cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Golden-bellied mangabeys (Cercocebus galeritus chrysogaster) at the Sacramento Zoo: Adult heterosexual pairs

The behaviors of three different adult male–adult female pairs of golden-bellied mangabeys (Cercocebus galeritus chrysogaster) were compared. Correlates of restricted social conditions and of the presence of offspring on adult behavior and direction of aggressive behaviors were noted. A captive pair displayed self-biting and other aberrant behaviors, a lone wild-caught pair showed redirected aggression related to sex, and a pair housed with its offspring showed close social proximity and protection of an infant. The implications of housing and experience for space and visitor exposure are discussed. Observer- vs. visitor-directed displays are seen as important measures of group and visitor effects.
Explaining the gap between the theoretical prediction and experimental evidences about the investment in the spouse's human capital

Abstract Economic theory that assumes personal income maximization predicts that a wife will under invest in her husband's human capital. However, casual observation of real life marriages and experimental evidences show that outcomes are more efficient than the theoretical prediction. This paper argues that the gap between the theoretical prediction and experimental evidences is due to inappropriate assumptions in the theory. That is, the bias in the theoretical prediction is caused by the neglect of the non-material factors that play crucial roles in marriage and the neglect of the fact that individuals may behave altruistically in marital decisions.
23Na magnetization-transfer NMR studies of concentration and temperature dependence of ionophore-induced equilibrium exchange of Na+ across prototypical cell membranes

Abstract The 23Na magnetization-transfer NMR methods described in a recent communication (D. C. Shungu and R. W. Briggs, J. Magn. Reson.77, 491, 1988) are applied here to the monensin-mediated cation transport system to establish the range of rate constants which can be accurately measured by this technique, to determine the order of the transport “reaction” with respect to the ionophore, and to obtain the activation parameters for the transport process. A wide range of exchange rates is induced by increasing the concentration of the ionophore, and by carrying out the measurements at several temperatures. Analysis of the derived data indicates that, at low monensin concentrations, the transmembrane exchange “reaction” follows first-order reaction kinetics with respect to the ionophore, but becomes zero-order at high ionophore concentrations. The temperature dependence of the exchange rate constants has allowed the determination of the transport activation energy, enthalpy, and entropy of 10.6 kcal/mol, 10.0 kcal/mol, and −15.9 cal/mol deg, respectively. These results, together with previous data on this transport system, are used to give a coherent and consistent description of carrier-mediated transmembrane cation transport. Finally, applicability of the 23Na magnetization-transfer NMR technique to study the kinetics of the sodium “pump” is discussed in the light of the present findings.
Language and motor development in infancy: Three views with neuropsychological implications

This study reviews three views of language and motor development in infancy and considers the neuropsychological implications of each. One view ascribes language development to maturation and cerebral lateralization, but as a unique process separate from other developmental (motor) skills. A second view supports the idea that language development and motor development are processes sharing overlapping hemisphere sites; consequently, both forms of development provide an index of hemisphere functioning or lateralization. The third view sees language development and motor development as processes evolving synchronically as the result of central nervous system maturation rather than as a result of hemisphere functioning. These views are considered along with respective supporting empirical research.
Beyond the Roll-Call Arena: The Determinants of Position Taking in Congress:

Most analyses of position taking in Congress focus on roll-call voting, where members of Congress (MCs) regularly cast votes, thereby regularly taking positions. Left largely unstudied has been position taking beyond the domain of rollcall voting. However, analyzing non-roll-call position taking raises interesting theoretical questions. Whereas most members cannot avoid taking positions (casting votes) on roll calls, outside the roll-call arena MCs have more discretion; they must decide whether or not to take a position at all. And, while roll-call voting is directly tied to policy consequences, the connection is weaker in non-roll-call position taking. These two distinguishing features of non-roll-call position taking motivate a variety of hypotheses about who takes positions and what positions they take. Our results reveal strong constituency links to both phenomena. The results also imply that party influence is greater on roll-call position taking. We interpret these findings in the context of leading...
Comparison of the efficacy of esomeprazole and famotidine against stress ulcers in a neurosurgical intensive care unit

Summary Background To compare the efficacy of esomeprazole and famotidine against stress ulcers and the association of these prophylactic agents with ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients admitted to neurosurgical intensive care unit (ICU). Patients and Methods Sixty patients were randomly allocated into two groups (the esomeprazole and famotidine groups; n = 30 each) to receive prophylaxis medication for 7 days within 24 hours of admission in a neurosurgical ICU. Patients in the esomeprazole group received esomeprazole (40 mg) dissolved in water once a day through a nasogastric tube, whereas patients in the famotidine group received an intravenous infusion of famotidine (20 mg) every 12 hours. We then compared the occurrence of overt upper gastrointestinal bleeding and ventilator-associated pneumonia between these two groups. Results One patient in the famotidine group had overt upper gastrointestinal bleeding (3.3%), whereas the bleeding was not observed in patients in the esomeprazole group. Ventilator-associated pneumonia occurred in one patient (3.3%) from each group. One patient died within 30 days (3.3%) in the esomeprazole group and three patients (10%) died in the famotidine group. There was no difference in the occurrence of overt upper gastrointestinal bleeding ( p = 1.000), ventilator-associated pneumonia ( p = 1.000), and 30-day mortality ( p = 0.612) between these two groups. Conclusion In this small-scale study, the effect of administration of esomeprazole through a nasogastric tube on stress ulcer was similar to that of intravenous famotidine infusion in neurosurgical ICU patients. In addition, the association between prevalence of ventilator-associated pneumonia and administration of esomeprazole was also similar to that observed with famotidine infusion.
RuleMonkey: software for stochastic simulation of rule-based models

