cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Rabbit as a Source of Experimental Material for Meat Studies

SUMMARY Rabbits were studied to determine the degree of variation among carcasses treated alike, and the time course of development and resolution of rigor as measured by changes in the force required to shear the cooked longissimus dorsi. A technique was developed for obtaining shears perpendicular to the muscle fibers. Carcasses with similar histories were found quite uniform except for measures related to fat content. Cooking losses were related primarily to moisture content rather than fat content. When half carcasses stored 0, 2, 4, 6, 12 or 24 hr at 5°C were compared, the cooking losses were less at 0 and 24 hrs than at the intermediate times. Shear force decreased with each increase of storage time from 2 to 12 hr. The data on pH and shear indicate that rabbit carcasses handled in this manner pass through the development and resolution of rigor within 12 hr.
Family influences on adolescent sexual and contraceptive behavior

Studies of adolescent pregnancy risk are relevant to understanding responsible adolescent sexual behavior because most investigators have focused on the key proximal determinants of pregnancy--sexual intercourse and contraceptive use--rather than analyzing pregnancy status per se. Lesser pregnancy risk is associated with teens remaining sexually abstinent, postponing onset of intercourse, and having intercourse less often or with fewer partners, as well as by using contraception at first or most recent intercourse and by using contraception consistently over time. Living with a single parent, in a lower SES family, having older sexually active siblings or pregnant/parenting teenage sisters, being a victim of sexual abuse, and residing in disorganized/dangerous neighborhoods all place teens at elevated risk of adolescent pregnancy. Parent-child closeness or connectedness, and parental supervision or regulation of children, in combination with parents values against teen intercourse (or unprotected intercourse), decrease the risk of adolescent pregnancy. Studies about parent-child sexual communication and adolescent pregnancy risk are less conclusive, largely because of methodological complexities.
An efficient system for production of recombinant urokinase-type plasminogen activator.

Abstract A system was developed to produce recombinant urokinase-type plasminogen activator inEscherichia coli.The urokinase-type plasminogen activator was produced with a 6× His-tag at the C-terminus which was shown to have the same activity, after refolding, as the wild-type protein. Purification of the recombinant protein to homogeneity (95%) was possible by one-step affinity chromatography under denaturing conditions. As a result, proteolysis by bacterial proteases during purification was avoided. A higher refolding efficiency (40%) and a higher total recovery yield (25%) of the recombinant protein were obtained by this method.
Principles of modularity, regularity, and hierarchy for scalable systems

Scalability of open-ended evolutionary processes depends on their ability to exploit functional modularity, structural regularity and hierarchy. This paper offers a number of observations about properties, dependencies and tradeoffs among these principles and proposes a formal model where such elements can be examined.
A competency-based approach to the nursing research.

Summary This paper describes the design and use of a competency-based approach to teach nursing research to a group of accelerated second-degree students. Use of a competency-based approach not only recognize the student’s prior educational experience, but culminates in the demonstration of competencies that show the individual’s readiness for joining the nursing workforce.
Synergistic Induction of the Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide-Linked 15-Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenase by an Androgen and Interleukin-6 or Forskolin in Human Prostate Cancer Cells

The nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) catalyzes the oxidation of 15 (S)-hydroxyl group of prostaglandins and lipoxins and participates along with cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenases in controlling the cellular levels of prostaglandins and lipoxins. 15-PGDH could be induced by IL-6 and forskolin in addition to androgens in a time- and dose-dependent manner but not by other cytokines and growth factors in LNCaP cells. Concurrent addition of IL-6 and forskolin showed additive effect in the induction of 15-PGDH activity. However, combined addition of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and IL-6 or DHT plus forskolin exhibited synergistic induction of 15-PGDH activity. The increase in enzyme activity was correlated with the expression of the enzyme protein as shown by Western blot analysis. The induction by DHT or IL-6 or forskolin or their combinations was inhibited by antiandrogen, casodex, in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that a functional androgen receptor was required for the action of any of these three agents. The induction by forskolin plus DHT or by either agent or by IL-6 alone was greatly inhibited by H-89, indicating the involvement of protein kinase A in the actions of forskolin, DHT, and IL-6. The induction of 15-PGDH by IL-6 was also blocked by some other protein kinase inhibitors, indicating the participation of MAPK, MAPK/ERK kinase, and STAT3 in the signaling pathway of IL-6. These results indicate that the induction of 15-PGDH by DHT, IL-6, and forskolin in LNCaP cells may involve a functional androgen receptor and phosphorylation-dependent multiple signaling pathways.
Male Circumcision as a Religious Ritual

