cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distribution of tachykinin- and opioid-expressing neurons in the hamster solitary nucleus: an immuno- and in situ hybridization histochemical study

Abstract In several sensory systems, tachykinin- and opioid-expressing neurons functionally interact and influence the processing of afferent information. To determine whether a similar relationship exists for the processing of general and special (gustatory) visceral afferent information, the present study mapped the distributions of these two neuronal phenotypes within the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) of the hamster by employing a combination of immuno- and in situ hybridization histochemistry (ISHH). The hamster was chosen because it is frequently used as a model in taste studies, yet there is a relative dearth of data about peptide expression or the classical neurotransmitters in the brainstem of this animal. The immunohistochemical analyses employed 2 highly selective antisera directed towards the prototypical tachykinin and opioid peptides, i.e. substance P (SP) and methionine enkephalin (ENK), respectively. Intense staining of fibers and preterminal/terminal puncta was concentrated in the rostral pole or gustatory zone of the NST. SP-, but not ENK-like immunoreactivity was also observed in long courses of axon bundles traversing the brainstem enroute to the NST. Local application of colchicine engendered the appearance of a moderate number of SP-positive somata that were mostly clustered in the medial, central and intermediate subnuclei, as well as being scattered throughout the remainder of the NST, including the gustatory zone. A low number of isolated ENK-positive somata were also observed throughout the NST. The somal areas of the SP- and ENK-positive somata averaged 86.3 and 81.8 μm2, respectively. The ISHH studies were performed using 2 selective oligodeoxynucleotide probes with complementary sequences to mRNAs encoding γ-preprotachykinin (PPT) and preproenkephalin (PPE) molecules. Overall, the cellular expression of PPT mRNA within the NST corresponded both in distribution and in number to those identified by immunohistochemical analyses using anti-SP serum. In contrast, ISHH analyses monitored a significantly greater number of PPE- expressing somata in the medial, central, intermediate and ventrolateral nuclei than were ENK immunoreactive. These findings indicate that tachykinin and opioid peptide phenotypes are represented in neurons throughout the hamster NST and suggest a functional role for PPT- and PPE-related peptide forms in the modulation of afferent general visceral and gustatory information.
Lithosphere and flood basalts

So-called hotspot magmas, including ocean island basalts and continental flood basalts, differ isotopically from mid-ocean- ridge basalts (MORB) and require a reservoir, or a component, that has been isolated from the MORB source for more than 2 billion years. It has been widely assumed that a suitable isolated reservoir might be the continent lithosphere.
Crack interaction with microstructure

Designing microstructure for damage tolerance requires a detailed understanding of how an advancing crack interacts with the microstructure (and sometimes modifies it locally) at multiple length scales. Advances in experimental techniques, such as the availability of well-controlled straining stages for optical and electron microscopes, the focused ion beam, electron backscattered diffraction, and nanoindentation, enable probing at these length scales in real time and through interrupted tests. Simultaneously, increasing computational power coupled with new computational methods, such as finite element analysis (FEA) incorporating cohesive elements at the continuum level, discrete dislocation methodology at the mesoscopic level, and coupled atomistic/continuum methods that transitions atomic level information to the mesoscopic level, have made it possible to begin addressing these complex problems. By reviewing crack growth in a variety of multiphase alloys including steels, titanium aluminides, Mo alloys, and nanocrystalline metals, we demonstrate various aspects of crack interaction with microstructure, and how these problems are being addressed through experiments and computations.
Complications of ankle arthroscopy utilizing a contemporary noninvasive distraction technique.

Background: The reported complication rates of ankle arthroscopy, as well as the types of complications, refer to cases performed fifteen to twenty years ago and include a mixture of invasive and noninvasive distraction methods. As ankle arthroscopy has matured with a move away from invasive distraction and the introduction of improved instruments, it is unclear whether the previously reported complications are reflective of contemporary ankle arthroscopy. We sought to evaluate the types and rates of complications that are associated with contemporary ankle arthroscopy that utilizes noninvasive ankle distraction and a padded foot strap. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 294 consecutive arthroscopies. All patients underwent the same intraoperative noninvasive distraction protocol. Demographic data, diagnoses, duration of follow-up data, and procedure-related complications were identified, recorded, and analyzed. Results: All 294 cases were eligible for review. There were twenty complications, resulting in an overall complication rate of 6.8%. There were four non-neurologic complications, including one case of deep venous thrombosis, one case of prolonged portal drainage, and two cases of superficial infection. There were sixteen neurologic complications; six were related to the anterolateral portal, and eight patients had dysesthesias involving the dorsal part of the midfoot. When analyzed as a group, patients who were receiving Workers’ Compensation had a higher complication rate than patients who were not receiving Workers’ Compensation (21% versus 4.7%, respectively). Conclusions: Contemporary ankle arthroscopy performed with use of a noninvasive distraction technique is a safe procedure. Our observed complication rate of 6.8% is lower than that reported in a previous benchmark study, although our patients who were receiving Workers’ Compensation had a significantly higher risk of having nerve symptoms. An important benefit of the use of contemporary ankle arthroscopy, in which small-joint arthroscopic instruments and noninvasive distraction techniques are used, is a marked reduction in the rate of non-neurologic complications. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
The influence of pre- and posterror responses on measures of intraindividual variability in younger and older adults.

