cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Case-control analysis of dietary folate and risk of bladder cancer

Dietary folate, a water-soluble B vitamin found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, is of particular interest as a chemopreventive agent due to its role in DNA methylation and DNA synthesis and repair. We hypothesized that individuals with low folate intake would be at an increased risk for bladder cancer. Using an ongoing case-control study we assessed dietary folate in 409 incident bladder cancer patients and 451 healthy control subjects. A food-frequency questionnaire was used to estimate naturally occurring food folate (microg/kcal/day), dietary folate equivalents (DFE) from food sources (microg DFE/kcal/day), and DFE from all sources (microg DFE/kcal/day). Unconditional logistic regression analyses were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Bladder cancer patients reported a statistically significant lower intake of folate than control subjects for food folate and DFE from food sources (P < 0.001) but not for DFE from all sources (P = 0.061). In the highest quartile of food folate intake there was a 54% reduced risk for bladder cancer (OR = 0.46; 95% CI = 0.29-0.73) after adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, smoking, and total energy intake. Similarly, the highest quartile of intake was associated with a 59% reduced risk for DFE from food sources (OR = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.26-0.65) and a 35% reduced risk for DFE from all sources (OR = 0.65; 95% CI = 0.42-1.00). In the joint-effects analyses using never smokers with high folate intake as the reference group (OR = 1.0), heavy smokers with low food folate intake had a 2.31-fold (95% CI = 1.11-4.82) increased risk, whereas heavy smokers with high folate intake had a reduced OR of 1.31 (95% CI = 0.53-3.26). Although the ORs were not statistically significant, light smokers and high folate intake exhibited a protective effect (OR = 0.62; 95% CI = 0.20-1.94), whereas an increased risk was observed for light smoking and low folate intake (OR = 1.41; 95% CI = 0.57-3.45). These patterns were consistent for the joint effects of smoking and DFE from food sources and DFE from all sources. In summary, high intake of dietary folate was associated with an overall decrease in bladder cancer risk. These data may have important implications for cancer prevention; however, large, hypothesis-driven, population-based clinical trials will be required to confirm these findings.
Net photosynthesis and chlorophyll content in silver maple after trunk injection of ferrous sulfate

Abstract Chlorotic silver maple (Acer sacoharinum L.) trees growing in a high pH soil were pressure injected with 1800 ml of a 1.0% (w: w) solution of ferrous sulfate. Net photosynthesis (Pn) of treated branches increased to at least eight times that of the control within two weeks after injection. Chlorophyll in treated branches also increased rapidly for the first two weeks after injection, and leveled off between 2.0–2.5 mg g‐1 fresh weight. Net photosynthesis for leaves in the shade was greater in treated than in control branches. Stomatal diffusive resistance was greater in the control than in Fe‐treated branches for both shade and full sun leaves. Foliar Fe concentration increased dramatically two days after injection, then decreased gradually to levels near the control as the season progressed. Injection of ferrous sulfate solution seems to activate and maintain chlorophyll biosynthesis for at least two growing seasons even though there does not seem to be a relationship between total Fe and chloro...
Validation of the postoperative nomogram for 12-year sarcoma-specific mortality

BACKGROUND On the basis of a prospectively followed cohort of adult patients with primary soft tissue sarcoma (STS) who were treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC; New York, NY), a nomogram for predicting sarcoma-specific mortality was developed. Although this nomogram was found to be accurate by internal validation tests, it had not been validated in an external patient cohort, and thus its universal applicability remained unproven. METHODS Between 1975 and 2002, 1167 adult patients (age ≥ 16 years) underwent treatment for primary STS at the University of California–Los Angeles (UCLA; Los Angeles, CA). All patients treated with an ifosfamide-based chemotherapy protocol (n = 238) were excluded from the current analysis. The remaining 929 patients constituted the population on which the validation study was performed. The nomogram validation process comprised two activities. First, the extent of discrimination was quantified using the concordance index. Second, the level of calibration was assessed by grouping patients with respect to their nomogram-predicted mortality probabilities and then comparing group means with observed Kaplan–Meier estimates of disease-specific survival. RESULTS With median follow-up intervals of 48 months for all patients and 60 months for surviving patients, the 5-year and 10-year disease-specific survival rates were 77% (95% confidence interval [CI], 74–80%) and 71% (95% CI, 67–75%), respectively. Application of the nomogram to the UCLA data set yielded a concordance index of 0.76, and the observed correspondence between predicted and actual outcomes suggested a high level of calibration. CONCLUSIONS In the current study, the MSKCC Sarcoma Nomogram was found to provide accurate survival predictions when it was applied to an external cohort of patients who were treated at UCLA. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Quasilinearization and the estimation of chemical rate constants from raw kinetic data

Abstract A technique for estimating chemical rate constants from raw kinetic data is suggested. Such problems are viewed as nonlinear multipoint boundary-value problems for systems of nonlinear ordinary differential equations, for which the quasilinearization procedure offers an affective means of numerical solution. The method is illustrated using kinetic data obtained by Bodenstein and Lindler on some gas phase reactions of nitrogen and oxygen.
The relation of aphasia to dementia