Incorrect Financial Disclosure: In the Original Investigation titled “Undertreatment, TreatmentTrends, andTreatmentDissatisfactionAmongPatientsWithPsoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis in the United States: Findings From theNational Psoriasis Foundation Surveys, 2003-2011” publishedonlineAugust 14, 2013, and also in the October print issue of JAMA Dermatology (2013;149[10]:1180-1185. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.5264), incorrect information appeared in the Conflict of Interest Disclosures section of the Article Information on page 1185. That section should have appeared as follows: “Dr Armstrong has received research grants or consultant honoraria from Abbott Laboratories, Amgen, Inc, and Janssen Biotech. Dr Lebwohl has been a consultant and/or investigator for Abbott Laboratories, Amgen, Inc, Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc, BioLine RX, Ltd, Celgene Corporation, Columbia Laboratories, Inc, Coronado Biosciences, Dermipsor, Ltd, Eli Lilly & Co, Galderma, GlaxoSmithKline-Stiefel, Janssen Ortho Biotech,LEOPharmaceuticals,MaruhoCo,Ltd,MedaPharmaceuticals,Novartis,Pfizer, Ranbaxy Laboratories, Ltd, Thesan Pharmaceuticals, and Valeant Pharmaceuticals. The other authors reported no disclosures.” This article was corrected online.
Infant Search and Object Permanence: A Meta-Analysis of the A-Not-B Error

Research on Piaget's stage 4 object concept has failed to reveal a clear or consistent pattern of results. Piaget found that 8-12-month-old infants would make perserverative errors; his explanation for this phenomenon was that the infant's concept of the object was contextually dependent on his or her actions. Some studies designed to test Piaget's explanation have replicated Piaget's basic finding, yet many have found no preference for the A location or the B location or an actual preference for the B location. More recently, researchers have attempted to uncover the causes for these results concerning the A-not-B error. Again, however, different studies have yielded different results, and qualitative reviews have failed to yield a consistent explanation for the results of the individual studies. This state of affairs suggests that the phenomenon may simply be too complex to be captured by individual studies varying 1 factor at a time and by reviews based on similar qualitative considerations. Therefore, the current investigation undertook a meta-analysis, a synthesis capturing the quantitative information across the now sizable number of studies. We entered several important factors into the meta-analysis, including the effects of age, the number of A trials, the length of delay between hiding and search, the number of locations, the distances between locations, and the distinctive visual properties of the hiding arrays. Of these, the analysis consistently indicated that age, delay, and number of hiding locations strongly influence infants' search. The pattern of specific findings also yielded new information about infant search. A general characterization of the results is that, at every age, both above-chance and below-chance performance was observed. That is, at each age at least 1 combination of delay and number of locations yielded above-chance A-not-B errors or significant perseverative search. At the same time, at each age at least 1 alternative combination of delay and number of locations yielded below-chance errors and significant above-chance correct performance, that is, significantly accurate search. These 2 findings, appropriately elaborated, allow us to evaluate all extant theories of stage 4 infant search. When this is done, all these extant accounts prove to be incorrect. That is, they are incommensurate with one aspect or another of the pooled findings in the meta-analysis. Therefore, we end by proposing a new account that is consistent with the entire data set.
Sire Evaluation by Best Linear Unbiased Prediction for Categorically Scored Type Traits

Abstract Best linear unbiased prediction to predict category frequencies of future progeny of a sire for type traits scored in mutually exclusive categories is described. The method accounts for automatic covariances among categories and is comparable to prediction for multiple traits. The method does not require linearity of measurements and also allows nonlinear economic values to be assigned to each category after frequencies are predicted. Evaluations were for 12 descriptive type traits for 712 Brown Swiss bulls having daughters in more than one herd. Problems in obtaining solutions to the mixed-model equations for multiple traits are discussed.
Covalent attachment of shape-restricted DNA molecules on amine-functionalized Si(1 1 1) surface

