cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling α-Synucleinopathy in Organotypic Brain Slice Culture with Preformed α-Synuclein Amyloid Fibrils.

Background Synucleinopathy is a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by neurodegeneration and accumulation of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) aggregates in various brain regions. The detailed mechanism of α-syn-caused neurotoxicity remains obscure, which is partly due to the lack of a suitable model that retains the in vivo three-dimensional cellular network and allows a convenient dissection of the neurotoxic pathways. Recent studies revealed that the pre-formed recombinant α-syn amyloid fibrils (PFFs) induce a robust accumulation of pathogenic α-syn species in cultured cells and animals. Objective Our goal is to determine whether PFFs are able to induce the pathogenic α-syn accumulation and neurotoxicity in organotypic brain slice culture, an ex vivo system that retains the in vivo three-dimensional cell-cell connections. Methods/results Adding PFFs to cultured wild-type rat or mouse brain slices induced a time-dependent accumulation of pathogenic α-syn species, which was indicated by α-syn phosphorylated at serine 129 (pα-syn). The PFF-induced pα-syn was abolished in brain slices prepared from α-syn null mice, suggesting that the pα-syn is from the phosphorylation of endogenous α-syn. Human PFFs also induced pα-syn in brain slices prepared from mice expressing human α-syn on a mouse α-syn-null background. Furthermore, the synaptophysin immunoreactivity was inversely associated with pα-syn accumulation and an increase of neuronal loss was detected. Conclusion PFF-treatment of brain slices is able to induce key pathological features of synucleinopathy: pα-syn accumulation and neurotoxicity. This model will be useful for investigating the neurotoxic mechanism and evaluating efficacy of therapeutic approaches.
Parallel transmit optimized 3D composite adiabatic spectral-spatial pulse for spectroscopy.

Purpose To develop a 3D composite adiabatic spectral-spatial pulse for refocusing in spin-echo spectroscopy acquisitions and to compare its performance against standard acquisition methods. Methods A 3D composite adiabatic pulse was designed by modulating a train of parallel transmit-optimized 2D subpulses with an adiabatic envelope. The spatial and spectral profiles were simulated and validated by experiments to demonstrate the feasibility of the design in both single and double spin-echo spectroscopy acquisitions. Phantom and in vivo studies were performed to evaluate the pulse performance and compared with semi-LASER with respect to localization performance, sequence timing, signal suppression, and specific absorption rate. Results Simultaneous 2D spatial localization with water and lipid suppression was achieved with the designed refocusing pulse, allowing high-quality spectra to be acquired with shorter minimum TE/TR, reduced SAR, as well as adaptation to spatially varying B0 and B 1 + field inhomogeneities in both prostate and brain studies. Conclusion The proposed composite pulse can serve as a more SAR efficient alternative to conventional localization methods such as semi-LASER at ultrahigh field for spin echo-based spectroscopy studies. Subpulse parallel-transmit optimization provides the flexibility to manage the tradeoff among multiple design criteria to accommodate different field strengths and applications.
Service coordination for transition-age foster youth with disabilities: A survey of state independent living coordinators

Abstract Transition-aged foster youth with disabilities are arguably one of the most vulnerable sub-groups in state child welfare systems. However, little research has examined the ways in which services may be coordinated in and across child welfare systems and with adult service systems. To fill this gap, this study reports the findings from an online survey of U.S. independent living coordinators regarding coordination of services for foster youth with disabilities. In all, 43 surveys were completed, for an 84% response rate. Survey responses were uploaded into SPSS and descriptive analyses were completed. The majority of respondents (87%) reported their state child welfare system screened for disabilities. More than half (63%) reported their state’s data system tracks disabilities. Although a majority of respondents (79%) indicated a child welfare representative is required to attend Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, criteria vary regarding who is eligible to fill that role. A majority of respondents reported that their agency collaborates with other public agencies serving adults with disabilities (92%). The most frequently mentioned agencies that respondents reported coordinating transition planning with were mental health, vocational rehabilitation, and other community programs. Study findings are discussed in the context of federal independent living policy, which requires child welfare agencies to collaborate with and rely on other public institutions.
Impact of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers on Renal Function in Type 1 Cardiorenal Syndrome.

Introduction:Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) and angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) discontinuation during acute heart failure (AHF) is associated with increased mortality following...
Missionary Schools for Children of Missionaries: Juxtaposing Mission Ideals with Children’s Worldviews

Most schools reflect the communities in which they are located and tend to reflect the community ideals of both the parents and their children. Missionary schools, in contrast, are outside forces in the countries in where they are located. They often reflect the ideals and goals that the mission agencies thought the children of their employees should attain. They may reflect the worldview of the missionary generation, but often do not reflect the views of the children. The children, having been raised outside of the sending countries, develop different worldviews than that of their parent’s missionary body and of their parents. This chapter discusses and contrasts three different schools that serviced the children of Lutheran missionaries to Tanzania.
MOLECULAR EVENTS IN THE REPRODUCTION OF ANIMAL CELLS. 3. FRACTIONAL SYNTHESIS OF DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID WITH 5-BROMODEOXYURIDINE AND ITS EFFECT ON CLONING EFFICIENCY.