Abstract Studies of language in dementia have been accumulating rapidly in the past decade, despite a dearth of such research in previous centuries. Reasons for the rapid development of this research area include the growth of the fields of behavioural neurology, neuropsychology and neurolinguistics; and the steady expansion of the elderly population with its concomitant abundance of demented persons.
The thermodynamics of plutonium and uranium in liquid alloys and application to pyrochemical reprocessing of fast breeder reactor fuels

A method is presented for the estimation of the solubility of uranium and plutonium in solvent systems composed of two or more low-melting metals. The method presented for the estimation of the activity coefficient of uranium and plutonium in multi-component solvent systems is applicable to the prediction of solubilities and of distribution coefficients between liquid alloys and molten salts. The theoretical basis for the salt transport separation process used in pyrochemical methods for the recovery of irradiated fast breeder reactor fuels is presented. The methods are illustrated by the computation of the solubility of uranium in liquid Zn-Mg and Zn-Mg-Ca alloys and the distribution of uranium between liquid Zn-Mg alloy and molten MgCl2.
2,3-Di(phenylsulfinyl)-1,3-butadiene via a double [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of the bis-sulfenate ester of 2-butyne-1,4-diol.

Abstract a one-step conversion of butyne-1,4-diol (1) to 2,3-di(phenylsulfinyl)-1,3-butadiene (4) and the conversion of this bis-sulfoxide to the sulfoxide-sulfone 6 and the bis-sulfone 5 are reported.
Normative spatiotemporal gait parameters in older adults

While factor analyses have characterized pace, rhythm and variability as factors that explain variance in gait performance in older adults, comprehensive analyses incorporating many gait parameters have not been undertaken and normative data for many of those parameters are lacking. The purposes of this study were to conduct a factor analysis on nearly two dozen spatiotemporal gait parameters and to contribute to the normative database of gait parameters from healthy, able-bodied men and women over the age of 70. Data were extracted from 294 participants enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging. Spatiotemporal gait data were obtained as participants completed two walks across a 5.6-m electronic walkway (GAITRite®). Five primary domains of spatiotemporal gait performance were identified: a “rhythm” domain was characterized by cadence and temporal parameters such as stride time; a “phase” domain was characterized by temporophasic parameters that constitute distinct divisions of the gait cycle; a “variability” domain encompassed gait cycle and step variability parameters; a “pace” domain was characterized by parameters that included gait speed, step length and stride length; and a “base of support” domain was characterized by step width and step width variability. Several domains differed between men and women and differed across age groups. Reference values of 23 gait parameters are presented which researchers or clinicians can use for assessing and interpreting gait dysfunction in aging persons.
The Vindiciae Contra Tyrannos: A Chapter in the Struggle for Religious Freedom in France

One of the most significant documents in the literature of the Continental Reformation is that bearing the title The Defense of Liberty Against Tyrants . Its significance rests upon a basis of historical importance far exceeding that of its inclusion in the body of Huguenot writings which illumines the religious life of sixteenth and seventeenth century France. It is important because, as Mr. Harold Laski indicates, it is “a brilliant summary of ideas already adumbrated by the Huguenot party,” and it “surpassed all other essays of the time in the vigor and lucidity with which it restates these ideas.” It is a work which is regarded as embodying the best Huguenot thinking, and it records a memorable protest against tyranny that has renewed poignancy at every crisis in the age-long struggle for human freedom. It asked, and in its own fashion answered, questions having wide political significance because of the inextricable union of political with religious problems of the time.
T cells recognize minor histocompatibility antigens on H-2 allogeneic cells.

B10.A animals were rendered tolerant to B10.M spleen cells by injection of (B10.A X B10.M)F1 cells into neonates. Adult animals accepted B10.M skin grafts and failed to generate cytotoxic effector cells in vitro against B10.M H-2 antigens. In vivo inoculation of tolerant animals with A.CA spleen cells, followed by in vitro challenge with similar cells, resulted in the generation of cytotoxic effector cells that had specificity for the A strain minor histocompatibility (H)-antigens in the context of the H-2f haplotype. If these animals were boosted in vitro with A strain spleen cells, cross-priming could be demonstrated, whereby the cytotoxic effect was restricted by the H-2a haplotype. These data indicate that at least two sets of T cells co-exist in tolerant animals, one capable of recognizing antigens in the context of the host H-2 haplotype, and the other able to recognize antigens in the context of the tolerated H-2-allogeneic haplotype. Because tolerant animals inoculated with A-strain spleen cells in vivo and boosted in vitro with A.CA spleen cells failed to generate a cytotoxic effect against A.CA, it is unlikely that minor H-antigens need to be processed by host lymphoreticular cells.
The effects of menopausal status and exercise training on serum lipids and the activities of intravascular enzymes related to lipid transport