The current study examined the effects of responses on error-adjacent trials (i.e., those immediately preceding or following errors) on age differences in measures of intraindividual variability and the shape of response time (RT) distributions on a two-back task. Removing error-adjacent responses reduced variability as measured by the coefficient of variation, but did so similarly for younger and older adults. However, older adults' standard deviations (SDs) were less than those of younger adults with comparable RTs, raising questions regarding the validity of the coefficient of variation. An ex-Gaussian analysis revealed that removing the RTs on error-adjacent trials reduced the length of the tails of distributions and the skewness of the distributions. These properties were reduced more for older adults than for younger adults. These results indicate that the influence of error-adjacent trials should be considered when analyzing intraindividual variability and the shape of RT distributions to test theories of cognitive aging. Language: en
Spanning the Union/Nonunion Boundary

Conflicts between the work boundaries established by union contracts and management's interest in efficient work flows have increased sharply as new technology and new management practices make traditional divisions in the organization of work obsolete. We use concepts from organizational theory to examine these conflicts and an innovative attempt to resolve them by defining union boundaries not on the basis of tasks performed, but rather on the basis of employment; the union contract applies to specific workers instead of job titles. This system provides greater flexibility and autonomy for employees, and the results of an attitude survey suggest that it is strongly preferred by workers who feel constrained by traditional union contracts.
Teaching Computing Foundations to Non-Majors (Abstract Only)

This workshop shows participants about a new way to teach non-computing majors about computing fundamentals. This involves teaching computing concepts (such as sources of error, algorithm analysis, data storage, and simulations) that students encounter when they use computers to do work in their own disciplines. While this new way of teaching can use any discipline, the workshop will use the sciences as the working example. It will focus on how scientists use computers in their work but will also introduce ways to expand this to other disciplines. The course that will be presented presents different modules of computer science interspersed with different science modules that apply the computing knowledge. More details can be found at http://cf4s.olivet.edu. Participants are highly encouraged to bring a laptop. Handouts associated with the entire course will be provided.
Abnormal fatty acid composition in umbilical cord blood of infants at high risk of atopic disease.

UNLABELLED It is well known that patients with atopic disease have anomalies of fatty acid composition in their blood. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether infants from atopic families also have abnormal cord blood levels of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) in plasma and red blood cells. The levels of LC-PUFA in umbilical cord blood of 50 healthy, full-term infants with a hereditary risk of atopic disease were analysed and compared with a control group of 50 infants from families without a history of atopic disease. The atopy group was comprised of children from families suffering from atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma bronchiale and food allergy. Within this group, a group (n = 11) was formed in which the risk was determined only by paternal atopy. Fatty acids of plasma and red blood cell phospholipids, triglycerides and sterol esters were separated by high-resolution gas-liquid chromatography. In particular, the levels of arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6) and docosatetraenoic acid (C22:4n-6) were significantly lower in infants at risk of atopic disease than in infants not at risk. Interestingly, there were more significant differences shown between the control group and the paternal atopy group than between the control group and the entire atopy group. CONCLUSION The results of this study could be due to a genetic influence of fatty acid metabolism or could reflect the different dietary behaviours of the mothers during pregnancy.
Characteristics of residential retarded clients as predictors of staff expectations and frustrations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of four client characteristics—functioning level, aggressive behavior, self-injurious behavior, and attractiveness—with staff expectations of and frustration with clients. Forty staff members who worked with severely and profoundly retarded individuals served as participants. Staff members rated each client with whom they worked on the extent to which the client could behave better and learn faster as well as the level of frustration experienced in working with the client. A client's functioning level was related to staff perceptions such that the higher the functioning level, the more the client was seen as having the potential to behave better or learn faster than (s)he was presently demonstrating. Staff frustration was related to client aggression indicating that as aggression increased so did staff frustration in working with that client. Implications of the results are discussed.
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection alters enzymatic and ultrastructural features of peripheral blood monocytes.

