cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear mean field-high frequency wave interactions in the induction zone

Simplified asymptotic equations are derived for nonlinear high frequency-mean field wave interactions in chemically reacting gases during the induction period. Rigorous proofs of both enhanced combustion and explosion occurring at times preceding the homogeneous induction time are developed. Asymptotic equations are derived for both the simpler case of a high frequency simple wave interacting with a mean field, as well as for the general resonant wave interaction of many high frequency waves and the mean field. Generally, there is a nonlinear feedback mechanism between the mean field and the high frequency waves which enhances combustion. The equations derived here include, as extremely special cases and in a unified fashion, earlier separate theories of both low frequency and pulsed high frequency wave propagation in the induction zone. In these earlier theories, the nonlinear feedback mechanism is completely absent.
Support at work and home: The path to satisfaction through balance

Abstract This study examines social support (from both coworkers and partners) and its path to satisfaction through work–family balance. This study fills a gap by explaining how support impacts satisfaction in the same domain, across domains, and how it crosses over to impact the partner's domain. Using a matched dataset of 270 job incumbents and their partners, the findings reveal that work–family balance plays a mediating role in assisting social support's contribution to both job and family satisfaction. Evidence indicates that employees experience heightened work–family balance due to social support from partners and coworkers and that support and balance impact satisfaction in both the work and family domains. Implications of these findings and avenues for future research are discussed.
Low temperature research on spermatozoa and eggs

Abstract Germ cells of vertebrates and invertebrates were among the first cell types studied as to effects of reduced and freezing temperatures, and have figured prominently in the general development of the emerging discipline of cryobiology. Vertebrate spermatozoa were intimately involved in the discovery of glycerol as a freeze-thaw protective agent as well as its introduction as a salient factor in preservation of cells by freezing. Successful application of banks for frozen bull semen has served not only as a technical basis for attempts at presentation of other cell types but also as a stimulus for more basic research in low temperature biology. The following topics were reviewed: 1) a history of low temperature research on spermatozoa and eggs, briefly summarized, to stress the contributions to cryobiology made through studies on these cells, 2) a description of certain salient findings concerning various factors in freeze-thaw survival with comments on approach and significance, 3) a comparison of spermatozoa and eggs as to respective attributes and limitations as isolated cells suitable for investigation on the nature of life and death at low temperatures, 4) some recent findings concerning temperature shock, intracellular ice formation, freeze-thaw-induced structural and functional injury, site and nature of glycerol protection, and the like, and 5) predictions of the future use of germ cells as tools of research in cryobiology.
Interdependence of depressive symptoms, school involvement, and academic performance between adolescent friends: A dyadic analysis

Background. Friendships play an important role in the development of school involvement and academic performance during adolescence. This study examined the interdependence of depressive symptoms, school involvement, and academic performance between adolescent same-sex friends. Aims. Using cross-sectional data, we examined whether the link between depressive symptoms and academic performance would be mediated by school involvement at the intrapersonal (actor) and interpersonal (partner) levels. Sample. Data came from 155 pairs of same-sex adolescent friends (80 boys; Mage = 16.17, SD = 0.44). The actor–partner interdependence model was used to examine the dyadic data and mediation hypotheses. Results. Mediated actor effects showed that adolescents who had more depressive symptoms reported lower academic performance, and such an association was mediated by their own and their friend’s lower school involvement. Mediated partner effects showed that adolescents who had more depressive symptoms also had a friend with lower academic performance, and such an association was mediated by both individuals’ lower school involvement. Conclusions. This study provided evidence to support the broader interpersonal framework for understanding school involvement and academic performance. The current findings also have potential practical implications, especially for programmes targeted at addressing adolescents’ school problems.
A System Approach to Urban Transportation in Detroit

An "anti-system" and a "system" approach : to building a new subway system in Detroit is presented, together with the alternatives imposed by the actual conditions as opposed to the ideal solution.
Control and data driven execution of logic programs: A comparison

In this paper we examine two methods for controlling the execution of parallel logic programs. Specifically, we compare control driven execution of PRISM programs vs. data driven execution of Concurrent Prolog. Given a PRISM program we present several automatic transformations for deriving a Concurrent Prolog program whose execution is isomorphic to the original program. Although in many specific cases we may be able to write very natural specifications based on read-only variable and commit constructs, in general it is difficult to simulate control flow naturally using a transformation based on these constructs. Since control flow primitives are shown to have a simple and efficient implementation it seems that both data-flow and control-flow mechanisms are desirable for a general purpose parallel logic programming language. Subsequently, we propose a simple low level language to implement both PRISM nested control flow and Concurrent Prolog read-only variables. The idea is to convert the control/data dependencies into simple event scripts and then use existing methods to implement these scripts efficiently. Finally, we introduce a data structure that supports an efficient implementation of PRISM nested control flow.
Feynman-Diagram Models of Regge and Multi-Regge Couplings

Some Feynman-diagram models are presented which lead to a natural framework for discussions of the kinematic properties of Regge poles. The models do not require an infinite number of recurrences of a trajectory. The basic property of the Feynman prescriptions that is useful here is the fact that the analyticity properties of the amplitude are preserved at all stages of the calculation. The coupling of particles with integer spin to Regge trajectories is discussed in detail. These models allow one to consider various aspects of ghose-killing mechanisms and to clarify the kinematic properties, especially the kinematic singularities, of Regge residues. The extension of the discussion to the coupling of two Regge trajectories to a physical particle is carried out and applied to the multiple-Regge model of production amplitudes. Some experimental consequences of these models are briefly explored for particle production.
Identification of multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 2 gene carriers using linkage analysis and analysis of the RET proto-oncogene.

