cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigation of the effect of calcium ions on the splitting of adenosinetriphosphate by myosin

Abstract A kinetic analysis of the effects of Ca on myosin ATP-ase demonstrates that in the presence of 0.1 M NaCl at pH 6.5 with Ca concentrations below 10 −2 M the data can be explained in 2 different ways: either CaATP is the substrate and free ATP a competitive inhibitor, while all the myosin is active, or only the Ca-myosinate is active and free ATP is the substrate, while CaATP is inactive. As the optimal activity with intermediate Ca concentrations can be accounted for quantitatively by the last explanation without assuming any other postulates, this last explanation is favored.
The Sacred and the Profane in American History Curriculum.

The question of why students think there are two kinds of American history taught—one in the K—12 system and one in the university system—can be examined critically using Emile Durkheim's (1973) description of the sacred and the profane. The history taught in K—12 classrooms often focuses on idealized accounts of the past that protect the status quo. K—12 history emphasizes the underlying values that Durkheim calls the sacred, which are reproduced through the development of a triumphal history. The sacred values in K—12 history emphasize selfless acts of people who sacrificed on behalf of society. In contrast, the curriculum emphasized in college courses often focuses on failings that do not reflect the highest ideals of society, which Durkheim calls the profane. The dissonance between these types of history is important for understanding why different types of history are taught and why social change can be difficult to accomplish.
Macromolecular requirements for the physical initiation of cell division in a filamentous mutant of Agmenellum quadruplicatum

Abstract Strain SN29 is a low temperature-sensitive cell division mutant impaired in the initiation of cross-wall formation. This mutant can be stimulated to initiate multiple divisions by the addition of ethanol. Ethanol-stimulated division and subsequent cell separation are insensitive to inhibition of DNA synthesis but are sensitive to inhibition of protein and RNA synthesis for the first hour. However, prior inhibition of RNA synthesis or protein synthesis does not block the initiation of cross-walls as assessed by light and electron microscopy. These results indicate that the newly synthesized RNA and protein are not needed for the initiation of cross-wall formation and must function in some subsequent step of the division process and that ethanol may act directly to stimulate cross-wall formation, possibly by interacting with the cell membrane.
AES studies of phosphorus impurity on hydrogen embrittlement of Ni2Cr

Abstract High strength Ni-base stainless alloys, which are noted for their corrosion resistance, exhibit an increase in hydrogen embrittlement (HE) following thermomechanical processing. This study examined the role of alloy ordering and phosphorus segregation on the embrittlement of high purity Ni 2 Cr, the basic ordering composition in the Ni-base stainless alloy series. Three Ni 2 Cr alloys, which differed in phosphorus content, were studied in the cold worked and cold worked plus aged at 500°C conditions. Time-to-failure mechanical behavior test results showed a complex relationship between alloy aging time and HE. Grain boundary phosphorus concentrations were obtained from Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) analysis on in situ fracture surfaces of the aged Ni 2 Cr alloys. The AES data showed definite phosphorus segregation to the grain boundaries. The time-to-failure studies and the AES results suggested that phosphorus segregation increased the resistance to intergranular HE at short aging times; the increase in HE resistance was attributed to an increase in grain boundary cohesion. At longer aging times the time-to-failure of all three Ni 2 Cr alloys decreased to a similar low value; that decrease in HE resistance was attributed to the development of long range order in the alloys which caused a change in deformation mode from slip to twinning.
Characterization of Green Fluorescent Proteins by 193 nm Ultraviolet Photodissociation Mass Spectrometry

We investigate the utility of 193 nm ultraviolet photodissociation (UVPD) in comparison to CID, higher energy CID (HCD), and electron transfer dissociation (ETD) for top down fragmentation of highly homologous green fluorescent proteins (GFP) in the gas phase. Several GFP variants were constructed via mutation of surface residues to charged moieties, demonstrating different pIs and presenting a challenge for identification by mass spectrometry. Presented is a comparison of fragmentation techniques utilized for top down characterization of four variants with varying levels of surface charge. UVPD consistently resulted in identification of more fragment ions relative to other MS/MS methods, allowing higher confidence identification. In addition to the high number of fragment ions, the sites of fragmentation were more evenly spread throughout the protein backbone, which proved key for localizing the point mutations.
A comparison of maximum likelihood and Jewell's estimators of the odds ratio and relative risk in single 2 × 2 tables

This paper compares the maximum likelihood estimators of the odds ratio and relative risk in 2 x 2 tables with less biased estimators recently proposed by Jewell for small samples. In addition to bias, location in the confidence interval, and relative likelihood are calculated for ranges of sample sizes, probabilities (of exposure or disease) and true values of the odds ratio and relative risk. Jewell's estimators perform poorly from the perspectives of confidence intervals and likelihood. Given these and other problems, continued use of the maximum likelihood estimators is recommended.
L-Glutamic acid crystals grown from saturated aqueous solutions at 25° and 37° c