The study purpose was to compare the effect of exercise training on serum lipid and apolipoprotein concentrations and the activities of intravascular enzymes related to lipid transport in previously untrained eumenorrheic, premenopausal (PRM) women (n = 21; mean age, 36 ± 3 years) and estrogen-free postmenopausal (POM) women (n = 16; mean age, 68 ± 8 years). Subjects trained at a progressive intensity and duration (50% to 75% maximal O2 consumption [VO2max], 200 to 300 kcal/session) 4 d/wk for 12 weeks. Before and after training, VO2max, body weight, relative body fat, and fasting blood samples were obtained following 2 weeks on a standardized diet designed to maintain body weight and during the early follicular stage for the PRM group. Blood samples were analyzed for serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), the cholesterol content of the HDL3 subfraction, apolipoprotein (apo)A-I and apoB, lipoprotein(a), and the activity of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT). Total and hepatic triglyceride lipase activity (HTGLA) were determined from plasma samples obtained after heparin administration. The cholesterol content of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and HDL2 subfractions and endothelial-bound lipoprotein lipase activity (LPLA) were calculated. A two (group) × two (time) multivariate ANOVA (MANOVA), with repeated measures for time indicated that the exercise-induced changes in physiological measurements, serum lipid or apolipoprotein concentrations, or enzyme activities did not differ between groups. Serum concentrations of TC, LDL-C, and HDL3 cholesterol, TG, and apo A-I and apoB were higher in POM women compared with the PRM group (P < .05 for all). For the combined groups, body weight and relative body fat did not change with training, but VO2max increased an average of 18.5% (P < .05). LPLA, HTGLA, and LCAT activity were unaltered with exercise training. Except for a small but significant decrease in HDL-C (−5.5%) and an elevation in apoB (4.3%; P < .05 for both), the concentrations of serum lipids and apolipoproteins did not change over the training period. We conclude that in previously untrained women, menopausal status does not influence the exercise training response of serum lipids or apolipoproteins or activities of intravascular enzymes related to lipid transport.
Developing an Appreciation of the Basic Principles in Earth Sciences, Physics, and Mathematics Supporting Careers of the Future Through Workshops for Pre-College Teachers

On September 26, 2002, the National Institute of Aerospace, NIA, was created near NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA as a result of a winning proposal submitted from the AIAA and a 6-university team in response to a broad agency announcement. Our proposal emphasized these four imperatives to: • Conduct leading edge aerospace & atmospheric science research and develop revolutionary new technologies by creating innovative, collaborative, synergistic partnerships among NASA’s Langley Research Center, academia, and industry; • Provide comprehensive graduate and continuing education in science and engineering by using both a local campus and exploiting innovative distance-learning concepts; • Incubate and stimulate the commercialization of new intellectual property developed through the Institute’s activities, including radical ideas and disruptive technologies; and • Promote aerospace science and engineering and provide outreach to the region and nation. As part of the fourth imperative, we specifically proposed to develop and conduct summer workshops for grade 6–12 teachers. This paper describes our experiences in planning and conducting our first teacher workshop in July, 2003.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Gleipnir: a memory profiling and tracing tool

In this article we describe a memory tracing and profiling tool called Gleipnir. Gleipnir is a plug-in tool for a widely used binary instrumentation framework, Valgrind. Gleipnir's ability to collect fine grained memory traces and associate each access to source level data structures and elements of these structures, makes it a good candidate tool for advanced memory analysis and studying complex memory access patterns. The data provided by Gleipnir may be used by cache simulators to analyze accesses to data structure elements and understand the dynamic memory behavior of programs. The goal of Gleipnir is to give the programmer aid in refactoring data and code. In addition to Gleipnir we introduce a cache simulation tool, Gl cSim. Gl cSim is an extension to DineroIV (a uni-processor simulator) that tracks Gleipnir provided trace and debug-information.
A Comparative Study of Campus Experiences of College Students With Mental Illnesses Versus a General College Sample

Abstract Objective: Examine campus experiences and relationships of college students with mental illnesses compared to general student norms using the College Student Experiences Questionnaire to understand potential sources of distress and retention issues. Participants: Responses were obtained from 449 former and current students with mental illnesses from more than 300 colleges and universities around the country. Methods: Participants completed an online survey available from July 2005 to July 2006. Results: Multivariate analysis of variance and t test results indicate that college students with mental illnesses report less engagement on campus and poorer relationships, and that these factors were associated with lower graduation rates. Students reporting they were treated differently “most of the time” because of a mental illness had the lowest levels of engagement and poorest relationships. Conclusions: More attention is needed to developing interventions that enhance social functioning and engageme...
On the distributed parameter least-squares state estimation theory

