical vegetative cells; some cylindrical heterocysts; and some cylindrical, but no spherical, akinetes. In general, Anabaena has larger akinetes and vegetative cells than Nostoc. Based on 30 morphological characteristics and the clustering data of the phenogram, keys were constructed for the Nostoc and Anabaena species studied. The data clearly support two separate and distinct, though similar genera and, less sharply, the separation of the 24 species. The more useful characteristics for separation of the species are size and shape of akinetes, vegetative cells, and heterocysts; color and luster of plant mass; veined plant mass surface; margin fimbriate; and shape of plant mass in nature.
Multiple signals from dysfunctional mitochondria activate the pleiotropic drug resistance pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Multiple or pleiotropic drug resistance most often occurs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae due to substitution mutations within the Cys6-Zn(II) transcription factors Pdr1p and Pdr3p. These dominant transcriptional regulatory proteins cause elevated drug resistance and overexpression of the ATP-binding cassette transporter-encoding gene,PDR5. We have carried out a genetic screen to identify negative regulators of PDR5 expression and found that loss of the mitochondrial genome (ρo cells) causes up-regulation of Pdr3p but not Pdr1p function. Additionally, loss of the mitochondrial inner membrane protein Oxa1p generates a signal that results in increased Pdr3p activity. Both of these mitochondrial defects lead to increased expression of the PDR3 structural gene. Importantly, the signaling pathway used to enhance Pdr3p function in ρo cells is not the same as in oxa1 cells. Loss of previously described nuclear-mitochondrial signaling genes likeRTG1 reduce the level of PDR5 expression and drug resistance seen in ρo cells but has no effect onoxa1-induced phenotypes. These data uncover a new regulatory pathway connecting expression of multidrug resistance genes with mitochondrial function.
Pregnancy During Recovery from Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant for Mycosis Fungoides

We report a case of spontaneous pregnancy with subsequent full-term live birth following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for mycosis fungoides in a 24-year-old nulligravida with 4 years of prior infertility due to primary ovarian insufficiency. Four months post-transplant, the patient was found to be 10 weeks pregnant. Her pregnancy was complicated by first trimester fetal exposure to mycophenolate mofetil (pregnancy category D), delayed-onset acute gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease, and multiple systemic infections. This report highlights the importance of discussing potential fertility outcomes in patients undergoing HSCT, including the necessity for adequate contraception post-transplant, even in the setting of previous infertility.
Thermal Applications of Cellular Lattice Structures

Numerous methods have recently emerged for fabricating cellular lattice structures with unit cells that can be repeated to create 3D space filling systems with very high interconnected pore fractions. These lattice structures possess exceptional mechanical strength resulting in highly efficient load supporting systems when configured as the cores of sandwich panels. These same structures also provide interesting possibilities for cross flow heat exchange. In this scenario, heat is transported from a locally heated facesheet through the lattice structure by conduction and is dissipated by a cross flow that propagates through the low flow resistant pore passages. The combination of efficient thermal conduction along the lattice trusses and low flow resistance through the pore channels results in highly efficient cross flow heat exchange. Recent research is investigating the use of hollow truss structures that enable their simultaneous use as heat pipes which significantly increases the efficiency of heat transport through the lattice and their mechanical strength. The relationships between heat transfer, frictional flow losses and topology of the lattice structure are discussed and opportunities for future developments identified.
Observations on the Leech Placobdella ornata Feeding From Bony Tissues of Turtles

The leech Placobdella ornata was observed feeding from the blood sinuses of the plastron and carapace bones of Chelydra serpentina and Chrysemys picta. Evidence of successful feeding included blood upwelling from the point of attachment and gastric ceca of the leeches freshly filled with blood after removal. There was an apparent preference for the sulci between scales of the shell.
Structure and Function of the Ribosomal Frameshifting Pseudoknot RNA from Beet Western Yellow Virus