It is known that L-glutamic acid molecules in crystals occur in chain- and ring-like spatial configurations. This paper shows that the chain-form is favored when the crystals are grown from saturated aqueous solutions at room temperature (25°), the ring-form at body temperature (37°), with the preliminary requirement that the saturated solutions have been maintained at their respective constant temperatures for at least 24 hours prior to crystalization. Under identical growth conditions, the molecules of D-glutamic acid and a second dicarboxyl amino acid, aspartic acid, show no such change in spatial configuration as a function of temperature.
Electrochemical sensors based on functionalized nanoporous silica for environmental monitoring

Nanostructured materials enable the development of miniature sensing devices that are compact, low-cost, low-energy-consumption, and easily integrated into field-deployable units. Recently we have successfully developed electrochemical sensors based on functionalized nanostructured materials for the characterization of metal ions. Specifically, glycinyl-urea self-assembled monolayer on nanoporous silica (Gly-UR SAMMS) has been incorporated in carbon paste electrodes for the detection of toxic metals such as lead, copper, and mercury based on adsorptive stripping voltammetry, while acetamide phosphonic acid self-assembled monolayer on nanoporous silica (Ac-Phos SAMMS) has been used for the detection of uranium. Both electrochemical sensors yield reproducible measurements with excellent detection limits (at ppb level), are selective for target species, does not require the use of mercury film and chelating agents, and require little or no regeneration of electrode materials. The rigid, open, paralleled pore structure combined with suitable interfacial chemistry of SAMMS also results in fast responses of the electrochemical sensors.
Effect of nitrous oxide on venous air embolism.

The effect of nitrous oxide on the median lethal dose (LD50) of intravenously injected air was studied in rabbits. Determinations were performed in similar animal groups anesthetized with 1.0 per cent halothane and with 0.5 per cent halothane combined with 72–76 per cent nitrous oxide. In the halothane group, the LD50 was 0.55 ml./kg. In the nitrous oxide group, the LD50 was 0.16 ml./kg. Difference in values is explained on the basis of the differential solubility of nitrous oxide and nitrogen in blood. The finding of a reduction in LD50 value by a factor of 3.4 shows good agreement with theoretical calculations. We suggest that it may be hazardous to administer high concentrations of nitrous oxide to patients in whom the possibility of air embolism exists.
Winter filtering, immigrant selection and species composition of insular mammals of Lake Huron

Patterns in species composition of small mammals on islands of northwestern Lake Huron, USA, were studied to test the hypothesis that insular community structure was strongly influenced by immigrant selection; i.e., selection for the more vagile species. Of 17 insectivores and rodents in the mainland pool, nine were detected on at least one of the 25 islands studied. These species comprised a biased subset of the mainland pool, biased in favor of species with relatively good winter immigration abilities. The five true hibernators were absent from all islands studied, and the two winter-inactive species occurred on just two islands. Frequency of insular occurrence increased with level of winter activity (hibernator vs winter-inactive vs winter-active) and with body size (p < 0.02). The winter filtering effect remains one of the best documented forms of immigrant selection. In general, however, insular community structure is influenced by the combined effects of selective extinction as well as selective immigration. Common insular species are those which combine relatively high immigration abilities with low resource requirements.
The presence of a common active subunit in low and high molecular weight murine DNA polymerases.

Abstract An enzymatically active subunit was isolated from the high molecular weight (6-8S) DNA polymerase. This activity had an identical sedimentation coefficient and the same elution profile from Sephadex G-100 as the low molecular weight (3. 3S) DNA polymerase.
Structure–property behavior of moisture-cure polyurethane wood adhesives: Influence of hard segment content

Abstract One-part moisture-cure polyurethane (PUR) wood adhesives and the effects of hard phase content were studied at three levels: liquid prepolymer, cured neat film, and cured adhesive bondline. Three PURs were prepared from polymeric methylenebis(phenylisocyanate) and poly(propylene glycol) with variable hard phase content (53.5–72.5%). At the prepolymer level, increasing hard phase content increased intermolecular interactions, liquid viscosity, and the soft phase glass transition temperature. When cured as neat films, greater hard phase content caused higher hard phase softening temperature, and greater quantities of hydrogen-bonded urea structures. When bonded within wooden dual cantilever beams, adhesive penetration and bondline thickness varied appreciably. Regardless of these many differences, the measured mode-I fracture toughness was rather insensitive to the adhesive hard phase content. This suggested that a critical hard phase content had been exceeded such that a variety of bonding variables became ineffectual. It was hypothesized that wood bonding performance is compromised when the PUR hard segment content exceeds about 51%, near the composition when the hard phase becomes continuous in the dual-phase PUR morphology. It was suggested that morphological effects should be studied for wood-bonding polyurethanes having hard segment contents near about 50%, near the composition associated with phase inversion or with the loss of a co-continuous morphology.
Direct message passing for hybrid Bayesian networks and performance analysis

