cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recognition of vocal and facial cues to affect in language-impaired and normally-developing preschoolers

Abstract The current study was designed to investigate whether reported [J. Learn. Disabil. 31 (1998) 286; J. Psycholinguist. Res. 22 (1993) 445] difficulties in language-impaired children’s ability to identify vocal and facial cues to emotion could be explained at least partially by nonparalinguistic factors. Children with specific language impairment (SLI) and control participants received an affect discrimination task, which consisted of the following cue situations: (1) facial expression and unfiltered speech; (2) lowpass-filtered speech only; (3) facial expression only; and (4) facial expression and filtered speech. The results of the study indicated that impaired and nonimpaired group performance differed only for the items including facial expression and nonfiltered speech. Developmental and investigative implications of this finding are addressed. Learning outcomes As a result of this activity, the participant will be able to summarize the findings from existing research on affect comprehension in children with language impairments (LI). As a result of this activity, the participant will be able to discuss ways in which language impairment and difficulties in understanding emotion cues are associated and propose how these associations might influence social interactions.
Searches for neutrino magnetic moments

Abstract This paper presents a novel technique to search for neutrino magnetic moments. A carefully timed oscillating magnetic field can split the neutrino's energy states and thus cause the helicity to “tumble” as it travels. The ultimate sensitivity of the technique depends strongly on the magnetic field strength, so the estimates presented here are very speculative. The original talk in Monterey discussed this and several other search methods, most of which were shown to be fruitless—these additional studies are not included in this paper.
High Technology, Work, and Inequality in Southern Labor Markets

The relationship among high-technology industrialization, skill levels, and economic inequality is the subject of considerable controversy among social scientists and policymakers. We explore these relationships in this article, drawing on classic post-industrial, skill upgrading, and deskilling debates. Using several types of local labor markets in the South, we compare high-tech workers to other workers with respect to industrial, occupational, and earnings distributions. Our findings suggest that much of the conflicting evidence is due to differences in definitions of high technology and to the local labor market context in which high-tech industries are located. The earnings distributions of some high-tech workers exhibit considerable inequality and suggest that deskilling may be occurring. Other high-tech workers have more equal earnings distributions that may be a product of skill upgrading. We also find that minority labor force participants—women and blacks—experience more earnings discrimination ...
Cu(CO)2(N(SO2CF3)2). The First Structurally Characterized Copper(I) Polycarbonyl

The title compound contains a three-coordinate Cu+ ion bonded to the sulfonamide nitrogen atom and to two CO ligands with long Cu−C bonds (1.90 and 1.91 A) and a C−Cu−C bond angle of 122°. The two ...
Dissociation of ortho-benzyne radicals in the high temperature fall-off regime

The decomposition of ortho-benzyne radicals (o-C6H4), generated from the dissociation of a new precursor, fluorobenzene (C6H5F), has been investigated in a diaphragmless shock tube in a combined laser schlieren densitometry, LS, (P2 = 30 ± 2, 59 ± 3, 121 ± 5 Torr, 2050 < T2 < 2980)/time-of-flight mass spectrometry, TOF-MS (P5 = 1150 ± 200 Torr, 2300 < T5 < 2800 K) study. The LS density gradient profiles were simulated, and excellent agreement was found between simulations and experimental profiles. Rate coefficients for C6H5F → o-C6H4 + HF, o-C6H4 → C4H2 + C2H2, and o-C6H4 → C6H3 + H were obtained. Good agreement with Xu et al. [Proc. Combust. Inst., 31(2007) 231-239] with respect to the o-benzyne dissociation branching ratio was found. However a strong pressure dependence was also observed in o-benzyne dissociation which was not seen by Xu et al. For o-C6H4 → C4H2 + C2H2: k2a,120Torr = (1.2 ± 0.4) × 1063 T−14.27 exp(−52,710/T) k2a,60Torr = (1.4 ± 0.5) × 1060 T−13.595 exp(−50,538/T), k2a,30Torr = (4.0 ± 1.3) × 1057 T−13.015 exp(−48,628/T) s−1. The inclusion of high temperature o-benzyne abstraction reactions is necessary to simulate the reacting system, and we report estimates of the rate of o-C6H4 + C6H5F.
Transgenic replacement of type V adenylyl cyclase identifies a critical mechanism of β-adrenergic receptor dysfunction in the Gαq overexpressing mouse

