cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metabolism of Bovine Semen. VIII. Fluoroacetate as an Inhibitor of Spermatozoan Motility, Glycolysis, and Respiration,

Summary Sodium fluoroacetate in concentrations as high as 0.01 M has been tested as an inhibitor of the motility, glycolysis, and respiration of bovine spermatozoa in heated skimmilk, egg yolk–citrate (1:3), and modified Ringer solution. Effective inhibition of motility and glycolysis was not obtained. Endogenous respiration was 70% inhibited by 0.01 M fluoroacetate; respiration with substrates of 0.01 M acetate, glucose, and fructose was inhibited 70–90%. Production of C 14 O 2 from acetate-1-C 14 was almost completely blocked by fluoroacetate.
New pharmacologic approaches to treating diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose. The goal of treatment of diabetic retinopathy, limitations of laser photocoagulation, endpoints used in clinical studies of diabetic retinopathy treatments, and the mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety of several new and emerging therapies targeting the biochemical pathways that link chronic hyperglycemia with microvascular damage in patients with diabetic retinopathy are discussed. Summary. Improving or preserving vision is the primary goal of treatment for diabetic retinopathy. Limitations of laser photocoagulation include a lack of efficacy in some cases, discomfort from the procedure, the need for repeated treatment, and a risk of retinal damage and scarring. Visual acuity, quality of life, and macular thickness are used as endpoints in clinical studies of diabetic retinopathy treatments. Microvascular damage in patients with chronic hyperglycemia is mediated by interrelated pathways involving aldose reductase, advanced glycation end products, protein kinase C (PKC), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Oral aldose reductase inhibitors have been studied with some success only in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The oral PKC inhibitor midostaurin and oral selective PKC β inhibitor ruboxistaurin appear promising for improving or maintaining visual acuity, with gastrointestinal complaints the most commonly reported adverse effects. Intra-vitreal injection of corticosteroids or VEGF inhibitors is associated with short-lived improvement in or maintenance of visual acuity, a need for repeated injection, and a risk of local adverse effects. Conclusion. A variety of promising new therapies for diabetic retinopathy targeting the biochemical pathways that cause microvascular damage are under investigation. Additional clinical research is needed to determine the role of these new therapies in treating diabetic retinopathy.
Striatal dopamine after cortical injury

After right or left unilateral sensorimotor cortex ablation or a sham operation, dopamine concentrations were assayed in the right and left striatum of rats. In the sham-operated animals, a greater amount of dopamine was found in the left striatum compared with the right. Right or left sensorimotor cortex injury reduced dopamine in both striata. Right hemisphere lesions produced a greater loss of dopamine in the right striatum compared with the effect of a left lesion on dopamine in the left striatum. The results support the hypothesis of an asymmetric response to cortical injury.
Changes in women's alcoholic, antisocial, and depressive symptomatology over 12 years: A multilevel network of individual, familial, and neighborhood influences

In a sample of 273 adult women and their families, we examined the effects of women's psychopathology history, their social support, their husbands' and children's symptomatology, family stress, and neighborhood environment on their alcohol problems, antisocial behavior, and depression over a 12-year period during their 30s and early 40s. Women's alcohol problems and antisocial behavior decreased but their depression symptoms increased over time. Women's disorder history and their partners' parallel symptomatology were associated with their symptoms. For women's antisocial behavior, their own history of alcoholism and their partners' alcohol problems were also significant risk factors. Higher levels of social support were associated with lower levels of depression in women. Children's externalizing behavior was positively correlated with their mothers' alcohol problems and antisocial behavior, whereas children's internalizing behavior was positively correlated with their mothers' depression. Neighborhood residential instability was associated with higher levels of alcoholic and depressive symptomatology in women. Intervention efforts might target women with young children by improving social support, educational or professional training opportunity, access to family counseling, and neighborhood environment.
Correlation between core biopsy and excisional biopsy in breast high-risk lesions.

Abstract Background The purpose of the current study was to compare the prevalence of invasive or in situ cancer at excisional biopsy in patients with image-guided core needle biopsy (CNB)-proven atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH), or lobular carcinoma-in-situ (LCIS). Factors affecting the upgrade rate to malignancy were also identified. Methods Patients diagnosed with ADH, ALH, or LCIS on image-guided CNB (stereotactic or ultrasound) from 1995 to 2005 were identified through radiologic and surgical databases. Patients who subsequently underwent excisional biopsy of their lesion were included in the study. The imaging, medical records, and pathology of these patients were reviewed. Results Ninety-six patients with either ADH (61/96, 63%), ALH (19/96, 20%), or LCIS (16/96, 17%) on image-guided CNB proceeded to excisional biopsy. Malignancy was detected on excisional biopsy in 31% of patients with ADH, 16% of patients with ALH, and 25% of patients with LCIS. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of age, parity, hormonal status, or previous benign breast biopsies. The presence of a mass on mammography was associated with an increased upgrade rate to malignancy, while biopsies performed using vacuum-assisted devices, larger gauge biopsy needles, and greater number of cores were associated with a lower upgrade rate. Conclusions Our data suggest that excisional biopsy is warranted in all patients with CNB diagnoses of ADH, ALH, or LCIS to exclude the presence of cancer.
The Support of an Irreducible Lie Algebra Representation