Probabilistic inference for hybrid Bayesian networks, which involves both discrete and continuous variables, has been an important research topic over the recent years. This is not only because a number of efficient inference algorithms have been developed and used maturely for simple types of networks such as pure discrete model, but also for the practical needs that continuous variables are inevitable in modeling complex systems. Pearl's message passing algorithm provides a simple framework to compute posterior distribution by propagating messages between nodes and can provides exact answer for polytree models with pure discrete or continuous variables. In addition, applying Pearl's message passing to network with loops usually converges and results in good approximation. However, for hybrid model, there is a need of a general message passing algorithm between different types of variables. In this paper, we develop a method called Direct Message Passing (DMP) for exchanging messages between discrete and continuous variables. Based on Pearl's algorithm, we derive formulae to compute messages for variables in various dependence relationships encoded in conditional probability distributions. Mixture of Gaussian is used to represent continuous messages, with the number of mixture components up to the size of the joint state space of all discrete parents. For polytree Conditional Linear Gaussian (CLG) Bayesian network, DMP has the same computational requirements and can provide exact solution as the one obtained by the Junction Tree (JT) algorithm. However, while JT can only work for the CLG model, DMP can be applied for general nonlinear, non-Gaussian hybrid model to produce approximate solution using unscented transformation and loopy propagation. Furthermore, we can scale the algorithm by restricting the number of mixture components in the messages. Empirically, we found that the approximation errors are relatively small especially for nodes that are far away from the discrete parent nodes. Numerical simulations show encouraging results.
From Social Behavior to Neural Circuitry: Steroid Hormones Rapidly Modulate Advertisement Calling via a Vocal Pattern Generator

Across vertebrates, androgens are rapidly elevated within minutes in response to aggressive or reproductive stimuli, yet it is unclear what the causal relationship is between fast androgen elevation and the ongoing (minute-by-minute) expression of behavior. This study tested the hypothesis that rapid increases in plasma steroid levels induce similarly rapid increases in both vocal behavior and the neurophysiological output of a central pattern generator that governs vocal behavior. In Gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta), males call to attract females to their nesting sites, and both males and females vocalize in aggressive interactions. Previous field experiments with males showed that simulated territorial challenges produce rapid and concurrent elevations in ongoing calling behavior and circulating levels of the teleost-specific androgen 11-ketotestosterone (11kT), but not the glucocorticoid cortisol. The current field experiments showed that non-invasive (food) delivery of 11kT, but not cortisol, induced an elevation within 10 min in the ongoing calling behavior of males. Electrophysiological experiments revealed that intramuscular injections of either 11kT or cortisol, but neither testosterone nor 17-beta-estradiol, induced increases within 5 min in the output of the vocal pattern generator in males, whereas only cortisol had similarly fast effects in females. The field behavioral results support predictions generated by the challenge hypothesis and also parallel the 11kT-dependent modulation of the vocal pattern generator in males. The cortisol effect on the vocal pattern generator in both sexes predicts that glucocorticoids regulate vocalizations in non-advertisement contexts. Together, these experiments provide strong support for the hypothesis that surges in circulating steroid levels play a causal role in shaping rapid changes in social behavior (vocalizations) through non-genomic-like actions on neural (vocal motor) circuits that directly encode behavioral patterning.
A method for determining boron in cotton fabric

A technique involving radiofrequency-discharged oxygen has been demonstrated in the analysis for boron in cotton fabric as well as preparation of residual ash replicas of identical three-dimensional configuration of the original sample for microscopic studies. The main advantages of this technique lie in its simplicity and fastness.
Briquetting of Coal Fines and Sawdust Part I: Binder and Briquetting-Parameters Evaluations

Various technical and economic aspects relating to the briquetting of fine coal with sawdust have been evaluated with the results for two segments of that study presented here: binder and briquetting-parameter evaluations. Approximately 50 potential binder formulations were subjected to a series of screening evaluations to identify three formulations that were the most cost effective for briquetting fine coal with sawdust. Two of the binders, guar gum and wheat starch, were selected as most suitable for the pulverized coal market while the third formulation, lignosulfonate/lime, was targeted for the stoker market. Following binder selection, a number of briquetting parameters including binder and sawdust concentration, sawdust type, briquetting pressure and dwell time, coal and sawdust particle size, clay content, moisture content, and cure temperature and cure time were evaluated. Briquetting pressure and dwell time have the least impact while binder and sawdust concentrations, sawdust type, and curing c...
Isolation and sequence of a mouse brain cDNA coding for protein kinase C-γ isozyme ☆