Ten kindreds (95 individuals) with multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 2 (MEN 2) were analyzed by linkage analysis using four highly polymorphic (CA)n-repeat markers (sTCL-1, D10S141, ZNF22, and sJRH-1). Additionally, we examined the RET proto-oncogene for specific mutations by DNA sequence analyses in these 10 plus 14 members of 3 additional kindred. Nine families had MEN 2A, two had MEN 2B, and two had medullary thyroid cancer alone (FMTC). Using these four markers, all 10 kindreds were informative, with 10 individuals predicted to be presymptomatic MEN 2 gene carriers and 23 individuals predicted not to be carriers. DNA sequence analysis of exons 10 and 11 of the RET proto-oncogene revealed a mutation in all nine MEN 2A kindreds. A missense mutation was found in each case, leading to a loss of a cysteine residue (codon 618 of exon 10 or codon 634 of exon 11). In the MEN 2A families, the linkage analysis and RET mutation analysis gave concordant results for prediction of gene carriers in 100% of the indi...
The effect of potato virus X on susceptibility of potato tubers to Fusarium roseum "avenaceum".

Potato virus X (PVX)-free and mild PVX-infected tuber lines originating from the same Katahdin clone were compared for susceptibility to tuber rot incited byFusarium roseum (Lk.) Synd. and Hans. ‘Avenaceum’. The effect of interval between top-kill and harvest on development ofFusarium tuber rot was also determined. A series of tubers from both PVX-free and PVX-infected tuber lines was either (i) mechanically bruised and inoculated by immersion in a spore suspension ofF. roseum ‘Avenaceum’, (ii) mechanically bruised but not inoculated, (iii) inoculated only or (iv) neither bruised nor inoculated. Tubers from all treatments were then stored at temperatures of 18–21 C (65–70 F) for a 3-week period prior to being placed at 4 C (39 F) for the remainder of the storage period. The amount of rot was determined after a 5–6 month storage period at the latter temperature. In a 4-year study PVX-free tubers were significantly (1% level) more susceptible to infection byF. roseum ‘Avenaceum’ than tubers infected with mild PVX. PVX-free tubers left in the ground for 2 or 3 weeks after top-kill were significantly (1% level) more susceptible toFusarium dry rot than those infected with the virus; however, there was no significant difference in disease incidence between PVX-free and PVX-infected tubers when harvested 4–5 weeks after top-kill. Tubers, both PVX-free and PVX-infected, remaining in the ground for a 2 week period following top-kill were significantly (1% level) more susceptible toFusarium tuber rot than those harvested 3 weeks after top-kill; similarly, both PVX-free and PVX-infected tubers harvested 3 weeks after top-kill were significantly (1% level) more susceptible than those left in the ground for a 4–5 week interval.
Microvascular organization of the cat inferior colliculus

Brain neural activity depends critically on the blood supply to a given structure. The blood supply can differ within and between divisions, which may have functional significance. We analyzed the microvascular organization of the cat inferior colliculus (IC) to determine if the capillary distribution is homogenous throughout. The IC consists of the central nucleus (CN), the dorsal cortex (DC), and the lateral cortex (LC), each with different roles in auditory behavior and perception. Plastic-embedded tissue was studied from adult cats in 1-μm thick semi-thin sections stained with toluidine blue; tissue was sampled from the IC in a caudal-rostral series of sections. The architectonic subdivisions were drawn independently based on Golgi impregnations. We used the nearest neighbor distance (NND) method to quantify capillary density between subdivisions. Overall, the distribution of capillary density was non-homogenous across the IC. We found significant capillary NND differences between the CN and LC (Mann-Whitney test; p ≤ 0.05), CN and DC (Mann-Whitney test; p ≤ 0.05), and LC and DC (Mann-Whitney test; p ≤ 0.05). The CN had the lowest NND values among all three divisions, indicating the highest capillary density. NND values changed gradually as analysis moved from the center of the IC towards the periphery. The significantly higher microvascular density in the CN may imply that the lemniscal auditory pathway has higher levels of blood flow and metabolic activity than non-lemniscal areas of the IC. The non-homogenous microvascular organization of the IC supports parcellation schemes that delineate three major subdivisions and confirms that the borders between the three regions are not sharp.
Evidence for Through-Space Electron Transfer in the Distance Dependence of Normal and Inverted Electron Transfer in Oligoproline Arrays