Abstract Some results concerning the state estimation problem of distributed-parameter systems corrupted by white, in time, stochastic disturbances and noises are presented. The least-squares technique is adopted throughout. First, the Gauss-Markov theorem is extended to the distributed-parameter ease and a dynamic estimator is derived governing the minimal variance linear unbiased estimate of the state of the system at hand. Second, the innovations approach to least-squares estimation is invoked and the filtering, fixed-interval, fixed-point, and fixed-lag smoothing problems are studied and solved. Finally, the stability properties of the optimal filter derived are studied by employing the controllability and observability properties of the system under consideration. The results of the paper provide new tools for dealing with distributed data, thus substantially enlarging the existing distributed-parameter estimation theory.
Re-examining search result snippet examination time for relevance estimation

Previous studies of web search result examination have provided valuable insights in understanding and modelling searcher behavior. Yet, recent work (e.g., [3]) has been developed based on the assumption that the time a searcher spends examining a particular result abstract or snippet, correlates with result relevance. While this idea is intuitively attractive, to the best of our knowledge it has not been empirically tested. This poster investigates this hypothesis empirically, in a controlled setting, using eye tracking equipment to compare search result examination time with result relevance. Interestingly, while we replicate previous findings showing examination time to be indicative of whole-page relevance, we find that viewing time of individual results alone is a poor indicator of either absolute result relevance or even of pairwise preferences. Our results should not be taken as negating the usefulness of modeling searcher examination behavior, but rather to emphasize that snippet examination time is not in itself a good indicator of relevance.
Children's Perceptions of the Causes and Consequences of Divorce

Children's perceptions of the causes and consequences of divorce were explored using subjects' responses to two brief vignettes about children who had experienced parental divorce. The 81 subjects were approximately equally divided between boys and girls, 3rd and 5th graders, and those with and without parental divorce in their history. Two-thirds believed divorce was due to a rupture in the relationship between adults, but one-third thought children cause divorce. Over half the sample believed divorce results in enduring emotional/behavioral problems for children. Gender, developmental, and divorce experience contributed to differences in these perceptions. Implications for understanding how children cope with divorce and possible interventions are discussed.
The stuff dreams are made of: anatomical substrates of REM sleep

Exactly how animals switch between different sleep states remains unknown. A new study in Nature provides a glimpse into the mechanisms and anatomy of the brain regions that trigger rapid eye movement sleep.
Regional-scale transport of air pollutants: impacts of Southern California emissions on Phoenix ground-level ozone concentrations

Abstract. In this study, WRF-Chem is utilized at high resolution (1.333 km grid spacing for the innermost domain) to investigate impacts of southern California anthropogenic emissions (SoCal) on Phoenix ground-level ozone concentrations ([O3]) for a pair of recent exceedance episodes. First, WRF-Chem control simulations, based on the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2005 National Emissions Inventories (NEI05), are conducted to evaluate model performance. Compared with surface observations of hourly ozone, CO, NOX, and wind fields, the control simulations reproduce observed variability well. Simulated [O3] are comparable with the previous studies in this region. Next, the relative contribution of SoCal and Arizona local anthropogenic emissions (AZ) to ozone exceedances within the Phoenix metropolitan area is investigated via a trio of sensitivity simulations: (1) SoCal emissions are excluded, with all other emissions as in Control; (2) AZ emissions are excluded with all other emissions as in Control; and (3) SoCal and AZ emissions are excluded (i.e., all anthropogenic emissions are eliminated) to account only for Biogenic emissions and lateral boundary inflow (BILB). Based on the USEPA NEI05, results for the selected events indicate the impacts of AZ emissions are dominant on daily maximum 8 h average (DMA8) [O3] in Phoenix. SoCal contributions to DMA8 [O3] for the Phoenix metropolitan area range from a few ppbv to over 30 ppbv (10–30 % relative to Control experiments). [O3] from SoCal and AZ emissions exhibit the expected diurnal characteristics that are determined by physical and photochemical processes, while BILB contributions to DMA8 [O3] in Phoenix also play a key role. Finally, ozone transport processes and pathways within the lower troposphere are investigated. During daytime, pollutants (mainly ozone) near the Southern California coasts are pumped into the planetary boundary-layer over the Southern California desert through the mountain chimney and pass channel effects, aiding eastward transport along the desert air basins in southern California and finally, northeastward along the lower Gila River basin in Arizona, thereby affecting Phoenix air quality during subsequent days. This study indicates that local emission controls in Phoenix need to be augmented with regional emission reductions to attain the federal ozone standard, especially if a more stringent standard is adopted in the future.
Total dose radiation hardening and testing issues of CMOS static memories

A radiation hardened circuit should be both processed and designed for hardness. It is demonstrated that the MOSIS two micron CMOS technology exhibits radiation hardened properties, making it particularly suitable for a design methodology in which circuitry is added to compensate for the radiation induced degradation of the zero input noise margin. The non-ideal behavior of the compensation circuitry is explained and application of the circuitry in a static RAM cell is explored. >
EVIDENCE FROM THE ENAMEL MICROSTRUCTURE FOR REVERSALS IN DIETARY BEHAVIOR IN THE TRANSITION FROM PRIMITIVE CERATOMORPHA TO RHINOCEROTOIDEA