Chronic activation of Gq coupled receptors, or overexpression of Gαq, in cardiomyocytes results in hypertrophy, enhanced expression of fetal genes, decreased basal and β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) stimulated adenylyl cyclase (AC) activities, and depressed cardiac contractility in vivo. Among several abnormalities of the βAR-Gs-AC pathway that occur in Gαq overexpressing transgenic mice, we have investigated whether the observed ∼45% decrease in type V AC expression and function compared to non-transgenic (NTG) is the basis of the above phenotype. Transgenic mice were generated that overexpressed by ∼50% the rat type V AC in the heart using the α-myosin heavy chain promoter. These mice were mated with the Gαq transgenics resulting in animals (ACV/Gαq) that had restored levels of forskolin stimulated AC activities in cardiac membranes. In addition, basal cardiac AC activities were normalized in the ACV/Gαq mice (NTG=23±4.4, Gαq=14±3.6, ACV/Gαq=29±5.3 pmol/min/mg) as were maximal isoproterenol stimulated activities (59±8.9, 34±4.6, 52±6.7 pmol/min/mg respectively). Cardiac contractility was also improved by ACV replacement, with increased fractional shortening (51±2%, 36±6%, 46±3% respectively). In contrast, hypertrophy and expression of hypertrophy associated fetal genes were not affected. Thus the observed decrease in type V AC that accompanies the development of the cardiac phenotype in the Gαq model is the dominant mechanism of dysfunctional βAR signalling and contractility. In contrast, the decrease in type V AC or βAR signalling to cAMP is not the basis of the hypertrophic response.
Secondary Abdominal Compartment Syndrome After Severe Extremity Injury : Are Early, Aggressive Fluid Resuscitation Strategies to Blame?

Introduction: Secondary abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is the development of ACS in the absence of abdominal injury. The development of secondary ACS has been viewed by some authors as an unavoidable sequela of the aggressive crystalloid resuscitation often employed in the treatment of severe shock. We hypothesized that poor resuscitation techniques, including early and excessive crystalloid administration, places patients with extremity injuries at risk for developing secondary ACS. Methods: The Trauma Registry of the American College of Surgeons database was queried for all patients with an extremity Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score of 3 or greater and abdominal AIS score of 0 treated at our institution between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2005. The study group included those patients who developed secondary ACS, whereas the comparison cohort included those who did not develop secondary ACS. Results: Forty-eight patients developed secondary ACS and were compared with 48 randomly selected patients who had an extremity AIS score of 3 or greater and an abdomen AIS score of 0. There were no differences between the groups with respect to age, sex, race, or individual AIS scores. However, the secondary ACS group had a slightly higher Injury Severity Score (25.6 vs. 21.4, p = 0.02), significantly higher operating room crystalloid administration (9.9 L vs. 2.7 L, p < 0.001), and more frequent use of a rapid infuser (12.5% vs. 0.0%,p = 0.01). Multiple logistic regression identified prehospital and emergency department crystalloid as predictors of secondary ACS. Conclusions: Aggressive resuscitation techniques, often begun in the prehospital setting, appear to increase the likelihood of patients with severe extremity injuries developing secondary ACS. Early, large volume crystalloid administration was the greatest predictor of secondary ACS.
Adenosine A2 receptors modulate hippocampal synaptic transmission via a cyclic-AMP-dependent pathway

Abstract Blockade of adenosine A 2 receptors has been shown to significantly reduce the level of tetanus-induced long-term potentiation in area CA1 of rat hippocampus [Kessey K. et al . (1997) Brain Res . 756, 184–190; Sekino Y. et al . (1991) Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun . 181, 1010–1014]. In the present study, the effects of A 2 receptor activation and blockade on the modulation of normal synaptic transmission and tetanus-induced long-term potentiation were examined at the Schaffer–CA1 synapse in rat hippocampal slices. A 2 receptor activation reversibly enhanced synaptic transmission evoked by low-frequency test pulses as measured by the dendritic field excitatory postsynaptic potential. In the presence of A 1 receptor blockade, A 2 activation further enhanced the excitatory postsynaptic potential, while A 2 receptor blockade resulted in a reversible decrease of the excitatory postsynaptic potential. The A 2a receptor agonist, CGS21680, had no effect on the excitatory postsynaptic potential, suggesting that tonic activation of A 2b receptors contributes to synaptic transmission under normal physiological conditions. Furthermore, we investigated the contribution of A 2 receptors to the level of tetanus-induced long-term potentiation. Under control conditions, a single tetanus potentiated the excitatory postsynaptic potential by 63.5% relative to baseline 30 min post-tetanus. In contrast, tetanus-induced long-term potentiation during A 2 blockade was 21.3%. A 2 receptor activation increased the level of tetanus-induced long-term potentiation to 90.2%. Because A 2 receptors are known to stimulate cyclic-AMP accumulation, the possible involvement of cyclic-AMP was examined. Forskolin, a direct adenylate cyclase activator, and 8-bromo-cyclic-AMP, a membrane-permeable analog of cyclic-AMP, were able to reconstitute tetanus-induced long-term potentiation during A 2 receptor blockade; however, the inactive analog 1,9-dideoxy-forskolin had no effect, indicating that the effects of A 2 activation on synaptic transmission were mediated largely through the regulation of intracellular cyclic-AMP. Because A 1 receptors exert an opposing effect on synaptic transmission relative to A 2 receptors, these results suggest that the stoichiometry of A 1 versus A 2 receptor activation appears to play an important role in the modulation of normal synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation in the CA1 region of the hippocampus.
High resolution numerical weather prediction over the Indian subcontinent

In this study, the Florida State University Global Spectral Model (FSUGSM), in association with a high-resolution nested regional spectral model (FSUNRSM), is used for short-range weather forecasts over the Indian domain. Three-day forecasts for each day of August 1998 were performed using different versions of the FSUGSM and FSUNRSM and were compared with the observed fields (analysis) obtained from the European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). The impact of physical initialization (a procedure that assimilates observed rain rates into the model atmosphere through a set of reverse algorithms) on rainfall forecasts was examined in detail. A very high nowcasting skill for precipitation is obtained through the use of high-resolution physical initialization applied at the regional model level. Higher skills in wind and precipitation forecasts over the Indian summer monsoon region are achieved using this version of the regional model with physical initialization.
A comparison of the esterification of steroids by rat lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase and acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase.