Four new helical oligoproline assemblies containing 16, 17, 18, and 19 proline residues and ordered arrays of a RuII−bipyridyl chromophore and a phenothiazine electron-transfer donor have been synthesized in a modular fashion by solid-phase peptide synthesis. These arrays are illustrated and abbreviated as CH3CO-Pro6-Pra(PTZ)-Pron-Pra(RuIIb2m)2+-Pro6-NH2, where PTZ is 3-(10H-phenothiazine-10)propanoyl and (RuIIb‘2m)2+ is bis(4,4‘-diethylamide-2,2‘-bipyridine)(4-methyl,4‘-carboxylate,2,2‘-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) dication with n = 2 (2), 3 (3), 4 (4), and 5 (5). They contain PTZ as an electron-transfer donor and (RuIIb‘2m)2+ as a metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) light absorber and are separated by proline-to-proline through-space distances ranging from 0 (n = 2) to 12.9 A (n = 5) relative to the n = 2 case. They exist in the proline-II helix form in water, as shown by circular dichroism measurements. Following laser flash RuII → b‘2m MLCT excitation at 460 nm in water, excited-state PTZ → Ru2+* quenc...
Automated assay for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD

Sulfur mustard (HD), a vesicating chemical warfare compound, has been shown to deplete the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) content in several cell systems and tissues. This NAD+ depletion has been proposed as an indicator of HD exposure and can be used to evaluate potential antivesicant compounds. To examine NAD+ levels, an automated method based on the alcohol dehydrogenase cycling assay of Jacobson and Jacobson and utilizing a Cobas FARA clinical analyzer has been developed. Automation of this assay led to smaller sample volumes and more efficient use of personnel and resources. The usefulness of this automated method was tested by evaluating the protection, if any, by the topical application of vitamin D or betamethasone against HD-induced NAD+ depletion in skin punches from the hairless guinea pig. The results showed that the samples exposed to HD exhibited significant decreases in NAD+ levels when compared with controls. However, neither vitamin D nor betamethasone demonstrated protection against HD-induced NAD+ depletion. In fact, betamethasone exacerbated the NAD+ depletion when compared with the HD exposed group. This assay appears to be useful for testing potential antivesicant compounds using both in vivo and in vitro exposure systems.
Formation of Aromatic Siloxane Self-Assembled Monolayers

We describe reproducible protocols for the chemisorption of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), useful as imaging layers for nanolithography applications, from p-chloromethylphenyltrichlorosilane (CMPS) and 1-(dimethylchlorosilyl)-2-(p,m-chloromethylphenyl)ethane on native oxide Si wafers. Film chemisorption was monitored and characterized using water contact angle, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and ellipsometry measurements. Atomic force microscopy was used to monitor the onset of multilayer deposition for CMPS films, ultimately allowing film macroscopic properties to be correlated with their surface coverage and nanoscale morphologies. Although our results indicate the deposition of moderate coverage, disordered SAMs under our conditions, their quality is sufficient for the fabrication of sub-100-nm-resolution metal features. The significance of our observations on the design of future imaging layers capable of molecular scale resolution in nanolithography applications is briefly discussed.
Epilepsy, driving laws, and patient disclosure to physicians.

To avoid loss of driving privileges, patients with epilepsy may elect not to report seizures to their physician or to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Reporting to the physician may differ depending upon the type of law in effect, i.e., mandatory physician reporting versus patient reporting to the DMV. Nondisclosure to the physician may have important consequences with regard to seizure management. We surveyed patients at two adult seizure clinics to determine the effect of driving laws on patients' reporting to their physician. One hundred fifty-eight patients completed an anonymous questionnaire asking whether they would report a breakthrough seizure under a physician versus a patient DMV reporting system. Under patient reporting, 96% would inform their physician and 56% would report to the DMV. Under physician reporting, 84% would inform their physician. This falls to 72% when considering currently driving patients only. An additional 9-17% of patients would continue to drive with a suspended license. In all, 53% would remain driving under patient reporting and 33% under physician reporting; however, with physician reporting, half of the illegally driving patients would have compromised their medical care, potentially increasing driving risk.
Estimating Boat-Wake-Induced Levee Erosion using Sediment Suspension Measurements