The regulatory enzyme, protein kinase C (PKC), is characterized by a family of related isozymes. Currently, nucleotide (nt) sequences for seven members of this family have been reported from the bovine, human and rat genomes. Only four of these seven PKC isoforms have been isolated in mouse: alpha, beta II, delta and epsilon. Here, we report the cDNA sequence encoding mouse PKC-gamma isolated from a C57BL/6 brain cDNA library. The mouse and rat PKC-gamma nt and deduced amino acid sequences share 97 and 100% identity, respectively.
Structure and function of nematode RNA-binding proteins

RNA-binding proteins are critical effectors of gene expression. They guide mRNA localization, translation, and stability, and potentially play a role in regulating mRNA synthesis. The structural basis for RNA recognition by RNA-binding proteins is the key to understand how they target specific transcripts for regulation. Compared to other metazoans, nematode genomes contain a significant expansion in several RNA-binding protein families, including Pumilio-FBF (PUF), TTP-like zinc finger (TZF), and Argonaute-like (AGO) proteins. Genetic data suggest that individual members of each family have distinct functions, presumably due to sequence variations that alter RNA-binding specificity or protein interaction partners. In this review, we highlight example structures and identify the variable regions that likely contribute to functional divergence in nematodes.
Effects of adrenergic and cholinergic agonists on adenylate and guanylate cyclase activity of isolated guinea-pig seminal vesicle epithelium

Isolated seminal vesicle epithelium of the guinea-pig contained increased amounts of cAMP and cGMP after treatment with PGE1 and carbachol, respectively. Adrenergic agents had no influence. Possible physiological implications of these results are discussed.
EFFECTIVENESS AND OUTCOMES OF CURRENT PRACTICE IN TREATING VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY IN PATIENTS LISTED FOR LIVER TRANSPLANTATION.

ABSTRACT Objective: Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in cirrhotic patients awaiting liver transplantation (LT). Optimal vitamin D management for these patients remains undefined. We sought to determine the effectiveness of our practice in addressing vitamin D deficiency in LT patients. Methods: This retrospective study included 127 patients who received a first LT between July 2010 and July 2011. Outcomes measured included readmission rates, fractures, and functional status post-LT. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH D) deficiency was stratified as: mild (20–30 ng/mL), moderate (15–19.9 ng/mL), and severe (<15 ng/mL). We estimated the amount of vitamin D supplementation required for each patient. Results: At LT evaluation, 107 patients (84%) had vitamin D deficiency, and 74% remained vitamin D deficient at LT. Only 62% received vitamin D supplementation pre-LT. Moderate and severe deficiencies were less common at LT and rare 4 months post-LT. There was an association between improvement in vitamin D deficiency c...
Reply to Sanderson

Braudel, Fernand 1972 The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean World in the Age of Philip II, 2 vol. New York: Harper & Row. 1980 "In Bahia, Brazil: The present explains the past." In Fernand Braudel, On History (1959*). Sarah Matthews, tr. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 1981 The Structures of Everyday Life. Civilization and Capitalism, 15th18th Century, Vol. 1. New York: Harper & Row. 1982 The Wheels of Commerce. Civilization and Capitalism, 15th18th Century, Vol. 2. New York: Harper & Row. 1984 The Perspective of the World. Civilization and Capitalism, 15th-18th Century, Vol. 3. New York: Harper & Row. Harris, Marvin 1974 Cows, Pigs, Wars, and Witches: The Riddles of Culture. New York: Random House. 1977 Cannibals and Kings: The Origins of Cultures. New York: Random House. 1985 Good to Eat: Riddles of Food and Culture. New York: Simon and Schuster. Hawley, Amos H. 1950 Human Ecology: A Theory of Community Structure. New York: Ronald Press. Hudson, James R. 1987 "Braudel's ecological perspective." Sociological Forum 2:146-165. Steward, Julian H. 1955 Theory of Culture Change. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.
A content analysis of smoking craving.

The purpose of this study was to conduct a content analysis of smoking craving in order to investigate more precisely the subjective nature of the construct with the goal of informing assessment. Thirty-two smokers interested in cessation treatment provided free response written descriptions of the level of craving they normally experience. These responses were analyzed for subjective content along five theoretical domains: physiological, affective, cognitive, behavioral, and synonyms (of craving). Although there were no differences in the relative proportion of broad content terms smokers used to describe their craving (e.g., cognitive versus affective), this analysis revealed considerable diversity in the specific terms smokers used. Some smokers described their craving in purely physiological terms whereas others used primarily cognitive terms, and still others used affective terms. To assume that smoking craving is qualitatively similar across persons, then, may mask important variations that define the individual experience of craving. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 57: 145–150, 2001.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: Evidence that Flutamide Restores Sensitivity of the Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Pulse Generator to Inhibition by Estradiol and Progesterone