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infected monocytes are now believed to serve as a reservoir for HIV-1 infection, and to play a role in viral rebound phenomena in certain groups of patients who failed or stopped highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).Data characterizing the morphological changes of peripheral blood monocytes in HIV-1-infected individuals are limited. Materials and Methods: In this study, we collected monocytes from 21 asymptomatic HIV-1-infected individuals with CD4 count more than 500 cells/mm 3 and healthy individuals. The monocytes ultrastructural morphologic changes and α-naphthyl butyrate esterase (ANBE) activity were compared between the two groups. Results: In monocytes from patients infected with HIV-1, activity of α?naphthyl butyrate esterase?(ANBE) was markedly increased compared with normal monocytes. In both light microscopic and ultrastructural studies, the cytoplasm of monocytes from HIV?1?infected patients contained a haphazard appearing network of thin fibrils. Cell surface expression of the activation marker HLA?DR molecule was upregulated. There were no discernible differences between the cell surface expression of CD4, CD14, and CD16 molecules comparing normal monocytes to those from HIV?1?infected patients. -naphthyl butyrate esterase (ANBE) was markedly increased compared with normal monocytes. In both light microscopic and ultrastructural studies, the cytoplasm of monocytes from HIV-1-infected patients contained a haphazard appearing network of thin fibrils. Cell surface expression of the activation marker HLA-DR molecule was upregulated. There were no discernible differences between the cell surface expression of CD4, CD14, and CD16 molecules comparing normal monocytes to those from HIV-1-infected patients. Conclusions: Possibly, changes in the activity of ANBE along with a disrupted appearing cytoplasmic fibril network contribute to monocyte dysfunction in HIV-1-infected patients.
Thinking Beyond New Clinical Guidelines: Update in Hypertension

Hypertension is one of the most common conditions managed by generalists and is a major risk factor for multiple conditions. Surrounded by great debate, the committee appointed to the Eighth Joint National Committee published their suggestions for new hypertension treatment guidelines in early 2014. We suggest a new target blood pressure (BP) for the general population older than 60 years of less than 150/90 mm Hg, up from less than 140/90 mm Hg as recommended by the Seventh Joint National Committee, and in diabetic patients, a goal of less than 140/90 mm Hg, up from the Seventh Joint National Committee recommendation of less than 130/80 mm Hg. Regardless of the BP target recommendations suggested by the Eighth Joint National Committee and other organizations, obtaining accurate BP readings and recognizing white-coat and masked hypertension is imperative. Home and ambulatory BP monitoring are useful tools in addition to proper in-office BP readings. The optimal care of the hypertensive patient involves accurate BP characterization, careful use of guidelines, and good clinical judgment.
National environmental observing system to mitigate the effects of nuclear-biological-chemical (NBC) attacks: strategic and tactical

The challenge of obtaining an adequate environmental support system to help mitigate the effects of various terrorist generated plumes is articulated and a fiscally responsible solution is presented. A substantially improved national system of upper air data observing systems serves as a powerful information source prior to a terrorist event. A mobile tactical observing system for measuring the environment and for measuring the composition and intensity of the plume is implemented immediately following an event. Only proven and tested technologies are used. Program costs, benefits for the fight against terrorism, and multiple benefits to other aspects of the economy are summarized.
Modelling some aspects of particles interaction in hard toner magnetography

Interactions between magnetically hard, premagnetized toner particles are analysed. The modelling is not limited to linear chains but extends to other configurations such as complete or partial rings of particles. The effect of the print medium substrate, when made of permeable material, is introduced in order to derive the contribution of magnetic interaction to undesired background development that may occur in unimaged areas. The toner chaining mechanisms on the medium are qualitatively supported by scanning electron microphotographs, while quantitative verification is achieved through comparison to experiments conducted on large scale physical models.
A Local Well-Posedness Result for the Quasilinear Wave Equation in ℝ2+1

In this article we investigate the issue of local well-posedness for quasilinear wave equations in ℝ2+1 with rough initial data. Our work extends the geometric methods pioneered by Klainerman and K...
Local electron transfer rate measurements on modified and unmodified glassy carbon electrodes

A natural and artificial distribution of electron transfer activity on glassy carbon electrodes can be observed and quantified by the use of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). A large (sevenfold) spread in rate constant is found for randomly sampled sites on polished, untreated glassy carbon surfaces. Direct-mode oxidation with the SECM tip was used to produce small regions of oxidized carbon on a polished surface. A large increase in electron transfer rate for the Fe(II/III) ion is observed on the locally oxidized carbon surface in comparison to the unoxidized region. Rate constant measurements made along a line profiles the transition from unoxidized to oxidized surfaces. SECM images of defect sites show reaction–rate variations. Rate constants measured at several locations of the defective surface allows discrimination between the kinetic and topographic components of the SECM image.
Lipid mobilization and inflammatory responses during the transition period of dairy cows