Abstract We present an explicit description of the h -support suppMof any irreducible h -locally finite g -moduleM, where g is any finite-dimensional Lie algebra and h is an arbitrary nilpotent Lie subalgebra of g . If h contains a Cartan subalgebra of the semi-simple part of g , we reformulate the description of suppMin terms of a latticeLMand of the convex hullSMof suppM. When g is reductive it is known that suppMis nothing but the intersection ofSMwith the root lattice 〈Δ〉 shifted by an arbitrary element of suppM. Our general description is similar, but the root lattice 〈Δ〉 must be replaced by a certain sublatticeLM, and suppMmay now have “holes” near the boundary ofSM. The paper is concluded by a detailed discussion of examples.
Faculty Ratings of Course Evaluation Items.

Instructors whose teaching was evaluated by students were given the opportunity to rate how applicable the evaluation items were to their classes. This study examined the kinds of items which instructors felt to be applicable or inapplicable, the relationships between the student ratings and the instructor applicability ratings, and the effect on an overall evaluation score of using the instructor applicability judgments as weights.
Preventing healthcare-associated infections in cardiac surgical patients as a hallmark of excellence.

Introduction Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are the tenth-leading cause of death in the United States.1 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that HAIs annually account for 1.7 million infections, 99,000 associated deaths, and a cost of approximately $30 billion.2, 3 Nonreimbursement of some of these HAIs by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, public reporting of data (currently in 27 states), and the statistics listed above are driving quality initiatives to reduce or eliminate HAIs. However, a 2009 report from the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality showed that little progress has been made towards eliminating HAIs.2 Reducing the risk of healthcare-associated infections is the Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goal Number 7.4 Cardiac surgery has always been at the leading edge of innovation and quality care. Improvements in this field have been brought about by the needs of critically ill patients who are at high risk of death and by leaders such as Dr. Michael DeBakey who were driven to provide excellence in patient care. One of the prime examples of quality initiatives in cardiac surgery has been the development of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) National Database. This has helped to develop benchmarks by which different institutions are measured. The STS database will lead another initiative by providing public presentation of hospital- and surgeon-specific data in the near future.5 Even so, cardiac surgery patients are at especially high risk of developing HAIs. Use of invasive devices such as central lines, urinary catheters, ventilators, etc. — all of which are commonly utilized in the care of cardiac surgical patients — is one of the most significant risk factors for acquiring HAIs. Cardiac patients also have significant co-morbidities such as diabetes, obesity, increasing frailty, advanced age, and multiple redo-operations. This combination makes our patients more vulnerable to HAIs. Accordingly, in 2010 the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA) Foundation launched the FOCUS (Flawless Operative Cardiovascular Unified Systems) Cardiac Surgery Patient Safety Initiative to help eliminate infections in cardiac surgery patients, especially catheter-related infections.6 This publication will briefly discuss the four most common infections and strategies to reduce HAIs and will touch on some of the infection-control experiences from the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center (MDHVC).
On the Catalytic Mechanism of Tryptophan Hydroxylase

Tryptophan hydroxylase catalyzes the hydroxylation of tryptophan using tetrahydrobiopterin and molecular oxygen. With tyrosine as a substrate, the amount of C4a-hydroxypterin formed greatly exceeds the amount of dihydroxyphenylalanine formed, consistent with oxygen−oxygen bond cleavage occurring in a step prior to amino acid hydroxylation. With l-indole-2H5-tryptophan, l-4-2H- or l-5-2H-tryptophan as substrate there is no isotope effect on the V/K value for tryptophan. There is an inverse isotope effect on the Vmax value with l-indole-2H5-tryptophan and l-5-2H-tryptophan, but no effect with l-4-2H-tryptophan. Comparison of the measured isotope effects with values of calculated secondary equilibrium isotope effects for tryptophan hydroxylation indicate that the results are most consistent with the formation of a cationic species. Retention of the isotopic label from l-5-2H-tryptophan in the product confirms that an NIH shift occurs in tryptophan hydroxylase and shows that the direction of shift is from car...
Poland syndrome: a contraindication to the use of the internal thoracic artery in coronary artery bypass grafting?