Abstract Vertical prism decussation, a microstructural reinforcement that toughens the cheek tooth enamel of the Rhinocerotoidea, is rare in mammals, where enamel is dominantly strengthened by horizontal decussation. Two hypotheses about the origin of this structure in rhinocerotoids are that it evolved through progressive tilting of the primitively horizontal decussation planes of early tapiroid-like ceratomorphs or that it appeared de novo in some taxon that had no decussation. However, no transitional taxa matching either of these criteria are known. New evidence from the earliest known rhinocerotoid, Hyrachyus, favors the second hypothesis, that vertical decussation arose from a primitive ceratomorph population that had lost most of the horizontal prism decussation characteristic of early ungulates. Hyrachyus has fully vertical prism decussation in its cheek teeth, confirming its relationship to rhinocerotoids, but the structure is poor in organization compared to that of later rhinocerotoids. Almost ...
A Potential Biomarker for Acute Kidney Injury in Preterm Infants from Metabolic Profiling.

Metabolic profiles of hydrophilic and lipophilic cell extracts from three cancer cell lines, Miapaca-2, Panc-1 and AsPC-1, and a non-cancerous pancreatic ductal epithelial cell line, H6C7, were examined by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Over twenty five hydrophilic metabolites were identified by principal component and statistical significance analyses as distinguishing the four cell types. Fifteen metabolites were identified with significantly altered concentrations in all cancer cells, e.g. absence of phosphatidylgrycerol and phosphatidylcholine, and increased phosphatidylethanolamine and cholesterols. Altered concentrations of metabolites involved in glycerophospholipid metabolism, lipopolysaccharide and fatty acid biosynthesis indicated differences in cellular membrane composition between non-cancerous and cancer cells. In addition to cancer specific metabolites, several metabolite changes were unique to each cancer cell line. Increased N-acetyl groups in AsPC-1, octanoic acids in Panc-1, and UDP species in Miapaca-2 indicated differences in cellular membrane composition between the cancer cell lines. Induced glutamine metabolism and protein synthesis in cancer cells were indicated by absence of glutamine other metabolites such as acetate, lactate, serine, branched amino acids, and succinate. Knowledge of the specifically altered metabolic pathways identified in these pancreatic cancer cell lines may be useful for identifying new therapeutic targets and studying the effects of potential new therapeutic drugs.
Dynamical aspects of vortex reconnection of perturbed anti-parallel vortex tubes

The phenomenon of vortex reconnection is analysed numerically and the results are compared qualitatively with the predictions of a model of reconnection recently proposed by Saffman. Using spectral methods over both uniform and strained meshes, numerical simulations are performed of two nearly parallel, counter-rotating vortex tubes, over the range of Reynolds numbers Re = 1000–3500. The calculations utilizing a uniform mesh are performed for Re ≤ 1500 with a resolution of 128 points in each direction. The calculations utilizing a stretched mesh are performed for 1500 < Re ≤ 3500 with a resolution of up to 160 points in each direction and with a fourfold stretching about the region of reconnection. We present results for the variation of the maximum of vorticity, the time to reconnection, and other diagnostics of this flow as functions of the Reynolds number. From numerical simulation of the model equations, we infer and demonstrate the existence of exact solutions to the model to which its solutions arising from more general initial conditions are attracted at late times. In the limit of infinite Reynolds number, the model predicts eventual saturation of the axial strain, a feature observed in the recent work of Pumir & Siggia and also observed in our full numerical simulations. In this respect the model captures the observed local dynamics of vortex stretching. However, because the global effects of external flows are not included in the model, the model predicts that the axial strain eventually decays and the maximum vorticity grows linearly at late times. In contrast, from the full simulations, we see the possible emergence of the behaviour of the axial strain at infinite Reynolds number. As our simulations are affected by non-local effects, we do observe saturation of the strain but no subsequent decay. It is also shown analytically that the model predicts a reconnection time which varies logarithmically with increasing Reynolds number. Comparison with the full numerical simulations shows a much slower variation of the reconnection time with increasing Reynolds number than predicted by the model. Other points of agreement and disagreement between the Saffman model and the simulations are discussed, Reconnection is also discussed from the point of view of its relation to the possible onset of nearly singular behaviour of the Euler equation. In agreement with the recent numerical results of Pumir & Siggia, our results suggest that no singularity in the vorticity will form in a finite time for this initial condition.
Structural and functional polymorphism of lipoprotein(a): biological and clinical implications

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], a variant of low-density lipoprotein, is heterogeneous in density because of variability in the content and composition of its core lipids and size polymorphism of its specific glycoprotein component, apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)]. In some individuals, density polymorphism may also derive from the fact that Lp(a) contains 2 mol of apo(a) per mole of apoB100, contrary to the more common 1:1 molar stoichiometry. Moreover, the size of apo(a) is polymorphic because of variations in the number of kringle 4 type 2 repeats. Another type of apo(a) polymorphism is related to sequence mutations at the kringle level. Two mutations can occur in kringle 4 type 10: one, Trp72-->Arg, is affiliated with an Lp(a) that is lysine-binding defective; the other, Met66-->Thr, with a normal lysine-binding function. Thus, Lp(a) is structurally and functionally polymorphic, a notion that must be considered in assessing the cardiovascular pathogenicity of this lipoprotein variant and in immunoquantification assays.
Understanding why we preserve some things and discard others in the context of interaction design