The subaqueous portion of a levee bank in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta of central California was instrumented to quantify the impact of boat-generated waves. Typical erosion rates associated with recreational craft are too small for direct measure- ment of bank retreat on a per-boat-passage basis; therefore, two independent analytical methods of estimating linear erosion were developed based on colocated suspended sediment concentration and velocity time series. The algorithms were tested using data measured during a field experiment in which a 7.5 m boat was driven past the site over a range of speeds to generate waves of varying size. A cross-shore array of electromagnetic current meters and optical back-scatterance sensors measured the character of boat-generated waves and the resultant sediment suspension. In near-bank, shallow-water ( d,0.5 m) locations, sediment suspension was closely correlated with the primary boat-wake waves (Hmax,0.21 m), indicating that maximum near-bottom orbital velocities were sufficient to erode the fine-grained~mud-silt! bottom materials. Suspension events were short lived ~order of 1-5 min!, despite very long particle settling times ~order of hours!, because river currents swept the suspension plumes downstream. This implies negligible sedimentation and resuspension locally. Both algorithms produced strikingly similar erosion estimates, and these values ~0.01-0.22 mm/boat passage! compare favorably with direct measurements of cumulative bank erosion in response to multiple, sequential boat passages. Field conditions for which the algorithms are appropriately applied are discussed. DOI: 10.1061/~ASCE!0733-950X~2002!128:4~152! CE Database keywords: Sediment suspension; Levees; Erosion; Ship motion; California; Measurement.
An analysis and synthesis of research related to turnover among IT personnel

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the spectrum of research dealing with turnover among information technology personnel. Without question, turnover is an interesting issue which has been addressed from a number of perspectives. In this paper, we will describe previous research regarding turnover among information technology personnel, several new concepts associated with associated with turnover research, and further opportunities for research in IT turnover.
Consumers, photovoltaics, worries and measurements

Abstract Consumers and environmentalists are very excited about the promise of photovoltaics but they are worried about many factors: that the cost is being held artificially above its market level, that the Federal Government is withdrawing from involvement in this marvellous technology and that oil companies are stifling competition. The consumer wants honest standards and measurements and wants the testing procedures to be as simple and inexpensive as possible.
Diabetes and Vascular Disease

The incidence of diabetes is on the rise; most of this increase is accounted for by type 2 diabetes and is secondary to the growing prevalence of obesity. Most of the late complications of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are secondary to microvascular and macrovascular complications. Microvascular complications include retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy. Nephropathy is strongly linked to the complications of macrovascular disease, which include cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral vascular disease. Hence, once microalbuminuria (an early marker of nephropathy) is present, the patient is at a greater risk of cardiovascular disease and other microvascular complications, including retinopathy. A number of cellular mechanisms are altered secondary to hyperglycemia, and recently, a common pathway linking these mechanisms has been proposed, ultimately leading to oxidative damage and thus end-organ or tissue damage. Due to the increased risk of vascular complications, many diabetic patients under...
The C-terminal region of the Vibrio fischeri LuxR protein contains an inducer-independent lux gene activating domain.

Abstract The Vibrio fischeri luminescence genes are activated by an autoinducer and the 250-amino acid residue LuxR protein. To develop a general view of LuxR structure and function, a set of luxR 5'-deletion mutations was generated. Ten luxR mutant plasmids encoding active LuxR proteins with deletions ranging from residues 2-5 (delta 2-5) to residues 2-182 (delta 2-182) were studied. The degree of transcriptional activation of luminescence genes by the truncated LuxR proteins ranged from 0.01% to greater than 200% of the wild-type level. LuxR proteins with small deletions (up to delta 2-20) were active and remained autoinducer-dependent, LuxR proteins with deletions between residues 2-58 and 2-138 showed low activity and were not affected by autoinducer, and LuxR proteins with large deletions such as the delta 2-162 protein were highly active and autoinducer-independent. However, proteins with deletions equal to or greater than delta 2-20 were unable to autoregulate luxR. Our data indicate there is a C-terminal LuxR domain capable of functioning as a transcriptional activator. We suggest that an N-terminal region of LuxR starting between residues 20 and 58 and extending to the region of residues 138-162 masks the activator function of the C-terminal domain. Residues prior to position 20 are needed for autoregulatory function. Experiments showing that wild-type luxR is dominant over luxR genes coding the delta 2-58 through delta 2-138 proteins indicate the N-terminal arm masks lux DNA binding.
A multi-FPGA accelerator for radiation dose calculation in cancer treatment

Radiation therapy (RT) is a major modern modality for cancer treatment. However, the use of a large number of radiation beams in treatment plans and image-guided on-line replanning in newly emerging RT planning and delivery systems present a daunting challenge to radiation dose calculation even on the state-of-the-art quad-core computers as the dose calculation time becomes unacceptably long for clinical applications. Based on a popular dose calculation algorithm, the Collapsed-Cone Convolution/Superposition (CCCS) algorithm, this paper presents a multi-FPGA accelerator design for the dose calculation problem. Our performance-driven design strategy yields a fully pipelined architecture, which includes a resource-economic raytracing engine and high-performance energy deposition pipeline. The design is capable of processing 3 transporting lines simultaneously and accomplishing one dose deposition in every 2 cycles while raytracing along the test phantom. The evaluation based on a set of clinical treatment planning cases confirms that our FPGA design almost fully utilizes the available external memory bandwidth and achieves close to the best possible performance for the CCCS algorithm while using less resource. With the support of a memory-rich multi-FPGA platform, our floating-point based design working at 90Mhz obtains a speedup of 20X over a commercial multi-threaded software on a quad-core system and 15X performance improvement over the closely related results.
Modified overlapped block disparity compensation for stereo image coding