Poland syndrome (PS) is a rare congenital disorder that is present in 1:30,000 people. It is primarily characterized by hypoplasia of the pectoralis muscles, with associated ipsilateral syndactyly of the upper extremity. Although the true cause of PS remains unknown, the prevailing theory attributes these sequelae to hypoplasia of the subclavian artery or its branches as the result of an in utero vascular accident. 1,2 Contemplating how to perform coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in a patient with left-sided PS is therefore of particular interest, because hypoplasia of the subclavian artery would theoretically render the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) inadequate for use. Consistent with yet exacerbating this clinical conundrum, no cases of CABG in patients with PS have previously been reported. We recently encountered a patient with undiagnosed left-sided PS with significant coronary artery disease involving the left anterior descending coronary artery. Our preoperative workup included diagnostic imaging of the heart and great vessels to assess the adequacy of the LITA as a bypass conduit. Surprisingly, our evaluation demonstrated normal left subclavian artery and LITA anatomy, thus calling into question the currently accepted theory for this unusual syndrome. Clinical Summary A 70-year-old man was seen with anginal symptoms that had worsened during the previous 2 weeks. Physical examination revealed syndactyly of the left hand and hypoplasia of the left breast (Figure 1). Cardiac catheterization demonstrated three-vessel coronary artery disease, including a severely occluded left anterior descending coronary artery. After surgical consultation, the presence of the aforementioned phenotype was noted, and select subclavian artery catheterization was therefore performed. Interestingly, a widely patent subclavian artery and LITA were seen. Because of the possibility of chest wall deformity that might alter our sternotomy and closure, a computed tomographic angiographic study was also performed (Figure 2). This scan confirmed the absence of pectoralis musculature and demonstrated a normal bony thoracic cage. Moreover, normal caliber subclavian artery and LITA were confirmed. Intraoperative assessment of the LITA also revealed a normal artery with adequate flow by visual inspection. Four-vessel CABG was therefore performed, which included a LITA conduit to the left anterior descending coronary artery. The remainder of the operative and postoperative course was unremarkable.
A Variety Associated to an Algebra with Involution

Abstract A variety IV(A, *) is canonically associated to a central simple algebra A with orthogonal involution of the first kind *. The properties of this variety are the main topic of this paper. The paper is divided into two parts. We first define this variety to be the subvariety of the Grassmannian of the n-dimensional subspaces of the n2-dimensional vector space A consisting of all the n-dimensional right ideals I of A, such that I*I = 0. The geometric properties of IV(A, *) are investigated. In particular the generic property of this variety is identified. Further, the kernel of the scalar extension map Br(F) → Br(K), where K is the function field of IV(A, *), is also computed. Lastly, a criterion on the embeddability of the field K into the function field of the Brauer-Severi variety of A is given. In the second part, the Quillen K-theory of IV(A, *) is computed. The K-theory result then leads to an index reduction formula for the function field K.
Self-similar spiral instabilities in elastic flows between a cone and a plate

Experimental observations and linear stability analysis are used to quantitatively describe a purely elastic flow instability in the inertialess motion of a viscoelastic fluid confined between a rotating cone and a stationary circular disk. Beyond a critical value of the dimensionless rotation rate, or Deborah number, the spatially homogeneous azimuthal base flow that is stable in the limit of small Reynolds numbers and small cone angles becomes unstable with respect to non-axisymmetric disturbances in the form of spiral vortices that extend throughout the fluid sample. Digital video-imaging measurements of the spatial and temporal dynamics of the instability in a highly elastic, constant-viscosity fluid show that the resulting secondary flow is composed of logarithmically spaced spiral roll cells that extend across the disk in the self-similar form of a Bernoulli Spiral. Linear stability analyses are reported for the quasi-linear Oldroyd-B constitutive equation and the nonlinear dumbbell model proposed by Chilcott & Rallison.
RNA sequencing identifies multiple fusion transcripts, differentially expressed genes, and reduced expression of immune function genes in BRAF (V600E) mutant vs BRAF wild-type papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Context: The BRAF V600E mutation (BRAF-MUT) confers an aggressive phenotype in papillary thyroid carcinoma, but unidentified additional genomic abnormalities may be required for full phenotypic expression. Objective: RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was performed to identify genes differentially expressed between BRAF-MUT and BRAF wild-type (BRAF-WT) tumors and to correlate changes to patient clinical status. Design: BRAF-MUT and BRAF-WT tumors were identified in patients with T1N0 and T2–3N1 tumors evaluated in a referral medical center. Gene expression levels were determined (RNA-Seq) and fusion transcripts were detected. Multiplexed capture/detection and digital counting of mRNA transcripts (nCounter, NanoString Technologies) validated RNA-Seq data for immune system-related genes. Patients: BRAF-MUT patients included nine women, three men; nine were TNM stage I and three were stage III. Three (25%) had tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. BRAF-WT included five women, three men; all were stage I, and five (62.5%) ha...
Inverse first moment for the weighted magnetoreflection

Abstract A rigorous dispersion theoretic derivation of the inverse first moment of the magnetoreflection weighted by the normal reflection is presented. Schnatterly's formula for the zeroth moment of the magnetoreflection is briefly discussed.
Dual Activation of the Bile Acid Nuclear Receptor FXR and G-Protein-Coupled Receptor TGR5 Protects Mice against Atherosclerosis

