cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seismic structure of the Transverse Ranges, California

Travel-time data obtained from both natural and artificial events occurring in southern California indicate a major, lateral crustal transition within the Transverse Range Province. The eastern crust is very similar to the adjacent Mojave region, where a crustal velocity of 6.2 km/sec is typically observed. The western ranges are dominated by an extensive 6.7 km/sec layer. P_n velocity beneath the western Mojave, Transverse Ranges, and northern Peninsular Ranges is 7.8 km/sec. The crustal thickness of these provinces is 30 to 35 km. The Transverse Ranges do not have a distinct crustal root. Unlike other provinces within southern California, the Transverse Ranges are underlain at a depth of 40 km by a refractor with a P-velocity of 8.3 km/sec. P-delays from a vertically incident, well-recorded teleseism suggest that this velocity anomaly extends to a depth of 100 km. These data indicate that this high-velocity, ridge-like structure is coincident with much of the areal extent of the geomorphic Transverse Ranges and is not offset by the San Andreas fault. Four hypotheses are advanced to explain the continuity of this feature across the plate boundary: (1) dynamic phase change; (2) a coincidental alignment of crust or mantle anomalies; (3) the litho-sphere is restricted to the crust; (4) the plate boundary at depth is displaced from the San Andreas fault at the surface. Within the context of the last model, we suggest the plate boundary at depth is at the eastern end of the velocity anomaly, in the vicinity of the active Helendale-Lenwood-Camprock faults. The regionally observed 7.8 km/sec layer is suggested as a zone of decoupling necessary to accommodate the horizontal shear that must result from the divergence of the crust and upper mantle plate boundaries. The geomorphic Transverse Ranges are viewed as crustal buckling caused by the enhanced coupling between the crust and upper mantle which is suggested by the locally thin, 7.8 km/sec layer.
Effects of phencyclidine and ketamine in pigeons on behavior suppressed by brief electrical shocks.

Pigeons were trained to respond under fixed-ratio 30 (FR30) schedules of grain presentation. The schedule consisted of two FR30 components. In one component, every 30th response produced access to grain; FR30. In the second component, every 30th response produced access to grain, but responding was suppressed by having every response produce a brief electrical shock; FR30 (shock). In one phase of the experiment, there were no visual stimuli associated with the separate components; mixed FR30 FR30 (shock), and in the second phase, a distinctive stimulus was associated with each of the two components; mult FR30 FR30 (shock). High rates of responding (∼ 2.0 responses/sec) were maintained in the FR30 components, and responding was almost totally suppressed (<0.02 response/sec) in the FR30 (shock) components. The effects of phencyclidine and ketamine were compared with pentobarbital, d-amphetamine and morphine. Phencyclidine and ketamine, over a narrow dose range, produced small increases in responding under the FR30 (shock) component of both the mixed and multiple schedules. By comparison, pentobarbital produced very large increases in responding under the FR30 (shock) component of both schedules. Increasing doses of d-amphetamine and morphine either had no effect on or decreased the response rate in both components of the mixed and multiple schedules. The results suggest that phencyclidine and ketamine may have some properties qualitatively like pentobarbital and unlike d-amphetamine and morphine in attenuating the suppression of behavior produced by brief electrical shocks.
FINITE ELEMENT HAMILTONIAN MONTE CARLO OF SU(2)

Following Bender et al., we apply the finite element method to a compact non-abelian system. We do a hamiltonian Monte Carlo on a 0+1 dimensional lattice and compare the results with those obtained by a finite difference method. For the kinetic energy, the Feynman-Hibbs prescription is followed and the finite element method is shown to be distinctly superior.
Linearized reduced-order models for subsurface flow simulation

A trajectory piecewise linearization (TPWL) procedure for the reduced-order modeling of two-phase flow in subsurface formations is developed and applied. The method represents new pressure and saturation states using linear expansions around states previously simulated and saved during a series of preprocessing training runs. The linearized representation is projected into a low-dimensional space, with the projection matrix constructed through proper orthogonal decomposition of the states determined during the training runs. The TPWL model is applied to two example problems, containing 24,000 and 79,200 grid blocks, which are characterized by heterogeneous permeability descriptions. Extensive test simulations are performed for both models. It is shown that the TPWL model provides accurate results when the controls (bottom hole pressures of the production wells in this case) applied in test simulations are within the general range of the controls applied in the training runs, even though the well pressure schedules for the test runs can differ significantly from those of the training runs. This indicates that the TPWL model displays a reasonable degree of robustness. Runtime speedups using the procedure are very significant-a factor of 100-2000 (depending on model size and whether or not mass balance error is computed at every time step) for the cases considered. The preprocessing overhead required by the TPWL procedure is the equivalent of about four high-fidelity simulations. Finally, the TPWL procedure is applied to a computationally demanding multiobjective optimization problem, for which the Pareto front is determined. Limited high-fidelity simulations demonstrate the accuracy and applicability of TPWL for this optimization. Future work should focus on error estimation and on stabilizing the method for large models with significant density differences between phases.
Tolerance of patients with human immunodeficiency virus and anal carcinoma to treatment with combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate treatment tolerance in patients with and without the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who were undergoing treatment of anal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 62 patients with anal cancer who received radiation treatment. Seven patients had HIV, four of whom had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Fifty-five patients were HIV negative, including 11 patients identified as being at high risk for HIV infection whose status was unknown. RESULTS: Thirty of the 55 (55%) patients who were HIV negative required treatment breaks of a mean duration of 16.7 days. Four of those 55 (7%) patients required hospitalization. Three of 42 (7%) patients who were HIV negative receiving chemotherapy required chemotherapy dose reduction. All seven patients with HIV required treatment breaks of a mean duration of 21.7 days. Three of the seven (43%) patients required hospitalization. Four of the seven (57%) patients required chemotherapy dose reduction...
Low-Temperature Single-Molecule Spectroscopy of MEH-PPV Conjugated Polymer Molecules