Background: The system-level dynamics of many molecular interactions, particularly protein-protein interactions, can be conveniently represented using reaction rules, which can be specified using model-specification languages, such as the BioNetGen language (BNGL). A set of rules implicitly defines a (bio)chemical reaction network. The reaction network implied by a set of rules is often very large, and as a result, generation of the network implied by rules tends to be computationally expensive. Moreover, the cost of many commonly used methods for simulating network dynamics is a function of network size. Together these factors have limited application of the rule-based modeling approach. Recently, several methods for simulating rule-based models have been developed that avoid the expensive step of network generation. The cost of these “network-free” simulation methods is independent of the number of reactions implied by rules. Software implementing such methods is now needed for the simulation and analysis of rule-based models of biochemical systems. Results: Here, we present a software tool called RuleMonkey, which implements a network-free method for simulation of rule-based models that is similar to Gillespie’s method. The method is suitable for rule-based models that can be encoded in BNGL, including models with rules that have global application conditions, such as rules for intramolecular association reactions. In addition, the method is rejection free, unlike other network-free methods that introduce null events, i.e., steps in the simulation procedure that do not change the state of the reaction system being simulated. We verify that RuleMonkey produces correct simulation results, and we compare its performance against DYNSTOC, another BNGL-compliant tool for network-free simulation of rule-based models. We also compare RuleMonkey against problem-specific codes implementing network-free simulation methods. Conclusions: RuleMonkey enables the simulation of rule-based models for which the underlying reaction networks are large. It is typically faster than DYNSTOC for benchmark problems that we have examined. RuleMonkey is freely available as a stand-alone application http://public.tgen.org/rulemonkey. It is also available as a simulation engine within GetBonNie, a web-based environment for building, analyzing and sharing rule-based models.
Termination Criteria for Bounded Model Checking: Extensions and Comparison

Increasing attention has been paid recently to criteria that allow one to conclude that a structure models a linear-time property from the knowledge that no counterexamples exist up to a certain length. These termination criteria effectively turn Bounded Model Checking into a full-fledged verification technique and sometimes result in considerable time savings. In [M. Awedh and F. Somenzi. Proving more properties with bounded model checking. In R. Alur and D. Peled, editors, Sixteenth Conference on Computer Aided Verification (CAV'04), pages 96-108. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, July 2004. LNCS 3114] we presented a criterion based on the translation of the linear-time specification into a Buchi automaton. BMC can be terminated if no fair cycle is found up to a given length, and one can prove that no fair cycle exists beyond that length. The maximum length for which counterexamples are explicitly checked is called the termination length; it obviously depends on the model, the property, and the termination criterion. In this paper we improve the criterion of [M. Awedh and F. Somenzi. Proving more properties with bounded model checking. In R. Alur and D. Peled, editors, Sixteenth Conference on Computer Aided Verification (CAV'04), pages 96-108. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, July 2004. LNCS 3114] by adding a check that often substantially reduces termination length. Our previous work employed translation to a non-generalized Buchi automaton. Though a well-known technique converts a generalized automaton into that form by composing it with a counter, it has the undesirable effect of considerably lengthening the cycles in the graph to be searched. We propose several alternatives to that approach and compare them experimentally. The translation to automata can be accomplished in more than one way, and in this paper we contrast two of them: one based on the algorithms of [F. Somenzi and R. Bloem. Efficient Buchi automata from LTL formulae. In E. A. Emerson and A. P. Sistla, editors, Twelfth Conference on Computer Aided Verification (CAV'00), pages 248-263. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, July 2000. LNCS 1855], and one based on the notion of tight automaton of [E. Clarke, O. Grumberg, and K. Hamaguchi. Another look at LTL model checking. In D. L. Dill, editor, Sixth Conference on Computer Aided Verification (CAV'94), pages 415-427. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1994. LNCS 818]. The latter yields shorter counterexamples, but the former often leads to earlier termination. In addition, it can help in identifying safety properties, for which termination checks are much more efficient than for the general case. We finally present results on comparing techniques based on cycle detection to the technique of [V. Schuppan and A. Biere. Efficient reduction of finite state model checking to reachability analysis. Software Tools for Technology Transfer, 5(2-3):185-204, Mar. 2004], which converts liveness properties into safety properties by augmentation of the model.
Tracking defectivity of EUV and SADP processing using bright-field inspection