Bile acid signaling is a critical regulator of glucose and energy metabolism, mainly through the nuclear receptor FXR and the G protein-coupled receptor TGR. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether dual activation of FXR and TGR5 plays a significant role in the prevention of atherosclerosis progression. To evaluate the effects of bile acid signaling in atherogenesis, ApoE−/− mice and LDLR−/− mice were treated with an FXR/TGR5 dual agonist (INT-767). INT-767 treatment drastically reduced serum cholesterol levels. INT-767 treatment significantly reduced atherosclerotic plaque formation in both ApoE−/− and LDLR−/− mice. INT-767 decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the aortas of ApoE−/− mice through the inactivation of NF-κB. In addition, J774 macrophages treated with INT-767 had significantly lower levels of active NF-κB, resulting in cytokine production in response to LPS through a PKA dependent mechanism. This study demonstrates that concurrent activation of FXR and TGR5 attenuates atherosclerosis by reducing both circulating lipids and inflammation.
Nonlinear Model Reference Adaptive Control with Embedded Linear Models

We propose a nonlinear model reference adaptive control strategy in which a linear model (or a set of linear models) is embedded within the nonlinear controller. The technique is applicable to single-input, single-output nonlinear processes with stable zero dynamics and full-state feedback. The nonlinear control law is constructed by embedding linear controller gains obtained from a linear model or multiple linear models. The higher-order controller functions are approximated with locally supported radial basis functions centered in the state space. The number of basis functions is determined a priori, and an on-line pruning algorithm is utilized to ensure functions centered near the current operating point are active. Parameter update laws that guarantee (under certain assumptions) that the plant output asymptotically tracks the output of a linear reference model and the state vector remains bounded are derived via Lyapunov stability analysis. The proposed control strategy is compared to a linear state feedback controller and a linear multimodel adaptive controller using a nonlinear chemical reactor model.
A note on the angular distribution of inelastically scattered particles in Coulomb excitation

Abstract The angular distribution of the inelastically scattered particles following Coulomb excitation is calculated for electric quadrupole transitions. The quantum mechanical calculations are performed for the case of finite energy loss and a comparison is made between the semi-classical and quantum mechanical angular distributions.
Reduced inbreeding depression due to historical inbreeding in Drosophila melanogaster: evidence for purging.

An important issue in conservation biology and the study of evolution is the extent to which inbreeding depression can be reduced or reversed by natural selection. If the deleterious recessive alleles causing inbreeding depression can be ‘purged’ by natural selection, outbred populations that have a history of inbreeding are expected to be less susceptible to inbreeding depression. This expectation, however, has not been realized in previous laboratory experiments. In the present study, we used Drosophila melanogaster as a model system to test for an association between inbreeding history and inbreeding depression. We created six ‘purged’ populations from experimental lineages that had been maintained at a population size of 10 male–female pairs for 19 generations. We then measured the inbreeding depression that resulted from one generation of full-sib mating in the purged populations and in the original base population. The magnitude of inbreeding depression in the purged populations was approximately one-third of that observed in the original base population. In contrast to previous laboratory experiments, therefore, we found that inbreeding depression was reduced in populations that have a history of inbreeding. The large purging effects observed in this study may be attributable to the rate of historical inbreeding examined, which was slower than that considered in previous experiments.
Pulmonary thromboxane release following intestinal reperfusion.

Microvascular dysfunction is a prominent feature of the lung injury associated with intestinal reperfusion (IR). This study examines the hypothesis that IR induces pulmonary thromboxane A 2 (TxA 2 ) release, which contributes to pulmonary microvascular dysfunction. Sprague-Dawley rats underwent 120 min of intestinal ischemia and 60 min of reperfusion (IR). Sham-operated animals served as controls (SHAM). Following IR or SHAM, the lungs were perfused in vitro with a modified Krebs buffer and ventilated with room air. Eicosanoid levels within the pulmonary venous effluent and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were determined (TxB 2 , 6-keto-PGF 1a , and PGE 2 ). Pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) was measured continuously and expressed as change from baseline in mm Hg. The dominant eicosanoid generated by the lungs in response to IR was TxB 2 . TxB 2 levels in the pulmonary venous effluent of IR lungs were 75% greater than controls (P = 0.005). Similarly, TxB 2 levels in the BAL were more than 2.5 times controls (P = 0.001). The change in PAP of lungs from IR animals was significantly greater than that of controls (4.1 ± 1.5 vs 0.3 ± 0.54 mm Hg, IR vs SHAM, P = 0.01). The increased PAP associated with IR lungs was prevented by cyclooxygenase inhibition with indomethacin (-1.28 ± 0.29 mm Hg, P < 0.05) and thromboxane synthetase inhibition with imidazole (-1.75 ± 0.95 mm Hg, P < 0.05). These experiments support the hypothesis that IR up-regulates endogenous pulmonary TxA 2 release. Furthermore, the local release of TxA 2 by the lung may contribute to the microvascular dysfunction characteristic of IR-induced lung injury. © 1995 Academic Press, Inc.
Measurement of Black Carbon and Particle Number Emission Factors from Individual Heavy-Duty Trucks