Although fatty acid esters of several steroids have been found in both blood and tissues, their biosynthetic origins are uncertain. For example, the fatty acid esters of delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroids pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) are synthesized in tissues by an acyl coenzyme A:acyltransferase. These esters are not secreted, and the circulating esters are formed in blood by lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT). Fatty acid esters of corticosterone (B) and estradiol (E2) are also present in both blood and tissues, but unlike the delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroids, their structures are so different from cholesterol that it would not necessarily follow that they are esterified by the same enzyme. We have examined the esterification of the steroids DHEA, B, and E2 in blood and tissue, in comparison to the esterification of cholesterol, using as a model plasma and hepatic microsomes from the rat. All of the steroids were esterified in plasma, but at very different rates: cholesterol > DHEA ...
Gastroenterologists' attitudes and self-reported practices regarding inflammatory bowel disease.

Background The purpose was to assess organization-, physician-, and patient-based aspects of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) practice variation within an integrated care delivery system and the extent to which physicians are interested in adopting a chronic care model and/or nurse assistance to manage IBD patients. Methods As part of an observational cohort study to understand variation in IBD care and outcomes, we conducted semistructured, open-ended interviews with 17 gastroenterologists and 1 gastroenterology registered nurse at 6 clinics in an integrated care delivery system. Interviews were taperecorded and transcribed. We coded and analyzed transcripts using standard qualitative methods. Results Physicians reported a range of attitudes and practices regarding IBD. Analysis showed differences in 3 domains and 8 subdomains: 1) patient education and choices, including health education and patient use of complementary and alternative medicine; 2) decisions about diagnosis and treatment, including practice guidelines, conferring with colleagues, using infliximab, and medical hospitalization; and 3) organizational aspects of care, including primary care involvement with IBD and MD attitudes toward ancillary support. Conclusions Standardized algorithms on care for IBD patients do not exist, but opportunities may exist to improve IBD care by: having initial work-ups and management of patients in remission in primary care; creating and maintaining opportunities for gastroenterologists to confer with colleagues and acknowledged local experts; and having nurse coordination for medications and labs and/or some type of specialty IBD clinic for high-need patients. This research highlights the need for more directed comparative efficacy and effectiveness trials that will serve to define preferred treatment strategies.
Mammalian design and rate of living.

Abstract Terrestrial placental mammals are physiologically and biochemically similar. However, though some of their design and life history characteristics vary in a uniform away body mass across the mammalian class (e.g. basal metabolic rate, body length, livver or adrenal mass, etc.), others follow less uniform “laws” with apparent differences among the various orders (e.g. brain mass, life span, etc.). Based on data from 38 species, it is shown that despite the absence of a uniform law describing body mass, my, of young at birth, or litter size, n, their product, i.e. total body mass of litter at birth, mλ does follow such a law: It appears that, like basal metabolic rate, mλ is proportional to the 3 4 - power of body mass of the mother; no inter-order differences are apparent. Nevertheless, despite their remarkably similar metabolic apparatus, mammals cannot be functional scale models of each other, i.e. the metabolic machinery has to be set at a lower level as body size increases, leading to reduced heart rate, reproductive rate, developmental rate, and “rate of living” — and thus prolonged life span.
What is the best femoral fixation of hamstring autografts in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction? A meta-analysis

Background Several methods are available for fixing the femoral side of a hamstring autograft in ACL reconstruction and the best method is unclear. Biomechanical studies have shown varying results with regard to fixation failure.
Can we measure the number of quark flavors without building an ultrahigh-energy accelerator

Phenomenological implications of the nonapplicability of the Appelquist-Carazzone "decoupling" theorem for spontaneously broken gauge theories are discussed. In particular, if the Higgs scalar particle indeed exists and is available in the laboratory, then one can in principle determine the total number of quark flavors ${N}_{F}$ through measurements of (1) $\ensuremath{\Gamma}(H\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma})$, the Higgs-particle partial decay rate into two photons, or (2) $\ensuremath{\sigma}(pp\ensuremath{\rightarrow}H+\mathrm{anything})$, the production cross section in $p\ensuremath{-}p$ collisions, or (3) $\ensuremath{\sigma}({e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}H{e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}})$, the production cross section in ${e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ collisions via two-photon-exchange processes. Otherwise the number ${N}_{F}$ is inaccessible in the laboratory at finite energies.
Autonomic response to a visceral stressor is dysregulated in irritable bowel syndrome and correlates with duration of disease.

