cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The association of microalbuminuria with clinical cardiovascular disease and subclinical atherosclerosis in the elderly: the Cardiovascular Health Study.

Abstract Purpose Microalbuminuria (MA) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). It is not known whether this association is due to the effect of MA on the development of subclinical atherosclerosis or whether MA destabilizes subclinical atherosclerosis, leading to clinical events. Methods In a cross-sectional analysis we evaluated 3312 Cardiovascular Health Study participants, age ≥65 years, who had MA testing. Participants were divided into three groups: those without diabetes or hypertension (33%), those with hypertension (52%) and those with diabetes, with or without hypertension (15%). Clinical CVD was defined as presence of coronary heart disease (angina, MI, CABG, PTCA), cerebrovascular disease (stroke, TIA) and peripheral arterial disease (requiring intervention). Among those without clinical disease, subclinical atherosclerosis was defined as increased carotid artery intima-media thickness, decreased ankle arm index or increased left ventricular mass. Results In each of the three groups of participants, the adjusted odds of prevalent clinical CVD in the presence of MA was 1.70–1.80-fold increased, independent of other risk factors. MA was not associated with risk of subclinical atherosclerosis in those without hypertension or diabetes (OR 1.14 [95% CI 0.59, 2.23]), whereas it was associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in those with hypertension (OR 1.58 [95% CI 1.08, 2.30]) or diabetes (OR 2.51 [95% CI 1.27, 4.94]). Conclusion In the absence of hypertension or diabetes, MA was associated with clinical CVD but not with subclinical atherosclerosis. Thus, a hypothesis may be made that the mechanism of association of MA with clinical vascular disease involves destabilization of the vasculature, leading to clinical disease.
Genetic and genomic studies of type 2 diabetes in mice

Abstract Most people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) are obese. However, most obese people do not develop diabetes. Genetic factors are thought to make a major contribution to diabetes susceptibility. To identify DM2 susceptibility genes, we have developed a mouse model in which strain background determines diabetes susceptibility of obese mice. C57BL/6 (B6) ob/ob mice are not diabetic. In contrast, BTBR ob/ob mice develop severe DM2. We have mapped three quantitative trait loci for glucose and insulin traits in F2 ob/ob mice derived from the B6 and BTBR strains. We are using interval-specific congenic strains to positionally clone the genes responsible for these traits. We profiled gene expression in lean and obese B6 and BTBR strains. Adipose tissue from obese mice shows a global downregulation of lipogenic and adipogenic genes, most notably the master regulator SREBP-1c. In contrast, the expression of SREBP-1c and its target lipogenic genes are upregulated in the liver of obese mice. The diabetes-resistant B6 ob/ob mice have a much higher level of expression of liver SREBP-1c and its target genes than the diabetes-susceptible BTBR ob/ob mice. Hence, increased hepatic lipogenic capacity correlates with diabetes resistance.
Light Distribution in the Defocused Image of a Coherently Illuminated Edge

Scalar diffraction theory is used to obtain an integral which expresses the irradiance in the defocused image of a coherently illuminated edge. This integral is evaluated numerically and the results are given for six values of defocusing.
Psychoanalytic training and its effect on the candidate's clinical work

This paper explores the effects of the psychoanalytic candidate's role, supervision, training analysis, office setting, and emerging professional identity on his clinical work. The strains associated with institute candidacy and how these may be perceived by patients are explored. The author suggests that further study of the process of becoming an analyst could ultimately improve training.
Transfer of Bilirubin Uridine Diphosphate-Glucuronyltransferase to Enzyme-Deficient Rats

Cells from a clonal strain (MH1C1) of rat hepatoma were transplanted subcutaneously into two homozygous Gunn rats, which are jaundiced because the enzyme bilirubin uridine diphosphate-glucuronyltransferase is absent from the liver. Because of the enzyme activity present in the transplanted cells, the recipient rats developed the capacity to conjugate bilirubin and reverted in large part to a normal pattern of bilirubin excretion.
Chemorheology of Epoxy/Nickel Conductive Adhesives During Processing and Cure

Epoxy/nickel adhesives can be used as integrated circuit (IC) packaging material due to their lower cost than epoxy/silver adhesives with acceptable electrical conductivity. In this work, chemorheological behaviors of Epon 830/Ni/diethylenetriamine (DETA) adhesives were investigated during processing and cure, as a function of shear rate, resin conversion, Ni volume fraction and temperature. A strongly nonlinear characteristic of filled epoxy/Ni systems was revealed, and a steady shear had to be employed for chemorheological analyses. A strongly non-Newtonian flow behavior was observed for epoxy/Ni adhesives also during cure. The power-law model, Castro–Macosko model, Liu model and the Arrhenius model adequately describe, respectively, the effects of shear rate, resin conversion, filler volume fraction and temperature on chemoviscosity. A comprehensive model combining these individual models predicts the isothermal chemoviscosity data well and the nonisothermal data reasonably. A modified comprehensive mo...
Disobedient Daughters? Changing Women's Roles in Rural Households in KwaZulu-Natal