Emission factors for black carbon (BC) and particle number (PN) were measured from 226 individual heavy-duty (HD) diesel trucks driving through a 1-km-long California highway tunnel in August 2006....
Feminist Media Ethnography in India: Exploring Power, Gender, and Culture in the Field:

This article is a self-reflexive account of one postcolonial feminist media scholar’s research among young middle-class women in urban India who read Western romance fiction. Urging feminist schola...
Theoretical Studies of Structure and Doping of Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon

In a-Si:H, large concentrations of B or P (of order 1%) are required to dope the material, suggesting that doping mechanisms are very different than for the crystal for which much smaller concentrations are required. In this paper, we report simulations on B and P introduced into realistic models of a-Si:H and a-Si, with concentrations ranging from 1.6% to 12.5% of B or P in the amorphous host. The results indicate that tetrahedral B and P are effective doping configurations in a-Si, but high impurity concentrations introduce many defect states. For a-Si:H, we report that both B(3,1) and P(3,1) (B or P atom bonded with three Si atoms and one H atom) are effective doping configurations. We investigate H passivation in both cases. For both B and P, there exists a “hydrogen poison range” of order 6 A for which H in a bond-center site can suppress doping. For B doping, nearby H prefers to stay at the bond-center of Si-Si, leaves B four-fold and neutralizes the doping configuration; for P doping, nearby H spoils the doping by inducing a reconstruction rendering initially tetrahedral P three-fold.
Adaptive interleaved vector quantization in transform domain

A novel image coding scheme, adaptive interleaved vector quantization (AIVQ) in the transform domain, is proposed. The basic idea of this algorithm is that the original image is first partitioned into large blocks. Each block is then further decomposed into four interleaved, nonoverlapping subblocks, which are subsequently encoded using vector quantization in the transform domain. All or some of the four subblocks are selected to be directly coded by vector quantization according to the local activity of the large block. The subblocks that are not directly assigned to be vector quantized will be calculated from the coded data. Since a strong correlation exists among the subblocks of the blocks with low local content activity, the approximation will not result in large error. Therefore, the bits saved from the lower activity area are allocated to the higher activity area. A variable-rate coder that delivers a constant image quality is obtained. >
cGMP-dependent Protein Kinase Phosphorylates p21-activated Kinase (Pak) 1, Inhibiting Pak/Nck Binding and Stimulating Pak/Vasodilator-stimulated Phosphoprotein Association

Endothelial cells are normally non-motile and quiescent; however, endothelial cells will become permeable and invade and proliferate to form new blood vessels (angiogenesis) in response to wounding, cancer, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, or rheumatoid arthritis. p21-activated kinase (Pak), an effector for the Rho GTPases Rac and Cdc42, is required for angiogenesis and regulates endothelial cell permeability and motility. Although Pak is primarily activated by Rac and Cdc42, there are additional proteins that regulate Pak activity and localization, including three AGC protein kinase family members, Akt-1, PDK-1, and cAMP-dependent protein kinase. We describe phosphorylation and regulation of Pak localization by a fourth AGC kinase family member, cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG). Using in vitro mapping, a phosphospecific antibody, co-transfection assays, and untransfected bovine aortic endothelial cells we determined that PKG phosphorylates Pak at serine 21. Phosphorylation was accompanied by changes in proteins associated with Pak. The adaptor protein Nck was released, whereas a novel complex with vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein was stimulated. Furthermore Ser-21 phosphorylation of Pak appears to be important for regulation of cell morphology. In both human umbilical vein endothelial cells and HeLa cells, activation of PKG in the presence of Pak stimulated tail retraction and cell polarization. However, in cells expressing S21A mutant Pak1, PKG activation or treatment with a peptide that blocks Nck/Pak binding caused aberrant cell morphology, blocked cell retraction, and mislocalized Pak, producing uropod (tail-like) structures. These data suggest that PKG regulates Pak and that the interaction plays a role in tail retraction.
Comparison of PET Imaging with 64Cu-Liposomes and 18F-FDG in the 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-Induced Hamster Buccal Pouch Model of Oral Dysplasia and Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Purpose Currently, 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-d-glucose (18F-FDG) is the gold standard radiotracer for staging of head and neck cancer; however, the low sensitivity of this tracer can impede detection of early lesions. 64Cu-liposomes accumulate in various cancers and provide both a sensitive tracer and an indication of the biodistribution of nanotherapeutics. Here, the accumulation of 64Cu-liposomes in early and established cancers is assessed and compared with 18F-FDG in a head and neck cancer model.
The gestures of a gorilla: Language acquisition in another pongid