Background Previous studies reported altered autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) at baseline and to colonic balloon distension. This study examined heart rate variability (HRV) and plasma catecholamines as an index of ANS responsiveness in IBS during flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) and explored associations of HRV with clinical measures. Methods Rome III-positive IBS patients and healthy controls completed questionnaires measuring gastrointestinal and psychological symptoms. Heart rate variability measures were calculated using electrocardiogram (ECG) data at rest and during FS. Plasma catecholamines were measured before and after the FS. Linear mixed effects models were used to compare HRV with IBS status and IBS duration across six time points. Significance was assessed at the 0.05 level. Key Results Thirty-six IBS patients (53% F, mean age 37.89) and 31 controls (58% F, mean age 37.26) participated. After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, and current anxiety symptoms, IBS patients had a non-significant lower cardiovagal tone (P = 0.436) and higher cardiosympathetic balance (P = 0.316) at rest. During FS, controls showed a transient increase in cardiosympathetic balance and decrease in cardiovagal tone. However, IBS patients had significantly less cardiosympathetic and cardiovagal responsiveness both leading up to (P = 0.003, P = 0.005) and following (P = 0.001) this stimulus. Those with longer duration of disease had less cardiosympathetic (P = 0.014) and cardiovagal (P = 0.009) responsiveness than those with shorter duration. No differences in catecholamines between IBS and controls were found. Conclusions & Inferences Irritable bowel syndrome demonstrated dysregulated ANS responses to a visceral stressor which could be related to disease duration. Therefore, autonomic dysregulation is an objective physiologic correlate of IBS.
The Orinoco river: A review of hydrobiological research

The Orinoco River is one of the world's longest rivers (2060 km) and in terms of average water discharge (36000 m3 s−1) it ranks third. Seventy per cent of its basin (1.1 × 106km2) is found in Venezuela and the rest in Colombia. Due to the uneven distribution of the population toward the northern coastal areas (97 per cent of the population inhabits 55 per cent of the country with only 16 per cent of the surface waters) plans have been carried out to develop resources in the Orinoco Basin. So far these programs include mining (mainly iron and bauxite), oil exploration and extraction from the Orinoco Oil Belt, industry, river transport, and hydroelectric exploitation. Development of the latter has involved the construction of two dams on the Caroni River (the most important blackwater tributary of the Orinoco) and two more are planned on this same river. Hydroelectric projects are also being considered for the Orinoco River. Physicochemical and biological characterization has been regarded as of major importance to establish base-line information to detect and quantify possible alterations in this river which is considered to be in a pristine state. Systematic hydrobiological research has recently been carried out in the river, some of its major tributaries, and floodplain lakes, and a fair amount of knowledge has emerged mainly from its lower section. Phytoplankton studies have revealed the presence of over 400 species of algae. Zooplankton research has identified 116 taxa of rotifers and 58 taxa of cladocerans. In general plankton densities negatively correlate with water level. Diatoms were observed to predominate in the Orinoco River while Cyanophyta predominate in the studied floodplain lakes. Seventeen aquatic macrophyte species have been recorded in the lakes of the Orinoco with high densities of Eichhornia crassipes, Oxycarium cubense, and Paspalum repens. Rooted emergent and floating-plant cover tends to increase rapidly during high water. Some 318 species and subspecies of fish have been reported for the Orinoco Basin, even though this number is far from complete. Preliminary data have revealed different species associations among relatively close lakes with biomasses ranging between 30 to 900kg ha−1 displaying considerable variations in diversity and species richness. Fisheries along the Orinoco are mainly of a multispecific nature and their overall potential has been estimated as being in the order of 45 000t yr−1. In general, management plans have taken into consideration the multispecific potential of the Orinoco Basin but indicate a lack of sufficient knowledge of the physical, biological, and social aspects involved. Furthermore development plans tend to precede the generation of this basic knowledge, thereby increasing the risks of conflict among the various users of the resources involved.
Effects of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on prodynorphin-derived peptides in rat brain regions

Pharmacological studies suggest that diabetes produces changes in the brain opioid system, affecting several behavioral functions including analgesia, feeding and self-stimulation. Previous investigations of opioid receptor binding have failed to explain the unusual opioid pharmacology of the diabetic animal. In the present study, the effects of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on levels of three immunoreactive (ir)-prodynorphin-derived peptides, ir-dynorphin A1-17 (A1-17), ir-dynorphin A1-8 (A1-8) and ir-dynorphin B1-13 (B1-13), were determined in eleven brain regions known to be involved in appetite, taste and reward. Diabetes was found to increase levels of A1-17 in the ventromedial and dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei (+60% and +25%, respectively) and levels of A1-8 in the dorsomedial and lateral hypothalamus (+45% and +35%, respectively). The possible significance of these results is discussed in relation to (i) diabetic hyperphagia, (ii) medial hypothalamic transduction of circulating insulin levels, and (iii) the potentiation of reward by metabolic need states.
The Ketogenic Diet for Medically and Surgically Refractory Status Epilepticus in the Neurocritical Care Unit