In this paper, we propose a modified overlapped block matching (OBM) scheme for stereo image coding. The OBM scheme has been introduced in video coding, as a promising way to reduce blocking artifacts by using multiple vectors for a block, while maintaining the advantages of the fixed size block matching framework. However, OBM has its own limitations, even though it overcomes some drawbacks of block matching schemes. For example, to estimate an optimal displacement vector (DV) field, OBM requires complicated iterations. In addition, OBM does not always guarantee a consistent DV field, even through several iterations, because the estimation considers only the magnitude of the prediction error as a measure. Therefore, we propose a modified OBM scheme, which allows both consistent disparity estimation and efficient disparity compensation, without several iterations. In the proposed scheme, the computational burden resulting from iterations is reduced using 'open-loop' coding, which decouples the encoding into estimation and compensation. The consistent disparity estimation is performed by using a causal MRF model and a half-pixel search, while maintaining (or reducing) the energy level of disparity compensated difference frame. The compensation efficiency is improved by interpolating the reference image in half pixel accuracy and by applying OBM in part. To prove the efficiency of the proposed OBM scheme, we provide some experimental results, which show that the proposed scheme achieves higher PSNR, about 0.5 - 1 dB, as well as better perceptual quality, at a fraction of the computation, as compared to a conventional OBM.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An Interval-Based Focalization Method for Decision-Making in Decentralized, Multi-Functional Design

Multi-functional design problems are characterized by strong coupling between design variables that are controlled by stakeholders from different disciplines. This coupling necessitates efficient modeling of interactions between multiple designers who want to achieve conflicting objectives but share control over design variables. Various game-theoretic protocols such as cooperative, non-cooperative, and leader/follower have been used to model interactions between designers. Non-cooperative game theory protocols are of particular interest for modeling cooperation in multi-functional design problems. These are the focus of this paper because they more closely reflect the level of information exchange possible in a distributed environment. Two strategies for solving such non-cooperative game theory problems are: a) passing Rational Reaction Sets (RRS) among designers and combining these to find points of intersection and b) exchanging single points in the design space iteratively until the solution converges to a single point. While the first strategy is computationally expensive because it requires each designer to consider all possible outcomes of decisions made by other designers, the second strategy may result in divergence of the solution. In order to overcome these problems, we present an interval-based focalization method for executing decentralized decision-making problems that are common in multi-functional design scenarios. The method involves propagating ranges of design variables and systematically eliminating infeasible portions of the shared design space. This stands in marked contrast to the successive consideration of single points, as emphasized in current multifunctional design methods. The key advantages of the proposed method are: a) targeted reduction of design freedom and b) non-divergence of solutions. The method is illustrated using two sample scenarios — solution of a decision problem with quadratic objectives and the design of multi-functional Linear Cellular Alloys (LCAs). Implications include use of the method to guide design space partitioning and control assignment.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
On a stochastic inequality for the wilks statistic

Summary The general nonnull distribution of Wilks statistic, the likelihood ratio statistic in MANOVA, can be expressed as a product of conditional beta variables [3]. Making use of this result, in the present paper, an upper bound for the nonnull distribution of Wilks statistic is obtained, which provides a conservative evaluation of the power of the likelihood ratio test for the cases when the alternative hypothesis is of rank 1, 2 or 3. For p=2, where p is the number of variables, and large f2, the degrees of freedom, it has been shown that the results of this paper give a much better approximation to the power of Wilks statistic than Mikhail's approximation [10]. A few percentage points have also been computed for p=3 and selected values of the degrees of freedom and the noncentrality parameters, which in the linear case have been compared with the exact values obtained by the author [7].
Acyclic stereochemical control using hexacarbonyldicobalt stabilized propargyl cation. A highly stereoselective route to 1β-methylcarbapenem precursors.

Abstract A highly stereoselective route to precursors of 1β-methylcarbapenems is described. Hydride reduction of a hexacarbonyldicobalt stabilized propargyl cation derived from a 4-acyl-2-azetidinone prepared using the Weinreb ketone synthesis proceeds with complete stereochemical control to a 1β-methylcarbapenem precursor bearing an alkynyl unit. The alkyne is readily elaborated to (3S,4R)-3-[(1R)-1-t-butyldimethylsilyloxyethyl]-4-[(1R)-1-methyl-3-methoxycarbonyl-2-oxopropyl]-2-azetidin-2-one or hydrogenated and oxidatively cleaved to (3S,4S)-3-[(1R)-1-t-butyldimethylsilyloxyethyl]-4-[(1R)-1-carboxyethyl]-azetidin-2-one.
Pharmacokinetics and Tissue Distribution of 14C-Labeled Grape Polyphenols in the Periphery and the Central Nervous System Following Oral Administration