Abstract A female lowland gorilla, Koko, has been engaged in an ongoing language program since July 1972 when she was 1 year old. During the first 30 months of training she acquired a vocabulary of 100 words in American Sign Language which she spontaneously combined into meaningful and often novel statements of up to 11 signs in length. The gorilla is using a rapidly expanding vocabulary of signs to express semantic and possibly grammatical relations similar to those expressed by human children in the early stages of language acquisition. Patterns of generalization, gradual increase in mean length of utterance, and innovative use of gestural language are discussed in relation to data available on children and chimpanzees.
Exploiting Webpage Characteristics for Energy-Efficient Mobile Web Browsing

Web browsing on mobile devices is undoubtedly the future. However, with the increasing complexity of webpages, the mobile device's computation capability and energy consumption become major pitfalls for a satisfactory user experience. In this paper, we propose a mechanism to effectively leverage processor frequency scaling in order to balance the performance and energy consumption of mobile web browsing. This mechanism explores the performance and energy tradeoff in webpage loading, and schedules webpage loading according to the webpages' characteristics, using the different frequencies. The proposed solution achieves 20.3% energy saving compared to the performance mode, and improves webpage loading performance by 37.1 % compared to the battery saving mode.
Redundant vibrational coordinates. Part I. The harmonic potential function

Abstract Redundant coordinates, so useful in many problems in molecular dynamics, introduce certain new considerations regarding force constants. The general requirements on the potential function in such coordinates are discussed in the harmonic approximation, with special attention to the linear force constants, intramolecular tensions, and null coordinates (the coordinate expressing the redundancy condition in first-order approximations). It is shown that the quadratic force constants for such null coordinates are indeterminate. It is also shown that, when redundant coordinates are used, the linear force constants and intramolecular tensions must in general be considered; exceptions to this occur in the cases of non-totally-symmetric null coordinates, where the linear constants and tensions vanish, and of null coordinates which express a redundancy condition exactly, where the same constants are indeterminate. The physical meaning of the intramolecular-tension force constants is also discussed.
Shake, rattle and roll – can music be used by parents and practitioners to support communication, language and literacy within a pre-school setting?

The aim of this small-scale study was to evaluate whether music could support communication, language and literacy development within a pre-school setting. The research focused on a music specialist who provided a range of musical activities that engaged both parents and children over a 20-week period. Initial interviews with parents indicated that music could be an important vehicle in developing children's social skills. Exit interviews identified that parents' views had changed with the primary benefits being identified as the development of children's musical skills, in particular singing, increased levels of concentration and an improvement in children's speaking and listening skills. Research findings also identified that effective adult–child interactions appeared to be key in fostering language development through music. This echoes findings from previous research which highlights that involving parents and children regularly in musical activities can impact upon children's learning.
Polar lipids and fatty acid composition of phytopathogenic fungi

Abstract Polar lipids of three phytopathogenic fungi, Alternaria dauci , Fusarium solani f. phaseoli , and Sclerotium rolfsii were analyzed. Phosphatidyl ethanolamine and phosphatidyl inositol were absent in Fusarium solani f. phaseoli . The distribution of fatty acids ranged from C 12 to C 20 in all three fungi. The degree of unsaturation of the fatty acids was higher in polar lipids than in neutral lipids regardless of the organism. More short chain fatty acids were detected in F. solani f. phaseoli and S. rolfsii than in A. dauci .
Scale-Dependent Dispersion within the Stratified Interior on the Shelf of Northern Monterey Bay

AbstractAutonomous underwater vehicle measurements are used to quantify lateral dispersion of a continuously released Rhodamine WT dye plume within the stratified interior of shelf waters in northern Monterey Bay, California. The along-shelf evolution of the plume’s cross-shelf (lateral) width provides evidence for scale-dependent dispersion following the 4/3 law, as previously observed in both surface and bottom layers. The lateral dispersion coefficient is observed to grow to 0.5 m2 s−1 at a distance of 700 m downstream of the dye source. The role of shear and associated intermittent turbulent mixing within the stratified interior is investigated as a driving mechanism for lateral dispersion. Using measurements of time-varying temperature and horizontal velocities, both an analytical shear-flow dispersion model and a particle-tracking model generate estimates of the lateral dispersion that agree with the field-measured 4/3 law of dispersion, without explicit appeal to any assumed turbulence structure.
The Measles Initiative: Moving Toward Measles Eradication