Many viruses reprogram ribosomes to produce two different proteins from two different reading frames. So-called -1 frameshifting often involves pairwise alignment of two adjacent tRNAs at a 'slippery' sequence in the ribosomal A and P sites such that an overlapping codon is shifted upstream by one base relative to the zero frame. In the majority of cases, an RNA pseudoknot located downstream stimulates this type of frameshift. Crystal structures of the frameshifting RNA pseudoknot from Beet Western Yellow Virus (BWYV) have provided a detailed picture of the tertiary interactions stabilizing this folding motif, including a minor-groove triplex and quadruple-base interactions. The structure determined at atomic resolution revealed the locations of several magnesium ions and provided insights into the role of structured water stabilizing the RNA. Systematic in vitro and in vivo mutational analyses based on the structural results revealed specific tertiary interactions and regions in the pseudoknot that drastically change frameshifting efficiency. Here, we summarize recent advances in our understanding of pseudoknot-mediated ribosomal frameshifting on the basis of the insights gained from structural and functional studies of the RNA pseudoknot from BWYV.
Report of a child with aortic aneurysm, orofacial clefting, hemangioma, upper sternal defect, and marfanoid features: possible PHACE syndrome.

We report a female patient who had a scalp hemangioma, a cleft uvula, an upper sternal defect, pectus excavatum, arachnodactyly, pes planus, and joint hypermobility. She had rupture of an aortic aneurysm after minor trauma at 11 years of age. At 17 years of age, elective repair of a dilated, ectatic aorta was complicated by cerebral ischemia. Other vascular abnormalities in the proband included an aneurysm of the left subclavian artery, atresia of the right carotid artery, and calcified cerebral aneurysms. We believe that the proband's physical anomalies are best described by the PHACE (posterior fossa brain malformations, hemangiomas, arterial anomalies, coarctation of the aorta and cardiac defects, and eye abnormalities) phenotypic spectrum. This spectrum of physical anomalies also includes sternal clefting and hemagiomas as part of the sternal malformation/vascular dysplasia (SM/VD) association, as found in our patient, and the acronym PHACES has also been used. We consider that the PHACE phenotypic spectrum is likely to be broader than previously recognized and includes orofacial clefting and aortic dilatation and rupture. Our patient also had skeletal anomalies that lead to consideration of Marfan syndrome as a diagnosis. It should be recognized that there is clinical overlap between PHACE syndrome and Marfan syndrome when aortic dilatation is present. We would also like to emphasize the minor nature of the cutaneous findings in our patient despite her severe vascular complications. This is in contrast to previous reports of large or multiple hemangiomas in PHACE syndrome.
β-Cell-targeted blockage of PD1 and CTLA4 pathways prevents development of autoimmune diabetes and acute allogeneic islets rejection

Protection of β cells from autoimmune destruction potentially cures type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D). During antigen presentation, interactions between cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA4) and B7 molecules, or programmed death 1 (PD1) and its ligand PDL1, negatively regulate immune responses in a non-redundant manner. Here we employed β-cell-targeted adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (AAV8)-based vectors to overexpress an artificial PDL1-CTLA4Ig polyprotein or interleukin 10 (IL10). β-Cell-targeted expression of PDL1-CTLA4Ig or IL10 preserved β-cell mass and protected NOD mice from T1D development. When NOD mice were treated with vectors at early onset of hyperglycemia, PDL1-CTLA4Ig or IL10 alone failed to normalize the early onset of hyperglycemia. When drug-induced diabetic mice received major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-matched allo-islets, with or without pretreatment of the PDL1-CTLA4Ig-expressing vector, PDL1-CTLA4Ig-expressing islets were protected from rejection for at least 120 days. Similarly, transplantation of PDL1-CTLA4Ig-expressing MHC-matched islets into mice with established T1D resulted in protection of allo-islets from acute rejection, although islet grafts were eventually rejected. Thus the present study demonstrates the potent immuno-suppressive effects of β-cell-targeted PDL1-CTLA4Ig overexpression against T1D development and allo-islet rejection. The gene-based simultaneous inhibition of PD1 and CTLA4 pathways provides a unique strategy for immunosuppression-free tissue/organ transplantation, especially in the setting of no established autoimmunity.
Evidence-based focused review of management of hyperviscosity syndrome.