Abstract Synchronized cultures of HeLa cells were caused during a single cycle of DNA synthesis to replicate given fractions of their DNA with 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BdeU) instead of thymidine. It was observed that the introduction of 5-bromodeoxyuridine into the early replicating DNA complexes resulted in a striking decline in the cloning efficiency whereas the introduction of 5-bromodeoxyuridine into the late replicating DNA was without effect. The data suggest that the early replicating DNA of the HeLa nucleus plays an important role in survival.
The Search for Equilibrium Concepts

Game Theory is about predicting the behavior of groups of rational agents whose decisions affect each other's welfare, and such predictions are most often in the form of equilibrium concepts. There are several desiderata one might expect from an equilibrium concept: First and foremost it should be natural and convincing as a prediction of agent behavior. Then it should be universal-- all games should have it, because otherwise it is an incomplete prediction. Since computer scientists became interested in Game Theory over the past decade, prompted by the advent of the Internet and its complex socioeconomic platform, another important question has been asked of an equilibrium concept: Can it be computed efficiently?Intractability makes an equilibrium concept problematic.
A Two-Level Environment for Morphological Descriptions

This paper provides an outline of the computational environment LILOG/2LM for developing morphological descriptions in the two-level paradigm. The application of LILOG/2LM to inflectional morphology is illustrated with reference to German verbs with separable prefixes — a morphological phenomenon that involves discontinuous morphs.
Why Do Investors React Negatively to Seasoned Equity Offerings

The average investor reaction is neutral to primary offerings by firms with managerial incentives closely tied to the shareholder value. Investors react negatively (1) when there are insufficient managerial ownership stakes to deter misuse of SEO proceeds and (2) when there are negative signals transmitted through secondary offerings by insiders and block-holders. Consistent with an agency-based explanation, firms engaging in value-destroying corporate acquisitions suffer large negative returns at the announcement of SEOs. Agency problems seem to be of less concern to investors, however, when firms are subject to intense monitoring by institutional investors and the market for corporate control. Overall, our findings demonstrate that controlling agency problems, an important facet of corporate governance, has a significant effect on firm valuation and the cost of external equity capital.
Trp repressor interactions with the trp aroH and trpR operators: comparison of repressor binding in vitro and repression in vivo

Interaction of the Escherichia coli trp repressor with the promoter-operator regions of the trp, aroH and trpR operons was studied in vivo and in vitro. The three operators have similar, but non-identical, sequences; each operator is located in a different segment of its respective promoter. In vivo repression of the three operons was measured using single-copy gene fusions to lacZ. The extent of repression varied from 300-fold for the trp operon, to sixfold for the aroH operon and threefold for the trpR operon. To determine whether differential binding of repressor to the three operators was responsible for the differences in repression observed in vivo, three in vitro binding assays were employed. Restriction-site protection, gel retardation and DNase footprinting analyses revealed that repressor binds to the three operators with almost equal affinity. It was also shown in an in vivo competition assay that repressor binds approximately equally well to each of the three operators. It is proposed that the differential regulation observed in vivo may be due to the different relative locations of the three operators within their respective promoters.
Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci Governing Arthritis Severity and Humoral Responses in the Murine Model of Lyme Disease

A spectrum of disease severity has been observed in patients with Lyme disease, with ∼60% of untreated individuals developing arthritis. The murine model of Lyme disease has provided strong evidence that the genetic composition of the host influences the severity of arthritis following infection with Borrelia burgdorferi : infected C3H mice develop severe arthritis while infected C57BL/6N mice develop mild arthritis. Regions of the mouse genome controlling arthritis severity and humoral responses during B. burgdorferi infection were identified in the F 2 intercross generation of C3H/HeNCr and C57BL/6NCr mice. Rear ankle swelling measurements identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) on chromosomes 4 and 5, while histopathological scoring identified QTL on a unique region of chromosome 5 and on chromosome 11. The identification of QTL unique for ankle swelling or histopathological severity suggests that processes under distinct genetic control are responsible for these two manifestations of Lyme arthritis. Additional QTL that control the levels of circulating Igs induced by B. burgdorferi infection were identified on chromosomes 6, 9, 11, 12, and 17. Interestingly, the magnitude of the humoral response was not correlated with the severity of arthritis in infected F 2 mice. This work defines several genetic loci that regulate either the severity of arthritis or the magnitude of humoral responses to B. burgdorferi infection in mice, with implications toward understanding the host-pathogen interactions involved in disease development.
Global strategic alliances among firms