The World Health Assembly should establish a target date for measles eradication based on continued progress toward existing mortality reduction goals. We have a safe, effective, and inexpensive vaccine; a proven elimination strategy; high country demand; and an effective global partnership. Since it was founded in 2001, the Measles Initiative has supported the vaccination of >900 million children in supplementary immunization activities. Largely as a result, global measles deaths decreased by 78% between 2000 and 2008, averting an estimated 4.3 million deaths. The Measles Initiative has exceeded its targets and evolved to address increasingly ambitious goals. The current challenges include a decline in funding and weak routine immunization systems in some countries. Skeptics of measles eradication raise 3 main objections: the yet-to-be-achieved polio eradication goal, the high cost, and the impact on health systems. These are important concerns that can be addressed with judicious program planning. All 6 World Health Organization regions have committed to measles elimination, and 5 have set a target date. The World Health Assembly has endorsed interim targets toward eradication, and an independent global measles advisory group has determined measles can and should be eradicated. A target date for eradication will focus efforts and capitalize on the achievements of the last decade.
Parents' and adolescents' perceptions of helpful and nonhelpful support for adolescents' assumption of diabetes management responsibility

The study identified parents' and adolescents' perceptions of helpful and nonhelpful support, specific to adolescents' assumption of responsibility for diabetes management. Sixteen pairs of parents...
Comparative response of right and left ventricles to volume overload.

Abstract The cardiac volume data of 49 normal children were compared with those of 23 with secundum atrial septal defect and 24 with patent ductus arteriosus. Significantly smaller ventricular end-diastolic volumes were observed in the normal infants than in older children (right ventricle 53.9 versus 75.5 cm 3 /m 2 ; left ventricle 46.7 versus 63.6 cm 3 /m 2 ). “Distensibility” of the right ventricle (D RV ), left ventricle (D LV ) and left atrium increased normally with age. D RV and D LV were similar shortly after birth; thereafter, D RV increased more rapidly than D LV (mean D RV 12.7; mean d LV 7.8 cm 3 /m 2 per mm Hg, P 3 , P P 2 , P 3 /m 2 , P
The capacity of a two layer network with binary weights

A statistical approach is used to determine the information capacity of a two-layer feedforward neural network with binary interconnections and integer thresholds. It is shown that the probability distribution of correct classifications of the two-layer network with binary weights is approximately Poisson, which is monotonic and exhibits a sharp transition at the capacity point. This behavior is similar to that observed in the Hopfield associative memory as well as some other linear classifiers. The capacity of the network was determined explicitly. >
Can recognition of living things be selectively impaired

Abstract Brain damage sometimes seems to impair recognition of living things, despite relatively preserved recognition of nonliving things. The most straightforward interpretation of this dissociation is that the recognition of living things depends on some specialized mechanisms that are not needed for the recognition of nonliving things. However, there are alternative interpretations of the dissociation in terms of the greater complexity or inter-item similarity of living things, or the more specific, within-category identifications that are usually required for living things. Suprisingly, the relevant tests to discriminate among these rival hypotheses have never been performed. We took the factors of visual complexity, inter-item similarity, specificity of identification, as well as others, into account in analyzing the visual recognition performance of two head-injured visual agnosic patients. In each case we found that recognition of living things was still disproportionately impaired when the effects of the other factors were accounted for.
What Makes a Polygon Pleasing

Extensive preference data has been collected on Birkhoff's set of 90 polygons; therefore, they make an excellent test of any theory of aesthetics. None of the prior methods of explaining these data...
Trend of Spontaneous Reports Containing Selected Adverse Drug/Biologic Reactions: 1970–1986

The reporting frequency of eight adverse reaction terms was assessed from 1970 to 1986: agranulocytosis, anaphylactoid reaction, aplastic anemia, epidermal necrolysis. exfoliative dermatitis, hemolytic anemia, pancytopenia, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome. These terms historically have a high probability of drug/biologic involvement and also represent conditions that are likely to result in serious outcomes. The average yearly percentage of spontaneous, domestic reports with age and sex present that had at least one of these adverse reaction terms during 1970 to 1986 was 4.1 % (SD= 1.3 %). This shows a remarkably steady proportion of such reports in the total received for each of the 17 years, even though various changes in the adverse reaction system were occurring throughout this time period.
The Effect of VII Market Penetration on Safety and Efficiency of Transportation Networks

The introduction of the Vehicle Infrastructure Inte- gration (VII) initiative by the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) has recently attracted the attention of researchers and given rise to a plethora of studies, each one seeking to enhance the safety and efficiency of transportation networks in one way or another. Moreover, vehicles communicating with each other and with the infrastructure, render their drivers with more information on their surroundings, extending the horizon of drivers and making them more vigilant to face the unexpected. In this study, we provide a mathematical framework which foretells the effect of deploying VII-enabled vehicles, such as VII-assisted and VII-automated, on the overall safety and efficiency. We show that inter-vehicular communications improves the throughput of vehicles by reducing the Perception-Reaction times of drivers. Furthermore, we exhibit that this is obtained without needing to compromise over safety requirements. Our framework can be utilized by decision makers to anticipate the effect of VII on transportation networks prior to their real-life deployment. Index Terms—Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks (VANETs), Vehicle- Infrastructure Integration (VII), Dedicated Short Range Commu- nications (DSRC), Perception-Reaction (P-R) time.
Residential self-selection bias in the estimation of built environment effects on physical activity between adolescence and young adulthood

Background Built environment research is dominated by cross-sectional designs, which are particularly vulnerable to residential self-selection bias resulting from health-related attitudes, neighborhood preferences, or other unmeasured characteristics related to both neighborhood choice and health-related outcomes.
An algorithmic analysis of the role of unequal crossover in alpha-satellite DNA evolution.