High levels of unemployment in South Africa have shifted rural households away from a reliance on male migrant wages and towards a diversity of income-generating strategies. These economic changes have altered the role of women and the restrictions family members may try to place on their mobility and wage-earning capacity. In addition, the end of apartheid has lifted state sanctions on mobility and informal economic activity. This article examines the impact of these changes on rural women through a qualitative study of a rural community just outside the Durban municipality. One of the more visible changes has been the decline in marriage and the rise in numbers of children born outside marriage. High bridewealth payments have left many young people unable to achieve the markers of adult status, including establishing their own kitchen or household. Women's mobility is also increasing as they move for months at a time between the households of parents and siblings in rural and urban locations while looki...
Fourier transform NMR in liquids at high pressure. II. 19F chemical shift in benzotrifluorides

Abstract Using the Fourier transform technique, the pressure dependence of the 19F chemical shift in benzotrifluoride, o-chlorobenzotrifluoride and p-chlorobenzotrifluoride were measured up to 4 kbar at 30° and 150°C. The pressure dependence of the chemical shift was interpreted in terms of dispersion interactions between the CF3 group and surrounding molecules. The same dispersion interactions were mainly responsible for the temperature dependence of the 19F shift in benzotrifluoride and p-substituted benzotrifluoride. On the other hand, both intermolecular and intramolecular interactions contributed to the temperature dependence of the shift in o-chlorobenzotrifluoride. Since the experimental results allowed us to separate the effect of density and temperature on the chemical shift, it was possible to estimate the relative roles of the intramolecular and intermolecular contributions to the temperature dependence of the 19F chemical shift in o-substituted benzotrifluorides. The repulsive interactions and the rotational state of the CF3 group produced a shift due to electrostatic deformation by ortho substituent of the electron distribution about the fluorines in the CF3 group.
Age and provenance of the target materials for tektites and possible impactites as inferred from Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr systematics

Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr analyses of tektites and other impactites can be used to place constraints on the age and provenance of target materials which were impact melted to form these objects. Tektites have large negative e^(Nd)(0) values and are uniform within each tektite group while the e^(Sr)(0) are large positive values and show considerable variation within each group. Chemical, trace element, and isotopic compositions of tektites are consistent with production by melting of sediments derived from old terrestrial continental crust. Each tektite group is characterized by a uniform Nd model age, T_(CHUR)^(Nd), interpreted as the time of formation of the crustal segment which weathered to form the parent sediment for the tektites: (1) ∼1.15 AE for Australasian tektites; (2) ∼1.91 AE for Ivory Coast tektites; (3) ∼0.9 AE for moldavites; (4) ∼0.65 AE for North American tektites, and (5) ∼0.9 AE for high-Si irghizites. Sr model ages, T_(UR)^(Sr), are variable within each group reflecting Rb-Sr fractionation and in the favorable limit of very high Rb/Sr ratios, approach the time of sedimentation of the parent material which melted to form the tektites. Australasian tektites are derived from ∼0.25 AE sediments, moldavites from ∼0.0 AE sediments, Ivory Coast tektites from ∼0.95 AE sediments. Possible parent sediments of other tektite groups have poorly constrained ages. Our data on moldavites and Ivory Coast tektites are consistent with derivation from the Ries and Bosumtwi craters, respectively. Irghizites are isotopically distinct from Australasian tektites and are probably not related. Sanidine spherules from a Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary clay have initial e^(Nd) ∼ +2; e^(Sr) ∼ +5 and are not derived from old continental crust or meteoritic feldspar. They may represent a mixture of basaltic oceanic crust and sediments, implying an oceanic impact. These isotopic results are also consistent with a volcanic origin for the spherules.
Price Signal Refraction in Pork Processing

A method of measuring pricing efficiency in objective, quantitative terms is presented. "Evaluation of pricing efficiency" has long been the terminology used in studies of pricing accuracy. The term "price signal refraction" as used here refers to the more specific, quantifiable, and testable concept dealt with in this article. The distortion of price signals passing through one or more levels of the market is analogous to the refraction of light rays. This study evaluated price refraction at one level of the pork market. Regression models were fitted to the individual carcass data from a sample of 300 carcasses. The data were subjected to objective statistical test. The findings indicated that price refraction attributable to weight was small and insignificant but refraction attributable to backfat was large and significant. HIS article presents a method of objectively evaluating the accuracy of pricing at one level of the pork market. Inaccuracy in pricing is caused by the failure of the pricing system to transmit price signals accurately through one or more levels of the market. Pricing inaccuracy is thus associated with the distortion of price signals. The signal distortion that results is compared to the refraction of light rays. The concept of "price signal refraction" is used in this article to describe the distortion of price signals in their vertical movement through the market system.
Electron Shell Ionization of Atoms with Classical, Relativistic Scattering

Forward scattering of ionization from noble gases in ultrahigh intensities of 2×10^19 W/cm^2 is investigated. The observed strongly forward scattered photoionization is in agreement with classical field scattering employing the full nonparaxial laser field.
Plasma selenium and plasma and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity increase with estrogen during the menstrual cycle.