Relatively narrow bandwidth fluorescence spectra were observed from isolated single molecules of the conjugated polymer, MEH-PPV (poly[2-methoxy-5-(2‘-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene]) at low temperature. The spectroscopy reveals rich spectral information in energy relaxation pathways and structure of this important electroluminescent material. From room temperature to 20 K the fluorescence of MEH-PPV molecules was found to red-shift by ∼20 nm along with a decreased electron−phonon coupling. The fluorescence spectra give clear evidence for efficient electronic energy funneling to a small number (one in some cases) of low-energy sites, each with an increased effective conjugation length compared to room temperature.
New Casing and Backfill Design for Neutron Logging Access Boreholes

In an effort to enhance the usefulness of neutron logging for environmental applications, a new combination of backfill and casing materials for access boreholes has been developed. The combination of acrylic casing and polyurethane foam backfill has been tested under laboratory and field conditions. Acrylic casing does not significantly attenuate fluxes of either high energy or thermal neutrons, in contrast with polyvinyl chloride casing which reduces the thermal neutron flux by more than 40 percent due to neutron absorption by chlorine, Polyurethane foam, which is inert, hydrophobic, and insoluble in water, adheres well to both dry and wetted soils, sediments, and rocks. It can be formed in situ at a low but controllable, bulk density. At a bulk density of 0.08 g cm(-3), and in combination with acrylic casing, polyurethane foam increases the thermal neutron count by less than 5 percent in a saturated sand, relative to background. In addition to its small effect on the neutron flux, polyurethane foam, unlike bentonite or cement, does not affect the moisture content of the surrounding formation during installation. Furthermore, because it is a closed-cell foam, its moisture content does not change under varying formation moisture conditions. As was shown in related fieldmore » tests, polyurethane foam is especially well suited for backfilling boreholes in fractured rocks because of its fast set time which minimizes penetration into fractures. The design proved to be convenient and durable under rugged field conditions.« less
Two lives, two times: Life-writing after Shoah

Life stories such as memoirs reflect the interplay of autobiographical reasoning, and collective remembrance at a time and in a place where memoirs are written. Using this perspective for understanding life-writing, I discuss memoirs written by two women who were formerly internees in the Nazi extermination camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Olga Lengyel (1909–2001) lost her entire family in the camp and wrote her memoir in Paris just after the war. Her account describes the atrocities that she observed with few reflections on her own experiences. Mira Ryczke Kimmelman, (1923–) wrote her memoir more than half a century later as an emigre to the United States after the war where she and her husband raised their children and where she is presently an active participant in the survivor community. Her memoir is written as what Tomkins and McAdams have portrayed as a characteristic American redemptive account of successfully overcoming adversity. Following a happy childhood and suffering through the Shoah, Mira Kimmelman is a generative mentor who lectures on her experiences and leads tours for young people back to her homeland. She is concerned that the next generation be spared the suffering of the Shoah.
Monosaccharide and disaccharide isomerization over Lewis acid sites in hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecular sieves

Lewis acid sites isolated within low-defect, hydrophobic molecular sieves (Sn-Beta-F, Ti-Beta-F) catalyze monosaccharide (glucose–fructose) and disaccharide (lactose–lactulose) aldose–ketose isomerization reactions in liquid water at initial turnover rates (per total metal atom; 373 K) that are, respectively, ∼10–30 and ∼10^3–10^4 factors higher than sites isolated within highly defective, hydrophilic molecular sieves (Ti-Beta-OH) or amorphous co-precipitated oxides (TiO_(2)–SiO_(2)). Glucose-H2/glucose-D2 kinetic isotope effects of ∼2 (at 373 K) for intramolecular C2–C1 hydride shift isomerization to fructose indicate that glucose transport to active sites within Ti-Beta-F or Ti-Beta-OH does not limit turnover rates in liquid water or methanol, in spite of dramatic differences in the volumetric occupation of hydrophobic and hydrophilic void spaces by physisorbed solvent molecules. Glucose isomerization turnover rates (per total Ti; 373 K) in liquid water are first-order in aqueous glucose concentration (at least up to 1.5% (w/w)). The mechanistic interpretation of measured first-order isomerization rate constants indicates that they reflect free energies of kinetically relevant isomerization transition states relative to two bound solvent molecules, which adsorb competitively with sugars at Lewis acid sites and are the most abundant surface intermediates during steady-state catalysis. The lower isomerization rate constants on Ti centers in highly defective environments, in part, reflect stronger coordination of solvent molecules to Ti centers via additional hydrogen bonding interactions with proximal surface hydroxyl groups. The direct measurement of glucose isomerization rate constants in the liquid phase provides a rigorous and quantitative description of the catalytic differences prevalent among Lewis acidic silica-based solids with hydrophobic or hydrophilic properties, and their interpretation using a mechanism-based rate equation provides further clarity into the inhibition of catalytic turnovers at Lewis acid sites by solvent coordination.
ERGODIC AFFINE TRANSFORMATIONS ARE LOOSELY BERNOULLI