The transition period of dairy cattle is characterized by dramatic changes in metabolism and host defense mechanisms that are associated with increased disease. Intense lipid mobilization from tissue stores is an important metabolic adaptation during the transition period that results in significant release of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) into the blood stream. Whereas these fatty acids are important sources of energy during times of increased metabolic demands, elevated concentrations of NEFA are known to disrupt several immune and inflammatory functions. This review will discuss the implications of lipid mobilization on inflammatory responses with special emphasis on leukocytes and endothelial cell functions during the transition period of dairy cows.
Low latitude ice cores record Pacific sea surface temperatures

matic records suggested that a more conventional temperature interpretation might be more appropriate, with lower isotopic values during the (presumed to be) cooler ‘‘Little Ice Age’’ and increasingly enriched precipitation during the 20th century warming phase [Thompson, 2001]. [3] Both of these conflicting interpretations suffer from inadequate calibration of the observed isotopic record, in relation to climatic conditions during periods of snow accumulation on the ice caps. Here, we use the results of on-site meteorological measurements to determine the seasonality of the ice core record, and then assess how the isotopic records relate to temperature, precipitation and the larger scale circulation associated with snowfall at these high elevation sites. We then extend the analysis to ice core records from the Asian monsoon region. This empirical approach to the interpretation of the isotopic record in low latitude ice cores complements theoretical studies by Broecker [1997] and Pierrehumbert [1999].
Theoretical estimates for the decay rates of the entropy and order parameter fluctuations in He I near the λ point

Abstract Estimates are obtained for decay rates of the entropy and order parameter fluctuations in He I near the λ point. Values inferred for the divergent part of thermal conductivity are in order-of-magnitude agreement with experiment.
LRE-TL: an optimal multiprocessor algorithm for sporadic task sets with unconstrained deadlines

This article presents a detailed discussion of LRE-TL (Local Remaining Execution-TL-plane), an algorithm that schedules hard real-time periodic and sporadic task sets with unconstrained deadlines on identical multiprocessors. The algorithm builds upon important concepts such as the TL-plane construct used in the development of the LLREF algorithm (Largest Local Remaining Execution First). This article identifies the fundamental TL-plane scheduling principles used in the construction of LLREF . These simple principles are examined, identifying methods of simplifying the algorithm and allowing it to handle a more general task model. For example, we identify the principle that total local utilization can never increase within any TL-plane as long as a minimal number of tasks are executing. This observation leads to a straightforward approach for scheduling task arrivals within a TL-plane. In this manner LRE-TL can schedule sporadic tasks and tasks with unconstrained deadlines. Like LLREF, the LRE-TL scheduling algorithm is optimal for task sets with implicit deadlines. In addition, LRE-TL can schedule task sets with unconstrained deadlines provided they satisfy the density test for multiprocessor systems. While LLREF has a O(n 2) runtime per TL-plane, LRE-TL's runtime is O(nlog?n) per TL-plane.
Racial differences in the prevalence of small-for-dates infants among college-educated women

We used Illinois vital records and U.S. Census data to quantify the association of race and small-for-dates rates among women with 16 or more years of education. The small-for-dates rate for African-Americans was 2.8%, compared with 1.2% for whites [odds ratio (OR) = 2.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.8-3.4]. Adjustment for measures of socioeconomic status did not reduce the racial disparity (OR = 2.9; 95% CI = 1.4-4.5). We conclude that unidentified variables occurring with greater prevalence among African-Americans increase the risk of small-for-dates infants among college-educated African-American mothers.
Civil Liberties: An Overview of Some Contributions from the Behavioral Sciences

Ways in which behavioral scientists can combine their professional interests with work concerning civil liberties are explored along with a brief statement about each article included in the issue. The overview highlights certain themes that recur in the separate articles: (a) the absence of a solid consensus in the United States to support specific applications of the Bill of Rights despite increased willingness to support the liberties of some dissenters, (b) the relation of education to civil liberties attitudes, (c) the interrelationships of personality and political attitudes, (d) child and adult (work) socialization influences, and (e) the influence of face-to-face social interactions.
A cell based dynamic system optimum model with non-holding back flows

This paper proposes a non-holding back linear programming (NHBLP) model with an embedded cell transmission model (CTM), to account for the system optimum dynamic traffic assignment.
Coulomb blockade and remnants of chaos in dissipative quantum tunnel junctions

Dissipation is important for many systems whose behavior lies between classical and quantum physics. Such systems are of interest to test ideas about quantum chaos; yet there is no suitable formulation of dissipative quantum mechanics for computing dynamics. This paper describes our effort to formulate and solve numerically one such system, the small-area tunnel junction, with or without superconducting electrodes. We take a phenomenological approach using a damping term in a washboard Hamiltonian. For dc bias, the simulations give the Josephson effect or the Coulomb blockade in the appropriate limits. We also apply a sinusoidal current bias to the junction, using parameters that would give chaos in the corresponding classical equations of motion. In this case, the quantum dynamics has a classical remnant in the form of long chaotic transients at the classical boundary of chaos. However, the quantum system eventually becomes periodic for all parameters tried so far.
Linking Social Change and Developmental Change: Shifting Pathways of Human Development.