Objective: This study was designed to determine the timing and magnitude of changes in selenium status in relation to the fluctuation of 17-β-estradiol during the menstrual cycle and the effect of different phases of the menstrual cycle on dietary selenium intake.Methods:Plasma 17-β-estradiol and plasma and erythrocyte selenium and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were measured in fasting blood samples collected in the morning at four times over three phases of the menstrual cycle: early follicular (EF: days 1–3 menstruation), periovulatory (PO; E-1: 1 day before estrogen peak and E: during estrogen peak) and mid-luteal (ML: 7–9 days after ovulation) in healthy women (n = 14) aged 21 to 39 years and with regular menstrual cycles (26 to 30 days). The estrogen peak was confirmed by measurement of the luteinizing hormone surge. Dietary records (three-day) coincided with blood collection for each phase.Results:Plasma selenium and plasma and erythrocyte GPx activity were greatest during the periovulatory ...
Intentionality and human conversations

This paper analyzes principles of human conversation based on the conversational goals of the participants. Several conversational rules are proposed that seem crucial to the process of interpreting and generating conversations. These rules, as well as other aspects of the conversation process, are embodied in MICS, a computer program that generates one side of a conversation. The process model underlying MICS, and some illustrative output, are presented.
Ambiguous but tethered: An accounting basis for sustainability reporting

Abstract Sustainability reporting continues to become more widespread, despite ambiguities underlying the concept that may lead to varied interpretations and wider scope for “managing public perceptions” (e.g., Cho et al., 2010 , Neu et al., 1998 ). An examination of the current form it takes using the GRI suggests a trade-off between principles and rules, with reduced emphasis on normative principles and a rather simplistic pursuit of “objective” measurement largely adapting to traditional accounting goals. While exploratory in nature, the paper suggests the need for “alignment” through an emphasis on principles based on normative stakeholder theory ( Reed, 1999 , Reed, 2002 ) that can draw from accounting without usurping the stakeholder goals underlying sustainability. This normative approach adds to the discourse on sustainability accounting by envisaging a wider and more localized perspective on firm accountability that could potentially stimulate the innovative endeavors of the corporation in the pursuit of wider wealth creation.
Neuroscience as a Human Science: Integrating Phenomenology and Empiricism in the Study of Action and Consciousness

This paper considers where contemporary neuroscience leaves us in terms of how human consciousness fits into the material world, and whether consciousness is reducible to merely mechanical physical systems, or on the contrary whether consciousness is a self-organizing system that can in a sense use the brain for its own purposes. The paper discusses how phenomenology can be integrated with new findings about “neural plasticity” to yield new approaches to the mind–body problem and the place of consciousness as a causal player in the physical world. By phenomenology, I mean simply any attempt to have introspective or reflective access to the meaning of our own conscious states, and to carefully take account of the notorious pitfalls of subjective introspection (often subsumed within the concept of “folk psychology” in the empirically oriented cognitive theory literature).
Federated Computing for the Masses--Aggregating Resources to Tackle Large-Scale Engineering Problems

The complexity of many problems in science and engineering requires computational capacity exceeding what the average user can expect from a single computational center. While many of these problems can be viewed as a set of independent tasks, their collective complexity easily requires millions of core-hours on any high-power computing (HPC) resource, and throughput that can't be sustained by a single, multiuser queuing system. An exploration of the use of aggregated HPC resources to solve large-scale engineering problems shows that it's possible to build a computational federation that's easy for end users to implement, and is elastic, resilient, and scalable. Here, the authors argue that the fusion of federated computing and real-life engineering problems can be brought to the average user if relevant middleware is provided. They report on the use of federation of 10 distributed heterogeneous HPC resources to perform a large-scale interrogation of the parameter space in the microscale fluid flow problem.
Death and Rehospitalization after Transient Ischemic Attack or Acute Ischemic Stroke: One-year Outcomes from the Adherence Evaluation of Acute Ischemic Stroke-Longitudinal Registry

Background Longitudinal data directly comparing the rates of death and rehospitalization of patients discharged after transient ischemic attack (TIA) versus acute ischemic stroke (AIS) are lacking. Methods Data were analyzed from 2802 patients (TIA n = 552; AIS n = 2250) admitted to 100 U.S. hospitals participating in the Get With The Guidelines–Stroke and the Adherence Evaluation of Acute Ischemic Stroke–Longitudinal registry. The primary composite outcome was the adjusted rate of all-cause death and rehospitalization over 1 year after discharge. Four additional single or combined outcomes were explored. Results Compared with AIS, TIA patients were older (median 69 v 66 years; P = .007) and more likely female (53.3% v 44.2%; P v 34.6%; P = .271); the frequency for TIA patients was higher after covariate adjustment (hazard ratio [HR] 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.41). One-year all-cause mortality was similar among those with TIA compared to AIS patients (3.8% v 5.7%; P = .071; adjusted HR 0.86; 95% CI 0.52-1.42). All-cause rehospitalizations were higher for TIA compared to AIS patients (36.4% v 33.0%; P = .186; adjusted HR 1.20; 95% CI 1.02-1.42), but similar for stroke rehospitalizations (10.1% v 7.4%; P = .037; adjusted HR 1.38, 95% CI 0.997-1.92). Conclusions Patients with TIA have similar or worse 12-month postdischarge risk of death or rehospitalization as compared with those with AIS. Outcomes after TIA and AIS might be improved with better adherence to secondary preventive guidelines.
Pneumatic pulsed collapsing of poorly flowing refractory powder materials in bunkers