We prove that an ergodic affine transformation of a compact abelian group is loosely Bernoulli, that is, it can be induced from a Bernoulli shift.
Characterization of the ion beam inside the skimmer cone of an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer by laser excited atomic and ionic fluorescence

Abstract Laser-induced atomic and ionic fluorescence have been used to characterize the material extracted from an inductively coupled plasma through a differentially pumped interface of the type used in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Measurements were made in the 8 mm downstream from the tip of the skimmer cone. Reference measurements were also made outside the interface at the tip of the sampling cone. Sc and Ba ions and Pb atoms were used as test analytes. Sc + densities drop more rapidly than either Ba + or Pb densities. The transmission efficiencies of both Sc + and Ba + are suppressed by the addition of either Mg or Pb to the analyte solution. The effects of the two matrix additions are approximately the same. Based on the magnitude of the fluorescence signal for Ba + , a lower limit of 0.3% for the transmission of Ba + from the plasma into the second vacuum stage has been calculated.
Power Doppler dual-frame triggering of myocardial contrast echocardiography: a quantitative video intensity analysis.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to define the pattern of myocardial contrast observed during triggered dual-frame power Doppler imaging. Methods and Results: Ten patients with no previous history of myocardial infarction underwent a continuous intravenous infusion of Optison at 0.5 ml/min. Triggered, sequential dual-frame power Doppler imaging was performed from an apical four-chamber view using a prototype Acuson Sequoia imaging system. The average triggering interval was once every four cardiac cycles, and the average interval between sequential frames was 50 msec. Video intensity analysis was performed in five myocardial regions of interest, and the percent decrease in video intensity of the destruction frames in each region of interest was determined by subtracting the destruction frame video intensity from the fill frame video intensity. The percent decrease in video intensity varied significantly by myocardial location (P < 0.001), with greater destruction seen in the apical than in the basal regions. Conclusion: This preliminary study demonstrates that power Doppler dual-frame triggering produces nonuniform decreases in video intensity, which likely represent nonuniform microbubble destruction. These results have important implications for the interpretation of myocardial perfusion patterns using this technique.
Very high cycle fatigue crack initiation in electroplated Ni films under extreme stress gradients

A characterization technique based on kilohertz micro-resonators is presented to investigate the very high cycle fatigue behavior of 20 μm thick electroplated Ni films with a columnar microstructure (grain diameter less than 2 μm). The films exhibit superior fatigue resistance due to the extreme stress gradients at the surface. The effects of stress amplitude and environment on the formation of fatigue extrusions and micro-cracks are discussed based on scanning electron microscopy and the tracking of the specimens’ resonant frequency.
BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON BLACK GRAM (PHASEOLUS MUNGO L.) 111. FERMENTATION OF THE BLACK GRAM AND RICE BLEND AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE IN VITRO DIGESTIBILITY OF THE PROTEINS

Fermentation of black gram and rice blend was investigated for the microbiological, physicochemical, and biochemical changes. Total soluble solids, soluble nitrogen, and soluble acids increased during fermentation whereas soluble sugars were decreased. Trypsin inhibiting activity was unaffected although chymotrypsin inhibiting activity was progressively reduced during fermentation process. Amino acid contents of the batter were increased with the increase in fermentation time with the exceptions of isoleucine and cysteine. Increase in methionine content was 60 and 420%, respectively at 20 and 45 h fermentation. Enzymic digestion with pepsin and pancreatin indicated improvement in the availability of essential amino acids during the fementation. Fermentation, thus, appeared to improve the nutritional quality of the proteins in the black gram and rice blend.
Snake-directed Behavior by Black-tailed Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus)

When exposed to an anesthetized snake, feral black-tailed prairie dogs living in a high-snake-density area approached ambivalently and investigated the snake, typically near the head. Snake-investigation was interrupted intermittently, when the prairie dog jumped away, foot thumped or jump yipped, and approached the snake again. This behavior attracted other prairie dogs, who behaved similarly. Message analyses of two apparent signaling acts — foot thumping and jump yipping — demonstrated that they convey information that withdrawal from the snake has become less likely, and continued interaction with the snake more likely. Prairie dogs in a zoo and feral prairie dogs in a low-snake-density area were unresponsive to immobile snakes, but reacted strongly when the snake was permitted to move. We compared these results to similar data on California ground squirrels and discussed the selection pressures, and ontogenetic and perceptual processes that may have acted as determinants of this snake-directed behavior.
Health-related quality of life and psychological adjustment of children and adolescents with hypospadias.