The purpose of this study is to understand EUV+SADP defectivity in 15nm line and space (L&S) pattern, and to examine bright-field inspection capabilities at the 1Xnm node. Programmed defects of known size, shape, and location were printed in dense patterned areas using EUV lithography at IMEC. To track these defects throughout development, a defectivity study was conducted using bright-field inspection after four SADP processing steps. The smallest defect routinely detected had a programmed size of 14nm, and the defect signal was enhanced using polarized light. By comparing defect locations at the beginning and end stages of development, it was found that 95% of defects remained the same. This illustrates the importance of post-lithography wafer inspection. This research shows how defect characteristics on the EUV mask affect the final pattern and demonstrate the sensitivity of bright-field inspection at the 1Xnm node.
The effects of vacuum spacer transistors between high performance and low stand-by power devices beyond 16nm

The vacuum spacer transistors are compared with the conventional oxide spacer transistors in both high performance device and low standby power device. In high performance device case, with 14nm vacuum spacers, the CMOS inverter delay, switching charge, and switching energy are reduced by 6.6%, 15.6%, and 19.1%, respectively, compared to oxide spacer. In low standby power device case, with 18nm vacuum spacers, the inverter delay is increased by 10% compared to oxide spacer due to the degradation of on-current
Malposition of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannulas in patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia

We describe two infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia who underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and in whom the venous cannula was in the left atrium instead of the right. The routine radiograph of the chest failed to demonstrate the malposition. We recommend using the echocardiogram to confirm the position of the cannula or to guide the surgeon during the cannulation of patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
Searching for the functional origins of song in eastern brown-headed cowbirds, Molothrus ater ater

Abstract Three experiments were conducted to examine the functional properties of vocal precursors to stereotyped song in socially housed captive cowbirds. Previous studies had shown that eastern male cowbirds developed different song repertoires when housed in different social contexts. This paper reports on the acoustic origins of the different vocal outcomes. In addition, a winter roost of cowbirds was studied to investigate the setting in which males naturally develop song. Analyses of the vocalizations of laboratory-housed subjects revealed acoustic differences from the earliest stages of song ontogeny. The field data indicated that free-living and laboratory-housed males shared the same structural categories of song and that the winter roost provided males with opportunities to interact with females. Taken as a whole, the studies suggest that song ontogeny is a dynamic process involving social and vocal interactions between singers and listeners.
On robust observer compensator design

Abstract This paper presents, for the first time, a unified, explicit and restriction free set of design formulas for Kalman type and Luenberger type state observers and function observers, with arbitrary poles. In addition, a new, explicit and deterministic observer pole selection method for recovering the robustness of a direct state feedback system is also proposed. Two design examples are given in this paper. These examples demonstrate the advantages of this robust recovery method. The examples also show that both the Luenberger type observers and the function observers generally have better stability margins. This design methodology enables the design objectives of robustness, order reduction and performance to be considered together in terms of observer pole selection.
Inhibitory control as a moderator of threat-related interference biases in social anxiety.

Prior findings are mixed regarding the presence and direction of threat-related interference biases in social anxiety. The current study examined general inhibitory control (IC), measured by the classic colour-word Stroop, as a moderator of the relationship between both threat interference biases [indexed by the emotional Stroop (e-Stroop)] and several social anxiety indicators. High socially anxious undergraduate students (N = 159) completed the emotional and colour-word Stroop tasks, followed by an anxiety-inducing speech task. Participants completed measures of trait social anxiety, state anxiety before and during the speech, negative task-interfering cognitions during the speech and overall self-evaluation of speech performance. Speech duration was used to measure behavioural avoidance. In line with hypotheses, IC moderated the relationship between e-Stroop bias and every anxiety indicator (with the exception of behavioural avoidance), such that greater social-threat interference was associated with h...
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Blockade Promotes the Transition From Compensatory Cardiac Hypertrophy to Failure in Response to Pressure Overload

Cardiac hypertrophy is associated with upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the myocardium. Here, we evaluated the effects of a decoy VEGF receptor on heart morphology and function to a murine model of pressure overload hypertrophy. Mice were administered adenoviral vector encoding a decoy VEGF receptor (Ad-Flk), and their hearts were subjected to pressure overload by transverse aortic constriction (TAC). Treatment with Ad-Flk led to a net reduction in capillary density in hearts subjected to TAC. Ad-Flk also led to a reduction in TAC-induced cardiac hypertrophy and promoted left ventricle dilatation and a loss in contractile function. Treatment with Ad-Flk markedly increased myocardial fibrosis and collagen gene upregulation. In contrast, Ad-Flk had no effect on any of these parameters in sham-treated mice. Administration of a VEGF trap reagent diminished pressure overload cardiac hypertrophy and promoted the progression to heart failure but had no effect on sham-treated animals. These findings suggest that VEGF is required to maintain myocardial capillary density and that reductions in the vascular bed are associated with the transition from compensatory hypertrophy to failure.
Kinetic equilibria of plasma shear layers