Strategic alliances will be increasingly required to pool resources, skills and risk capital for maintenance of industrial competitiveness in a hypercompetitive global market–place. The need for alliances is driven by rapidly advancing technology that has collapsed product and process life cycles often to less than 5 years, and by subsidized targeting of selected industries by foreign governments. However, the effective organization and management of alliances often is not well understood, which leads to less than satisfactory results. Effective methodologies are known and can lead to remarkable success. Currently they are by–passing national boundaries to create a 'global village'.
State regulation of unconventional gas development in the U.S.: An empirical evaluation

Abstract U.S. production of unconventional natural gas has increased rapidly over the last decade, and triggered public concerns about a variety of related risks. State policymakers vary in how they design regulatory policies to balance the anticipated risks and benefits, few attempts have been made, however, to evaluate the heterogeneity in state unconventional gas regulations. In this analysis, we develop a framework for comparing states based on how intensely they regulate unconventional gas development. We utilize two separate but complementary methodological approaches to investigate regulatory heterogeneity: an expert elicitation survey and principal components analysis. Our results indicate that, even though there is significant heterogeneity in state regulatory systems, there exist clusters of states that are consistently ranked at the top or the bottom along a continuum of regulatory stringency. States such as West Virginia, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico and Pennsylvania are found at the top of this scale, while at the lower end we find California, Tennessee, Mississippi and Montana. As states refine their regulatory systems, these rankings can be updated to reflect new policy and regulatory priorities.
Effect of induced interferon in experimental rhinovirus infections in volunteers.

Nasal administration of an interferon inducer, CP-20,961 (N, N-dioctadecyl-N', N'-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)propanediamine), was evaluated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of experimental rhinovirus infection in 29 volunteers. Detectable nasal interferon developed in 10 of 15 subjects treated with CP-20,961, and 2 of 14 in the group receiving placebo (P 0.05). However, mean total sign scores were significantly diminished among CP-20,961-treated subjects as compared with placebo-treated subjects (P < 0.025). No significant effect was noted on quantitative virus shedding patterns or neutralizing antibody responses. These findings suggest that such concentrations of induced interferon do not protect against rhinovirus infection, and that factors other than interferon may be important in recovery from rhinovirus infection.
Inbreeding and juvenile mortality in small populations of ungulates

Juvenile mortality of inbred young was higher than that of noninbred young in 15 of 16 species of captive ungulates. In 19 of 25 individual females, belonging to ten species, a larger percentage of young died when the female was mated to a related male than when she was mated to an unrelated male.
Alteration of methylcholanthrene-mediated suppression of cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity by benzoflavone treatment of C57BL/6J mice.

The potential role of the cytochromes P -450 in methylcholanthrene (MC)-mediated suppression of cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity (CDH) in C57BL/6J (B6) mice was evaluated indirectly by treating mice with agents known to induce or inhibit hepatic cytochromes P -450 prior to contact sensitization. Subsequent alterations in aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity and CDH, as measured by suppression of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced ear swelling, were measured. MC administration resulted in a dose-dependent suppression of ear swelling and a concomitant dose-dependent induction of hepatic AHH activity. Treatment of B6 mice with phenobarbital (PB), 80 mg/kg daily × 3, a broad spectrum inducer of P -450, resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in benzo[ a ]pyrene (B[a]P) hydroxylase activity without affecting CDH. Animals treated with the same pB protocol prior to an ED20 dose of MC showed no difference in suppression of CDH compared to animals treated with MC alone. In contrast, successive treatment with the selective P 1 -450 inducer, 5,6-benzoflavone ( β NF), prior to and following an ED20 dose of MC significantly increased suppression of CDH ( p P 1 -450 activity, 7,8-benzoflavone ( α NF), did not prevent AHH induction when administered prior to and following MC (ED100) nor did it suppress CDH when administered alone. However, this α NF treatment completely prevented suppression of CDH usually seen at this MC dose. These data provide evidence suggesting that metabolic activation by cytochrome P 1 -450 is required for the expression of the immunosuppressive activity of MC.
Chlorhexidine gluconate-impregnated central-line dressings and necrosis in complicated skin disorder patients

Although chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) disks have been shown to help reduce the incidence of central line-associated blood stream infections, their use can result in local skin necrosis. The effects of CHG disks on patients with complex skin pathology have not been studied. We report 6 cases of dermal necrosis associated with Biopatch (Ethicon Inc, Somerville, NJ) CHG disks in adults with complex skin pathology including those with Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis syndrome, graft-versus-host disease, burns, and anasarca. All patients had a CHG disk placed at a central venous catheter insertion site. Age range was from 21 to 84 years. Discovery of the reaction ranged from 4 to 14 days after disk placement. Resultant skin erosions required 2 to 10 weeks to reepithelialize. Complicated skin disorder patients represent a rare subset of the critically ill who appear prone to CHG disk necrosis. Continuous contact of CHG under occlusive dressings is speculated to predispose Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis syndrome, graft-versus-host disease, and burn patients to local chemical injury secondary to loss of the epithelial tissue barrier, decreased cohesion of the epidermal-dermal junction, and increased tissue permeability. In these patients, the risk of placing the CHG disk may present more risk than using alternative antimicrobial dressings.
Impact of Power Control on Relay Load Balancing in Wireless Sensor Networks