Case 1. Patient 1 is a 65-year-old plumber who presents with fatigue, headache, blurred vision, and intermittent nosebleeds for the past 3 months. Examination demonstrates mild generalized lymphadenopathy and a palpable spleen tip. The fundi show marked retinal vein engorgement with “sausaging
The Ins and Outs of Providing Electronic Reserves for Distance Learning Classes

Abstract Distance Learning Library Services at the University of Kentucky provided an electronic reserves service as a pilot project for distance learning courses in the 2000–01 academic year. Distance Learning Programs, which is a part of the Distance Learning Technology Center, funded the project. Policies and procedures were formulated, an account was set up with the Copyright Clearance Center, and the service was marketed. Our first electronic reserves were available for the Fall 2000 semester.
Robust and tissue-specific expression of TPH2 versus TPH1 in rat raphe and pineal gland.

Abstract Background Regulation of raphe serotonergic cells is fundamental to the prevailing hypothesis of major depression pathophysiology. Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) is the rate-limiting enzyme in serotonin biosynthesis, but brainstem TPH mRNA expression has been difficult to measure and study. Recently, a novel paralog of TPH, TPH2 (or neuronal TPH), was described, but its anatomic expression is unknown. Methods In situ hybridization histochemical survey was conducted across Sprague-Dawley rat brain for TPH1 and TPH2 mRNA. Semiquantitative techniques were used to estimate relative mRNA levels in individual cells. Results Almost exclusively, TPH2 mRNA is expressed in raphe, in a pattern overlapping the histologically defined raphe nuclei. In sharp contrast, TPH1 (the previously known TPH) is expressed predominantly in pineal gland. There is no appreciable overlap in the expression of these paralogs. The level of TPH2 mRNA expression in individual raphe cells is approximately 2.5-fold greater than the level of TPH1 expression in pinealocytes. Conclusions TPH2 mRNA has an anatomic expression pattern consistent with brainstem raphe nuclei and is likely to be the gene giving rise to the majority of TPH activity in these cells. The robust expression of TPH2 in brainstem should facilitate studies on the transcriptional regulation of raphe serotonin biosynthesis.
Limited sparing of function on spatial delayed alternation after two-stage lesions of prefrontal cortex in the rat ☆

Abstract Adult rats with complete removals of medial prefrontal cortex (MF) either in 1-stage or 2-stages were tested on a spatial delayed alternation task with a 50 day interoperative interval and with specific training during the interoperative interval. There were two groups receiving 2-stage lesions: one group received a complete lesion of MF cortex in one hemisphere at first surgery followed by a comparable lesion in the other hemisphere at second surgery; the second group received a bilateral lesion of the dorsal component of MF cortex at first surgery followed by bilateral removal of the remaining ventral component at second surgery. The animals in both serial lesion groups were imparied relative to sham operated controls, but they were significantly less impaired than animals receiving similar lesions in a single stage. Several conclusions are drawn from these results: (1) significant sparing of function can be demonstrated after complete serial destruction of MF cortex, but the sparing is not complete. (2) the provision of interoperative experience and a prolonged interoperative interval enhances the degree of sparing observed with 2-stage MF removals as it does with serial lesions of other brain areas. (3) equivalent sparing of function was observed with both serial lesion techniques. Thus, it is not necessary that one hemisphere remain undamaged during the interoperative interval; nor is it necessary that any portion of MF cortex be spared bilaterally during the interoperative interval.
Molecular architecture via coordination: self-assembly of nanoscale hexagonal metallodendrimers with designed building blocks.

The first self-assembly of nanoscale metallodendrimers that have a hexagonal cavity as a core via the directional-bonding approach is reported. All metallodendrimers were characterized by multinuclear NMR (1H and 31P), mass spectrometry (ESI-MS and ESI−FT-ICR), and elemental analysis.
QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF CANNABINOIDS IN INDIVIDUAL GLANDULAR TRICHOMES OF CANNABIS SATIVA L. (CANNABACEAE)