Objective To assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and psychological adjustment of children and adolescents after hypospadias repair and to identify sociodemographic, medical, and psychosocial predictors of outcome. Study design 77 boys (7-17 years old) who underwent surgery for hypospadias were investigated in a cross-sectional study. Child- and mother-rated HRQoL was evaluated by the TNO-AZL Child Quality of Life Questionnaire, psychological adjustment by the Child Behavior Checklist. Scores were compared with an age-matched control group consisting of 77 boys after hernia repair. Results Compared with the control subjects, self-reported HRQoL of patients with hypospadias was lower in most dimensions. In contrast, mother-reported HRQoL and psychological adjustment did not differ in the 2 groups. Higher age and “being less ashamed of penile appearance” predicted better self-reported HRQoL, whereas positive penile self-perception, the patient's experience of not having been teased about his penis, and more severe hypospadias contributed to better mother-reported HRQoL. Psychological adjustment was predicted by higher age, Swiss nationality, more severe hypospadias, and the patient's experience of not having been teased about his penis. Conclusions In contrast to psychological adjustment, self-reported HRQoL of boys with hypospadias can be diminished. Psychosocial factors are more important predictors than medical variables.
Next generation tools for genomic data generation, distribution, and visualization

With the rapidly falling cost and availability of high throughput sequencing and microarray technologies, the bottleneck for effectively using genomic analysis in the laboratory and clinic is shifting to one of effectively managing, analyzing, and sharing genomic data. Here we present three open-source, platform independent, software tools for generating, analyzing, distributing, and visualizing genomic data. These include a next generation sequencing/microarray LIMS and analysis project center (GNomEx); an application for annotating and programmatically distributing genomic data using the community vetted DAS/2 data exchange protocol (GenoPub); and a standalone Java Swing application (GWrap) that makes cutting edge command line analysis tools available to those who prefer graphical user interfaces. Both GNomEx and GenoPub use the rich client Flex/Flash web browser interface to interact with Java classes and a relational database on a remote server. Both employ a public-private user-group security model enabling controlled distribution of patient and unpublished data alongside public resources. As such, they function as genomic data repositories that can be accessed manually or programmatically through DAS/2-enabled client applications such as the Integrated Genome Browser. These tools have gained wide use in our core facilities, research laboratories and clinics and are freely available for non-profit use. See http://sourceforge.net/projects/gnomex/ , http://sourceforge.net/projects/genoviz/ , and http://sourceforge.net/projects/useq .
Sphingosine 1-phosphate and its G protein-coupled receptors constitute a multifunctional immunoregulatory system.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) are distinctive mediators of immune cellular proliferation, survival and functions, which are present at highly active concentrations in blood, lymph, and tissue corridors of lymphocyte traffic [Moolenaar et al., 1997; Spiegel et al., 1998]. In the immune system, dendritic cells, macrophages, mast cells, and platelets are the principal sources of LPA and S1P. Each type of immune cell expresses a characteristic profile of one or more of the nine Edg-family G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) selective for either S1P or LPA, which is controlled developmentally and by diverse stimuli (Table I) [Goetzl et al., 2000; Chun et al., 2002]. S1P and, often less effectively, LPA are chemotactic for many types of immune cells, including T-cells, B-cells, dendritic cells, and NK cells at their normal ambient tissue levels of 3–300 nM [Zheng et al., 2000, 2001; Graeler et al., 2002; Idzko et al., 2002; Kveberg et al., 2002]. At blood and lymph concentrations of over 0.3–3 μM, however, S1P but not LPA nearly completely inhibits lymphocyte migration to chemokines and other stimuli, and suppresses less profoundly lymphocyte proliferation and secretion of some cytokines [Graeler et al., 2002; Dorsam et al., 2003]. That expression of LPA and S1P GPCRs in thymus is restricted to the last phases of development indicates possible roles in terminal differentiation and emigration of CD4 and CD8 T-cells, which remain to be elucidated definitively. As there are numerous and often redundant stimuli of T-cell migration and distinct immunological functions, but fewer specific suppressive influences, the immunoregulatory activities of S1P and its GPCRs are the principal focus of current interest. The potential importance of these immunoregulatory effects is emphasized by their magnitude and involvement in development, tissue distribution, and activities of lymphocytes. Some of the recent excitement in this field is also attributable to the strong possibility of discovering unique classes of immunoactive drugs that target S1P GPCRs. Newly established mouse genetic models of altered expression of T-cell S1P GPCRs and novel functional anti-S1P R monoclonal antibodies now have provided systems and reagents for analyzing further the separate immune contributions of each of the predominant T-cell S1P GPCRs. The results of such studies also may permit accurate predictions of the immune effects of individual S1P GPCR-selective agonists and antagonists. TABLE I Immune Cell Expression of mRNAs Encoding LPA and S1P GPCRs*
Early weaning from CPAP to high flow nasal cannula in preterm infants is associated with prolonged oxygen requirement: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract Objective To determine the better approach for weaning preterm infants from nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) with or without transitioning to nasal cannula (NC). Design/methods This is a randomized, open label, controlled trial. Preterm infants born at ≥28weeks gestation who were clinically stable on NCPAP of 5cm H 2 O with FiO 2 2 =0.21 for 24h, and then were weaned off NCPAP completely without any exposure to NC. If they met failing criteria, NCPAP was re-instituted. The NC-group was weaned off NCPAP when FiO 2 was ≤0.30 to NC (2L/min) followed by gradual weaning from oxygen. Infants who failed NC were supported back with NCPAP for 24h before making a second attempt of NC. Results Sixty neonates were enrolled; 30 in each group. The two groups were similar in birthweight, gestational age, sex, antenatal steroids, mode of delivery, use of surfactant and xanthines, and duration of mechanical ventilation. After randomization, the no-NC group had fewer days on oxygen [median (interquartile range): 5 (1–8) vs 14 (7.5–19.25) days, p p =0.03]. There were no differences between groups regarding success of weaning from NCPAP. Conclusions Weaning preterm infants from NCPAP to NC is associated with increased exposure to oxygen and longer duration of respiratory support.
A study of peacekeeping, peace-enforcement and private military companies in Sierra Leone : features