To provide normal discharge from bunkers of poorly flowing finely ground materials it is necessary to design bunkers with the steepest possible sloped walls and the largest possible discharge hole and to install within the bunker a system of pulsed aeration of the materials with the use of a pulse of compressed air with a sufficiently large energy.
Ultraviolet contrasts and the absorbers near the Venus cloud tops

The UV measurements of the Venus atmosphere absorbers constrain the location, altitude, and identity near the Venus cloud tops. The spin-scan images observed by the Pioneer Venus orbiter spectrometer (UVS) and the cloud photopolarimeter measure contrasts in the 1990-3650 A range and at phase angles between 33 and 130 deg; the planet is darkest at the location where the UVS line of sight penetrates in the direction perpendicular to the cloud tops. SO2 absorption accounts for the contrast from 2000 to 3200 A; the persistence of contrast at longer wavelengths requires another absorber at about 75-mbar altitude. The correlation between the planetary differences and polarization does not need large-scale clearing or major vertical motions of the cloud tops as the main cause of the observed variations.
Cholesteatoma of ureter masquerading as ureteral tumor.

Abstract The first report of a solitary cholesteatoma of the ureter is presented. A radiolucent filling defect associated with keratinous debris in the ureter strongly suggests this diagnosis.
Suicidal ideation of psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents has one-year predictive validity for suicide attempts in girls only.

Clinicians commonly incorporate adolescents’ self-reported suicidal ideation into formulations regarding adolescents’ risk for suicide. Data are limited, however, regarding the extent to which adolescent boys’ and girls’ reports of suicidal ideation have clinically significant predictive validity in terms of subsequent suicidal behavior. This study examined psychiatrically hospitalized adolescent boys’ and girls’ self-reported suicidal ideation as a predictor of suicide attempts during the first year following hospitalization. A total of 354 adolescents (97 boys; 257 girls; ages 13–17 years) hospitalized for acute suicide risk were evaluated at the time of hospitalization as well as 3, 6, and 12 months later. Study measures included the Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire-Junior, Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children, Children’s Depression Rating Scale-Revised, Beck Hopelessness Scale, Youth Self-Report, and Personal Experiences Screen Questionnaire. The main study outcome was presence and number of suicide attempt(s) in the year after hospitalization, measured by the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children. Results indicated a significant interaction between suicidal ideation, assessed during first week of hospitalization, and gender for the prediction of subsequent suicide attempts. Suicidal ideation was a significant predictor of subsequent suicide attempts for girls, but not boys. Baseline history of multiple suicide attempts was a significant predictor of subsequent suicide attempts across genders. Results support the importance of empirically validating suicide risk assessment strategies separately for adolescent boys and girls. Among adolescent boys who have been hospitalized due to acute suicide risk, low levels of self-reported suicidal ideation may not be indicative of low risk for suicidal behavior following hospitalization.
Empirical properties of forecasts with the functional autoregressive model

We study the finite sample performance of predictors in the functional (Hilbertian) autoregressive model $${X_{n+1} = \Psi(X_n)+\varepsilon_n}$$. Our extensive empirical study based on simulated and real data reveals that predictors of the form $${\hat\Psi(X_n)}$$ are practically optimal in a sense that their prediction errors are comparable with those of the infeasible perfect predictor Ψ(X n ). The predictions $${\hat\Psi(X_n)}$$ cannot be improved by an improved estimation of Ψ, nor by a more refined prediction approach which uses predictive factors rather than the functional principal components. We also discuss the practical limits of predictions that are feasible using the functional autoregressive model. These findings have not been established by theoretical work currently available, and may serve as a practical reference to the properties of predictors of functional data.
Detection of melanoma-reactive CD4+ HLA-class I-restricted cytotoxic T cell clones with long-term assay and pretreatment of targets with interferon-γ