When shortest path routing is employed in large scale multi-hop wireless networks, nodes located near the center of the network have to perform disproportional amount of relaying for others. In energy-constrained networks like sensor, such unfair forwarding results into early depletion of batteries of these congested nodes. To solve the problem, various divergent routing schemes are used which route the data on centeravoiding divergent routing paths. Though they achieve better load balancing, overall relaying is increased significantly due to their longer routing paths which in turn results into reduced energy efficiency. In this paper, we propose power control as a way of achieving better load balancing in multi-hop wireless networks. We show that when communication range of nodes are properly controlled using power control, better load balancing can be achieved using shortest paths only. Such a strategy also decreases overall relaying in the network when compared to divergent routing schemes. We use the concept of centrality to achieve appropriate balance between relay burden of nodes and their power levels. Numerical results confirm that centrality based load balancing significantly improves network lifetime of sensor networks.
Model-based sub-Nyquist sampling and reconstruction technique for ultra-wideband (UWB) radar

The Army Research Lab has recently developed an ultra-wideband (UWB) synthetic aperture radar (SAR). The radar has been employed to support proof-of-concept demonstration for several concealed target detection programs. The radar transmits and receives short impulses to achieve a wide-bandwidth from 300 MHz to 3000 MHz. Since the radar directly digitizes the wide-bandwidth receive signals, the challenges is to how to employ relatively slow and inexpensive analog-to-digital (A/D) converters to sample the signals with a rate that is greater than the minimum Nyquist rate. ARL has developed a sampling technique that allows us to employ inexpensive A/D converters (ADC) to digitize the widebandwidth signals. However, this technique still has a major drawback due to the longer time required to complete a data acquisition cycle. This in turn translates to lower average power and lower effective pulse repetition frequency (PRF). Compressed Sensing (CS) theory offers a new approach in data acquisition. From the CS framework, we can reconstruct certain signals or images from much fewer samples than the traditional sampling methods, provided that the signals are sparse in certain domains. However, while the CS framework offers the data compression feature, it still does not address the above mentioned drawback, that is the data acquisition must be operated in equivalent time since many global measurements (obtained from global random projections) are required as depicted by the sensing matrix Φ in the CS framework. In this paper, we propose a new technique that allows the sub-Nyquist sampling and the reconstruction of the wide-bandwidth data. In this technique, each wide-bandwidth radar data record is modeled as a superposition of many backscatter signals from reflective point targets. The technique is based on direct sparse recovery using a special dictionary containing many time-delayed versions of the transmitted probing signal. We demonstrate via simulated as well as collected data that our design offers real-time (with single observation as oppose to equivalent-time with many observations) data acquisition of the wide-bandwidth radar signals using the sub-Nyquist sampling rate.
Intraoperative electron beam radiation therapy with particular reference to the treatment of rectal carcinomas--primary and recurrent.

Radiation therapy is being used alone or in combination with surgery with increasing frequency in the treatment of colorectal malignancies. Preoperative or postoperative irradiation may be offered to patients with marginally resectable lesions who are at high risk for local recurrence. Dose levels required for cure, however, may be such that the complications are unaceeptable.
PolyD: a flexible dispatching framework

The standard dispatching mechanisms built into programming languages are sometimes inadequate to the needs of the programmer. In the case of Java, the need for more flexibility has led to the development of a number of tools, including visitors and multi-method extensions, that each add some particular functionality, but lack the generality necessary to support user-defined dispatching mechanisms. In this paper we advocate a more modular approach to dispatching, and we present a tool, PolyD, that allows the programmer to design custom dispatching strategies and to parametrize many aspects of the dispatching process. PolyD exhibits excellent performance and compares well against existing tools.
Detecting and avoiding oxygen deficient sea water by brown shrimp, Penaeus aztecus (Ives), and white shrimp Penaeus setiferus (Linnaeus)