P. M. Greenfield's new theory of social change and human development aims to show how changing sociodemographic ecologies alter cultural values and learning environments and thereby shift developmental pathways. Worldwide sociodemographic trends include movement from rural residence, informal education at home, subsistence economy, and low-technology environments to urban residence, formal schooling, commerce, and high-technology environments. The former ecology is summarized by the German term Gemeinschaft ("community") and the latter by the German term Gesellschaft ("society"; Tonnies, 1887/1957). A review of empirical research demonstrates that, through adaptive processes, movement of any ecological variable in a Gesellschaft direction shifts cultural values in an individualistic direction and developmental pathways toward more independent social behavior and more abstract cognition--to give a few examples of the myriad behaviors that respond to these sociodemographic changes. In contrast, the (much less frequent) movement of any ecological variable in a Gemeinschaft direction is predicted to move cultural values and developmental pathways in the opposite direction. In conclusion, sociocultural environments are not static either in the developed or the developing world and therefore must be treated dynamically in developmental research.
Adverse drug reaction monitoring in psychiatry out-patient department of an Indian teaching hospital.

Objectives : Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to psychotropic agents are common and can lead to noncompliance or even discontinuation of therapy. There is paucity of such data in the Indian context. We deemed it worthwhile to assess the suspected ADR profile of psychotropic drugs in an ambulatory setting in a public teaching hospital in Kolkata. Materials and Methods : A longitudinal observational study was conducted in the outpatient department (OPD) of the concerned psychiatry unit. Twenty consecutive patients per day, irrespective of their psychiatric diagnosis, were screened for suspected ADRs, 2 days in a week, over 15 months. Adverse event history, medication history and other relevant details were captured in a format as adopted in the Indian National Pharmacovigilance Programme. Causality was assessed by criteria of World Health Organization-Uppsala Monitoring Center (WHO-UPC). Results : We screened 2000 patients (68.69% males, median age 34.4 years), of whom 429 were suspected of having at least one ADR; 84 cases had insufficient evidence about causality (WHO-UMC causality status unlikely) and were excluded from further analysis. Thus, 17.25% (95% confidence interval: 15.59-18.91%) of our study population reported ADRs with at least possible causality. Of 352 events recorded, 327 (92.90%) were probable and the rest possible. None was labeled certain as rechallenge was not performed. Patients received a median of 3.2 psychotropic drugs each. Thirty-three different kinds of ADRs were noted, including tremor (19.60%), weight gain (15.34%) and constipation (14.49%). Among the incriminated drugs, antipsychotics represented the majority (57.10%), with olanzapine topping the list. Conclusions : This study offers a representative profile of ADRs to be expected in psychiatry out-patients in an Indian public hospital. Establishment of a psychotropic drug ADR database can be a worthy long-term goal in the Indian context.
Regional Anesthesia for Spine Surgery

Intraoperatively, spinal anesthesia has been described for many years as the primary anesthetic technique for patients undergoing surgical procedures of the lumbar spine. Epidural anesthesia as the primary intraoperative anesthetic technique in this patient population has also been described, but less than spinal anesthesia. Epidural analgesia for postoperative pain management after spinal fusions and instrumentation for repair of spinal deformities has also been used successfully. However, regional anesthesia for spine surgery has not become as common as regional anesthesia for other orthopedic procedures. Several potential advantages have been described with spinal anesthesia for spine surgery including decreased pain in the early postoperative period, less postoperative nausea and vomiting, decreased intraoperative blood loss, and fewer position-related complications. Potential complications of regional anesthesia for spine surgery include failure of the regional anesthetic in the prone position, development of a new neurologic deficit postoperatively, intraoperative hypotension caused by sympathetic block, urinary retention, and postoperative spinal headache. Intraoperatively neurologic monitoring is often used during certain spine procedures. Regional anesthesia, either epidural or spinal, has significant impact on the quality of somatosensory evoked potential monitoring.
Zinc exchange by endothelial cells in culture