Background Refractory status epilepticus carries a high risk of morbidity and mortality despite, and at times as a result of, aggressive pharmacologic interventions. Dietary therapies have been used for almost a century in children for controlling medically refractory seizures and status epilepticus and recent studies suggest efficacy and safety in adults as well.
From Continence to Virtue: Recovering Goodness, Character Unity, and Character Types for Positive Psychology

Character is central to positive psychology's efforts to understand and promote human flourishing. Despite the importance of character and ubiquitous references to Aristotle, virtue theory remains underdeveloped in positive psychology. This article elaborates three key aspects of virtue ethics for understanding flourishing: goodness, the unity of character, and character types. Positive psychologists have not developed a substantial concept of what is good, which is essential because virtues are defined as the enduring personal qualities necessary for pursuing particular goods. Positive psychologists present virtue in a fragmented manner, focusing on a few `signature strengths,' whereas virtue ethicists generally emphasize the unity of character and the development of a full range of virtues. Because positive psychologists have not recognized the four character types in addition to virtuous character, they often misconstrue the continent character as virtuous, and many of their descriptors of the good lif...
Micromethod for the Detection and Identification of Glycosides

Abstract A micromethod is described that makes use of paper partition chromatography in conjunction with enzymes to detect and identify glycosides from other plant constituents. By applying invertin or emulsin to the chromatograms, α‐ and β‐glucosides are split into glucose and aglycons. The reducing sugar so formed in the reaction produces a visible spot when the chromatogram is sprayed with a specific reagent for reducing sugars.
Can Habitat Alteration and Spring Angling Explain Largemouth Bass Nest Success

Abstract Largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides nest in shallow littoral areas, making them vulnerable to negative effects of habitat alteration due to development of lake shorelines and fishing during the spring nesting period. For instance, alteration of shorelines may reduce the quality and abundance of nesting habitat, and the high visibility of nests and the aggressive guarding behavior of nesting males increase their vulnerability to fishing. In 2004, we monitored nest distribution and success and quantified local nest habitat features, lakewide angler effort, and lakeshore development patterns in five Michigan lakes to determine the extent to which habitat alteration and fishing limit the number of nests that produce swim-up fry. Lakes spanned a range of lakeshore dwelling densities (8–22 dwellings/km), allowing us to determine the extent to which nest success varies within and among lakes due to local (e.g., substrate and cover) and lakewide (e.g., dwellings/km and fishing effort) factors. Surprisi...
Isolation and characterization of crosslinked peptides from elastin.

Abstract 1. 1. Fractionation of a reduced elastin digest resulted in the isolation of peptide fractions enriched in crosslinking amino acids. All fractions exhibited a high content of alanine residues. 2. 2. Further chromatography of fractions containing the aldol condensation product led to the purification of four peptides. One of these peptides was completely characterized through oxidation studies and the diethylaminonaphthalenesulfonyl (dansyl) technique for sequential analyses. 3. 3. The methods reported provide a means of separating all of the different crosslinking peptides by a single chromatographic system and an approach to the characterization of those peptides.
Correction of the second-order aberrations of uniform field magnetic sectors

The focusing equations for uniform field magnetic sectors with circular edges are shown to have second-order double focusing solutions. The numerical methods used to find the appropriate magnetic sector parameters for moderate pole face separations are described. An electron spectrometer constructed for a field-emmission-gun-equipped Philips EM400 is shown to have an energy resolution of 0.5 eV at a sector half acceptance angle of 1 mrad.
Mast cell interleukin-2 production contributes to suppression of chronic allergic dermatitis.

Summary The incidence of chronic allergic dermatitis is rapidly increasing. Regulatory control of this disease has not been adequately explored. Here we report that mast cell-derived interleukin-2 (IL-2) contributes to the suppression of chronic allergic dermatitis. Mice deficient in IL-2 production, or deficient in mast cells ( Kit W-sh/W-sh ), showed exacerbated dermatitis upon repeated oxazolone challenge when compared to their wild-type counterparts. Adoptive transfer of wild-type, but not Il2 -/- , mast cells into Kit W-sh/W-sh mice dampened the inflammatory response. During the course of disease, mast cell expansion occurred at the site of inflammation and also in the spleen, where production of IL-2 by mast cells was markedly enhanced. In the absence of mast cell IL-2 production, the ratio of activated to regulatory T cells at the site of inflammation was increased. Thus, MC-derived IL-2 contributes to the maintenance of suppression in chronic allergic skin inflammation.
Molecular control of ionic conduction in polymer nanopores

Polymeric nanopores show unique transport properties and have attracted a great deal of scientific interest as a test system to study ionic and molecular transport at the nanoscale. By means of all-atom molecular dynamics, we simulated the ion dynamics inside polymeric polyethylene terephthalate nanopores. For this purpose, we established a protocol to assemble atomic models of polymeric material into which we sculpted a nanopore model with the key features of experimental devices, namely a conical geometry and a negative surface charge density. Molecular dynamics simulations of ion currents through the pore show that the protonation state of the carboxyl group of exposed residues have a considerable effect on ion selectivity, by affecting ionic densities and electrostatic potentials inside the nanopores. The role of high concentrations of Ca2+ ions was investigated in detail.
Detection filters using wavelets, Gabor, morphology, and fusion