Cannabinoid levels of individual mature glandular trichomes from two clones and two strains of Cannabis sativa L., which included both drug and fiber phenotypes, were investigated by gas-liquid chromatographic analyses. Capitate-stalked glands were selectively harvested from vein and nonvein areas of pistillate bracts while capitate-sessile glands were harvested from these areas of leaves. The qualitative cannabinoid profile characteristic of the strain or clone was maintained in the individual capitate-stalked glands while the quantitative cannabinoid profiles varied with each strain or clone and between vein and nonvein areas as well. Capitate-sessile glands were found to contain conspic­ uously lower levels of cannabinoids than capitate-stalked glands. This study emphasizes that glands of Cannabis represent a dynamic system within the cannabinoid synthesizing activities of this plant. GLANDULAR trichomes are prominent features on the shoot system of Cannabis saliva L. Sev­ eral studies using histochemical and analytical procedures
Informal learning in experiential settings

This professional development effort had the major goal of assessing informal learning in experiential settings. Twenty elementary teachers from public and private schools participated in an on-site seminar that was university and foundation connected. The activities involved the teachers in experiential learning in science centers, a wildlife refuge, and a zoological sanctuary. A questionnaire reflected the significance of instruction provided by guides, types of exhibits, and the use of informal learning to enhance concept development. The data revealed positive results for using informal learning as an educational complement to classroom instruction.
Protein enrichment of defatted salicornia meal by air classification

Salicornia bigelovii Torr. is a leafless, annual salt-marsh plant. Previous investigators reported that the seed contained 26 to 33% oil, 30 to 33% protein, 5 to 7% fiber, and 5 to 7% ash. Hexane-defatted salicornia meal was ground in a pin mill and separated by air classification into various fractions by particle size. The fine fractions were enriched in protein. The degree of protein enrichment and yield of fine fractions depended on the intensity of grinding. More intense grinding resulted in a higher yield of fine fractions with a smaller increase in protein content compared with less intensive grinding. The amino acid composition and proximate composition of the air-classified fractions are compared with the starting material.
Infographics at the Congressional Budget Office

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is an agency of the federal government with about 240 employees that provides the U.S. Congress with timely, nonpartisan analysis of important budgetary and economic issues. Recently, CBO began producing static infographics to present its headline stories and to provide information to the Congress in different ways.
High-performance liquid chromatographic method for isolating organic contaminants from tissue and sediment extracts.

Interest in the assessment of the anthropogenic contamination of the marine environment has accelerated in recent years. Existing methods to analyze environmental samples (e.g., sediments or tissues) for trace amounts of organic contaminants such as aromatic hydrocarbons and chlorinated compounds are tedious and costly. We report a rapid, efficient high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedure which uses a size-exclusion column to separate the analytes of interest from interfering compounds in the sample matrix. Analytical results from the HPLC method were, in general, comparable to a gravity-column method which had been used for several years. The HPLC method had several other advantages: improved precision; the ability to monitor chromatographic conditions; the potential for automating analyses; and reduced consumption of solvents and other materials.
Bringing the state back in: Understanding and validating measures of governments' political commitment to HIV

Analysis of the politics of HIV programme scale-up requires critical attention to the role of the state, since the state formulates HIV policies, provides resources for the HIV response and negotiates donor involvement in HIV programmes. However, conceptual and methodological approaches to analysing states' responses to HIV remain underdeveloped. Research suggests that differences in states' successes in HIV programme scale-up reflect their levels of 'political commitment' to responding to HIV. Few empirical measures of political commitment exist, and those that do, notably the AIDS Program Effort Index (API), employ ad hoc scoring approaches to combine information from different variables into an index of commitment. The indices are thus difficult to interpret and may not have empirically useful meaning. In this paper, we apply exploratory factor analysis to examine whether, and how, selected variables that comprise the API score reflect previously theorised dimensions of political commitment. We investigate how variables associated with each of the factors identified in the analyses correspond to these theorised dimensions as well as to API categories. Finally, we discuss potential uses--such as political benchmarking and accountability--and challenges of factor analysis as a means to identify and measure states' political commitment to respond to HIV.
Flexible integration of high-imaging- resolution and high-power arrays for ultrasound-induced thermal strain imaging (US-TSI)