Abstract Endothelial cells form the lining of blood vessels. Therefore, nutrients must cross this barrier each time they enter or leave the blood. While passing through the endothelium, nutrients may interact with intracellular zinc pools. This study was undertaken to characterize the dimensions of the zinc pools that are associated with endothelial cells. 65Zn was employed as a tracer to follow the pattern of zinc uptake and release by bovine pulmonary aortic endothelial cells that had grown into a confluent monolayer. The total cellular zinc content of the endothelial cells was calculated to be 2.48 nmol zinc/mg protein, based upon specific activity. The t 1 2 for cellular zinc turnover was 244 min. Mathematical modeling of both the uptake and the release processes demonstrated that there are two pools of zinc associated with each. A slow exchange pool was estimated to contain approximately 1.4 nmol zinc/mg protein during both influx and efflux experiments. A fast exchange pool contained 1.11 nmol zinc/mg protein during zinc efflux; zinc entering the cell was exchanged rapidly with a pool of 0.65 nmol zinc/mg protein. The efflux measurement may contain labeled ligands resulting from the catabolism of zinc biomolecules that are absent from the influx study; it is more likely to be a true estimate of the fast exchange pool.
Unrestricted complementation in language equations over a one-letter alphabet

Recently, the complete solution of systems of language equations over a one-letter alphabet has been derived where the operators are union, concatenation and star. This paper addresses the question of adding the complementation operator. It is known that if no stars are present and if the concatenation operator is restricted, such equations need not have solutions, but if they do, they can be solved explicitly if the constants are regular in which case the solutions are also regular. In this paper we study language equations over a one-letter alphabet where unrestricted concatenation interacts with complementation, union, and star. We define a procedure for determining a regular solution of the general type of equation assuming that all constants are regular, discuss its properties, and show examples. We then prove that in general equations with complementation and complementation and concatenation in which all constants are regular may have nonregular solutions. This shows that language equations can be used to obtain non-context-free languages from regular languages using only operators under which the regular languages are closed.
Validity of the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS): does craving predict drinking behavior?

Objective: The Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS), a 14-item, self-report questionnaire, was developed to measure alcohol-related craving. The OCDS may provide a measure of the state of illness among alcohol-dependent individuals and may have value in predicting subsequent drinking behavior. The present study was conducted to evaluate the factor structure and the concurrent, construct, and predictive validity of the OCDS. Methods: Data on desire to drink and on drinking behavior were obtained from 127 alcohol-dependent subjects who participated in a 12-week outpatient pharmacotherapy trial and a 3-month posttreatment follow-up. Results: Principal components analysis of the OCDS indicated that three factors best described its structure: obsessions, drinking control and consequences, and alcohol consumption. Data also supported the concurrent and discriminant validity of the OCDS. However, the OCDS total score showed limited validity in predicting drinking during a posttreatment follow-up period. Furthermore, the only empirically derived factor that predicted drinking during this period was the alcohol consumption factor. Conclusions: As might be expected, the OCDS questions on drinking behavior predict subsequent drinking behavior. However, the instrument does not appear to provide a general measure of alcohol-related illness. The utility of the OCDS in studies of alcoholism treatment outcome requires clearer definition.
Monte Carlo simulation of the decay of neutron resonances to determine resonance spins

Abstract The results for two types of experiments which measure the spins of neutron resonances is predicted by means of a Monte Carlo calculation which simulates the γ-cascades following neutron capture. The results are compared with experiment wherever possible. For the method which compares the ratios of γ-lines depopulating low-lying levels, the calculation is performed for 143 Nd, 145 Nd, 187 Os, and 187 Os. For the method which compares coincidence to singles counting rates, the calculation is performed for the four nuclei mentioned above plus 185 Re, 187 Re, and 177 Hf. The validity of the approximations and assumptions used in the calculation are discussed. Also discussed are proposed improvements in the experiments made on the basis of both experimental data and the calculation. All necessary derivations are given in the appendix.
The Variable Importance of General Intelligence (g) in the Cognitive Abilities of Children and Adolescents