The analysis of plasma beam and shear problems in magnetic fields is usually based on a hydromagnetic fluid model. In a low‐density collisionless plasma, however, the kinetic effects of the plasma, such as finite Larmor radius effects, are not yet clearly understood. In this paper, the kinetic equilibria of plasma shears in a uniform and fixed magnetic field, with full ion motion, are discussed by solving the Vlasov equation with a given electric field and drift velocity. In this model, the ion density profile through the plasma shear layer is quite different from the one predicted by a hydromagnetic model. As a result of a complicated ion gyromotion through the shear layer, single‐ and double‐humped ion density profiles are obtained. The dependence on the temperature and the strength of the shear will be discussed. The results show a significant difference between positive and negative shears.
Mechanochemical transformations in NaNH2-MgH2 mixtures

Abstract Mechanochemical transformations occurring during ball milling of sodium amide (NaNH 2 ) with magnesium hydride (MgH 2 ) taken in 2:3 and 2:1 molar ratios have been investigated using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) techniques. For the 2NaNH 2 –3MgH 2 system the mechanochemical reaction proceeds via the formation of MgNH as an intermediate, whereas magnesium nitride (Mg 3 N 2 ), sodium hydride (NaH) and hydrogen (∼5 wt%) form as the final products. The overall solid state reaction for this system is 2NaNH 2 + 3MgH 2 → Mg 3 N 2 + 2NaH + 4H 2 . However, the mechanochemical transformation of the 2NaNH 2 –MgH 2 system proceeds through the reaction: 2NaNH 2 + MgH 2 → Mg(NH 2 ) 2 + 2NaH, without any hydrogen release. Comparison of the mechanochemical transformations with the previously studied thermochemical transformations reveals that the two approaches lead to the same final products via different reaction pathways.
Stimulation of gonadotropin secretion in prepubertal monkeys after hypothalamic excitation with aspartate and glutamate.

To test the hypothesis that aspartate (Asp) and glutamate (Glu) can be used to probe the functional integrity of the GnRH neuron, the dose-response relationships between i.v. administered, endogenously occurring amino acids (Asp and Glu) and GnRH release were determined in the prepubertal male monkey. GnRH release was assessed indirectly by monitoring the LH response by the pituitary, the sensitivity of which had been heightened by prior exposure to pulsatile GnRH. Four of these animals received an i.v. bolus of 0, 1.5, 4.8, 15, 48 and 150 mg/kg BW of each of the amino acids. Plasma gonadotropin and amino acid concentrations were measured immediately before and for 3 hours after administration of Asp and Glu. The 150 mg/kg dose of both amino acids resulted in a dramatic rise in plasma LH concentrations that peaked at 10 min after injection. At this dose plasma Asp and Glu levels increased 200-fold and 50-fold, respectively. No significant LH release was seen with any of the lower doses. These results indi...
Structural Determinants of Ligand Recognition by Type I Insulin-Like Growth Factor Receptors: Use of Semisynthetic Insulin Analog Probes

We undertook a systematic analysis of the structural determinants necessary for ligand recognition by the type I insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor by investigating the binding of semisynthetic insulin analogs to IGF receptors from human placental cell membrane fragments. Analogs were prepared by synthetic and semisynthetic methods. Three groups of insulin analogs were synthesized: the first group contained insulin analogs modified at the amino-terminal position of the insulin A chain and included acetyl-insulin and human proinsulin; the second group included analogs in which B chain residues B26-B30 [despentapeptide insulin (DPI)], B25-B30 (deshexapeptide insulin), and B24-B30 (desheptapeptide insulin) were removed; the third group contained insulin analogs in which B chain residues B26-B30 were removed (DPI) and phenylalanineB25 substituted with other amino acids, including alanine, serine, leucine, and tyrosine. Half-maximal inhibition of binding of radiolabeled IGF-I to placental cell membrane ...
Screening for fungi capable of removing benzo[a]pyrene in culture

Some 17 strains of filamentous fungi, encompassing 13 different species, were tested for their ability to decolorize the polymeric dye R-478. Decolorization was observed with both living and dead mycelia of the three Aspergillus species tested, indicating bioadsorption, not biodegradation. With mycelia of other strains tested, the most decolorization was obtained with Marasmiellus troyanus, Pleurotus sapidus, and Pleurotus ostreatus; with extracellular filtrates, the most decolorization was observed with Laetiporus sulphureus. Parallel experiments incubating benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) with mycelia and filtrates showed that six of the species removed over 40% of B[a]P in comparison with HgCl2-killed controls. The highest B[a]P removal by mycelia was shown by M. troyanus (95.0%); the highest level by extracellular filtrates was shown by Hericium erinaceous (44.8%). With the exception of A. ochraceous, no products of B[a]P metabolism were detected for any of the species tested. For most species, the disappearance of B[a]P was correlated with the ability to decolorize poly R-478 ( r = 0.78 for mycelia; r = 0.74 for culture fluids). M. troyanus gave rise to more disappearance than decolorization. The removal of B[a]P by M. troyanus and Phanerochaete chrysosporium was compared over 30 days: M. troyanus gave significantly better removal in a biphasic pattern.
Ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin as continuation treatment of febrile neutropenia in pediatric cancer patients.