Human DNA consists of a large number of tandem repeat sequences. Such sequences are usually called satellites, with the primary example being the centromeric alpha-satellite DNA. The basic repeat unit of the alpha-satellite DNA is a 171bp monomer. However, with the exception of peripheral alpha-satellite DNA, monomers can be grouped into blocks of k-monomers (4 k 20) between which the divergence rate is much smaller (e.g. 5%). Perhaps the simplest and best understood mechanism for tandem repeat array evolution is the unequal crossover. Although it is possible that the alpha-satellite sequence developed as a result of subsequent unequal crossovers only, no formal computational framework seems to have been developed to verify this possibility. In this paper we develop such a framework and perform experiments which seem to indicate that pericentromeric alpha-satellite segments (which are devoid of higher-order structure) are evolutionarily distinct from the higher-order repeat segments. It is likely that the higher order repeats developed independently in distinct regions of the genome and were carried into their current locations through an unknown mechanism of transposition.
Mitigation of Unintentional Radiated Emissions from Tall VLSI Heatsinks Using Ground Posts

When a heatsink is mounted on an integrated circuit (IC) package above a printed circuit board (PCB), noise from the IC can be coupled to the board-heatsink structure causing radiated emissions. One method to reduce these emissions is to connect the heatsink to the PCB using shorting posts. This paper examines the effectiveness of shorting posts for reducing the radiated emissions from tall heatsinks, based on the partial inductance of the posts. A closed-form expression is derived for calculating the reduction in emissions that is obtained by shorting posts mounted symmetrically around the perimeter of the heatsink. The effectiveness of connecting the posts to the board through a resistance to damp resonant peaks is also discussed.
Syndicate Size In Global IPO Underwriting

This study analyzes factors that determine syndicate size in ADR IPO underwriting. The information gathering role of investment bankers, complexity and risk of issue, corporate governance and transparency environment factors, and potential business relations are the basis for the analyses. Empirical results indicate decreasing syndicate size over time. No significant relation is found between syndicate size and initial day return of IPOs. The transparency environment, dilution effect of the issue, growth stage of the issuer, lead underwriter reputation, offering size and ownership concentration are found to have significant effects on syndicate size.
GEOTROPIC EXCITATION IN HELIX.

Rotation of an inclined surface on which Helix is creeping straight upward, such that the axis of the animal is turned at a right angle to its previous position, but in the same plane, leads to negatively geotropic orientation after a measurable latent period or reaction time. The duration of the latent period is a function of the slope of the surface. The magnitude of the standard deviation of the mean latent period is directly proportional to the mean latent period itself, so that the relative variability of response is constant. The dependence of reaction time upon extent of displacement from symmetrical orientation in the gravitational field is found also by tilting the supporting surface, without rotation in the animal's own plane. On slopes up to 55 degrees , the relation between latent period and the sine of the slope is hyperbolic; above this inclination, the latent period sharply declines. This change in the curve is not affected by the attachment of moderate loads to the snail's shell (up to 1/3 of its own mass), and is probably a consequence of loss of passive stable equilibrium when rotated. When added loads do not too greatly extend the snail's anterior musculature, the latent period for the geotropic reaction is decreased, and, proportionately, its sigma. These facts are discussed from the standpoint that geotropic excitation in these gasteropods is due to impressed muscle-tensions.
Microarray technology--advances, applications, future prospects.

Over the last decade, microarray-based assays have evolved from a nascent technology to become a key molecular tool in basic, translational and clinical research. Their primary use remains gene-expression analyses, facilitating high-throughput transcriptome profiling. Microarrays have also found utility in genotyping and resequencing applications, comparative genomic hybridization and genome-wide (epigenetic) localization studies. The pharmaceutical industry has embraced biochips for in vitro pharmacology and toxicology studies. In the clinic, microarrays have found diagnostic, pharmacogenomic and toxicogenomic uses [1]. The ‘Microarray Technology – Advances, Applications, Future Prospects’ meeting held at the University of Camerino (Italy), September 17, 2007 provided an important forum for reviewing recent advances and future trends in this fast-moving field (Box 1). The meeting’s theme was ‘advances and future applications’, with presentations covering recent progress in array technology, biomarker discovery in thyroid diseases, pharmacotherapy for alcoholism and the utility of microarrays as therapeutic tools. Some of the meeting highlights are presented below.