The four military interventions into the conflict in Sierra Leone between 1995 and 2000 met with varying degrees of success. One of the more effective ones was launched by a private military compan...
Transplantation of autologous peripheral blood progenitor cells: impact of CD34-cell selection on immunological reconstitution

Peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) represent an ideal source of stem cells for autologous transplantation because of technical advantages and more favourable engraftment kinetics. The reconstituion of a functional immune system occurs earlier in patients transplanted with cytokine-mobilized autologous PBPC compared with bone marrow; because of the greater T-cell content in PBPC products, donor-derived antigen-specific T-cells transferred with the graft might contribute to short-term immunity in transplant recipients. Despite a prompt reconstitution of B- and T-cell numbers, both B- and T-cell function are profoundly impaired for a prolonged period of time after PBPC infusion. The positive selection of CD34+ cells might provide effective tumor cell purging without compromising hematopoietic recovery in patients with acute leukemia, multiple myeloma, breast cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, whose autografts have been reported to contain malignant cells which might promote disease relapse. However, the incidence of viral infections in the early posttransplant period might be increased after CD34-selected compared with unmanipulated PBPC transplants, as a result of the lack of accessory and immune cells in the graft. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on immunological reconstitution after transplantation of autologous PBPC; in particular, emphasis will be placed on the mechanisms of immune dysfunction after the infusion of unmanipulated and CD34-selected autografts.
A Model for Evolution of Small Pull-Apart Basins: ABSTRACT

A preliminary model for the evolution of small extensional or pull-apart basins is presented. The very rapid subsidence, sediment accumulation, and hydrocarbon maturation observed in many basins of this type are explained using a McKenzie-type approach. Lateral heat loss is shown to be a critical factor in controlling the rate of heat loss in basins of finite width. In a simple two stage model where stretching and cooling are assumed to occur as separate processes, more than one-third of the total thermal subsidence occurs in the first 200,000 yr of cooling for a basin 30 km (20 mi) across. This allows for the accumulation of over 2 km (6,500 ft) of sediment. Because the time required for a 10-km (6-mi) long block to be stretched to 30 km (20 mi) is substantially greater han 200,000 yr, much of the cooling and subsidence must take place during stretching. This simultaneous stretching and cooling is approximated by alternating short periods of stretching and cooling. The resulting model is applied to the development of the basins associated with the San Andreas fault in southern California. These basins have recently (Miocene to Present) undergone rapid (up to 6 km, 4 mi) subsidence and sediment accumulation as well as rapid maturation of hydrocarbons. They appear to have been initiated in an extensional regime along irregularities in the strike-slip motion of the fault, even though some of the basins have been modified by subsequent compression. These basins are therefore excellent candidates for testing the proposed model. End_of_Article - Last_Page 449------------
Platelet activating factor synthesis and metabolism in intestinal ischaemia-reperfusion injury.

The object of this study was to characterize the synthesis and metabolism of platelet activating factor (PAF) by intestinal mucosa subjected to ischaemia–reperfusion injury. Canine intestinal mucosa produced 16:0-PAF, 18:0-PAF, and high levels of the corresponding lyso- PAF metabolites. Three h of intestinal ischaemia and ischaemia followed by 1 h of reperfusion did not affect the synthesis or metabolism of PAF by intestinal mucosa. Intestinal mucosa elaborated a factor that rapidly hydrolyzes PAF to lyso-PAF. The observed hydrolysis rate was not altered by ischaemia or ischaemia and reperfusion. In conclusion, this study suggests that intestinal mucosa produces PAF and rapidly hydrolyzes PAF. The PAF synthesis and metabolism rates of intestinal mucosa is not altered by ischaemia reperfusion in this model under the imposed conditions.
Population-based analysis of sudden cardiac death with and without left ventricular systolic dysfunction: two-year findings from the Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study.