Background The empiric administration of anti-microbial therapy significantly reduces the morbidity and mortality associated with febrile neutropenic episodes in oncology patients. Outpatient empiric antibiotic therapy can be safely administered to a subset of febrile neutropenic patients at low risk for clinical complications. Procedure Pediatric cancer patients presenting with febrile neutropenia after non-myeloablative chemotherapy and who met institutional criteria for early hospital discharge following a minimum of 48-hr inpatient empiric intravenous ceftazidime were eligible for the study. The feasibility and efficacy of an outpatient continuation therapy of oral ciprofloxacin (CPR) 25–30 mg/kg/day divided BID and amoxicillin (AMX) 30–50 mg/kg/day divided TID was assessed. Results Thirty febrile neutropenic episodes in 26 patients were treated with outpatient oral CPR/AMX therapy. Oral CPR/AMX therapy was feasible in 28 (93%) and efficacious in 26 (87%) of treatment episodes. CPR/AMX was discontinued due to abdominal pain and diarrhea (n = 2), recurrent fever (n = 3), or gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 1). No patient developed new bacteremia or cardiopulmonary decompensation. Bone/joint pain or gastrointestinal symptoms occurred in 27% of treatment episodes. Duration of neutropenia, lower absolute neutrophil count (ANC) (< 100/mm3) at start of oral antibiotic therapy and active malignant disease were associated with failure of oral antibiotic therapy. Conclusions It is feasible to administer oral CPR/AMX as continuation antibiotic therapy for a selected subgroup of febrile neutropenic episodes defined after initial hospitalization and empiric antibiotic therapy. Prospectively randomized trials will be required to analyze adequately the efficacy of an oral CPR/AMX outpatient antibiotic regimen for treatment of febrile neutropenia in pediatric oncology patients. Med Pediatr Oncol 2003;40:93–98. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Photometric Variability of Uranus, 1972–1996

Abstract We presentb(472 nm) andy(551 nm) lightcurves for Uranus based on photoelectric photometry obtained at every apparition from 1972 to 1996. The two branches of the lightcurve before and after the 1985 solstice are offset by ∼0.01 mag inband ∼0.02 mag iny, indicating that the disk-integrated albedo of Uranus increased slightly after solstice. The solar phase coefficients of Uranus also increased at about the same time. Theblightcurve is consistent with the 1986 Voyager 2 BL (477 nm)I/Flatitudinal scans. Theylightcurve differs significantly from the GR (572 nm) scan, suggesting that the polar region may have brightened somewhat over the past 25 years.
Rating Scale Use by Children With Disabilities on a Self-Report of Everyday Activities

Abstract Kramer JM, Smith EV Jr, Kielhofner G. Rating scale use by children with disabilities on a self-report of everyday activities. Objective To examine whether children with disabilities interpret a self-report of perceived competence and importance of everyday activities in a consistent manner and use the rating scales as intended. If not, are differences in how children interpret the scale associated with personal or contextual variables? Design Assessment and rating scale development using the Mixed Rasch Model. Setting Rehabilitation clinics, schools, and research sites in the United States and Europe. Participants Children (N=407) aged 6 to 17 years; all had a diagnosed disability or received occupational therapy services. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure The Child Occupational Self Assessment; 25 items representing everyday activities and two 4-point scales: competence and importance. Results For each scale, 2 groups of children were identified. Approximately 50% of the children used the rating scales as intended. The remainder used the scales as reversed 2-point scales; these children were younger and more likely to have an intellectual disability. Country and practice setting were also associated with rating scale use. All items but 1 had acceptable fit to the Rasch model, and groups of children differed in the relative competence and importance reported. Conclusions Personal and contextual variables are associated with children with disabilities' use of self-report rating scales. Younger children and children with intellectual disabilities use a modified response pattern.
Carcinogen-induced DNA double strand break repair in sporadic breast cancer.

Background Induction of DNA double strand breaks and alterations in the repair of these breaks is implicated in breast carcinogenesis. Prior studies have demonstrated that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from breast cancer patients exhibit increased numbers of DNA strand breaks after exposure to ionizing radiation, but these studies did not specifically measure DNA double strand breaks and it is not known whether chemical carcinogens produce similar effects. Materials and methods PBMC from 32 women undergoing breast surgery were genotyped at nine loci of seven DNA repair genes. DNA double strand break repair was measured using the neutral comet assay after exposure to ionizing radiation (0.5 Gy) or bioactivated benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P, 5 μM. Results PBMC from breast cancer patients showed higher levels of residual DNA double strand breaks 30 min after exposure to radiation than PBMC from patients with benign breast disease (1.40 times baseline [95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.29–1.51] versus 1.24 times baseline [95% CI 1.15–1.33], respectively, P = 0.04). The response to B[a]P trended in the same direction, but did not reach statistical significance. The MGMT K178R variant genotype was associated with improved DNA double strand break repair in PBMC exposed to B[a]P. Conclusions Reduced repair of radiation-induced DNA double strand breaks in PBMC is a robust biomarker of breast cancer risk. Reduced DNA repair capacity may have a genetic component even in sporadic breast cancer.
Performance Studies of the New Generation Amperex Xp2020 Photomultiplier