Abstract Detection and avoidance of oxygen deficient sea water (≤3.0 ppm dissolved oxygen) by white shrimp, Penaeus setiferus (Linnaeus), and brown shrimp, P. aztecus (Ives), was measured under laboratory conditions. Shrimp were acclimated to control salinity (22%.) and temperature (22°C) for a minimum of 2 days and to the test chamber for l h before recording data. A shrimp's response to treatment water was determined by its (1) response time, i.e., time in min to first entrance into the control side of the chamber, and (2) total time spent in the treatment side of the chamber. White shrimp detected and significantly avoided intruding water containing ≤1.5 ppm dissolved oxygen. Brown shrimp were more sensitive and avoided water having dissolved oxygen concentrations ≤2.0 ppm. Behavioral responses of white shrimp and brown shrimp to hypoxic water included an initial increase in general level of activity, retreat from hypoxia by walking or swimming, rapid eye-stalk movements, and flexing of their antennal scales. In addition, white shrimp exhibited abdominal flexures and apparent exhaustion. Hypoxia along coastal Louisiana, west of the Mississippi River Delta, could markedly affect shrimp stocks by increased natural mortality through (1) physiological stress, (2) increased inter- and conspecific competition, and (3) increased predation.
An Alternative Approach: Teaching Evolution in a Natural History Museum Through the Topic of Vector-Borne Disease

Museums play a vitally important role in supporting both informal and formal education and are important venues for fostering public understanding of evolution. The Yale Peabody Museum has implemented significant education programs on evolution for many decades, mostly focused on the museum’s extensive collections that represent the past and present tree of life. Twelve years ago, the Peabody began a series of new programs that explored biodiversity and evolution as it relates to human health. Modern evolutionary theory contributes significantly to our understanding of health and disease, and medical topics provide many excellent and relevant examples to explore evolutionary concepts. The Peabody developed a program on vector-borne diseases, specifically Lyme disease and West Nile virus, which have become endemic in the United States. Both of these diseases have complex transmission cycles involving an intricate interplay among the pathogen, host, and vector, each of which is subject to differing evolutionary pressures. Using these stories, the museum explored evolutionary concepts of adaptation (e.g., the evolution of blood feeding), coevolution (e.g., the “arms race” between host and vector), and variation and selection (e.g., antibiotic resistance) among others. The project included a temporary exhibition and the development of curriculum materials for middle and high school teachers and students. The popularity of the exhibit and some formal evaluation of student participants suggested that this educational approach has significant potential to engage wide audiences in evolutionary issues. In addition it demonstrated how natural history museums can incorporate evolution into a broad array of programs.
Statistics within departments of mathematics at liberal arts colleges

In his important article "The Science of Patterns" [9], former MAA president Lynn Steen provides us with a state-of-the-discipline report on modern mathematics. Steen divides the mathematical sciences into three parts "of roughly comparable size": statistical science, core mathematics, and applied mathematics. Currently, core mathematics dominates both the faculty and curriculum of departments of mathematics at liberal arts colleges. Although Steen claims that distinctions between his three divisions may be less "intrinsic differences" than "differences in style, purpose, and history," we feel recognition of these differences can be an important benefit to the community of liberal arts colleges, where practicalities dictate that all three divisions of the mathematical sciences be housed in a single department. In particular, a broadened view of the mathematical sciences can energize a mathematics department by increasing enrollments, the number of majors, the number of students going on to graduate school, and the general level of enthusiasm for studying the mathematical sciences. Below we outline some of the essential differences between statistics and core mathematics and discuss some practical curricular implications that these differences have for a mathematics department at a liberal arts college. We concentrate on statistics rather than applied mathematics because we are statisticians. Statistics is underrepresented among mathematics faculty at liberal arts colleges in the United States. A recent survey [8] of mathematics departments at liberal arts colleges suggests that approximately half of all such departments have no one with an advanced degree in statistics and only 12.5% have more than one such person. And, unlike the situation at many universities, if statisticians are employed at liberal arts colleges they will generally be housed in the department of mathematics, since mathematics is the traditional liberal arts discipline most closely aligned with statistics. Because the responsibility of statistics education at most liberal arts colleges rests with the mathematics department, it is imperative that the department recognize the fundamental differences between statistics and core mathematics and ensure that their statistics curriculum reflects these differences. Core mathematics and statistics differ in two fundamental ways. Both fields look for structure and patterns, but core mathematics looks in the abstract arena of space and number while statistics looks at data from other, nonmathematical subject areas. Hence core mathematics and statistics differ in their objects of study. They also differ in their methods. The emphasis in mathematical thinking is on deduction. For example, the axioms of classical group theory form a framework from which theorems can be derived. Naturally, in the discovery of new truths inductive reasoning and exploration are essential tools. In developing a new
Twin-boundary pinning and flux flow in zone-melt-textured YBa2Cu3O7-δ crystals

Using a microwave (13 GHz) technique which is sensitive to field-induced changes in the surface resistance, we have observed twin-boundary pinning in zone-melt-textured crystals of YBa2Cu3O7-δ. With the rotation of a static 1.9-T field applied in thea-b plane, the surface resistanceR s exhibits minima at 90° intervals. The twin-boundary minima are shown to be connected to the orientation of the crystalline axes of the sample. The resistance minima are observed superimposed on a flux-flow response over the temperature range ofT c to the lowest temperature attempted. Substantial flux mobility is observed to the lowest temperatures. The angular dependence of the flux-flow response at low temperatures is consistent with the “brick” model for local intergranular conductivity, which provides for an in-plane isotropic component.
Multilayer shallow water flow using lattice Boltzmann method with high performance computing