Objectives We sought to evaluate the contribution of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction toward occurrence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the general population, and to identify distinguishing characteristics of SCD in the absence of LV dysfunction. Background Patients who manifest warning symptoms and signs are more likely to undergo evaluation before SCD. Although prevalence of LV dysfunction in this subgroup may overestimate the prevalence in overall SCD, this is the only means of assessment in the general population. Methods All cases of SCD in Multnomah County, Oregon (population 660,486; 2002 to 2004) were prospectively ascertained in the ongoing Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study. We retrospectively assessed LV ejection fraction (LVEF) among subjects who underwent evaluation of LV function before SCD (normal: ≥55%; mildly to moderately reduced: 36% to 54%; and severely reduced: ≤35%). Of a total of 714 SCD cases (annual incidence 54 per 100,000), LV function was assessed in 121 (17%). Results The LVEF was severely reduced in 36 patients (30%), mildly to moderately reduced in 27 (22%), and normal in 58 (48%). Patients with normal LVEF were distinguishable by younger age (66 ± 15 years vs. 74 ± 10 years; p = 0.001), higher proportion of females (47% vs. 27%; p = 0.025), higher prevalence of seizure disorder (14% vs. 0%; p = 0.002), and lower prevalence of established coronary artery disease (50% vs. 81%; p Conclusions In this community-wide study, only one-third of the evaluated SCD cases had severe LV dysfunction meeting current criteria for prophylactic cardioverter-defibrillator implantation. The SCD cases with normal LV function had several distinguishing clinical characteristics. These findings support the aggressive development of alternative screening methods to enhance identification of patients at risk.
Noninvasive in vivo small animal MRI and MRS: basic experimental procedures.

Small animal Magnetic Resonance (MR) research has emerged as an important element of modern biomedical research due to its non-invasive nature and the richness of biological information it provides. MR does not require any ionizing radiation and can noninvasively provide higher resolution and better signal-to-noise ratio in comparison to other tomographic or spectroscopic modalities. In this protocol, we will focus on small animal MR imaging and MR spectroscopy (MRI/MRS) to noninvasively acquire relaxation weighted 1H images of mouse and to obtain 31P spectra of mouse muscle. This work does not attempt to cover every aspect of small animal MRI/MRS but rather introduces basic procedures of mouse MRI/MRS experiments. The main goal of this work is to inform researchers of the basic procedures for in vivo MR experiments on small animals. The goal is to provide a better understanding of basic experimental procedures to allow researchers new to the MR field to better plan for non-MR components of their studies so that both MR and non-MR procedures are seamlessly integrated.
The Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential of SGLT2 Inhibitors in Diabetes Mellitus

The kidneys in normoglycemic humans filter 160-180 g of glucose per day (∼30% of daily calorie intake), which is reabsorbed and returned to the systemic circulation by the proximal tubule. Hyperglycemia increases the filtered and reabsorbed glucose up to two- to three-fold. The sodium glucose cotransporter SGLT2 in the early proximal tubule is the major pathway for renal glucose reabsorption. Inhibition of SGLT2 increases urinary glucose and calorie excretion, thereby reducing plasma glucose levels and body weight. The first SGLT2 inhibitors have been approved as a new class of antidiabetic drugs in type 2 diabetes mellitus, and studies are under way to investigate their use in type 1 diabetes mellitus. These compounds work independent of insulin, improve glycemic control in all stages of diabetes mellitus in the absence of clinically relevant hypoglycemia, and can be combined with other antidiabetic agents. By lowering blood pressure and diabetic glomerular hyperfiltration, SGLT2 inhibitors may induce protective effects on the kidney and cardiovascular system beyond blood glucose control.
Where Berle and Means went wrong: a reassessment of capital market agency and financial reporting

Abstract This paper assesses the effects of Berle and Means' study of the separation of corporate ownership from control on corporate financial reporting theory, research and policy. Their focus on shareholders and managers provided a starting point for the subsequent development of agency theory such that this relationship has come to dominate capital markets research and policy, to the virtual exclusion of parallel issues involving other parties. Berle and Means' omission of the role of investment funds led them to conclude that the separation of ownership from control problems was located between shareholders and company managers. We document the inaccuracy of this conclusion using historical and contemporary US evidence and contemporary evidence for Germany, Japan, South Africa, and Canada. In contrast to Berle and Means, we find that investment fund influence and control over companies is pervasive and probably a common characteristic of modern capital markets. Our analysis shows how viewing the capital markets setting from a richer, two-tier perspective involving investors, investment managers, and company managers results in quite different and better perspectives on financial reporting issues, particularly in terms of company reporting to funds, and fund reporting to investors. Consequently, we suggest that our understanding of capital markets may be improved by studying and portraying more diverse types of parties and their relationships than just managers and owners. This perspective subsumes the single-tier principal-agent model and allows multiple relationships to be portrayed and studied.
Regulation and Function of NF-κB Transcription Factors in the Immune System