Abstract Grape polyphenols confer potential health benefits, including prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. To determine the absorption and tissue distribution of the complex grape polyphenol mixture, 14C-labeled polyphenols were biosynthesized by grape cell suspension cultures, during co-incubation with radioisotopically labeled sucrose, and fractionated into polyphenolic subfractions. The pharmacokinetics and distribution of grape polyphenols into blood, brain, and peripheral interstitial fluid were determined by tracking the 14C label. The blood peak 14C concentration of the fractions ranged from 15 minutes to 4 hours. Absorption and tissue distribution varied greatly between fractions. Concentrations in interstitial fluid were lower than in blood. The amount of residual label in the brain at 24 hours ranged from 0.1% to 1.7% of the dose, depending on the fraction. 14C label found in the brain tissue and brain microdialysate indicated that grape polyphenols or their metabolites are able to cross t...
Effect of nitrogen on the growth of boron doped single crystal diamond

Boron-doped single crystal diamond films were grown homoepitaxially on synthetic (100) Type Ib diamond substrates using microwave plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition. A modification in surface morphology of the film with increasing boron concentration in the plasma has been observed using atomic force microscopy. Use of nitrogen during boron doping has been found to improve the surface morphology and the growth rate of films but it lowers the electrical conductivity of the film. The Raman spectra indicated a zone center optical phonon mode along with a few additional bands at the lower wavenumber regions. The change in the peak profile of the zone center optical phonon mode and its downshift were observed with the increasing boron content in the film. However, sharpening and upshift of Raman line was observed in the film that was grown in presence of nitrogen along with diborane in process gas.
Culturally Sensitive Care 1969-2000: The Indian Chicano Health Center:

The provision of culturally competent health care is a priority for providers across the United States. However, for biomedicine, what does the provision of culturally sensitive, culturally competent care actually mean? To address this question, I use a case study of 30 years of practice at an urban free clinic founded to provide culturally sensitive health care. The model of culturally sensitive health care presented is compared to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services standards for providing culturally and linguistically appropriate care (CLAS). I conclude that, for the most part, the urban free clinic founders and community participants through its history generated similar responses to CLAS in their effort to effectively serve Latino/Latina and Native American populations. However, the order in which the urban free clinic implemented cultural sensitivity measures seems to follow the theoretical concept of cultural lag, where material/nonmaterial culture transference differs in situations of culture contact and social change.
Successful metabolic adaptations leading to the prevention of high fat diet-induced murine cardiac remodeling

Cardiomyopathy is a devastating complication of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It arises even in patients with normoglycemia (glycosylated hemoglobin, A1C ≤7 %). As obesity and T2DM are approaching epidemic levels worldwide, the cardiomyopathy associated with these diseases must be therapeutically addressed. We have recently analyzed the systemic effects of a 12-week high fat diet (HFD) on wild type mice from the C57Bl/6 (B6) strain and the wild type super-healing Murphy Roths Large (MRL) mouse strain. The MRL HFD mice gained significantly more weight than their control diet counterparts, but did not present any of the other usual systemic T2DM phenotypes. Cardiac pathology and adaptation to HFD-induced obesity in the MRL mouse strain compared to the HFD C57Bl/6 mice were thoroughly analyzed with echocardiography, histology, qPCR, electron microscopy and immunoblots. The obese HFD C57Bl/6 mice develop cardiac hypertrophy, cardiomyocyte lipid droplets, and initiate an ineffective metabolic adaptation of an overall increase in electron transport chain complexes. In contrast, the obese HFD MRL hearts do not display hypertrophy nor lipid droplets and their metabolism adapts quite robustly by decreasing pAMPK levels, decreasing proteins in the carbohydrate metabolism pathway and increasing proteins utilized in the β-oxidation pathway. The result of these metabolic shifts is the reduction of toxic lipid deposits and reactive oxygen species in the hearts of the obese HFD fed MRL hearts. We have identified changes in metabolic signaling in obese HFD fed MRL mice that confer resistance to diabetic cardiomyopathy. The changes include a reduction of cardiac pAMPK, Glut4 and hexokinase2 in the MRL HFD hearts. Overall the MRL hearts down regulate glucose metabolism and favor lipid metabolism. These adaptations are essential to pursue for the identification of novel therapeutic targets to combat obesity related cardiomyopathy.
Lack of Set Size Effects in Spatial Updating: Evidence for Offline Updating

Four experiments required participants to keep track of the locations of (i.e., update) 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, or 15 target objects after rotating. Across all conditions, updating was unaffected by set size. Although some traditional set size effects (i.e., a linear increase of latency with memory load) were observed under some conditions, these effects were independent of the updating process. Patterns of data and participant strategies were inconsistent with the common view of spatial updating as an online process. Instead, the authors concluded that participants formed enduring, long-term memory representations of the layouts at learning that were used to reconstruct spatial information about the layouts as needed (i.e., offline updating). These results support M. Amorim, S. Glasauer, K. Corpinot, and A. Berthoz's (1997) 2-system model of spatial updating that includes both online and offline updating.
Algorithm for the repair of cheek defects