Characteristics have been measured for the new generation Amperex XP2020 45 mm-diameter photomultiplier. Some typical photomultiplier characteristics--such as gain, dark current, transit and rise times--are compared with data provided by the manufacturer. Photomultiplier characteristics generally not available from the manufacturer, such as the single photoelectron time spread for the full photocathode illumination, the relative collection efficiency as a function of the voltage between photocathode and focusing electrode, were measured and are discussed, particularly with respect to the optimization of photomultiplier operating conditions for timing applications. Measurements were also made on the photomultiplier's high repetition rate counting performance as well as the rate dependent photomultiplier gain.
Venous thrombotic complications of pregnancy

A total 30,040 pregnancies were reviewed at one institution over 5 years to determine the incidence of venous thrombotic complications. Thirty-one patients experienced such complications related to pregnancy (incidence 0.1%); 13 had deep venous thrombosis and 14 had superficial venous thrombophlebitis diagnosed by duplex ultrasound. Four had pelvic vein thrombophlebitis diagnosed by computed tomography scan; three patients (one from each group) sustained a non-fatal pulmonary embolus. Of those with deep venous thrombosis, 10 (77%) were left-sided, and three (23%) were right-sided. Three had a prior history of deep venous thrombosis and one of pulmonary embolism. Of those with superficial venous thrombophlebitis, seven (50%) were left-sided, six (43%) were right-sided, and one (7%) was bilateral. Most with deep venous thrombosis presented later in pregnancy; three in the first trimester, two in the second, three in the third, and five early postpartum. Most (10/14) with superficial venous thrombophlebitis presented within 48 hours of delivery. Distribution of thrombi in those with deep venous thrombosis was compared with 643 non-pregnant women with a similar condition. A pattern of proximal involvement on the left was found, with left common femoral vein (54% versus 28%, P = 0.03) and superficial femoral vein (62% versus 26%, P = 0.006) more often involved in pregnant patients. The average number of vein segments involved was greater on the left than the right (5.3 versus 3.7). Symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency developed in three with deep venous thrombosis (25%) and in three with superficial venous thrombophlebitis (27%). None had recurrence of deep venous thrombosis. It is concluded that venous thrombotic complications associated with pregnancy are not necessarily benign, with the risk of pulmonary embolism and chronic venous insufficiency not limited to patients with deep venous thrombosis only.
Elevated serum C-reactive protein relates to increased cerebral myoinositol levels in middle-aged adults

C-reactive protein (CRP), a systemic marker of inflammation, is a risk factor for late life cognitive impairment and dementia, yet the mechanisms that link elevated CRP to cognitive decline are not fully understood. In this study we examined the relationship between CRP and markers of neuronal integrity and cerebral metabolism in middle-aged adults with intact cognitive function, using proton magnetic resonance spectrocospy. We hypothesized that increased levels of circulating CRP would correlate with changes in brain metabolites indicative of early brain vulnerability. Thirty-six individuals, aged 40 to 60, underwent neuropsychological assessment, a blood draw for CRP quantification, and (1)H MRS examining N-acetyl-aspartate, myo-inositol, creatine, choline, and glutamate concentrations in occipito-parietal grey matter. Independent of age, sex and education, serum CRP was significantly related to higher cerebral myo-inositol/creatine ratio (F(4,31) = 4.74, P = 0.004), a relationship which remained unchanged after adjustment for cardiovascular risk (F(5,30) = 4.356, CRP β = 0.322, P = 0.045). Because these biomarkers are detectable in midlife they may serve as useful indicators of brain vulnerability during the preclinical period when mitigating intervention is still possible.
An efficient cycle time model for autonomous vehicle storage and retrieval systems

A computationally efficient cycle time model for conceptualizing autonomous vehicle storage and retrieval systems and comparing their performance with crane-based automated storage and retrieval systems is presented. The model is based on an iterative computational scheme exploiting random storage assumptions and queuing model approximations. Relative to earlier models, the procedure scales up efficiently for large problems thereby enabling more extensive search of a design solution space. Simulation based validation studies suggest that model accuracy is adequate for system conceptualization. The procedure is demonstrated using realistically sized sample problems.
CBF--a biophysical perspective.