Abstract A multilayer lattice Boltzmann (LB) model is introduced to solve three-dimensional wind-driven shallow water flow problems. The multilayer LB model avoids the expensive Navier–Stokes equations and obtains stratified horizontal flow velocities as vertical velocities are relatively small and the flow is still within the shallow water regime. A single relaxation time BGK method is used to solve each layer coupled by the vertical viscosity forcing term. To increase solution stability, an implicit step is suggested to obtain flow velocities. The main advantage of using the LBM is that after selecting appropriate equilibrium distribution functions, the LB algorithm is only slightly modified for each layer and retains all the simplicities of the LBM within the high performance computing (HPC) environment. The performance of the parallel LB model for the multilayer shallow water equations is investigated on CPU-based HPC environments using OpenMP. We found that the explicit loop control with cache optimization in LBM gives better performance on execution time, speedup and efficiency than the implicit loop control as the number of processors increases. Numerical examples are presented to verify the multilayer LB model against analytical solutions. We demonstrate the model’s capability of calculating lateral and vertical distributions of velocities for wind-driven circulation over non-uniform bathymetry.
Abundances in Cosmic Rays

Elemental, isotopic, and antiproton abundances in cosmic ray sources are examined. The elemental abundances for very rare elements with atomic numbers (Z) greater than 30, for individual elements with Z less than 33, and for even-Z elements with Z less than 60 are compared with elemental abundances in the solar system. The effects of nucleosynthesis of the material and the cosmic ray acceleration process on the abundances of elements is discussed. It is observed that the cosmic ray sources differ in composition from the solar system; however, the abundances are generally the same. The observations of the cosmic ray antiprotons are described.
Brief Communication: National Quality-of-Care Standards in Home-Based Primary Care

Home-based primary care for homebound elderly patients is complex, practice constraints are unique, and no quality-of-care standards exist. An expert panel reviewed established standards for geriat...
Site-directed mutagenesis of putative catalytic and nucleotide binding sites in N10-formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase.

To determine the importance of specific amino-acid residues in catalysis and substrate binding by N10-formylH4folate synthetase, one lysine and three histidine residues in the enzyme from Clostridium cylindrosporum were mutated to glutamine and serine residues, respectively. These residues, Lys-71, His-125, His-131, and His-268, are conserved in four bacterial and five eukaryotic proteins for which the amino-acid sequences are known. Previous evidence indicated that a histidine residue may play a role in catalysis and it has been proposed that Lys-71 could be a member of a putative nucleotide binding consenus sequence. The histidine mutations, H125S, H131S, and H268S, produced proteins that were unstable and were proteolytically degraded to different extents. No activity of purified H268S could be detected and the 240 kDa native tetramer was also absent. Activities of the H125S and H131S mutants could be measured and the Km values of the substrates were similar to those for the wild-type enzyme. It is concluded that the mutations resulted in monomers that do not fold properly and/or do not associate to the active tetramer and, as a consequence, are susceptible to intracellular proteolytic digestion. On the other hand, the K71Q mutation did not produce proteolyzed material. The resulting protein had a kcat value which was reduced by a factor of 3.3 × 10−4. Km values of the substrates were not affected, nor were the affinty constants for MgATP and H4PteG3. CD and fluorescence spectra demonstrated that little change in the tertiary structure of the protein had occurred as a result of the mutation. The monomer form of K71Q was less stable than the monomer of the wild-type enzyme and reassociated less efficiently than the wild-type. From these results it is suggested that Lys-71 plays a critical role in catalysis by N10-formylH4folate synthetase and that this residue may reside at an intersubunit interface.
The influence of culture on strategic constructs in the process of globalization: An empirical study of North American and Japanese MNCs

Abstract The purpose of this article is to explore the cross-cultural differences that influence the formulation of global strategies of North American and Japanese multinational corporations (MNCs). While the role of culture as a determinant of management styles and functional area decision making in both these countries has been extensively studied, the internationalization process, which has important competitive implications, has not been previously examined in a cross-cultural context. One of the most significant developments since World War II is the increasing internationalization of business. Although business has been conducted across national boundaries for centuries, during the last three decades business dealings on a global scale have dramatically escalated. Initially, only innovative/risk taking corporations around the world turned their attention to international business in order to maintain a competitive edge in a dynamic marketplace. But slowly, even hitherto strictly domestic firms have been forced into looking beyond national frontiers for their economic survival. Given that the set of competitors for all companies has now been internationally expanded, it is important to better understand the cultural underpinnings of their strategic thinking. Specifically, in order to learn how to anticipate and interpret MNCs' global competitive moves, their cultural contexts need to be examined, and interpreted. Since the Japanese have become such formidable competitors for North American corporations, MNCs from those two areas are the cross-cultural focus of this research. The remainder of this article is organized into six sections. First, the conceptual underpinnings of the role of culture on strategy formulation is examined. Next, a global strategy model is developed. The following section develops a set of propositions derived from the global strategy and cross cultural research. Then, the research design to examine these propositions is presented. The results of the analysis are contained in the subsequent section. Finally, the article concludes with the implications for international strategists and public policy makers.
Saccade-related and visual activities in the pulvinar nuclei of the behaving rhesus monkey.