Defects of the cheek present the reconstructive surgeon with both cosmetic and functional challenges. These defects can range from simple buccal mucosal defects to composite defects of the lips, full thickness cheek, mandible and maxilla, each of which present additional levels of complexity. To best treat these patients, facial reconstructive surgeons should have access to a standardized defect algorithm that can aid in planning and executing reconstruction with successful outcomes.
Regulation of CYP2B6 and CYP3A expression by hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme a inhibitors in primary cultured human hepatocytes

The effects of treatment with the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase) inhibitors lovastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, fluvastatin, and atorvastatin on the contents of cytochrome p450 mRNAs were examined in primary cultures of human hepatocytes prepared from three different livers. Treatment of 2- to 3-day-old human hepatocyte cultures with 3 x 10(-5) M lovastatin, simvastatin, fluvastatin, or atorvastatin for 24 h increased the amounts of CYP2B6 and CYP3A mRNA by an average of 3.8- to 9.2-fold and 24- to 36-fold, respectively. In contrast, pravastatin treatment had no effect on the mRNA level of either CYP2B6 or CYP3A, although treatment with pravastatin did produce the expected compensatory increase in HMG-CoA reductase mRNA content, indicating effective inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis. Although treatment with the active (+), but not the inactive (-), enantiomer of atorvastatin increased the amount of HMG-CoA reductase mRNA, treatment with each enantiomer significantly induced both CYP2B6 and CYP3A mRNA levels. Treatment of primary cultured rat hepatocytes with the atorvastatin enantiomers effectively increased the amount of CYP3A mRNA, but had no effect on CYP2B or CYP4A mRNA levels, in contrast to fluvastatin, which increased both. Findings for p450 proteins by Western blotting were consistent with the mRNA results. These findings indicate that the ability of a drug to inhibit HMG-CoA reductase activity does not predict its ability to produce p450 induction in primary cultured human hepatocytes, and demonstrate that some, but not all, of the effects of these drugs that occur in primary cultured rat hepatocytes are conserved in human hepatocyte cultures.
Enhanced green fluorescent protein targeted to the Sca-1 (Ly-6A) locus in transgenic mice results in efficient marking of hematopoietic stem cells in vivo

Abstract Objective Hematopoietic stem cells are important clinically, both as targets of disease and as reagents for cellular therapy. Studies in hematopoietic stem cell biology have been hampered by difficulties in purifying and manipulating these cells. To facilitate these studies, we sought to develop a system for targeting genes of interest to the hematopoietic stem cell compartment in transgenic mice. Materials and Methods We used Sca-1, a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-anchored protein expressed on the surface of all hematopoietic stem cells in commonly used inbred mouse strains. We created a mutant Sca-1 allele in which the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) cDNA is integrated into the Sca-1 locus by homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells. Results EGFP protein is detectable in all hematopoietic tissues of mice heterozygous for the mutant Sca-1 allele. Growth and development of these mice are normal. No adverse effects of long-term, high-level EGFP expression were noted. Sca-1 positive cells coexpress EGFP in all tissues and lineages examined, as predicted by the targeting strategy. Sca-1 and EGFP expression are coordinately up-regulated in splenocytes from mutant mice. The Lin − EGFP + bone marrow population contains all progenitor activity in Sca-1 + /EGFP mice. The Lin − EGFP + bone marrow cells are equivalent to Lin − Sca-1 + cells in long-term repopulation and serial transplantation assays. Conclusion The hematopoietic stem cell compartment appears to be targeted in Sca-1 + /EGFP mutant mice. This system should be useful for studying the normal biology of hematopoietic stem cells and for targeting other genes to this cellular compartment.
Novel gentamicin resistance genes in Campylobacter isolated from humans and retail meats in the USA

OBJECTIVES To understand the molecular epidemiology of gentamicin-resistant Campylobacter and investigate aminoglycoside resistance mechanisms. METHODS One-hundred-and-fifty-one gentamicin-resistant Campylobacter isolates from humans (n = 38 Campylobacter jejuni; n = 41, Campylobacter coli) and retail chickens (n = 72 C. coli), were screened for the presence of gentamicin resistance genes by PCR and subtyped using PFGE. A subset of the isolates (n = 41) was analysed using WGS. RESULTS Nine variants of gentamicin resistance genes were identified: aph(2″)-Ib, Ic, Ig, If, If1, If3, Ih, aac(6')-Ie/aph(2″)-Ia and aac(6')-Ie/aph(2″)-If2. The aph(2″)-Ib, Ic, If1, If3, Ih and aac(6')-Ie/aph(2″)-If2 variants were identified for the first time in Campylobacter. Human isolates showed more diverse aminoglycoside resistance genes than did retail chicken isolates, in which only aph(2″)-Ic and -Ig were identified. The aph(2″)-Ig gene was only gene shared by C. coli isolates from human (n = 27) and retail chicken (n = 69). These isolates displayed the same resistance profile and similar PFGE patterns, suggesting that contaminated retail chicken was probably the source of human C. coli infections. Human isolates were genetically diverse and generally more resistant than the retail chicken isolates. The most frequent co-resistance was to tetracycline (78/79, 98.7%), followed by ciprofloxacin/nalidixic acid (46/79, 58.2%), erythromycin and azithromycin (36/79, 45.6%), telithromycin (32/79, 40.5%) and clindamycin (18/79, 22.8%). All human and retail meat isolates were susceptible to florfenicol. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that several new aminoglycoside resistance genes underlie the recent emergence of gentamicin-resistant Campylobacter, and that, in addition to contaminated retail chicken, other sources have also contributed to gentamicin-resistant Campylobacter infections in humans.
Optimal contour approximation by deformable piecewise cubic splines