Ultrasound-induced thermal strain imaging (USTSI) for carotid artery plaque detection requires both high imaging resolution (<;100 μm) and sufficient US-induced heating to elevate the tissue temperature (~1°C to 3°C within 1 to 3 cardiac cycles) to produce a noticeable change in sound speed in the targeted tissues. Because the optimization of both imaging and heating in a monolithic array design is particularly expensive and inflexible, a new integrated approach is presented which utilizes independent ultrasound arrays to meet the requirements for this particular application. This work demonstrates a new approach in dual-array construction. A 3-D printed manifold was built to support both a high-resolution 20 MHz commercial imaging array and 6 custom heating elements operating in the 3.5 to 4 MHz range. For the application of US-TSI in carotid plaque characterization, the tissue target site is 20 to 30 mm deep, with a typical target volume of 2 mm (elevation) × 8 mm (azimuthal) × 5 mm (depth). The custom heating array performance was fully characterized for two design variants (flat and spherical apertures), and can easily deliver 30 W of total acoustic power to produce intensities greater than 15 W/cm2 in the tissue target region.
Coupling of system thermal–hydraulics and Monte-Carlo code: Convergence criteria and quantification of correlation between statistical uncertainty and coupled error

Coupled multi-physics approach plays an important role in improving computational accuracy. Compared with deterministic neutronics codes, Monte Carlo codes have the advantage of a higher resolution level. In the present paper, a three-dimensional continuous-energy Monte Carlo reactor physics burnup calculation code, Serpent, is coupled with a thermal–hydraulics safety analysis code, RELAP5. The coupled Serpent/RELAP5 code capability is demonstrated by the improved axial power distribution of UO2 and MOX single assembly models, based on the OECD-NEA/NRC PWR MOX/UO2 Core Transient Benchmark. Comparisons of calculation results using the coupled code with those from the deterministic methods, specifically heterogeneous multi-group transport code DeCART, show that the coupling produces more precise results. A new convergence criterion for the coupled simulation is developed based on the statistical uncertainty in power distribution in the Monte Carlo code, rather than ad-hoc criteria used in previous research. The new convergence criterion is shown to be more rigorous, equally convenient to use but requiring a few more coupling steps to converge. Finally, the influence of Monte Carlo statistical uncertainty on the coupled error of power and thermal–hydraulics parameters is quantified. The results are presented such that they can be used to find the statistical uncertainty to use in Monte Carlo in order to achieve a desired precision in coupled simulation.
Establishment of an Engineering Management Honor Society

Abstract:This article contributes to enhancement of the engineering management discipline by documenting the start-up of a recognition-based honor society for students in the discipline. Engineering management faculty and practitioners, many with an affiliation to the American Society for Engineering Management, have founded/chartered this society as Epsilon Mu Eta, The Engineering Management Honor Society. This honor society (EMH) provides a mechanism for recognizing student achievement in EM programs and honoring individuals in the field of engineering management who have made significant contributions to the discipline and society.
Human B-cell lines constitutively express and secrete interleukin-16.

Interleukin-16 (IL-16), produced by activated CD8+ T lymphocytes, is inhibitory to human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) replication. In an attempt to determine whether human B cells express and secrete IL-16, a wide panel of B-cell lines derived from patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated B-cell lymphomas (AABCL) (n = 5) and from non-AABCLs (n = 8) were studied. Using reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) analysis, we were able to observe ubiquitous expression of IL-16 mRNA. Kinetic studies on constitutive mRNA turnover and secretion for IL-16 suggests that the optimum expression is at 24 hr. Interestingly, we report, for the first time, IL-16 secretion by human B-cell lines.
Infections with Nonthoracotomy Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators: Can These Be Prevented?