Twenty-five CD4+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones were obtained from the peripheral blood or tumor tissues of melanoma patients undergoing active specific immunotherapy. Melanoma-reactive T cells were cloned by limiting dilution using either autologous or allogeneic melanoma cells to stimulate their proliferation. Sixteen of the clones reacted against autologous melanoma cells but not against the autologous lymphoblastoid cell line, which we defined as “melanoma-specific”. Optimal demonstration of the lytic activity of CD4+ CTL required a 16-h incubation period and an effector∶target cell ratio of 40∶1. In addition, a 24-h pre-incubation of the target melanoma cells with 100 U interferon (IFN)γ consistently augmented lysis by these CD4+ CTL, increasing it from a mean level of 20% to one of 52%. Lysis by 8 of the 11 melanoma-reactive CD4+ T cell clones was exclusively HLA-class-I-restricted, as judged by blocking with monoclonal antibodies (mAb). Five of these HLA class-I-restricted clones were reactive only with the autologous melanoma cells, while the other 3 clones were also reactive with allogeneic melanoma cells. In all cases, the T cells and melanoma targets shared at least one HLA class I allele, usually HLA-A2, HLA-C3 or HLA-B62. Interestingly, lysis by 2 of the 11 clones was inhibited by both anti-HLA-class-I or -HLA-class-II mAb, while lysis by 1 other clone was inhibited by neither. HLA class I molecules and several accessory molecules were maximally expressed by the melanoma target cells, both in terms of distribution and copy number before IFNγ treatment. Thus, IFNγ may have acted by increasing the expression of melanoma-associated epitopes as presented by HLA class I (or HLA class II) molecules. A proportion of human CD4+CTL appeared to recognize melanoma-associated epitopes presented by the HLA class I molecule, although their lytic potency may be less than that of their CD8+ counterparts.
CONTROLLED HYDROLYSIS OF TETRAETHOXYSILANE IN A NONIONIC WATER-IN-OIL MICROEMULSION : A STATISTICAL MODEL OF SILICA NUCLEATION

Nanosize silica particles were synthesized by the base-catalyzed hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in the polyoxyethylene (5) nonylphenyl ether (NP-5)/cyclohexane/NH4OH water-in-oil microemulsion system. The particle size data obtained by transmission electron microscopy were analyzed in terms of a statistical nucleation model based on the reverse micellar populations, the partition of TEOS molecules between the reverse micellar pseudophase and the bulk oil phase, and the Poisson distribution of TEOS molecules and hydroxyl ions among the reverse micelles. Comparison of the number of silica particles with the number of surfactant aggregates indicated that, depending on the water-to-surfactant molar ratio (R), one particle was produced out of ∼104 to 106 surfactant aggregates. The minimum number (ic) of hydrolyzed TEOS monomers required to form a stable nucleus was estimated to be equal to two. The nucleation efficiency factor (F), i.e. the probability of effecting nucleation in a reverse micelle that contains enough monomers to produce a stable nucleus, was found to increase with R for relatively low ammonia concentrations ([NH3]=1.6 wt.%). A decrease in the apparent nucleation efficiency factor (F) was observed at high R values with more concentrated ammonia and this was attributed to silica nuclei aggregation promoted by enhanced intermicellar collisions and intermicellar exchange.
Recent deep-sea benthic foraminiferal distributions in the South China and Sulu Seas

Thirty-nine surface sediment samples collected from the South China and Sulu Seas were examined to determine the bathymetric distribution of benthic foraminifera in these two basins and the factors responsible for these distributions. The benthic foraminiferal faunas of both basins are highly diverse but have low absolute abundances; benthic number and species diversity systematically decrease with increasing water depth. Four faunal assemblages were identified for each basin byQ-mode principal component analysis. TheGlobocassidulina subglobosa/Uvigerina assemblage (< 1500 m) and theUvigerina assemblage (< 1400 m) represent the shallowest assemblages in the South China Sea and Sulu Sea, respectively, and are found within the oxygen minimum zone of each basin where the sedimentary organic carbon content is highest and the pore water oxygen penetration depth (Zo) is shallowest. TheBulimina aculeata assemblage occurs at water depths between 1700 and 2000 m in the southeastern South China Sea and is also associated with relatively high sedimentary organic carbon content. TheAstrononion pusillum assemblage is found in South China Sea at the depths between 1500 and 3200 m. Below the lysocline (∼ 3200 m) in the South China Sea, this assemblage is replaced by the agglutinatedRhabdammina abyssorum assemblage. This assemblage reflects the presence of a water mass that is highly undersaturated with respect to calcite. In the Sulu Sea, thePyrgo murrhina assemblage occupies water depths from 1400 to 2200 m. Below 2200 m, two deep water assemblages are present that are both dominated byOridorsalis umbonatus. A correlation between various environmental and benthic foraminiferal variables indicates that salinity, temperature, sediment grain size, water depth, and bottom water oxygen concentration are not key factors controlling the benthic foraminiferal distribution in either the South China Sea or the Sulu Sea. Rather, organic carbon content and oxygen penetration depth in sediments appear to play important roles in determining the distribution of benthic foraminifera in both basins.
Understanding software process redesign using modeling, analysis and simulation

Software process redesign (SPR) is concerned with the development and application of concepts, techniques and tools for dramatically improving or optimizing software processes. This paper introduces how software process modeling, analysis and simulation may be used to support software process redesign. This includes an approach to explicitly modeling process redesign knowledge, analyzing processes for redesign, and simulating processes before, during and after redesign. A discussion follows which identifies a number of topic areas that require further study in order to make SPR a subject of software process research and practice. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Metaphase chromosome anomaly: association with drug resistance and cell-specific products