Abstract Core binding factor (CBF) is a heterodimeric transcription factor consisting of a DNA-binding subunit (Runx, also referred to as CBFA, AML 1, PEBP2 α) and a non-DNA-binding subunit (CBFB). Biophysical characterization of the two proteins and their interactions is providing a detailed understanding of this important transcription factor at the molecular level. Measurements of the relevant binding constants are helping to elucidate the mechanism of leukemogenesis associated with altered forms of these proteins. Determination of the 3D structures of CBFB and the DNA- and CBFB-binding domain of Runx, referred to as the Runt domain, are providing a structural basis for the functioning of the two proteins of CBF.
Patterns of Change in the Use of Imprisonment in the American States: An Integration of Path Dependence, Punctuated Equilibrium and Policy Design Approaches

This study analyzes changes from 1927 through 2003 in the use of incarceration by the American States, testing propositions derived from path dependency/punctuated equilibrium theory and from an extension of the social construction theory of policy design. The results suggest that incarceration changes often were path dependent, but that periods of equilibrium-type change with up and down adjustments also were relatively common until a critical juncture occurred in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The results also show that the states tended to change in the same direction, at the same time, as if some kind of national policy mood was important, even though incarceration rates are produced by state-level decisionmakers working in many different types of state and local institutional settings. The results confirm the proposition from the social construction theory of policy design that upward paths will be more common, last longer, more extreme, and harder to break than downward ones. Analysis of the public...
Classification of muscle spindle afferents innervating the masseter muscle in rats

Taylor et al. [Taylor, A., Durbaba, R., Rodgers, J.F., 1992a. The classification of afferents from muscle spindles of the jaw-closing muscles of the cat. J Physiol 456, 609-628] developed a method to classify muscle spindle afferents using succinylcholine (Sch) and ramp and hold stretches. They demonstrated that cat jaw muscle spindle afferents show high proportion of intermediate responses to ramp and hold jaw stretch. Together with observations on the responses to Sch their data suggests that the majority of jaw muscle spindle afferents are influenced by a combination of nuclear bag(2) and nuclear chain fibres. Relatively few are influenced solely by nuclear bag(1) fibres. The purpose of this study was to categorize jaw muscle spindle afferent in rodents in response to ramp and hold stretches. Several measures were used to classify spindle afferents including (1) conduction velocity, (2) coefficient of variation (C.V.) of the interspike interval during jaw opening, and (3) the dynamic sensitivity and the initial discharge of spindle afferents before and after succinylcholine infusion (Sch, 100mg/kg, i.v.). Consistent with observations in the cat jaw muscles, the distribution of the conduction velocity and the C.V. of Vmes masseter afferents were unimodal. Therefore, these parameters were of little value in functional classification of spindle innervation. Succinylcholine injection either markedly increased the dynamic sensitivity or produced no change in Vmes afferents. Unlike cat jaw muscle spindle afferents, the effect of Sch on the initial discharge was not clearly separable from those responding or not responding to Sch. These results suggest that rat jaw muscle spindle afferents, have physiological properties that are primarily intermediate in nature and are likely to reflect a predominance of influence from nuclear bag(2) and chain fibres. However, the distinction between bag(2) and chain fibres influences is not as clearly defined in the rat compared to the cat.
The Ability of 3 Different Approaches to Restore the Anatomic Anteromedial Bundle Femoral Insertion Site During Anatomic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine whether drilling the femoral tunnel when performing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction through the accessory medial portal, as opposed to drilling the tunnel transtibially, will lead to more frequent location of the anteromedial femoral tunnel within the anatomic anteromedial bundle insertion site. Methods Primary anatomic double-bundle reconstruction was performed on 113 patients. Intraoperatively, we placed a guide pin through the anteromedial and posterolateral tibial tunnels and accessory medial portal, attempting to reach the center of the native femoral anteromedial bundle insertion. For each approach, the position of the guide pin was classified as (1) within the center of, (2) off-center within, or (3) outside of the femoral anteromedial insertion. Results There were significant differences in the ability of each approach to reach the center of the femoral anteromedial bundle insertion. Through the tibial anteromedial tunnel, the femoral anteromedial insertion center was reached in 4.4% of cases, whereas it was off-center within and outside of the femoral anteromedial insertion in 23.0% and 72.6%, respectively. Through the tibial posterolateral tunnel, the femoral anteromedial insertion center was reached in 60.2% of cases, whereas it was off-center within and outside of the femoral anteromedial insertion in 23.9% and 15.9% of cases, respectively. When approached from the accessory medial portal, the center of the femoral anteromedial insertion was reached in 100% of the cases. Ultimately, the femoral anteromedial tunnel was drilled through the tibial anteromedial tunnel in 0.9%, through the posterolateral tunnel in 62.8%, and through the accessory medial portal in 36.3% of cases. Conclusions Drilling the femoral tunnel for the anteromedial graft through the accessory medial portal, as opposed to drilling the tunnel transtibially, leads to more frequent location of the anteromedial femoral tunnel within the anterior cruciate ligament anteromedial bundle anatomic footprint. Level of Evidence Level IV, therapeutic case series.
On the covering radius of subcodes of a code

Let C be a binary linear code with covering radius R, and C/sub 0/ a subcode of C of codimension i. An upper bound is obtained for the covering radius of C/sub 0/ in terms of R and i. When C/sub 0/ =(0), the bound becomes the sphere covering bound for R. >
Cholesterol-lipid interactions: An infrared and raman spectroscopic study of the carbonyl stretching mode region of 1,2-dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine bilayers