We studied three subdivisions of the pulvinar: a retinotopically organized inferior area (PI), a retinotopically mapped region of the lateral pulvinar (PL), and a separate, visually responsive component of the lateral pulvinar (Pdm). Single neurons were recorded in these regions from awake, trained rhesus monkeys, and we correlated the discharge patterns of the cells with eye movements. About 60% of the neurons discharged after saccadic eye movements in an illuminated environment and had either excitatory, inhibitory, or biphasic (inhibitory-excitatory) response patterns. These responses were most often transient in nature. Neurons with excitatory activity had a mean onset latency of 72 ms after the termination of the eye movement. Latencies for cells with inhibitory responses averaged 58 ms. In sharp contrast, the cells with biphasic response patterns became active before the termination of the eye movement. A unique set of these neurons termed saccade cells, were active with visually guided eye movements in the light, with the same eye movements made to a briefly pulsed target in the dark, and for similar eye movements made spontaneously in total darkness. The activity was present with the appropriate saccade, independent of the beginning eye position. Biphasic response patterns were typical of these saccade cells. Saccade cells were most common in Pdm and PI. About half of the saccade cells also had some visual response that was independent of eye movement. A second group of cells was active with saccadic eye movements in the light but not in the dark. Some of these cells had clear visual responses that could account for their activity following eye movements; others had no clear visual receptive field. Because of these and other physiological data, we propose that the saccade cells found in Pdm may function in a system dealing with visual spatial attention, while those found in PI may have a role in dealing with the visual consequences of eye movements.
Clamp Load Loss due to Elastic Interaction and Gasket Creep Relaxation in Bolted Joints

An experimental study is presented in order to determine the clamp load loss due to elastic interaction and gasket creep relaxation in bolted joints. Studied parameters include the gasket material and thickness, bolt spacing, tightening sequence, fastener grip length, and level of the fastener preload. The joint is composed of two steel flanges and a gasket made of styrene butadiene rubber or flexible graphite. The flanges are fastened together using M12x1.75 Class 10.9 fasteners. Force washers are used to monitor bolt tensions in real time. Four different gasket thicknesses of styrene butadiene rubber (1/16, 1/8, 3/16, and 1/4 in.) and two thicknesses of flexible graphite (1/16 and 1/8 in.) are considered. For the same bolt circle of the flange, the bolt spacing is varied by using a different number of bolts; spacing that corresponds to using three, five, or seven bolts is considered in this study. The effect of the tightening strategy is studied by using sequential, star, or simultaneous tightening patterns. Bolt tightening is accomplished by using either an electric digital torque wrench with various control options or by using a production-size multiple spindle fastening system that is capable of simultaneous tightening ofall fasteners. Experimental data is presented and analyzed, in order to study the effect of the various parameters on the clamp load loss due to the combined effect of elastic interaction and gasket creep relaxation at room temperature.
Effects of subacute pyridostigmine administration on mammalian skeletal muscle function

The subacute effects of pyridostigmine bromide were investigated on the contractile properties of rat extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and diaphragm muscles. The cholinesterase inhibitor was delivered via subcutaneously implanted osmotic minipumps (Alzet) at 9 micrograms h-1 (low dose) or 60 micrograms h-1 (high dose). Animals receiving high-dose pyridostigmine pumps exhibited marked alterations in muscle properties within the first day of exposure that persisted for the remaining 13 days. With 0.1 Hz stimulation, EDL twitch tensions of treated animals were elevated relative to control. Repetitive stimulation at frequencies greater than 1 Hz led a use-dependent depression in the amplitude of successive twitches during the train. Recovery from pyridostigmine was essentially complete by 1 day of withdrawal. Rats implanted with low-dose pyridostigmine pumps showed little or no alteration of in vivo twitch tensions during the entire 14 days of treatment. Diaphragm and EDL muscles excised from pyridostigmine-treated rats and tested in vitro showed no significant alterations in twitch and tetanic tensions and displayed the same sensitivity as muscles of control animals to subsequent pyridostigmine exposures. In the presence of atropine, subacutely administered pyridostigmine protected rats from two LD50 doses of the irreversible cholinesterase inhibitor, soman. In the absence of atropine, the LD50 of soman was not altered by subacute pyridostigmine treatment.
Safe initiation of a laparoendoscopic single site living donor nephrectomy program in a small-volume transplant center.