Large, homogeneously staining chromosome regions which lack the longitudinal differentiation ordinarily revealed by cytogenetic "banding" methods have been found in antifolate-resistant Chinese hamster cells and also in human neuroblastoma cells established in vitro. The drug-resistant cells are characterized by excessive production of the target enzyme, dihydrofolate reducatase, while the human neuroblastoma cells have phenotypes of normal neuronal cells. The homogeneously staining region appears to represent a novel metaphase chromosome anaomaly which may have functional significance in cells with specialized properties.
TRECON: A Framework for Enforcing Trusted ISP Peering

We envision that neglecting economic factors and trustworthiness evaluation of ISPs is one of the obstacles to developing next generation Internet (NGI). In this paper, we take the initial step to build a general framework called TRECON, which combines an adaptive personalized trust model (alphaPET) with an economic-based approach and provides independent routing among ISPs. With TRECON, autonomous organizations (e.g., ISPs) with varied interests and optimization criteria are smoothly integrated together to achieve better scalability, isolation and self-management. The evaluation results show that the trust-based strategy (TRU) performs much better than the global shortest path routing (SPA) approach in terms of delay, reliability and economic incentives.
Creation and characterization of mice with selective mutation of the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase I interaction domain

Vascular tone is dynamically regulated by vascular smooth muscle cell contractile state. Vascular contraction by many agonists is mediated by Gq-coupled receptor activation, calcium mobilization and myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation. Nitric oxide (NO) inhibits vascular contraction by activating cGMP-dependent protein kinase I α (PKGI-α), which causes MLC dephosphorylation and vascular smooth muscle relaxation. Cyclic GMPdependent protein kinase I (PKGI) is the principle effector of nitric oxide (NO) signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Activation of PKGI? by NO signaling has several effects in VSMC, including activation of myosin phosphatase (PP1M), which dephosphorylates the myosin light chain, causing relaxation. We have shown that PKGIα binds directly to the MBS subunit of the PP1M phosphatase via leucine zipper (LZ) motifs in each protein, providing a molecular basis for the effects of NO and cGMP on vascular relaxation. In recent studies, we found that PKGI-α also attenuates signaling by the Gq-coupled thrombin receptor PAR-1 by directly activating the regulator of G-protein signaling, RGS2. The same PKGI-α LZ domain that interacts with PP1M also mediates binding of PKGIα to RGS2. PKGI phosphorylates RGS2 and thereby activates the GTPase activity of Gq, inhibiting PAR-1 signaling. In addition, Rgs2-/mouse blood vessels have enhanced contraction and decreased cGMP-mediated relaxation, and these mice have marked hypertension. The presence of vasomotor dysfunction and hypertension in the RGS-2 knockout mice raises the possibility that intrinsic abnormalities of VSMC relaxation alone are sufficient to cause hypertension. To explore this hypothesis and the role pf PKGIα in regulation of vascular tone and blood pressure, we have used gene targeting to generate mice that express a LZ mutant (LZM) form of PKGIα in which critical amino acids in the leucine zipper motif have been substituted to disrupt LZ binding. The generation and characterization of the LZM mice will be described and data from LZM mouse studies will be presented. The studies support an essential role for PKGIα in maintenance of normal vascular tone and blood pressure and are consistent with the hypothesis that intrinsic abnormalities of VSMC regulation can be a primary, non-renal cause of high blood pressure.
A phytochemical investigation of Yucca schottii (Liliaceae).

The saponin‐containing fraction of the leaves of Yucca schottii Engelm. (Liliaceae) has been shown to possess anti‐inflammatory properties against carrageenin‐induced edema in rats. By means of silica gel G dry column and thin‐layer chromatographic techniques, a separation of the saponins present as the acetates was accomplished. Six of the saponins showed the presence of yuccagenin as their aglycone and galactose as the sugar moiety. The other saponin contained kammogenin as its aglycone and 2‐deoxyribose as the sugar moiety. A preparative isolation procedure was developed for the saponin which contained kammogenin as its aglycone. It was shown to contain 5 units of 2‐deoxyribose attached to the 3‐position of the aglycone.
Steric hindrance effects on surface reactions: applications to BIAcore

Because surface-volume reactions occur in many biological and industrial processes, understanding the rate of such reactions is important. The BIAcore surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor for measuring rate constants has such a geometry. Though several models of the BIAcore have been presented, few take into account that large ligand molecules can block multiple receptor sites, thus skewing the sensogram data. In this paper some general mathematical principles are stated for handling this phenomenon, and a surface-reaction model is presented explicitly. An integro-partial differential equation results, which can be simplified greatly using perturbation techniques, yielding linear and nonlinear integrodifferential equations. Explicit and asymptotic solutions are constructed for cases motivated by experimental design. The general analysis can provide insight into surface-volume reactions occurring in various contexts. In particular, the steric hindrance effect can be quantified with a single dimensionless parameter.
Baroclinic-barotropic adjustments in a meridionally wide domain