This paper takes up the problem of understanding why we preserve some things passionately and discard others without thought. We briefly report on the theoretical literature relating to this question, both in terms of existing literature in HCI, as well as in terms of related literatures that can advance the understanding for the HCI community. We use this reading to refine our frameworks for understanding durability in digital artifice as an issue of sustainable interaction design in HCI. Next, we report in detail on our ongoing work in collecting personal inventories of digital artifice in the home context. We relate our prior and most current personal inventories collections to the framework that owes to our reading of the theoretical literature. Finally, we summarize the theoretical implications and findings of our personal inventories work in terms of implications for the design of digital artifice in a manner that is more durable.
A Compressed Sensing Based Ultra-Wideband Communication System

Sampling is the bottleneck for ultra-wideband (UWB) communication. Our major contribution is to exploit the channel itself as part of compressed sensing, through waveform-based pre-coding at the transmitter. We also have demonstrated a UWB system baseband bandwidth (5 GHz) that would, if with the conventional sampling technology, take decades for the industry to reach. The concept has been demonstrated, through simulations, using real-world measurements. Realistic channel estimation is also considered.
On the Understanding of Aluminum Grain Refinement by Al-Ti-B Type Master Alloys

Al-Ti-B type master alloys have been widely used in the grain refinement of aluminum since 1940s. The introduction of Al3Ti and TiB2(AlB2) particles reduces the grain sizes down to about 200 micrometer level and makes aluminum alloys castable. However, the mechanism for the grain refinement is still not clear, though it is believed that TiB2 particles in the presence of Al3Ti nucleate α-Al grains during solidification. This paper presents our finding on the formation of (Ti,Al)B2 solid solution, which leads to a proposed theory on grain refinement by Al-Ti-B type master alloys that upon addition into aluminum melt stable TiB2 particles react with aluminum slowly and release titanium into the melt. The titanium thus released in combination with titanium in the melt through dissolution of Al3Ti particles maintains a dynamic titanium-rich layer on the surface of (Ti,Al)B2. This layer offers a low crystal mismatch with α-Al and promotes the nucleation of aluminum grains.
Gamma decay studies of hypernuclei —Theoretical situation

Information on Λ 7 Li, Λ 9 Be, Λ 10 B, Λ 11 B, Λ 12 C, Λ 15 N, and Λ 16 O from the Ge detector array Hyperball is interpreted in terms of shell-model calculations that include both Λ and Σ configurations with p-shell cores. It is shown that the data puts strong constraints on the spin dependence of the ΛN effective interaction.
Longitudinal Study of Stressful Life Events and Daily Stressors Among Adolescents at High Risk for Psychotic Disorders

Psychosocial stress preceding the onset or recurrence of psychotic symptoms has been identified in patients with schizophrenia; yet there is limited understanding of the effects of stress in typically developing adolescents or those who show behavioral signs of risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorders. This study examined the developmental course of symptom progression as a function of stressful life events and daily hassles in adolescents with schizotypal personality disorder (SPD), other personality disorders, or no Axis II disorder. In this prospective longitudinal study, life events and daily stressors were assessed in adolescents aged 12 to 18 years. Results revealed that adolescents with SPD and other personality disorders reported significantly greater total, independent, and undesirable life events than individuals with no Axis II disorders. Youth with SPD report daily hassles to cause more distress compared to peers. Correlational analyses and hierarchal linear regression was used to evaluate the relationship of life events and daily stressors with psychiatric symptoms measured concurrently and 1 year later. Across diagnostic groups, the incidence of independent and undesirable life events were associated with current prodromal symptoms, while the frequency of daily stressors predicted a significant increment in positive, but not negative, prodromal symptoms over time. Therefore, adolescents who report greater daily stressors exhibit an increase in prodromal symptoms over a 1 year period. Psychosocial stress has been implicated in the etiology of schizophrenia, and these findings suggest the importance of life events and daily hassles as potential risk factors in the onset of psychotic symptoms during adolescence.
Synthesis of monoamino and monohydroxydibenzothiophenes

The synthesis of the four monoaminodibenzothiophenes and the four monohydroxydibenzothiophenes is described.
Histologic evidence: Growth hormone completely prevents reduction in cortical bone gain and partially prevents cancellous osteopenia in the tibia of hypophysectomized rats