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a complex disorder with multiple abnormalities, including hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, and altered gonadotropin secretion. The majority of patients have elevated LH levels in plasma and a persistent rapid frequency of LH (GnRH) pulse secretion, the mechanisms of which are unclear. Earlier work has suggested that the sensitivity of the GnRH pulse generator to inhibition by ovarian steroids is impaired. We performed a study to determine whether antiandrogen therapy with flutamide could enhance feedback inhibition by estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) in women with PCOS. Ten anovulatory women with PCOS and nine normal controls (days 8-10 of the cycle) were studied on three occasions. During each admission, LH and FSH were determined every 10 min and E2, P, and testosterone (T) every 2 h for 13 h. After 12 h, GnRH (25 ng/kg) was given iv. After the first admission, patients were started on flutamide (250 mg twice daily), which was continued for the entire study. The second admission occurred on days 8-10 of the next menstrual cycle for normal controls and on study day 28 for PCOS patients. Subjects were then given E2 transdermally (mean plasma E2, 106+/-18 pg/mL) and P by vaginal suppository to obtain varied plasma concentrations of P (mean P, 4.4+/-0.5 ng/mL; range, 0.6-9.0 ng/mL), and a third study was performed 7 days later. At baseline women with PCOS had higher LH pulse amplitude, response to GnRH, T, androstenedione, and insulin and lower sex hormone-binding globulin concentrations (P < 0.05). Most hormonal parameters were not altered by 4 weeks of flutamide, except T in controls and E2 and FSH in PCOS patients, which were lower. Of note, flutamide alone had no effect on LH pulse frequency or amplitude, mean plasma LH, or LH responsiveness to exogenous GnRH. After the addition of E2 and P for 7 days, both PCOS patients and normal controls had similar reductions in LH pulse frequency (4.0+/-0.7 and 5.8+/-0.7 pulses/12 h, respectively). This contrasts with our earlier results in the absence of flutamide, where a plasma P level of less than 10 ng/mL had minimal effects on LH pulse frequency in women with PCOS, but was effective in controls. These results suggest that although the elevated LH pulse frequency in PCOS may in part reflect impaired sensitivity to E2 and P, continuing actions of hyperandrogenemia are important for sustaining the abnormal hypothalamic sensitivity to feedback inhibition by ovarian steroids.
MICROWAVE ABSORPTION SPECTRUM OF ND$sub 3$

The main $J=K$ sequence of inversion lines of the N${\mathrm{D}}_{3}$ absorption spectrum were observed and measured between 1589 and 2540 Mc. Quantum numbers up to $J, K=18, 18$ were assigned by the use of an approximate empirical formula.
Effect of acute hypoxic preconditioning on qEEG and functional recovery after cardiac arrest in rats.

Acute hypoxic preconditioning (AHPC) can confer neuroprotection from global cerebral ischemia such as cardiac arrest. We hypothesize that acute neuroprotection by AHPC will be detected early by quantitative EEG (qEEG) entropy analysis after asphyxial cardiac arrest (aCA). Cerebral ischemia lowers EEG signal randomness leading to low entropy. A qEEG entropy index defined as the duration when the entropy measure is 15% below uninjured baseline entropy is used as a measure of injury. We compared 3 groups of adult Wistar rats: (1) untreated controls that were subjected to 5 min of aCA and were resuscitated (n = 5); (2) AHPC-treated group with 10% FI O2 for 30 min, then 25 min of room air, 5 min of aCA followed by resuscitation (n = 5); and (3) a surgical sham group (no aCA) (n = 3). Functional outcome was assessed by neurodeficit score (NDS) which consisted of level of consciousness, cranial nerve, motor-sensory function, and simple behavioral tests (best = 100 and brain dead = 0). We found that increasing entropy index of injury at 0-5 h from return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) is associated with worsening NDS at 24 h (linear regression: r = 0.81, P 0.05) was better than control injury group (52.2 +/- 8.4, P < 0.05) (ANOVA with Tukey test). We therefore conclude that AHPC confers acute neuroprotection at 24 h, which was detected by qEEG entropy during the first 5 h after injury.
Dynamic feedback: an effective technique for adaptive computing

This paper presents dynamic feedback, a technique that enables computations to adapt dynamically to different execution environments. A compiler that uses dynamic feedback produces several different versions of the same source code; each version uses a different optimization policy. The generated code alternately performs sampling phases and production phases. Each sampling phase measures the overhead of each version in the current environment. Each production phase uses the version with the least overhead in the previous sampling phase. The computation periodically resamples to adjust dynamically to changes in the environment.We have implemented dynamic feedback in the context of a parallelizing compiler for object-based programs. The generated code uses dynamic feedback to automatically choose the best synchronization optimization policy. Our experimental results show that the synchronization optimization policy has a significant impact on the overall performance of the computation, that the best policy varies from program to program, that the compiler is unable to statically choose the best policy, and that dynamic feedback enables the generated code to exhibit performance that is comparable to that of code that has been manually tuned to use the best policy. We have also performed a theoretical analysis which provides, under certain assumptions, a guaranteed optimality bound for dynamic feedback relative to a hypothetical (and unrealizable) optimal algorithm that uses the best policy at every point during the execution.
Normative beliefs about sharing housing with an older family member.