Abstract Baroclinic adjustment hypothesis fails to account for the enhancement of the barotropic jet observed in idealized baroclinic-wave life-cycle simulations. In this paper, an adjustment theory more consistent with the numerical results is developed through a careful examination of life-cycle experiments and nonseparable eigenvalue problems using the two-layer model. In all cases examined, nonlinear eddies emanate from an unstable normal mode of meridionally concentrated gradients of the zonal-mean potential vorticity (PV). The flows are neither forced nor damped, except that moderate second-order horizontal diffusion is used to achieve an eddy-free state in a finite computational time. The final zonal-mean states are typically characterized by a well-defined barotropic jet that is not sufficiently stable in the sense of Charney and Stern but stable for all zonal wavenumbers allowed by the geometry of the channel. It is shown that vertical asymmetry in the meridional arrangement of PV leads to (a) pr...
The concepts of irreducibility and full indecomposability of a matrix in the works of Frobenius, König and Markov

Abstract Frobenius published two proofs of a theorem which characterizes irreducible and fully indecomposable matrices in an algebraic manner. It is shown that the second proof, which depends on the Frobenius-Konig theorem, yields a stronger form of the result than the first. Some curious features in Frobenius's last paper are examined; these include his criticisms of a result due to D. Konig and the latter's application of graph theory to matrices. A condition on matrices formulated by Markov is examined in detail to show that it may coincide with Frobenius's concept of irreducibility, and several theorems on stochastic matrices of Perron-Frobenius type proved by Marcov are exhibited. In a research part of the paper, a theorem is proved which characterizes irreducible matrices and which contains Frobenius's theorem and was motivated by Markov's condition.
Anti-aldosterone treatment and the prevention of myocardial fibrosis in primary and secondary hyperaldosteronism.

In arterial hypertension associated with primary or secondary hyperaldosteronism myocardial fibrosis is an important determinant of pathologic hypertrophy. To further examine the relationship between elevations in plasma aldosterone (ALDO) and myocardial fibrosis, we analysed perivascular collagen area (PVCA) and interstitial collagen volume fraction (CVF) by videodensitometry and hydroxyproline concentration (HPro) by high-performance liquid chromatography. We examined both the left (LV) and right (RV) ventricles in the following rats models of primary or secondary hyperaldosteronism of eight weeks duration: unilateral renal ischemia (RHT); continuous ALDO administration via osmotic minipumps (0.75 microgram/h s.c.) and enhanced dietary sodium following uninephrectomy (AL); in RHT and AL after pre- and continuous treatment with either 20 (S) or 200 (SS) mg/kg/day s.c. of the aldosterone receptor antagonist, spironolactone; in AL after pre- and continuous treatment with 50 mg/kg/day oral captopril (AL + CAP); as well as in age and sex matched controls (C). Systolic arterial pressure was comparably elevated in RHT and AL (202 +/- 12 and 193 +/- 7 mmHg, respectively; P < 0.0005 vs C); it remained elevated with low dose spironolactone in either model of arterial hypertension, but was normalized with high dose spironolactone or captopril in AL. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), expressed as significantly elevated LV/RV weight or LV/BW ratios, was present in all experimental groups, excluding AL + SS and AL + CAP, when compared with C (P < 0.005). In each ventricle, CVF and PVCA were increased (P < 0.005) in either model of hypertension and in AL + CAP, but were no different from C in all groups receiving either dose of spironolactone. Similar findings were observed for HPro. Thus, myocardial fibrosis was comparable in primary or secondary hyperaldosteronism, wherein elevations in plasma aldosterone, relative to increased sodium intake, are associated with arterial hypertension. The competitive ALDO receptor antagonist, spironolactone, was able to prevent fibrosis in either model irrespective of the development of LVH and the presence of hypertension. Captopril prevented hypertension and LVH, but not unexpectedly it did not prevent myocardial fibrosis in primary hyperaldosteronism. These findings provide further evidence that in these rat models increased plasma ALDO, relative to dietary sodium, plays a major role in the adverse accumulation of collagen that appears in the myocardium.
Privacy-Preserving Online Mixing of High Integrity Mobile Multi-user Data

Crowd-sourced sensing systems facilitate unprecedented insight into our local environments by leveraging voluntarily contributed data from the impressive array of smartphone sensors (GPS, audio, image, accelerometer, etc.). However, user participation in crowd-sourced sensing will be inhibited if people cannot trust the system to maintain their privacy. On the other hand, data modified for privacy may be of limited use to the system without mechanisms to verify integrity. In this paper, we present an interactive proof protocol that allows an intermediary to convince a data consumer that it is accurately performing a privacy-preserving transformation mixing inputs from multiple expected sources, but without revealing those inputs. Additionally, we discuss privacy transformation functions that are compatible with the protocol, and show that the protocol introduces very little overhead, making it ideal for real-time crowd-sourced data collection.
Trade-offs in appropriateness of percutaneous coronary intervention.

Cardiovascular medicine has the dubious distinction of being the clinical area in which racial and ethnic disparities in access to care, as well as sex-based, economic, and geographic disparities, are most thoroughly documented [(1)][1]. Prior studies have shown that African-American patients [(2)][
DDN: a caBIG® analytical tool for differential network analysis.