We consider detection (location of all likely regions of interest (ROIs) in a scene where objects may be) for multiple classes of objects in 3D distortions with contrast differences and severe clutter present. Two different algorithms using Gabor basis function (GBF) filters and morphological wavelet transform (MWT) filtering are considered. New final algorithm parameters are noted. We detail: the morphological portion of the MWT algorithm, our new fusion method to combine the morphological and Gabor wavelet clutter map portions of the MWT algorithm, and the MWT threshold selection technique. Initial results using a new peak sorting scoring method and new fusion scores for multiple algorithms to reduce false alarms are noted.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Simple Model for Strong Interactions

A simple model is proposed which relates elastic and inelastic processes in strong interactions. It is assumed that the basic process in strong interactions is meson production. The meson fields are calculated from a Klein-Gordon equation using a Gaussian source function. It is assumed that there are three types of strong interactions, whose quanta are, respectively, the $\ensuremath{\pi}$ meson, the $K$ meson, and the antibaryon. The sizes of the three corresponding source functions are inversely proportional to the square roots of the masses of the quanta. The three coupling constants are taken to be equal. Elastic scattering is assumed to be the diffraction scattering associated with the inelastic meson-producing processes. We thus obtain predictions for three phenomena in nucleon-nucleon collisions: the differential elastic-scattering cross section; the differential cross section for production of particles; the average number of mesons produced as a function of incident energy. The predictions are in good agreement with all experimental data in the multi-GeV region.
Effect of Dehydration Methods on the Functionality of Plant Protein Concentrates

The significance of different dehydration methods for rice bran protein and soy protein coagulates on composition and functionality of the resulting protein concentrates was investigated. Minor compositional differences were found between the freeze-, spray- or drum-dried samples. Protein solubility data indicated limited effects of dehydration methods on heat coagulated samples but significant reduction of protein solubility by drum drying was found in the case of soy protein coagulated at room temperature. Water absorption capacity and emulsion properties were significant affected by dehydration methods but no consistent trends could be observed for fat absorption capacity. A significant increase of specific bread loaf volume, relaxation time of doughs and in some cases deformation of protein fortified samples was detected from freeze-dried to drum-dried samples. In general the effects of dehydration methods on protein functionality were more consistent for heat coagulated rice bran protein than for soy protein concentrates processed at ambient temperatures. Einflus der Trocknungsmethoden auf die Funktionalitat von Pflanzenprotein-Konzentraten. Die Wirkung verschiedener Trocknungsmethoden von Reis-Kleieprotein und Soja-Proteinkonzentraten auf Zusammensetzung und Funktionalitat der gewonnenen Proteinkonzentrate wurde untersucht. Zwischen den gefrier-, zerstaubungs- oder walzen-getrockneten Proben wurden geringe Unterschiede in der Zusammensetzung gefunden. Die Werte der Proteinloslichkeit von hitzekoagulierten Proben zeigten nur begrenzte Wirkung der Trocknungsmethoden, wahrend eine bedeutsame Verringerung der Proteinloslichkeit durch Walzentrocknung bei einem bei Raumtemperatur koagulierten Sojaprotein festzustellen war. Das Wasseraufnahmevermogen und die Emulsionseigenschaften wurden von den Trocknungsmethoden deutlich beeinflust, wahrend hinsichtlich des Fettaufnahmevermogens keine Konsistenz-Tendenzen beobachtet werden konnten. Bei walzengetrockneten Proben waren die Emulsionseigenschaften betrachtlich verandert. Bei Verwendung der Proteinkonzentrate in Backwaren wurde eine erhebliche Vergroserung des Brotvolumens, der Relaxationszeit und in manchen Fallen auch der Deformation der Proben von der Gefriertrocknung zur Walzentrocknung beobachtet. Allgemein war die Wirkung der Trocknungsmethode auf die Funktionalitat des Proteins bei hitzekoaguliertem Reiskleie-Protein gleichmasiger als bei Soja-Proteinkonzentraten, die bei Raumtemperatur gewonnen worden waren.
Forced selection of tRNAGlu reveals the importance of two adenosine-rich RNA loops within the U5-PBS for SIVsmmPBj replication

Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) preferentially select and use tRNA(Lys,3) as the primer for initiation of reverse transcription. Previous studies have shown that HIV-1 can be forced to use tRNA(Glu) if mutations are made within the primer-binding site (PBS) and a region upstream, A-loop, to be complementary to the 3'-terminal 18 nucleotides and anticodon loop of tRNA(Glu). To examine the primer preference of SIV, mutations were made within the PBS of SIV(smmPBj) to be complementary to tRNA(Glu). Analysis of the production of infectious virus revealed that SIV(smmPBj) with the PBS complementary to tRNA(Glu) retained approximately 80% infectivity of the wild type. However, modification of the U5 of SIV(smmPBj) to alter nucleotides to be complementary to the anticodon of tRNA(Glu), in combination with the PBS complementary to tRNA(Glu), drastically reduced the production of infectious SIV(smmPBj) to less than 1% that of wild type. The replication of SIV(smmPBj) with the PBS complementary to tRNA(Glu) was similar to that of the wild type virus, while the replication of SIV(smmPBj) with PBS and A-loop complementary to tRNA(Glu) was delayed compared to that of wild type virus. Analysis of the PBS regions revealed that the virus with the PBS complementary to tRNA(Glu) reverted quickly, within 4 days, to be complementary to tRNA(Lys,3), while the virus with PBS and A-loop complementary to tRNA(Glu) retained the PBS for a longer time during in vitro culture although following extended replication both the A-loop and PBS of SIV(smmPBj) reverted to be complementary to tRNA(Lys,3). RNA modeling of SIV(smmPBj) U5-PBS by m-fold revealed two potential A-loop regions. Mutations in either A-loop drastically effected replication in human PBMC. Analysis of the A-loops following in vitro replication revealed that both reverted to the wild type sequence. The results of these studies demonstrate that SIV(smmPBj), like HIV-1, preferentially utilizes tRNA(Lys,3) as a primer for reverse transcription for high level replication, but unlike HIV-1 selection may involve the use of two adenosine-rich loops.
Effect of methyl testosterone administration on plasma viscosity in postmenopausal women

Summary background Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of mortality in women, with an incidence that increases after menopause, hence suggesting a cardioprotective role of oestrogen. Menopause also results in a decline in androgen levels with resulting symptoms of decreased libido and sexual dysfunction. Recently, there has been a growing interest in the treatment of postmenopausal women with androgens. However, no data are available on plasma viscosity and fibrinogen levels in postmenopausal women on combined oestrogen/androgen therapy. methods We conducted a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group 16-week study evaluating the effects of methyltestosterone supplementation on plasma viscosity and fibrinogen levels in postmenopausal women already on oestrogen replacement therapy (ERT) for at least 3 months. Women 21 years and older who were menopausal (natural or surgical) for at least 12 months were enrolled in the study. Participants were randomized to (1) an oestrogen-only group taking 1·25 mg esterified oestrogen (E-group) and (2) an oestrogen plus methyltestosterone (1·25 mg esterified oestrogen and 2·5 mg methyltestosterone) group (EA-group). Progesterone was not administered during the study period and women with intact uteri were given medroxyprogesterone 10 mg daily for 14 days at the completion of the study. results After 16 weeks of treatment, both groups had a significant increase in serum oestradiol levels from baseline. The levels of total oestrogen were significantly higher in the E-group compared to the EA-group (P < 0·001). There was a greater decrease in the LH and SHBG levels in the EA-group (P = 0·01). There was no difference in total testosterone; however, free testosterone levels were significantly higher in the EA-group (P = 0·01). At the end of the study, there was a significant decrease in plasma viscosity only in the EA-group (P = 0·01). Fibrinogen levels increased in both the groups, reaching significance only in the EA-group (P = 0·006). Baseline weight, body mass index (BMI) and the duration of menopausal status did not have any significant impact on the changes in plasma viscosity or fibrinogen. Women in the EA-group showed significant reductions in total cholesterol (P = 0·009), high density lipoprotein (HDL) (P < 0·001) and triglyceride (TG) levels (P = 0·001). There was no significant change in these parameters in the E-group. conclusion This prospective study shows that the treatment of postmenopausal women on oestrogen with low-dose oral methyltestosterone results in a significant reduction in plasma viscosity. This lowering of plasma viscosity was achieved despite an increase in fibrinogen levels. Significant lowering of lipoproteins, especially TG levels, might have been responsible for this benefit. The combination regimen did not result in major side-effects. Based on these results, we feel confident in recommending low-dose androgens to postmenopausal women with a history of sexual dysfunction and decreased libido.
Subcutaneous administration of TC007 reduces disease severity in an animal model of SMA

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is the leading genetic cause of infantile death. It is caused by the loss of functional Survival Motor Neuron 1 (SMN1). There is a nearly identical copy gene, SMN2, but it is unable to rescue from disease due to an alternative splicing event that excises a necessary exon (exon 7) from the majority of SMN2-derived transcripts. While SMNΔ7 protein has severely reduced functionality, the exon 7 sequences may not be specifically required for all activities. Therefore, aminoglycoside antibiotics previously shown to suppress stop codon recognition and promote translation read-through have been examined to increase the length of the SMNΔ7 C-terminus. Here we demonstrate that subcutaneous-administration of a read-through inducing compound (TC007) to an intermediate SMA model (Smn-/-; SMN2+/+; SMNΔ7) had beneficial effects on muscle fiber size and gross motor function. Delivery of the read-through inducing compound TC007 reduces the disease-associated phenotype in SMA mice, however, does not significantly extend survival.
Do Doppler color flow algorithms for mapping disturbed flow make sense