Virtually all research affirms the importance of a general factor (i.e., Spearman’s g) in accounting for individual differences in intelligence (Spearman, 1904). However, some scholars have suggested that cognitive abilities are not organised uniformly across all levels of age and ability. Using standardisation data from the Woodcock Johnson Test of Cognitive Ability Revised, the present study examines the influence of Spearman’s g in samples that vary in terms of ability (i.e., high and low ability) and age (i.e., children and adolescents). Findings suggest that as children mature, their cognitive abilities become increasingly differentiated, irrespective of individual differences in general ability.
An evaluation of a family visit education program.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to examine the impact of the Family Visit Education Program (FVEP) on family members, nursing staff, and nursing home residents with dementia. DESIGN: The study employed a 2 × 3 single-blind, randomized control group design with two study conditions, FVEP or usual care (UC), and three times of measurement, baseline, 3-months, and 6-months. SETTING: The study was conducted in five skilled-care nursing homes that ranged in size from 120 to 300 beds. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-six residents with dementia and their primary visitor were randomly assigned to FVEP (n = 32) or UC (n = 34). MEASUREMENTS: Residents were assessed for (1) psychosocial functioning, (2) depression, (3) agitated behavior, and (4) degree of positive social interaction. Nursing staff were assessed for changes in the time and methods used to manage problem behaviors. Visitors were assessed for (1) dementia management skills, (2) extent of perceived caregiving hassles, and (3) visit satisfaction. RESULTS: FVEP was effective for reducing residents' problem behaviors and for decreasing their symptoms of depression and irritability. It was also effective for improving the way family members and other visitors communicated with residents, but, with the exception of reducing the use of mechanical restraints, it was not effective in changing nurses' management of residents' behavior problems. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to educate family members to communicate and interact more effectively with nursing home residents with dementia. This has beneficial effects on residents but not on nursing staff's management of problem behaviors. J Am Geriatr Soc 47:203–214, 1999.
Flexural and axial compressive failures of three-dimensionally braided composite l-beams

Abstract Three-dimensionally braided composite l-beams have been loaded in four-point flexure and under axial compression. Linear stress/strain behaviour up to the point of initial failure was observed in the flexure tests. Both tests provided consistent data for compressive moduli as well as good resolution for the characterization of damage initiation and propagation. The absence of delamination observed in the three material/geometry combinations for the composite l-beams compared with conventional laminated composites demonstrated the inherent through-the-thickness reinforcement of the three-dimensionally braided composites.
The role of inflammation and anti-inflammatory medication in asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways involving a wide range of cells and mediators. First-line therapy of persistent asthma involves the use of inhaled corticosteroids to control the underlying inflammation of the airways. Inhaled beta2-agonists are also widely used in asthma therapy and are the most effective bronchodilators currently available. The short-acting beta2-agonists are now used on an as-needed basis for rapid relief of symptoms, In recent years, long-acting inhaled beta2-agonists have had an increasing role in the management of asthma, particularly in patients with moderate to severe asthma. This class of drug has a long duration of action and is recommended as add-on treatment to inhaled corticosteroids in the long-term control of asthma. New therapies have been added to asthma therapy as our understand ng of the pathogenesis of asthma has increased. The use of multiple therapies necessitates a clear understanding of the mode of action of the drugs and any potential interaction or overlap of effect. For many people asthma is associated with complex therapy; thus treatment developments that simplify asthma treatment are an mportant step forward n asthma management.
Bacterial Discrimination: Dictyostelium’s Discerning Taste

New research indicates that the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum recognizes distinctions between Gram(-) and Gram(+) bacterial prey and responds discriminately to these two groups of bacteria. These findings may lend insight to the origins of microbial pattern recognition in innate immunity.
Improved activity sedimentation method

Abstract The activity sedimentation method of Cohen is improved by use of a sucrose gradient to stabilize the sedimenting band. Approximate means of analyzing the data are outlined consistent with the limitations of the method. The molecular weight of a newly discovered glutamic dehydrogenase from Mycoplasma laidlawii is also estimated to be 250,000 ± 10%.
Learning speaker recognition models through human-robot interaction

Person identification is the problem of identifying an individual that a computer system is seeing, hearing, etc. Typically this is accomplished using models of the individual. Over time, however, people change. Unless the models stored by the robot change with them, those models will became less and less reliable over time. This work explores automatic updating of person identification models in the domain of speaker recognition. By fusing together tracking and recognition systems from both visual and auditory perceptual modalities, the robot can robustly identify people during continuous interactions and update its models in real-time, improving rates of speaker classification.
Coded excitation system for improving the penetration of real-time phased-array imaging systems

Based on an analysis of the inherent signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in medical ultrasound imaging, SNR improvements of 15-20 dB are theoretically possible for real-time phased-array imagers using coded excitation. A very simple coded excitation for phased arrays based on the principles of 'pseudochirp' excitation and equalization filtering is described. This system is capable of SNR improvements of about 15 dB with range sidelobe levels acceptable for many medical imaging applications. Such improvements permit increased operating frequencies, and hence enhanced spatial resolution, for real-time array imagers. Both simulations and measurements are used to demonstrate the efficacy of the method. >
DISCHARGE AND SUSPENDED SEDIMENT PATTERNS OF AN INTERMITTENT COLD DESERT STREAM