The aims of this study were: a) to examine general perceptions of filial obligations toward sharing housing with older parents and stepparents; and b) to assess the effects of selected contextual factors on those normative beliefs. A national sample of 579 men and 582 women (mean age = 44.6, SD = 17.2) responded to a multiple segment factorial vignette in which an older parent or stepparent was portrayed as needing help with housing. Respondents thought that parents should be helped more than stepparents, younger adults with greater resources were more obligated to help older parents and stepparents than were those with meager resources, and older parents and stepparents with greater need acuity were expected to be helped more than older parents and stepparents with less serious housing needs. Attitudes about co-residence were based on family obligation norms, beliefs about repaying older adults for past help, perceived relationship quality, other demands on the younger adult's resources, the older person...
Asymptotic performance of near-optimum controls obtained by regular and singular perturbations

The dependence of optimal control problems on parameters and the approximate solutions of such problems by perturbation techniques have attracted considerable interest in recent years. Generally speaking, in problems amenable to “regular” perturbation techniques, one hopes to obtain an nth-order Taylor expansion in the parameter as an approximate solution to the optimal control; in problems amenable to “singular” perturbation techniques, one hopes to obtain an nth-order asymptotic expansion in the parameter, but this expansion is usually not a Taylor-type expansion. (For high-order practical problems n is typically <2.) If such approximations are applied to the system, it is natural to ask for a comparison of their performance indexes. In a sense to be made more precise later, Cruz and Werner [l] showed in 1968 that for a certain class of regular problems, the performance of an nth-order approximation to the optimal control approximates the optimal performance index to order 2n + 1; and this result has since been extended to other regular problems [2, 31. However, the proofs have always relied, in a critical way, on the Taylor expansion nature of the approximations, and as well on a lengthy computation of the first 272 + 1 partial derivatives of the performance index with respect to the parameter. It is natural to ask whether the “quadratic” behavior of the Hamiltonian as a function of u, in the neighborhood of an optimal solution, might be used more directly to ohtain a simpler and more transparent proof. The purpose of the present paper is to carry through such a proof and to show that by the same method it is possible to treat a broad class of singular problems. With respect to notation, for a vector or matrix o, i ZJ j denotes the norm given by the sum of the absolute values of the components. The Landau 0 notation will be used: if h and z are variables, h : P( z means that there is a constant K ) such that it is always the case that / 11 / ,( Kz. If h depends on other variables, it is implied that K may be chosen so that this inequality holds uniformly in these other variables. It will be convenient to make frequent use of the following
The effect of the controversial US Preventive Services Task Force recommendations on the use of screening mammography.

Purpose The 2009 release of updated US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations on screening mammography differed sharply from those of the American Cancer Society, the ACR, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The aim of this study was to ascertain the effect of these recommendations on the utilization of screening mammography in the Medicare population. Methods The Medicare Part B Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary Master Files from 2005 through 2010 were used to determine the annual utilization rate of screening mammography from 2005 to 2010. A utilization trend line was plotted for those years. Results The utilization rate of screening mammography per 1,000 women in the Medicare population was 311.6 in 2005 and increased gradually each year to 322.9 in 2009 (a compound annual growth rate of 0.9%). However, after the USPSTF recommendations were issued in late 2009, this rate decreased abruptly to 309.1 (−4.3%) in 2010. Conclusions The abrupt decrease in the utilization of screening mammography in 2010 was in sharp contrast to the previous slow annual increases in its utilization from 2005 to 2009. Because there are no other factors to explain a decrease of this magnitude, it would seem that the USPSTF recommendations and the ensuing publicity resulted in a decrease in the utilization of screening mammography in the Medicare population in the first year after issuance of the new recommendations.
Recommendation by composition style

Composition style is often an important factor in readers' selection of reading materials. For example, a reader may seek out articles written in similar style as his or her favorite writer. We present a new method for providing recommendations based on the composition style. Our algorithm analyzes and encodes the readability index and syntactical structure of a model document, and then searches for articles with similar readability index and structure. The text readability and syntactical structures are visualized to help readers compare the documents and make the selection. Our method adds a "search by style" component to the traditional keyword based search, and provides recommendation that fits the user's personal preferences better. We demonstrate our method by applying it to product review recommendation based on user preferred composition style.
Orthogonal one‐factorization graphs

An orthogonal one-factorization graph (OOFG) is a graph in which the vertices are one-factorizations of some underlying graph H, and two vertices are adjacent if and only if the one-factorizations are orthogonal. An arbitrary finite graph, G, is realizable if there is an OOFG isomorphic to G. We show that every finite graph is realizable as an OOFG with underlying graph Kn for some n. We also discuss some special cases.
Discovery of a class of novel tankyrase inhibitors that bind to both the nicotinamide pocket and the induced pocket.