Nonthoracotomy ICDs are believed to be the best therapeutic modality for treatment of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Little is known about the risk of infection with initial implantation of these devices. We studied the incidence, clinical characteristics, and risk factors associated with infections in 1,831 patients with nonthoracotomy ICD from the Endotak-C nonthoracotomy lead registry of Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. A transvenous lead was implanted in 950 patients (51.9%) and a combination transvenous plus subcutaneous patch was used in 881 patients (48.1%). Nine preselected data variables were studied, and all investigators identified as having patients with infections were personally contacted. Infections occurred in 22 (1.2%) of 1,831 patients receiving this nonthoracotomy ICD system. The mean time to infection was 5.7 +/- 6.5 months (range 1-25 months). Staphylococci were isolated in 58% of patients with reported infection. The presence of a subcutaneous defibrillator patch system was associated with the development of infection. Six of 950 patients (0.63%) with a totally transvenous lead system developed infection versus 16 of 838 (1.9%) patients with a transvenous lead plus subcutaneous patch system configuration (P = 0.015, Chi-square test), with an unadjusted estimated odds ratio of 3.06 (CI 1.19-7.86). The risk of infection encountered with the nonthoracotomy ICD is low, estimated from our data to be 1.2%. Placement of a subcutaneous defibrillator patch appears to be an independent risk factor for development of infection.
Effect of Micronutrients on the Development of Bacterial Blight of Rice

Diferent concentrations of miceonutrients (with one exception; Table 1) increased the degree of attack on rice plants by Xanthomonas oryzae. When a double dose of Mn or Cu was applied or when Mn was omitted, length of lesions was considerably smaller than with all micronutrients on normal concentration. No correlation was found between total phenols, total sugars, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars, amino acids, and total nitrogen and lesion development in different micronutrients combinations. Zuammenfassung Einflus von Spurenelementen auf den befall von Reispflanzen durch Xanthomonas oryzae Zusatze von Spurenelementen erhohten den Befall Von Reispflazen durch Xanthomonas oryzae. Mit einer doppelten Dosis von Mn oder Cu und ohne Manganzuatz waren die Lasionen deutlich kleiner als mit den sonst verwendeten Mengen (Tabelle 1). Eine Korrelation zwischen der Grosionen und dem Gehalt an Phenolen, Gesamtzucker, reduzierenden Zuckernm, nicht reduzierenden Zuckern, Aminosauren und Gesamtstickstoff war nicht nachzuweiseu.
Higher-Loop Corrections to the Infrared Evolution of a Gauge Theory with Fermions

We consider a vectorial, asymptotically free gauge theory and analyze the effect of higher-loop corrections to the beta function on the evolution of the theory from the ultraviolet to the infrared. We study the case in which the theory contains ${N}_{f}$ copies of a fermion transforming according to the fundamental representation and several higher-dimensional representations of the gauge group. We also calculate higher-loop values of the anomalous dimension of the mass, ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{m}$ of $\overline{\ensuremath{\psi}}\ensuremath{\psi}$ at the infrared zero of the beta function. We find that for a given theory, the values of ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{m}$ calculated to three- and four-loop order, and evaluated at the infrared zero computed to the same order, tend to be somewhat smaller than the value calculated to two-loop order. The results are compared with recent lattice simulations.
Scale effects in hydraulic models involving wave motion

A summary of the various instances where wave theories have been verified experimentally is presented briefly. A more detailed discussion is given for those problems where models built to several scales have permitted an evaluation of the effect of scale in the application of data from hydraulic models.
Taming chaos: stabilization of aperiodic attractors by noise [olfactory system model]

A model named "KIII" of the olfactory system contains an array of 64 coupled oscillators simulating the olfactory bulb (OB), with negative and positive feedback through low-pass filter lines from single oscillators simulating the anterior olfactory nucleus (AON) and prepyriform cortex (PC). It is implemented in C to run on Macintosh, IBM, or UNIX platforms. The output can be set by parameter optimization to point, limit cycle, quasi-periodic, or aperiodic (presumably chaotic) attractors. The first three classes of solutions are stable under variations of parameters and perturbations by input, but they are biologically unrealistic. Chaotic solutions simulate the properties of time-dependent densities of olfactory action potentials and EEGs, but they transit into the basins of point, limit cycle, or quasi-periodic attractors after only a few seconds of simulated run time. Despite use of double precision arithmetic giving 64-bit words, the KIII model is exquisitely sensitive to changes in the terminal bit of parameters and inputs. The global stability decreases as the number of coupled oscillators in the OB is increased, indicating that attractor crowding reduces the size of basins in the model to the size of the digitizing step (/spl sim/10/sup -16/). Chaotic solutions having biological verisimilitude are robustly stabilized by introducing low-level, additive noise from a random number generator at two biologically determined points: rectified, spatially incoherent noise on each receptor input line, and spatially coherent noise to the AON, a global control point receiving centrifugal inputs from various parts of the forebrain. Methods are presented for evaluating global stability in the high dimensional system from measurements of multiple chaotic outputs. Ranges of stability are shown for variations of connection weights (gains) in the KIII model. The system is devised for pattern classification.
ASSET DEMANDS AND SLUTSKY EQUATIONS WHEN ALL ASSETS ARE RISKY