Background In previous studies we found that the cause of bone loss in young hypophysectomized (HX) animals was due primarily to an inhibition in growth-dependent bone gain and a decrease in bone turnover. The aim of this study was to determine whether growth hormone, which has stimulatory effects on bone growth and turnover, can prevent HX-induced skeletal alterations in rats. Methods Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into baseline control (BASAL), age-matched control (CON), HX, HX plus low-dose GH (1.5 mg/kg/d, subcutaneously), and HX plus high-dose GH (4.5 mg/kg/d) groups. The BASAL group was sacrificed at 2 months of age and the remaining groups were sacrificed after 6 weeks of treatment. Cancellous and cortical bone histomorphometry was performed on double-fluorescent-labeled 40 μm-thick sections of the proximal tibia and tibial shaft. Results Both low- and high-dose GH prevented the HX-induced decrease of IGF-I serum levels. High-dose GH also significantly increased the body weight and the wet weight of the gastrocnemius muscle when compared to the CON groups. In the tibial shaft, the periosteal labeled surface, mineral apposition rate and bone formation rate were higher in both of the GH-treated groups than in the HX group (P < 0.05). The tissue area and cortical bone area of the high-dose GH-treated rats were greater than those of the HX rats, but did not differ from those of the CON rats. In the proximal tibia, both low- and high-dose GH prevented an HX-induced decrease in the longitudinal growth rate and growth plate width, and increased surface-based bone formation compared to the HX and CON. Cancellous bone volume, tissue-based bone formation rate, and eroded surface in both of the GH-treated groups were higher than those of the HX group, but lower than those of the BASAL and CON groups (P < 0.05). Bone architecture of the HX rats was also improved after GH treatment. Conclusions This study clearly demonstrates that GH replacement at the dosage of 4.5 mg/kg/d can completely prevent the HX-induced reduction in cortical bone gain in the tibial shaft, but can only partially prevent cancellous osteopenia in the proximal tibia after six weeks. Anat. Rec. 249:163–172, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effect of life history on microRNA expression during C. elegans development

Animals have evolved mechanisms to ensure the robustness of developmental outcomes to changing environments. MicroRNA expression may contribute to developmental robustness because microRNAs are key post-transcriptional regulators of developmental gene expression and can affect the expression of multiple target genes. Caenorhabditis elegans provides an excellent model to study developmental responses to environmental conditions. In favorable environments, C. elegans larvae develop rapidly and continuously through four larval stages. In contrast, in unfavorable conditions, larval development may be interrupted at either of two diapause stages: The L1 diapause occurs when embryos hatch in the absence of food, and the dauer diapause occurs after the second larval stage in response to environmental stimuli encountered during the first two larval stages. Dauer larvae are stress resistant and long lived, permitting survival in harsh conditions. When environmental conditions improve, dauer larvae re-enter development, and progress through two post-dauer larval stages to adulthood. Strikingly, all of these life history options (whether continuous or interrupted) involve an identical pattern and sequence of cell division and cell fates. To identify microRNAs with potential functions in buffering development in the context of C. elegans life history options, we used multiplex real-time PCR to assess the expression of 107 microRNAs throughout development in both continuous and interrupted life histories. We identified 17 microRNAs whose developmental profile of expression is affected by dauer life history and/or L1 diapause, compared to continuous development. Hence these microRNAs could function to regulate gene expression programs appropriate for different life history options in the developing worm.
Healthy deliveries from biopsied human embryos

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis was performed in 122 embryos obtained by FVF from 11 patients carriers of haemophilia, Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, Barth's syndrome, cystic fibrosis, Pelizaeus-Merzbacher syndrome or Rett's syndrome. After multiplex potymerase chain reaction (PCR) or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis with multiple probes, 28 embryos diagnosed as not affected were replaced. Of these, eight implanted (28%) and produced three ongoing pregnancies, three deliveries of four babies and a biochemical pregnancy. However, one case screened for cystic fibrosis was misdiagnosed and the pregnancy was terminated. In order to evaluate the efficiency of multiplex PCR, 55 non-replaced embryos were reassessed by PCR or by FISH. Identical results were obtained in all cases. However, one embryo which had only X-chromosome specific amplification by PCR was found to be XO in all its cells by FISH. Although multiplex PCR is demonstrated to be reliable for sexing of human embryos, FISH has the additional advantages of supplying ploidy assessment while not being affected by contamination .
Ubiquitin plays an atypical role in GPCR-induced p38 MAP kinase activation on endosomes

Protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) is a G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) for thrombin and promotes inflammatory responses through multiple pathways including p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. The mechanisms that govern PAR1-induced p38 activation remain unclear. Here, we define an atypical ubiquitin-dependent pathway for p38 activation used by PAR1 that regulates endothelial barrier permeability. Activated PAR1 K63-linked ubiquitination is mediated by the NEDD4-2 E3 ubiquitin ligase and initiated recruitment of transforming growth factor-β–activated protein kinase-1 binding protein-2 (TAB2). The ubiquitin-binding domain of TAB2 was essential for recruitment to PAR1-containing endosomes. TAB2 associated with TAB1, which induced p38 activation independent of MKK3 and MKK6. The P2Y1 purinergic GPCR also stimulated p38 activation via NEDD4-2–mediated ubiquitination and TAB1–TAB2. TAB1–TAB2-dependent p38 activation was critical for PAR1-promoted endothelial barrier permeability in vitro, and p38 signaling was required for PAR1-induced vascular leakage in vivo. These studies define an atypical ubiquitin-mediated signaling pathway used by a subset of GPCRs that regulates endosomal p38 signaling and endothelial barrier disruption.
AN ENHANCED SYNOPTIC CLIMATOLOGY OF OZONE USING A SEQUENCING TECHNIQUE