Potent and selective inhibitors of tankyrases have recently been characterized to bind to an induced pocket. Here we report the identification of a novel potent and selective tankyrase inhibitor that binds to both the nicotinamide pocket and the induced pocket. The crystal structure of human TNKS1 in complex with this “dual-binder” provides a molecular basis for their strong and specific interactions and suggests clues for the further development of tankyrase inhibitors.
Four cases of hyperphenylalaninaemia: studies during pregnancy and of the offspring produced.

Four cases of variant hyperphenylalaninaemia during pregnancy are presented. Babies born to mothers with blood phenylalanine concentrations of 4–8 mg/dl were normal and did not exhibit significant microcephaly, although one did have a major congenital anomaly (exstrophy of the bladder). The mother with blood phenylalanine concentrations of 6–12 mg/dl during pregnancy delivered three of four infants with mild microcephaly but normal intellectual function. The data suggest that phenylalanine concentrations of 4–8 mg/dl are reasonable and desirable during pregnancy in hyperphenylalaninaemic women. Furthermore, the data do not support or refute the justification hypothesis of Bessmanet al.
Intracellular changes in levels of polarographically active sulphydryl groups in rat liver during carcinogenesis.

The relationship of SH- and SS-groups to growth processes has been the subject of much research1. An increase in the concentration of SH-groups was usually associated with the mechanism of mitosis2. Since the observations of Hammett3 and Voegtlin4 the relatively high rate of cell division in tumours has been reported to be connected with greater amounts of glutathione in malignant tissue. Measurements by Greenstein of the glutathione content of spontaneous and transplantable hepatomas indicated values some 10 per cent and 24 per cent lower than those of normal liver on a wet-weight basis5.
A taxonomy of reasons for not prescribing guideline-recommended medications for patients with heart failure.

Abstract Background: Performance-measurement systems may work best when they account for the reasons why physicians do not provide guideline-recommended interventions. Objective: This article develops a conceptual framework for understanding the proximate, patient-centered reasons why physicians do not prescribe angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or β-blockers to patients with heart failure and reduced systolic function. Methods: This was a focus group study using a 2-stage design. Academically affiliated clinicians of different specialties and levels of training were recruited by e-mailed invitations sent to clinicians within each target group. To be included, candidates needed to be currently practicing in an ambulatory care setting in which they encountered patients with heart failure. In the first part of each group, participants were asked to describe reasons for not prescribing ACE inhibitors or â-blockers for patients with heart failure. Next, participants were asked to develop concept maps that organized these reasons into categories and described the relationships between these categories. The concept maps from each group were synthesized to develop a consensus scheme for categorizing reasons for nonprescribing. Results: There were 31 participants in 7 focus groups; median age was 31 years and 55% (17/31) were women. Two broad themes emerged. First, clinicians hinted at their own attitude-related barriers to prescribing. However, they framed their comments largely in terms of patient-centered reasons for nonprescribing that arose in individual patient encounters. Second, decision making about heart failure drug therapy often involved a complex and overlapping series of considerations. Five categories of reasons for not prescribing ACE inhibitors or â-blockers emerged: (1) adverse effects of drug therapy; (2) nonadherence to therapeutic and monitoring plan; (3) patients' preferences and beliefs; (4) comanagement and transitions of care; and (5) prioritization and patient benefit. Conclusions: Physicians' reasons for not prescribing guideline-recommended drugs for heart failure are complex but can be organized into a useful taxonomy. This taxonomy may be helpful for performance-measurement and quality-improvement programs that seek to understand reasons for physicians' nonadherence to guidelines.
Anion-selective liquid-polymer optodes with fluorescent pH chromoionophores, tunable dynamic range and diffusion enhanced lifetimes

Abstract The present work demonstrates the ability to extend coextraction based anion optodes into the fluorescence regime for the purpose of miniaturization. These optodes utilize standard ion-selective electrode ionophores with universal pH chromoionophores that have been selected for their fluorescence efficiency, photo-stability and p K a based tunability of the optimal activity range. The miniaturization of the photo-excitation zone enhances the optode lifetime, due to fast diffusion of unbleached chromoionophores into this zone. Specifically, we provide here examples of charged and neutral-carrier ionophore based fluorescent optodes, one highly selective for nitride and the other selective for thiocyanate. The ability to tune the dynamic range of the nitrite-selective optode is also demonstrated.
Lymphangiectasis with chylorrhea

Summary A case of lymphangiectasis with chylorrhea is reported. The question of pathogenesis is discussed, and evidence is presented to explain its occurrence as a result of acquired disease.
role stress, interrole conflict, and job satisfaction among university employees: the creation and test of a model