Sage Creek in south-central Wyoming is listed as impaired by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) due to its sediment contribution to the North Platte River. Despite the magnitude of sediment impacts on streams, little research has been conducted to characterize patterns of sediment transport or to model suspended sediment concentration in many arid western U.S. streams. This study examined the relationship between stream discharge and suspended sediment concentration near the Sage Creek and North Platte River confluence from 1998 through 2003. The objectives were to determine patterns of stream discharge and suspended sediment concentration, produce a sediment prediction model, and compare sediment concentrations for the six-year period. Stream discharge and suspended sediment transport responded rapidly to convective storms and spring runoff events. During the study period, events exceeding 0.23 m 3 /s accounted for 92 percent of the sediment load, which is believed to originate from erodible headwater uplands. Further analysis of these data indicates that time series modeling is superior to simple linear regression in predicting sediment concentration. Significant increases in suspended sediment concentration occurred in all years except 2003. This analysis suggests that a six-year monitoring record was insufficient to factor out impacts from climate, geology, and historical sediment storage.
Pricing Effects of the Decision to Sell or Hold Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loans in a Portfolio

Residential mortgage originators can transfer loans to ultimate lenders quickly and efficiently using the secondary mortgage market. Some adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) lenders use this outlet consistently while others hold whole loans in their portfolios on a long-term basis. Selling and holding lenders should respond to different economic factors when setting yields on ARM loans originated because their long-term positions in the loans are so diverse. This paper develops and tests a model of differential pricing behavior for selling and holding strategies. Empirical results support the notion that lenders use different factors to price loans and that these factors are related to the risks faced by the originating lender given its origination strategy. Additional findings suggest that institutional and firm-specific pricing tendencies exist in the primary mortgage market for adjustable rate debt.
Heuristic Acceleration of Force-Directed Placement

Two heuristic methods are presented for accelerating convergence of a force-directed placement problem. The first stabilizes the derivative of the repulsion force. The second uses information on device movement and instability characteristics to make a predictive extrapolation. Convergence is accelerated by replacing iterations with the faster heuristic iterations. A standard implementation from the literature is made three to four times faster by using these techniques.
Cellodextrin utilization and β-glucosidase production by Bacteroides polypragmatus

Bacteroides polypragmatus, a mesophilic obligate anaerobe, was shown to simultaneously ferment glucose and cellobiose giving ethanol as a major metabolic end-product. A mixture of higher cellodextrins was also utilized. The bacterium produced a β-glucosidase with a pI value of 4.2 and a molecular weight of approximately 100000 daltons. The enzyme was intracellular and functioned optimally at pH 7. The Km values obtained with p-nitrophenyl-β-d-glucoside and cellobiose as substrates were 0.73 mM and 100 mM, respectively. The enzyme was quite stable at elevated temperatures; in the presence of 10% glycerol (v/v), it had a half-life of 4 h at 55°C. It was also stable during long-term storage at either 4°C or-20°C, provided that 10% (v/v) glycerol was added to preparations maintained at-20°C.
Identification of a heregulin binding site in HER3 extracellular domain.

Abstract HER3 (also known as c-Erb-b3) is a type I receptor tyrosine kinase similar in sequence to the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. The extracellular segment of this transmembrane receptor contains four domains. Domains I and II are similar in sequence to domains III and IV, respectively, and domains II and IV are cysteine-rich. We show that the EGF-like domain of heregulin (hrg) binds to domains I and II of HER3, in contrast to the EGF receptor, for which prior studies have shown that a construct consisting of domains III and portions of domain IV binds EGF. Next, we identified a putative hrg binding site by limited proteolysis of the recombinant extracellular domains of HER3 (HER3-ECDI–IV) in both the presence and absence of hrg. In the absence of hrg, HER3-ECDI–IV is cleaved after position Tyr50, near the beginning of domain I. Binding of hrg to HER3-ECDI–IV fully protects position Tyr50from proteolysis. To confirm that domain I contains a hrg binding site, we expressed domains I and II (HER3-ECDI-II) and find that it binds hrg with 68 nm affinity. These data suggest that domains I and II of HER3-ECDI–IV act as a functional unit in folding and binding of hrg. Thus, our biochemical findings reinforce the structural hypothesis of others that HER3-ECDI–IV is similar to the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R), as follows: 1) The protected cleavage site in HER3-ECDI–IVcorresponds to a binding footprint in domain I of IGF-1R; 2) HER3-ECDI-II binds hrg with a 68 nmdissociation constant, supporting the hypothesis that domain I is involved in ligand binding; and 3) the large accessible surface area (1749 A) of domain L1 of IGF-1R that is buried by domain S1, as well as the presence of conserved contacts in this interface of type 1 RTKs, suggests that domains L1 and S1 of IGF-1R function as a unit as observed for HER3-ECDI-II. Our results are consistent with the proposal that HER3 has a structure similar to IGF-1R and binds ligand at a site in corresponding domains.