A synoptic classification scheme is derived to examine basic associations between surface ozone pollution and the atmospheric circulation. Nine weather types are related to the daily maximum ozone concentration in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the years 1978–1987. A sequencing technique is developed to extract the maximum utility from the classification scheme. An analysis of the sequences of synoptic weather types highlights additional spatial and temporal information, such as air mass origins, system speed, and seasonal variations. Low concentrations of ozone are experienced in winter during lake-effect and cyclonic storms, which move in rapidly from the north-west, bringing cold, cloudy, windy conditions with precipitation. High concentrations occur during summer in slow-moving anticyclones, with southwesterly transport and warm, sunny conditions that are favorable for photochemical formation of ozone. The study demonstrates that the use of a sequencing technique in conjunction with a synoptic classifi...
Islam, Secularism and Gender Equality: Empirical Findings from 1998 Demographic and Health Survey in Turkey

This study investigates gender equality in a predominantly Muslim country, Turkey, which has had secular political traditions since the 1920s. Empirical studies consistently show that there is significant gender inequality in Muslim societies. However, we do not have clear answers about where roots of the inequality exactly lie: Is it Islamic culture, is it the Islamic law that has been the foundation of laws in many Muslim countries, is it traditionalism, or is it patriarchal norms? The goal of this paper is to disintegrate the effects of patriarchy, religion and politics on gender (in)equality, arguing that secular political and legal reforms towards gender equality provide only limited empowerment, and that attaining women's rights de jure does not guarantee gender equality. Through the analysis of individual level Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) data for Turkey, the paper shows that religion and religiosity affect gender inequality through patriarchal attitudes. In order to eradicate gender inequality, policies should address the factors that feed into patriarchal attitudes and norms, such as traditionalism, education and enforceability of state policies.
Financial Flexibility and At-the-Market (ATM) Equity Offerings: Evidence from Real Estate Investment Trusts

This article examines at-the-market (ATM) equity programs as an additional source of financial flexibility. We find that firms with higher market-to-book ratios and greater institutional ownership are more likely to announce an ATM program. Firms using ATM programs are also more likely to issue shares when they have exhausted other viable financing alternatives, have timely investment opportunities and when market conditions are favorable. Finally, we document a significant negative announcement effect around the establishment of an ATM program, though the magnitude of this effect is significantly less negative than that of a comparable SEO.
The Interaction of Laser Generated Methyl Radicals with Cd, Te, and CdTe Surfaces

The mechanism of the interaction of methyl radicals with Cd, Te, and CdTe surfaces has been studied in ultrahigh vacuum by Auger electron spectroscopy and thermal desorption mass spectrometry. Methyl radicals generated by the laser photodissociation of acetone at 193 nm efficiently etch both Te and Te-rich CdTe surfaces. However, there is no evidencefor reaction of methyl radicals with Cd or stoichiometric CdTe. A temperature dependencein the rate of methyl radical etching of Te-rich CdTe is related to a competition between acetone scavanging of radicals on the surface and reaction of radicals to form volatile metalorganics. Acetone itself has a small but finite reaction probability with Te and Te-rich CdTe surfaces.
Monitoring of sensory evoked potentials is highly reliable and helpful in the operating room

Because short-latency evoked potentials are relatively resistant to anesthetic agents, they can be used to monitor neural pathways during surgical procedures. The use of median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials to localize the central sulcus is an established aid of indisputable value in neurosurgical procedures involving cortical incisions for resection of certain epileptic foci, vascular malformations, or neoplasms near the central area of the brain. Likewise, recording of intraoperative nerve action potentials is currently regarded as indispensable in management of the neuroma-incontinuity after peripheral nerve trauma, as this evoked potential monitoring technique provides the only reliable method of distinguishing between axonotmetic and neurotmetic lesions. Evoked potential monitoring has been of value during many other types of surgical procedures, including cerebral aneurysm clipping, carotid endarterectomy, aortic procedures, microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm, acoustic neuroma resection, and a variety of spinal procedures. A detailed review of the literature is presented on the use of evoked potential monitoring for one of the more common indications: scoliosis surgery. Many orthopedic surgeons use the "wake-up test" only if the somatosensory evoked potentials change during surgery. A detailed review of the few reported cases of "false negative" evoked potentials is presented. The dearth of convincing reports of such phenomena in the face of so many positive experiences should persuade even the skeptical that monitoring of evoked potentials is a highly reliable and helpful intraoperative tool.