Abstract Infrared and Raman spectra were obtained for the 1690–1770 cm−1 carbonyl stretching mode region for 1,2-dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayers in the anhydrous, partially hydrated and completely hydrated states. Spectral features at approx. 1740 and 1721 cm−1 are assigned to CO stretching modes associated with the 1- and 2-chain carbonyl groups, respectively. Splittings of the primary transitions at 1743, 1738, ∼1731 and ∼1721 cm−1 are attributed to rotational isomers involving the entire chain. Hydrogen bond formation between the fatty acid carbonyl and 3βOH cholesterol groups was investigated for anhydrous DPPC bilayers. Examination of frequencies, intensities and half-widths of the carbonyl bands indicates that no hydrogen bonding occurs at either of the two carbonyl sites. However, the addition of cholesterol to completely hydrated DPPC dispersions reduces the conformational inequivalence between the two fatty acid carbonyl groups by specifically perturbing the 2-chain. For cholesterol containing systems the carbonyl stretching mode transitions were also used to monitor lattice effects within the interface region as water binds to the bilayer head groups. Specifically, the addition of approx. 2 molecules of water per lipid molecule orders the lipid lattice and increases the bilayer packing density, while the subsequent addition of 4 molecules of water per lipid molecule releases the packing constraints within the interface region and thereby decreases the packing density.
Characterization and in vitro translation of the RNAs from less-than-full-length, virus-related, nucleoprotein rods present in tobacco mosaic virus preparations

Abstract Cells of plants infected with any of three strains of tobacco mosaic virus (the cowpea, common, and a wheat strain) contain, in addition to full-length virus rods, a heterodisperse population of rod fragments. RNA extracted from purified virus showed that some of these rods were of discrete sizes; the RNAs ranged in molecular weight from about 0.28 to 1.7 × 10 6 , containing 3′-ends identical to the original 3′-end of viral RNA, as judged by their capacities to bind a specific amino acid. Only the cowpea strain produced a rod containing a small (0.28 × 10 6 M r ) RNA, which is known to be the mRNA for coat protein. Each strain produced an RNA of 0.68 × 10 6 M r (intermediate-length RNA) which coded in vitro (using a wheat germ system) for an ∼30,000 M r polypeptide. Other RNAs (0.9 to 1.7 × 10 6 M r ) were less similar in molecular weights among the three strains, but the predominant in vitro product of each was also the ∼30,000 M r polypeptide. peptide maps comparing the translation products of the short and intermediate RNAs of the cowpea strain showed they were distinct polypeptides. We conclude that at least some of the less-than-full-length viral rods found in preparations of the common and wheat strains of TMV, as well as those previously reported for the cowpea strain, represent the encapsidation of subgenomic portions of the viral RNA which are engendered during viral replication.
Effects of surface oxygen on charge storage in high surface area early transition-metal carbides and nitrides

Abstract The effect of surface oxygen on the physical and electrochemical properties of high surface area Mo, V and W carbides and nitrides has been investigated. These materials hold promise for use in supercapacitors and other electrochemical conversion devices. The carbides and nitrides were synthesized using a temperature programmed reaction method and passivated to avoid bulk oxidation on exposure to air. The passivated materials were activated in 0.3 mol dm −3 NaOH solution to remove the oxygen-rich passivation layer. This activation resulted in significant changes in the electrochemical stabilities and capacitances. The surface areas for the Mo and W-based materials were higher after activation, with the effect ranging from an 11% increase for Mo 2 N to a 208% increase for W 2 C. An increase in pore volume and mesopore density was also observed for most of the materials. Interestingly, the VC and W 2 C, which were electrochemically unstable in acidic electrolyte in their passivated form, were stable after activation. The capacitances of all of the materials were increased after activation with the effect ranging from 48% for Mo 2 N to a 79% increase for ( α + β )-Mo 2 C. This activation process could be used to improve the performance of carbide and nitride-based supercapacitor electrode materials.
Gβγ Recruits Rho1 to the Site of Polarized Growth during Mating in Budding Yeast

In mating mixtures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, cells polarize their growth toward their conjugation partners along a pheromone gradient. This chemotropic phenomenon is mediated by structural proteins such as Far1 and Bem1 and by signaling proteins such as Cdc24, Cdc42, and Gβγ. The Gβγ subunit is thought to provide a positional cue that recruits the polarity establishment proteins, and thereby induces polarization of the actin cytoskeleton. We identified RHO1 in a screen for allelespecific high-copy suppressors of Gβγ overexpression, suggesting that Rho1 binds Gβγ in vivo. Inactivation of Rho1 GTPase activity augmented the rescue phenotype, suggesting that it is the activated form of Rho1 that binds Gβγ. We also found, in a pull-down assay, that Rho1 associates with GST-Ste4 and that Rho1 is localized to the neck and tip of mating projections. Moreover, a mutation in STE4 that disrupts Gβγ-Rho1 interaction reduces the projection tip localization of Rho1 and compromises the integrity of pheromone-treated cells deficient in Rho1 activity. In addition to its roles as a positive regulator of 1,3-β-glucan synthase and of the cell integrity MAP kinase cascade, it was recently shown that Rho1 is necessary for the formation of mating projections. Together, these results suggest that Gβγ recruits Rho1 to the site of polarized growth during mating.