This paper exploits the properties of the indirect expected utility function to explore the testable implications of a portfolio model in which all assets are risky. An uncertainty analogue of Roy's Identity and extremely simple derivations of Slutsky equations for risk and return are used in the analysis. Substitutability/complementarity relations between asset pairs are also explored. The one-riskless-asset case emerges as a special case of the present model, and it is shown that (since inflation uncertainty makes all real returns uncertain) the inclusion of a riskless asset would lead to misleading over-simplifications.
Clinical evaluation of a new closed loop ventilation mode: adaptive supportive ventilation (ASV)

ASV (Galileo, Hamilton Medical, Inc.) is a mode of mechanical ventilation (MV) with a closed loop algorithm to determine and adjust ventilator settings. ASV may adjust mandatory breath rate, I : E ratio, and inspiratory pressure of mandatory breaths. Target minute ventilation (VE) is determined by ideal body weight (IBW) and clinician selected Percent Vent (% Min Vol). Galileo assesses the pt by measuring dynamic compliance and expiratory time constant. With IBW and %Min Vol settings, optimal settings for rate, Ti, VT, and VE are determined. We compared MV with ASV to MV with physician determined vent settings during the initiation of MV.
Transgenic mouse models for lung cancer

Transgenic technology allows the ability to target regulatory genes to the lungs in a cell-specific fashion. Using this technology, we have generated a model to investigate the phenotypic consequences of targeting oncogenes to particular cell types in the lungs and are developing a second model for the regulated expression of oncogenes in the lung. The transgenic model involves the constitutive expression of simian virus 40 large T antigen in the Clara cells of mouse lungs. This model has been used to investigate changes in expression of cell cycle regulatory genes in the Clara cells during the transformation process, as well as the expression of the transcription factors regulating the expression of Clara cell differentiation markers. The second model we are developing investigates the regulated expression of the genes in the lungs. This system is based on the establishment of two types of transgenic lines. The regulator line consists of a chimeric transcriptional factor placed under the control of a lung-specific SPC (surfactant protein C) promoter. This chimeric regulator is composed of a transcription activation domain, the GAL4 DNA-binding domain, and a truncated progesterone receptor that is responsive to RU 486, but not to endogenous progesterone. The second transgenic mouse line contains the silent target transgene under the control of a minimal promoter with upstream activating sequences (UAS) that are recognized by the regulator transgene. Upon breeding these two lines, the resulting bitransgenic mice can then be induced to express the target transgene only with the administration of RU 486. Two generations of regulators have been evaluated on their ability to regulate the expression of a growth hormone reporter gene. This system demonstrated the inducible expression of the reporter genes in the distal airways of the lungs.
Error Rates in Generalized Shadowed Fading Channels

Most of the existing models to describe the shadowed fading channels use either the Suzuki or Nakagami-lognormal probability density function (pdf), both based on lognormal shadowing. However, these two density functions do not lead to closed form solutions for the received signal power, making the computations of error rates and outages very cumbersome. A generalized or compound fading model which takes into account both fading and shadowing in wireless systems, is presented here. Starting with the Nakagami model for fading, shadowing is incorporated using a gamma distribution for the average power in the Nakagami fading model. This compound pdf developed here based on a gamma-gamma distribution is analytically simpler than the two pdfs based on lognormal shadowing and is general enough to incorporate most of the fading and shadowing observed in wireless channels. The performance of coherent BPSK is evaluated using this compound fading model.