The mammalian Rel/NF-κB family of transcription factors, including RelA, c-Rel, RelB, NF-κB1 (p50 and its precursor p105), and NF-κB2 (p52 and its precursor p100), plays a central role in the immune system by regulating several processes ranging from the development and survival of lymphocytes and lymphoid organs to the control of immune responses and malignant transformation. The five members of the NF-κB family are normally kept inactive in the cytoplasm by interaction with inhibitors called IκBs or the unprocessed forms of NF-κB1 and NF-κB2. A wide variety of signals emanating from antigen receptors, pattern-recognition receptors, receptors for the members of TNF and IL-1 cytokine families, and others induce differential activation of NF-κB heterodimers. Although work over the past two decades has shed significant light on the regulation of NF-κB transcription factors and their functions, much progress has been made in the past two years revealing new insights into the regulation and functions of NF-κB...
“Nothing Special to Offer the Negro”: Revisiting the “‘Debsian View’ of the Negro Question”

Since the early twentieth century Eugene V. Debs and his essay “The Negro in the Class Struggle” have been cited repeatedly as examples of an alleged indifference among white radicals to African Americans and the historical significance of racism in the United States. A close reading of the essay reveals just the opposite. Not only did Debs support African Americans' struggle for equality, he believed that it was critical to the realization of America's democratic promise. That position alienated him from other white Socialists, but it won the admiration of African American radicals including W.E.B. Du Bois and A. Philip Randolph. This essay examines how Debs's essay came to be interpreted as a capitulation to racism and, over time, alleged indifference to African Americans and the significance of racism in the history of the United States.
Mechanisms of Sinusoidal Bile Acid Transport

During the past decade, the Na+-dependence of hepatic conjugated bile acid uptake has been well established. Initial studies in the isolated perfused rat liver, isolated rat hepatocytes, and hepatocyte monolayer culture first demonstrated Na+-dependence and ouabain inhibition of taurocholate uptake (for a review, see Blitzer and Boyer, 1982).
Common-mode failures in redundant VLSI systems: a survey

This paper presents a survey of CMF (common-mode failures) in redundant systems with emphasis on VLSI (very large scale integration) systems. The paper discusses CMF in redundant systems, their possible causes, and techniques to analyze reliability of redundant systems in the presence of CMF. Current practice and results on the use of design diversity techniques for CMF are reviewed. By revisiting the CMF problem in the context of VLSI systems, this paper augments earlier surveys on CMF in nuclear and power-supply systems. The need for quantifiable metrics and effective models for CMF in VLSI systems is re-emphasized. These metrics and models are extremely useful in designing reliable systems. For example, using these metrics and models, system designers and synthesis tools can incorporate diversity in redundant systems to maximize protection against CMF.
ALLCAL Earthquake Simulator

Here I introduce ALLCAL, one of the earthquake simulators being developed by scientists of the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC). This article focuses on aspects that may differentiate ALLCAL from other simulators in the group (Tullis et al. , 2012a). Accordingly, few specific results are included here; however, an accompanying overview paper (Tullis et al. , 2012b) assembles and compares outputs from ALLCAL and other earthquake simulators. The heart of any earthquake simulator is the calculation of stresses and displacements from many dislocation elements. ALLCAL uses triangular elements in a whole space. Static values of stresses t ( r ) and displacements u ( r ) at receiver position r are given by (Hirth and Lothe, 1982) ![Graphic][1] (1a)where ![Graphic][2] (1b)and ![Graphic][3] (2a)where ![Graphic][4] (2b) Referencing Figure 1, variable vector and scalar quantities in equations (1a), (1b) and (2a), (2b) are ![Graphic][5] (3) Figure 1. Geometry of a triangular dislocation. The symbols μ and υ are rigidity and Poisson’s ratio, respectively, and Δ u = u +− u − is the discontinuity of displacement across the element, with u + measured on the side where ![Graphic][6] is chosen. Ω( r ) in equation (2a) is the solid angle spanned by the element as seen from r . Ω( r ) goes through zero when r passes through the plane of the patch outside of the element. Ω( r ) has a±2 π discontinuity when r passes through the plane of the patch inside of the element. Ω( r ) gives equation (2a) a displacement jump of ![Graphic][7] across the element. The jump Δ u can have both normal and tangential components. The solid angle is found from ![Graphic][8] (4)where ![Graphic][9] The sign of Ω( r ) is taken to be the same as that of the numerator. Please do not confuse vectors R 1 and R 3 in equation (4) with scalars … [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif [2]: /embed/inline-graphic-2.gif [3]: /embed/inline-graphic-3.gif [4]: /embed/inline-graphic-4.gif [5]: /embed/inline-graphic-5.gif [6]: /embed/inline-graphic-6.gif [7]: /embed/inline-graphic-7.gif [8]: /embed/inline-graphic-8.gif [9]: /embed/inline-graphic-9.gif
A study on effect of interference in cooperative communication

The motivation behind cooperative communication has been to exploit the benefits of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems in an otherwise unlikely scenario. In a system where implementing multiple antennas is impractical, cooperative communication allows a form of transmit diversity to occur by cooperation among other single antenna users, thus creating a virtual antenna array. However, little work has been done that deals with the effect of interference on such systems. This paper explains how a transmit diversity scenario of unequal path gains for the same interferer occurs when participating nodes have the ability to cancel interference, thereby increasing system performance in terms of total link SER.
Assertiveness training with children.