Many universities have experienced financial hardships during the recent economic downturn. To save money, several have resorted to laying off employees, which has often resulted in increased work and stress for the remaining employees. Such an increase has the potential to adversely affect employees' sense of job satisfaction. This study created and tested the fit of a conceptual model containing role stress and interrole conflict as a way to account for employees' job satisfaction. The model demonstrated an acceptable fit to the data and contained several significant paths. Implications of the results, study limitations, and future directions for research are discussed.
Effects of Intracortical Porosity on Fracture Toughness in Aging Human Bone: A μCT-Based Cohesive Finite Element Study

The extent to which increased intracortical porosity affects the fracture properties of aging and osteoporotic bone is unknown. Here, we report the development and application of a microcomputed tomography based finite element approach that allows determining the effects of intracortical porosity on bone fracture by blocking all other age-related changes in bone. Previously tested compact tension specimens from human tibiae were scanned using microcomputed tomography and converted to finite element meshes containing three-dimensional cohesive finite elements in the direction of the crack growth. Simulations were run incorporating age-related increase in intracortical porosity but keeping cohesive parameters representing other age-related effects constant. Additional simulations were performed with reduced cohesive parameters. The results showed a 6% decrease in initiation toughness and a 62% decrease in propagation toughness with a 4% increase in porosity. The reduction in toughnesses became even more pronounced when other age-related effects in addition to porosity were introduced. The initiation and propagation toughness decreased by 51% and 83%, respectively, with the combined effect of 4% increase in porosity and decrease in the cohesive properties reflecting other age-related changes in bone. These results show that intracortical porosity is a significant contributor to the fracture toughness of the cortical bone and that the combination of computational modeling with advanced imaging improves the prediction of the fracture properties of the aged and the osteoporotic cortical bone.
Caseworker-Perceived Caregiver Substance Abuse and Child Protective Services Outcomes

The authors used data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being to examine associations of child protective services (CPS) caseworkers' perceptions of caregiver substance abuse with their perceptions of the severity of risk and harm a child experienced as a result of alleged maltreatment, as well as with whether a family experienced a range of CPS outcomes.The outcomes included whether the family received services from CPS, was substantiated for maltreatment, experienced child removal, and was subject to a termination of parental rights (TPR) petition. The authors also compared the magnitude of the association between caseworker-perceived caregiver substance abuse and each outcome to that of the association between other maltreatment-related risk factors and each outcome. Findings suggest that, all else equal, caseworker-perceived caregiver substance abuse is associated with increased caseworker perceptions that children have experienced severe risk and harm and also with an increased probability of each of the CPS outcomes except TPR. Moreover, these associations are equal in magnitude or larger than those between the other risk factors and the outcomes. These findings imply that CPS decisions are heavily influenced by caseworker perceptions of caregiver substance abuse, regardless of the presence of other risk factors for child maltreatment.
Isolation of microvillar microfilaments and associated transmembrane complex from ascites tumor cell microvilli

The association of microvillar microfilaments with the microvillar membrane actin-containing transmembrane complex of MAT-C1 13762 ascites tumor cell microvilli has been investigated by differential centrifugation, gel electrophoresis and electron microscopy of detergent extracts of the isolated microvilli. Several methods have been used to reduce breakdown and solubilization of the microfilament core actin during the detergent extractions for preparation of microvillar core microfilaments. Gel electrophoresis of differential centrifugation fractions demonstrated that over 70% of the total microvillus actin could be pelleted with microfilament cores at 10 000 g under extraction conditions which reduce filament breakdown. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of all of the core preparations showed arrays of microfilaments and small microfilament bundles. The major protein components of the microfilament cores, observed by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) electrophoresis, were actin and alpha-actinin. Among the less prominent polypeptide components was a 58 000 Dalton polypeptide (58 K), previously identified as a member of the MAT-Cl transmembrane complex. This three-component complex contains, in addition to 58 K, actin associated directly and stably with a cell surface glycoprotein (Carraway, CAC, Jung, G & Carraway, K L, Proc. natl acad. sci. US 80 (1983) 430). Evidence that the apparent association of complex with the microfilament core was not due simply to co-sedimentation was provided by myosin affinity precipitation. These results provide further evidence that the transmembrane complex is a site for the interaction of microfilaments with the microvillar plasma membrane.
Classifying Objects Of Continuous Feature Variability: When Do We Stop Classifying?

Pattern recognition by a computer assumes that there is a correct answer in classifying the objects to which we can make reference for correctness of recognition. Classification of a set of objects may have absolutely correct answers when the objects are artifacts (e.g. bolts vs nuts) or highly evolved biological species. However, classification of many other objects is arbitrary (e.g. color, clouds), and is frequently a subject of cultural bias. For instance, traffic lights consist of red, yellow and green in the U.S.A.; they are perceived as red, yellow and blue by Japanese. When human bias is involved in classification, a natural solution is to set a panel of human "experts" and concensus of the panel is assumed to be the correct classification. For instance, expert interior decorators can define classification of different colors and hues, and performance of a machine is tested against the reference set by human experts.