Summary: Differential dependency network (DDN) is a caBIG® (cancer Biomedical Informatics Grid) analytical tool for detecting and visualizing statistically significant topological changes in transcriptional networks representing two biological conditions. Developed under caBIG® 's In Silico Research Centers of Excellence (ISRCE) Program, DDN enables differential network analysis and provides an alternative way for defining network biomarkers predictive of phenotypes. DDN also serves as a useful systems biology tool for users across biomedical research communities to infer how genetic, epigenetic or environment variables may affect biological networks and clinical phenotypes. Besides the standalone Java application, we have also developed a Cytoscape plug-in, CytoDDN, to integrate network analysis and visualization seamlessly. Availability: The Java and MATLAB source code can be downloaded at the authors' web site http://www.cbil.ece.vt.edu/software.htm Contact: ude.tv@gnaweuy Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
SuperLU Users'' Guide

This document describes a collection of three related ANSI C subroutine libraries for solving sparse linear systems of equations AX = B: Here A is a square, nonsingular, n x n sparse matrix, and X and B are dense n x nrhs matrices, where nrhs is the number of right-hand sides and solution vectors. Matrix A need not be symmetric or definite; indeed, SuperLU is particularly appropriate for matrices with very unsymmetric structure. All three libraries use variations of Gaussian elimination optimized to take advantage both of sparsity and the computer architecture, in particular memory hierarchies (caches) and parallelism.
EFFECTS OF ALLOYING ELEMENTS ON ELASTIC, STACKING FAULT, AND DIFFUSION PROPERTIES OF FCC NI FROM FIRST-PRINCIPLES: IMPLICATIONS FOR TAILORING THE CREEP RATE OF NI-BASE SUPERALLOYS

To understand the effects of alloying elements on t he creep rate of Ni-base superalloys, factors entering into a second ary creep rate are calculated via first-principles calculations ba sed on density functional theory for 26 Ni 31 X systems where X = Al, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hf, Ir, Mn, Mo, Nb, Os, Pd, Pt, Re, Rh, Ru, Sc, Si, Ta, Tc, Ti, V, W, Y, Zr, and Zn. They are volume, elastic prop erties, stacking fault energy, and diffusivity. It is foun d that shear modulus, Young’s modulus, and roughly stacking fault energy show inverse correlation to the atomic volume of th e system. In addition, the closer the alloying elements to Ni, w ith respect to atomic volume and atomic number, the larger the predicted shear modulus, Young’s modulus, and stacking fault energy. Diffusivity calculations show that mid-row 5d trans ition metal elements, particularly Re, Os, and Ir, have the hig hest activation barrier for diffusion, while far-right or far-left row placement elements such as Y, Zn, and Hf, have the lowest act ivation energy barriers for diffusion. A creep rate ratio of �� �� �� � �� �� ⁄ is calculated and the effect of the alloying elements shows 13 systems have a decreased creep rate relative to Ni, while 13 systems have an increased creep rate relative to Ni .
The Overstimulation of Everyday Life: I. New Aspects of Male Homosexuality

Western heterosexual culture surrounds the homosexually inclined boy in a climate of erotic overstimulation that powerfully affects his development and adult sexual adaptation. This assertion is illustrated through a case presentation of a homosexual man who shared a bed with his brother from childhood into adolescence. Analysis of the patient's transference enactment--repeatedly falling asleep on the couch--gradually revealed the psychic impact of this everyday overstimulation: the creation of a tantalized inner world of longing. The regular occurrence and developmental understanding of adolescent homosexual boys' unrequited love affairs with adolescent heterosexual boys are described and explored. Finally, the overstimulation of everyday life is proposed as a new model for understanding certain behavioral aspects of male homosexuality, such as the avoidance of rough-and-tumble play in childhood and homosexual cruising.
Logic optimization of MOS networks

The logic networks that can be put on a single chip continues to grow in size and complexity. There is thus an increasing need for designers to rely on the assistance of computer-aided design tools to provide a fast design turnaround and reduce design errors. Logic design (or logic synthesis) is one major step in the ASIC VLSI design cycle in which automation is playing an increasingly important role in recent years. In this thesis, we describe an algorithm, SYLON-REDUCE, that can be used in automated logic synthesis tools for the logic optimization of MOS networks. Most existing logic synthesis algorithms divide logic synthesis into a technology-independent logic synthesis and optimization phase and a technology-mapping phase. This, however, may yield suboptimal final networks. In contrast to this two-phase design approach, SYLON-REDUCE uses a technology-specific approach for the logic optimization of multi-level combinational MOS networks. Given an initial MOS network, SYLON-REDUCE resynthesizes each cell in the network and produces an area- or delay-optimized network which contains only cells that satisfy the same technology constraints or belongs to the same technology library as the cells in the initial network. SYLON-REDUCE uses the concept of permissible functions for more effective optimization. Extensive experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of SYLON-REDUCE, which generally produces better results than other existing algorithms, including those that employ a two-phase design approach. To make SYLON-REDUCE applicable to a wider range of large, complex networks, we use a windowing scheme for repeated local optimization of these large networks. This scheme also enables the algorithm to optimize the delay of these networks effectively. Experimental results prove this to be a viable approach. Furthermore, SYLON-REDUCE is useful for further improvement of MOS technology-mapped networks. It will also be particularly useful in cell generation or full custom design environments.