The efficacy of assertiveness training was examined by comparing it to a structured interview/empathic responding procedure and an activity-control procedure. The participants were 48 children and adolescents who were identified as nonproblematic, mildly problematic, or moderately problematic in reference to school performance, classroom behavior, and interpersonal skills. Assertiveness training resulted in enhanced effectiveness of responding on a behavioral role-play test, and these effects persisted after treatment. Generalization to nontrained role-play scenes was established, but there was no evidence of generalization to interpersonal performance in school. Training of social skills was not more effective than the other procedures in reducing self-reported anxiety or anger. The effectiveness of assertiveness training was not dependent upon age or the occurrence of problematic behavior.
Unsupervised accent classification for deep data fusion of accent and language information

Automatic Dialect Identification (DID) has recently gained substantial interest in the speech processing community. Studies have shown that the variation in speech due to dialect is a factor which significantly impacts speech system performance. Dialects differ in various ways such as acoustic traits (phonetic realization of vowels and consonants, rhythmical characteristics, prosody) and content based word selection (grammar, vocabulary, phonetic distribution, lexical distribution, semantics). The traditional DID classifier is usually based on Gaussian Mixture Modeling (GMM), which is employed as baseline system. We investigate various methods of improving the DID based on acoustic and text language sub-systems to further boost the performance. For acoustic approach, we propose to use i-Vector system. For text language based dialect classification, a series of natural language processing (NLP) techniques are explored to address word selection and grammar factors, which cannot be modeled using an acoustic modeling system. These NLP techniques include: two traditional approaches, including N-Gram modeling and Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA), and a novel approach based on Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) and logistic regression classification. Due to the sparsity of training data, traditional text approaches do not offer superior performance. However, the proposed TF-IDF approach shows comparable performance to the i-Vector acoustic system, which when fused with the i-Vector system results in a final audio-text combined solution that is more discriminative. Compared with the GMM baseline system, the proposed audio-text DID system provides a relative improvement in dialect classification performance of +40.1% and +47.1% on the self-collected corpus (UT-Podcast) and NIST LRE-2009 data, respectively. The experiment results validate the feasibility of leveraging both acoustic and textual information in achieving improved DID performance.
Glucose Dysregulation Interacts With APOE-∊4 to Potentiate Temporoparietal Cortical Thinning.

We examined the interactive effects of apolipoprotein ∊4 (APOE-∊4), a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and diabetes risk on cortical thickness among 107 healthy elderly participants; in particular, participants included 27 APOE-∊4+ and 80 APOE-∊4− controls using T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging. Regions of interests included select frontal, temporal, and parietal cortical regions. Among APOE-∊4, glucose abnormalities independently predicted reduced cortical thickness among temporoparietal regions but failed to predict changes for noncarriers. However, among noncarriers, age independently predicted reduced cortical thickness among temporoparietal and frontal regions. Diabetes risk is particularly important for the integrity of cortical gray matter in APOE-∊4 and demonstrates a pattern of thinning that is expected in preclinical AD. However, in the absence of this genetic factor, age confers risk for reduced cortical thickness among regions of expected compromise. This study suppor...
Predicting Alcohol, Cigarette, and Marijuana Use from Preferential Music Consumption.

This study investigated whether use of alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana may be predicted from preferential consumption of particular music genres. Undergraduates (257 women and 78 men) completed a questionnaire assessing these variables. Partial correlation analyses, controlling for sensation-seeking tendencies and behaviors, revealed that listening to conventional music (pop, country, and religious genres) was negatively correlated with cigarette smoking (p=.001) and marijuana use (p<.001). Additionally, listening to energetic music (rap or hip-hop and soul or funk genres) was positively correlated with marijuana use (p=.004). The only significant predictor of alcohol use was country music, with which it was positively correlated (p=.04). This research suggests an especially harmful influence of energetic music on marijuana use.
Community College Choice and the Role of Undermatching in the Lives of African Americans

ABSTRACTAfrican American students enroll in 2-year colleges at disproportionately high rates. Little exploration has been conducted on students within this population who could have attended 4-year institutions—a phenomenon known as undermatching (Bastedo & Flaster, 2014). This study explores their college choice process, the factors that influence their decision to attend a community college, and their experience in this type of institution. Findings reveal the role of familial influences in their decision, student perspectives about their choice, and the social and academic impacts of undermatching. Important implications for future research and practice are highlighted.