It has been suggested that a major advantage of Doppler color flow mapping is its ability to visualize areas of disturbed ("turbulent") flow, for example, in valvular stenosis or regurgitation and in shunts. To investigate how various color flow mapping instruments display disturbed flow information, color image processing was used to evaluate the most common velocity-variance color encoding algorithms of seven commercially available ultrasound machines. In six of seven machines, green was reportedly added by the variance display algorithms to map areas of disturbed flow. The amount of green intensity added to each pixel along the red and blue portions of the velocity reference color bar was calculated for each machine. In this study, velocities displayed on the reference color bar ranged from ± 46 to ± 64 cm/sec, depending on the Nyquist limit. Of note, changing the Nyquist limits depicted on the color reference bars did not change the distribution of the intensities of red, blue, or green within the contour of the reference map, but merely assigned different velocities to the pixels. Most color flow mapping algorithms in our study added increasing intensities of green to increasing positive (red) or negative (blue) velocities along their color reference bars. Most of these machines also added increasing green to red and blue color intensities horizontally across their reference bars as a marker of increased variance (spectral broadening). However, at any given velocity, marked variations were noted between different color flow mapping instruments in the amount of green added to their color velocity reference bars. One approach used commercially was to add varying intensities of green to the primary color intensities, at least in part, to enhance the visual appeal of the color display. Surprisingly, in one color flow mapping machine, the color composition of the velocity reference bar was different from colors displayed on typical color flow images obtained by use of this instrument. All color flow mapping machines added green at velocities along their color reference bars that were below the velocity threshold at which turbulence would generally be expected clinically. We conclude that color flow mapping machines display disturbed flow information according to markedly different algorithms and at velocities not necessarily producing turbulence. If color flow mapping is to be useful quantitatively, detailed information regarding color mapping algorithms must be provided by the color flow mapping machine manufacturers.
A spreadsheet template compatible with Microsoft Excel and iWork Numbers that returns the simultaneous confidence intervals for all pairwise differences between multiple sample means

The objective of the method described in this paper is to develop a spreadsheet template for the purpose of comparing multiple sample means. An initial analysis of variance (ANOVA) test on the data returns F-the test statistic. If F is larger than the critical F value drawn from the F distribution at the appropriate degrees of freedom, convention dictates rejection of the null hypothesis and allows subsequent multiple comparison testing to determine where the inequalities between the sample means lie. A variety of multiple comparison methods are described that return the 95% confidence intervals for differences between means using an inclusive pairwise comparison of the sample means.
Comparison of electron ionization and fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry for the determination of nickel, vanadyl and free-base porphyrins

Fast Atom Bombardment-Mass Spectrometry (FAB-MS) and Electron Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (EI-MS) at 12 and 70 eV, were used to obtain mass spectra of mesoporphyrin IX dimethylester (DME), tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP), octaethylporphyrin (OEP), and the metalloporphyrins, Ni(DME), Ni(TPP), Ni(OEP), VO(TPP), VO(OEP), as well as a VO(II) porphyrin concentrate obtained from the New Albany oil shale bitumen (Mississippian-Devonian). A mixture of dithiothreitol/dithioerythritol (“Magic Bullet”) was used as the FAB matrix. Greater fragmentation of free-base and metalloporphyrins was observed in FAB mass spectra compared to the EI mass spectra. Adduct ions formed by addition of sulfur and a matrix molecule to the porphyrins were observed. In FAB spectra of the VO(II) complexes, loss of oxygen was noted. The FAB mass spectra of mixtures of VO(II) geoporphyrins are much more complex than corresponding EI mass spectra because of the greater fragmentation and the multiplicity of ions (M+, M + H, M + 2H, etc.) observed in the FAB mode. Using the matrices investigated, FAB is less suitable for EI for the mass spectrometric analysis of the geoporphyrins.
Query parameters for harvesting digital video and associated contextual information

Video is increasingly important to digital libraries and archives as both primary content and as context for the primary objects in collections. Services like YouTube not only offer large numbers of videos but also usage data such as comments and ratings that may help curators today make selections and aid future generations to interpret those selections. A query-based harvesting strategy is presented and results from daily harvests for six topics defined by 145 queries over a 20-month period are discussed with respect to, query specification parameters, topic, and contribution patterns. The limitations of the strategy and these data are considered and suggestions are offered for curators who wish to use query-based harvesting.
On the Effective Thermal Conductivity of Dilute Suspensions Containing Highly Conducting Slender Inclusions

In this paper we consider the effective thermal conductivity of dilute suspensions containing highly conducting slender inclusions aligned in one direction. By extending the analysis of Rocha & Acrivos $(1973b)$, we solve the temperature field for two aligned particles in an infinite medium by using slender body theory and we calculate the conductivity of a suspension with randomly distributed particles exactly to $O(\phi ^{2})$, where $\phi $ is the volume fraction of the inclusions. The results show that, under these conditions, the coefficient of the $O(\phi ^{2})$ term is significantly lower than that found experimentally by Rocha & Acrivos (1974). This discrepancy is attributed to the fact that, in the experiments of Rocha & Acrivos, the presence of the external magnetic field used to align the particles also induced a non-random particle distribution. A theory is therefore developed to take into account the clustering of the particles during the process of alignment which is found to give values of the coefficient of the $O(\phi ^{2})$ term in good agreement with those obtained experimentally. These findings illustrate the importance of the particle distribution in determining the effective transport coefficient of the composite materials when the interactions between particles are significant.