Objective To describe keys to successful programmatic implementation of laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS)-living donor nephrectomy (LDN) in a small-volume center. Laparoscopic LDN has become the standard of care. Technically challenging LESS-LDN has been limited to high-volume centers. However, approximately half of all U.S. transplant centers perform ≤15 LDNs/year, including our center. Methods A hand-assisted laparoscopy (HAL) device was used as the LESS platform at a periumbilical midline incision. We used an adhesive drape to cover the platform to prevent gas leakage. A 30° telescope and 3-4 instruments were inserted through its gel-cap. After careful dissection, the kidney was bagged into a recovery device with an external handle before its vessels were ligated with staples and was then removed immediately through the LESS wound. Results LESS-LDN was successful in all of 10 living donors without any multisite laparoscopic or open conversion and without any instruments inserted through extra wounds. No patient had perioperative complications or received transfusions. Median operative time was 271 minutes with a warm ischemia time (WIT) of 3.5 minutes. Hospital stay averaged 2 days with visual analog pain score 4 of 10 at discharge and 2 of 10 at 2 weeks. All recipients recuperated well with immediate graft function. Conclusion Our LESS-LDN technique offers improved cosmesis, favorable perioperative outcomes, and versatile options for conversion, if necessary, making it a viable approach for small-volume centers.
The Civil Rights Movement and the Future of the National Park System in a Racially Diverse America

Abstract The U.S. National Park System contains places of world-renowned beauty and tremendous historical significance that represent some of the central values and experiences in American culture, democracy, and freedom for everyone, for all time. However, the vast majority of visitors to these parks are white, which has increasingly been seen as a problem as it suggests a lack of full participation by all members of society. While there are several perspectives on low minority visitation, it is possible that park policies or interpretation may not appeal to, or may unintentionally exclude minority visitors. This study examines how efforts to expand the inclusiveness and representativeness of the park system may affect its geography. Recent National Park Service plans to commemorate the Civil Rights movement are examined with the goal of understanding how the geography and purpose of the park system may be changed over time. The expansion of the park system into cultural themes will likely necessitate a ...
Solution of the non-linear Poisson—Boltzmann equation in the interior of charged, spherical and cylindrical vesicles. I. The high-charge limit

Abstract Solutions are obtained for the truncated Poisson—Boltzmann (TPB) equation, valid for high surface charges, in the interior of charged cylinders and spheres. The solution for the cylinder is analytic, for the sphere numerical. For the sphere a simple polynomial algorithm is presented which can approximate the exact solution to any desired accuracy. A plot of various physical quantities is given for vesicles of inner radii 150 and 500 A, respectively. For each geometry a single universal function exists which can accommodate any value ψ0 for the potential ψ at zero radius. The potential ψ is singular at the radius r∞′ related to ψ0 through: r∞′ = r∞ exp(−ψ0/2), where ψ(r∞) = ∞ for ψ0 = 0.
Finite Self-Energy of Classical Point Particles

The infinite mass self-energy difficulties of quantum field theory already occur, as is well-known, in the corresponding classical theories. Although cutoffs may be introduced to effect renormalization in both the classical and quantum cases, such procedures are physically unsatisfactory. We wish to point out in this note that at least for the static (Coulomb-type) contribution, one obtains finite results for the classical self-energies if the gravitational contribution to the total energy is included. Furthermore, it will be shown rigorously (in the static case) that the natural cutoff furnished by general relativity implies that all the mass of a point charge arises from its total self-field and that a neutral particle has no mass.
New Insights into insulin resistance in the diabetic heart

Insulin resistance is a major characteristic of obesity and type 2 diabetes, and develops in multiple organs, including the heart. Compared with its role in other organs, the physiological role of insulin resistance in the heart is not well understood. The heart uses lipid as a primary fuel, but glucose becomes an important source of energy in ischemia. The impaired ability to utilize glucose might contribute to cell death and abnormal function in the diabetic heart. Recent discoveries regarding the role of inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in obesity have advanced our understanding of how insulin resistance develops in peripheral organs. In this review, we examine these findings in relation to the diabetic heart to provide new insights into the mechanism of cardiac insulin resistance.
The indentation of an orthotropic half plane

Der Verfasser findet eine allgemeine Losung fur die Verteilung des Druckes zwischen einem Block und einer orthotropen Halbebene. Es wird gezeigt, dass die Verteilung des Druckes fur den flachen Block mit allgemeiner Belastung un-abhangig ist von den elastischen Eigenschaften der Halbebene und auch genau dieselbe, als ob die Halbebene isotrop ware.