An optimal deformable contour approximation algorithm using a cardinal-form piecewise cubic spline (PCS) curve representation is presented. The approximation is optimal in the sense of least square errors in both location and orientation. The knots are set automatically at high curvature positions. The sample data are generated by a robust edge fragment detection algorithm which is optimal in the sense of a weighted absolute error. An initial contour placement algorithm uses a penalized maximum likelihood algorithm to group the edge fragments together for an initial contour. A controlled deformable contour algorithm refines the initial contour to cover meaningful edge features. >
P02.66. Efficacy of acupuncture for fibromyalgia - RCT

Methods Fifty fibromyalgia patients were randomized into two groups based on predetermined eligibility criteria. Experienced acupuncturists provided real or simulated acupuncture two to three times per week to complete ten sessions within four to six weeks. Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI), Composite Physical Function Scale (CPF) and 30-second chair stand were used to determine the improvements in pain, physical function, and lower body strength, respectively. Data were collected at baseline, at the end of the fifth treatment, at the end of the tenth treatment and at six-month follow up. The study was approved by the local IRB.
EARLY HISTORY OF ARTHROPOD AND VASCULAR PLANT ASSOCIATIONS

▪ Abstract Although research on modern plant-arthropod associations is one of the cornerstones of biodiversity studies, very little of that interest has percolated down to the fossil record. Much of this neglect is attributable to dismissal of Paleozoic plant-arthropod interactions as being dominated by detritivory, with substantive herbivory not emerging until the Mesozoic. Recent examination of associations from some of the earliest terrestrial communities indicates that herbivory probably extends to the Early Devonian, in the form of spore feeding and piercing-and-sucking. External feeding on pinnule margins and the intimate and intricate association of galling are documented from the Middle and Late Pennsylvanian, respectively. During the Early Permian, the range of external foliage feeding extended to hole feeding and skeletonization and was characterized by the preferential targeting of certain seed plants. At the close of the Paleozoic, surface fluid feeding was established, but there is inconclusi...
John M. Schofield and the Politics of Generalship – By Donald B. Connelly

This study of Union general John M. Schofield is less a full‐length biography than an extended discussion of the intrinsically political environment in which the U.S. military had to function in th...
Seasonal Water Potential Components of Sonoran Desert Plants

Seasonal water potential components were measured for seven Sonoran Desert plant species representing a variety of growth forms. Three of the species (Amsinckia intermedia, Erodium cicutarium, and Baccharis sarothroides), which occupy the most mesic microhabitats, possessed the highest osmotic potentials and lowest pressure potentials, with very little seasonal adjustment in either parameter. In contrast, two species (Larrea tridentata and Atriplex polycarpa), which expe- rienced substantial periods of water stress, had relatively low osmotic potentials and high pressure potentials with seasonal adjustments occurring in both. Two species (Encelia farinosa and Olneya tesota) exhibited intermediate responses for dawn plant water potential. Encelia also exhibited in- termediate osmotic and pressure potential values. However, in Olneya these latter values were very similar to those for Larrea and Atriplex. The capacity for osmoregulation was noted in four of the seven species, with fluctuations in the osmotic potential at full turgor ranging from 0.3 to 0.8 MPa. Adjustments in tissue elasticity and pressure potential were also noted in four of the species. In general these adjustments allow the species to maintain higher turgor pressures at most relative water contents during periods of drought stress. The results indicate that a plant's capacity to avoid water stress is reflected in its water potential components.
The Stream of Consciousness: X. A Critique of James's Appendage Theory of Consciousness (First Part)

In this two-part article, I present a critique of William James's theory of inner awareness, as this theory finds expression in The Principles of Psychology. By inner awareness, I mean the immediate awareness we have of some of our own mental-occurrence instances. In the case of any mental-occurrence instance, the actual or potential occurrence of an immediate awareness of it is a necessary condition for its qualifying as a state of consciousness. By an appendage theory, I mean one holding that inner awareness involves a distinct mental-occurrence instance that has the respective conscious mental-occurrence instance as its object. The contrasting intrinsic theory holds that every conscious mental-occurrence instance involves in its own structure immediate awareness of itself. James's appendage theory proposes that, normally, the total brain process produces any mental-occurrence instance, which is a basic durational component of the stream of consciousness, and then may produce a component that gives imme...