Abstract In designing modern microelectronic and sensing devices based on biological molecules, the underlying scientific questions focus on the ability to form a well-defined and stable interface between biological molecules and the base of electrical devices. This manuscript addresses the ability to form such an interface between silicon and various DNA molecules placed on a chemically modified self-assembled monolayer (SAM). More importantly, this work explores the possibility of designing biochemical binding sites located at a predetermined distance from the solid semiconductor surface utilizing shape-restricted DNA molecules with strategically placed functional groups that can serve as anchors. Here, for the first time we combine microscopic and spectroscopic analytical techniques with the design of geometrically-restricted thiol-DNA molecules not only to prove the selective covalent binding of these molecules to the Si(1 1 1) surface modified with the 11-amino-1-undecene self-assembled monolayers but also to analyze the geometry of produced structures. Thus, a sharp and well-defined interface with a specific distance between the potential binding site and semiconductor surface for a biochemical sensor can be built. The binding between the thiol-DNA and the amino-groups terminating the monolayer is achieved by using a sulfo-succinimidyl 4-(N-maleimidomethyl)-cyclohexane-1-carboxylate (SSMCC) crosslinker molecule. The shape-restricted thiol-DNA is anchored to the surface via the formation of covalent bonds, as confirmed by combining biochemical investigation with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is used to compare the well-defined but non-specific binding of the designed DNA on mica with that of selective covalent binding on SAM-covered Si(1 1 1). This approach allows for unambiguous assignment of the nature of chemical interaction between the DNA molecules and the surface and for the design of covalently bound geometrically defined biointerfaces for future applications.
Two Cases of Congenital Malformations after Exposure to Measles in Early Pregnancy of Already Immune Mothers

SUMMARY A report is given of two cases of congenital malformations in infants, whose siblings had suffered from measles during the second month of their mothers' pregnancy. The mothers, themselves, were not affected by measles at this time but had had the disease in childhood. The malformations in question were in one case cheilo-palato-schisis and in the other palato-schisis, micrognathy and a rudimentary ear. It seems worth while bearing in mind a possible causal relationship between prenatal exposure to measles and congenital malformations.
A template boundary algorithm for ST-T segment analysis

A template boundary algorithm that quantitatively determines repolarization variability in a normal population has been developed. The algorithm defines an initial ST-T template for comparison with successive beats. Variability is quantified using boundary limits around the template, which are widened, when necessary, to include incoming ST-T segments. The boundaries at the end of each hour are stored and the collection of boundaries over a set of normal subjects quantifies the normal variation over the entire ST-T segment. The algorithm can be used to determine prospectively normal ST-T variability based on a regression analysis of R-wave or T-wave amplitude, and QT interval. Application of these boundary predictions should be useful in distinguishing repolarization changes secondary to ischemia from normal variability. >
Drug Transporters and Na+/H+ Exchange Regulatory Factor PSD-95/Drosophila Discs Large/ZO-1 Proteins

Drug transporters govern the absorption, distribution, and elimination of pharmacologically active compounds. Members of the solute carrier and ATP binding-cassette drug transporter family mediate cellular drug uptake and efflux processes, thereby coordinating the vectorial movement of drugs across epithelial barriers. To exert their physiologic and pharmacological function in polarized epithelia, drug transporters must be targeted and stabilized to appropriate regions of the cell membrane (i.e., apical versus basolateral). Despite the critical importance of drug transporter membrane targeting, the mechanisms that underlie these processes are largely unknown. Several clinically significant drug transporters possess a recognition sequence that binds to PSD-95/Drosophila discs large/ZO-1 (PDZ) proteins. PDZ proteins, such as the Na+/H+ exchanger regulatory factor (NHERF) family, act to stabilize and organize membrane targeting of multiple transmembrane proteins, including many clinically relevant drug transporters. These PDZ proteins are normally abundant at apical membranes, where they tether membrane-delimited transporters. NHERF expression is particularly high at the apical membrane in polarized tissue such as intestinal, hepatic, and renal epithelia, tissues important to drug disposition. Several recent studies have highlighted NHERF proteins as determinants of drug transporter function secondary to their role in controlling membrane abundance and localization. Mounting evidence strongly suggests that NHERF proteins may have clinically significant roles in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of several pharmacologically active compounds and may affect drug action in cancer and chronic kidney disease. For these reasons, NHERF proteins represent a novel class of post-translational mediators of drug transport and novel targets for new drug development.
Three-dimensional display and reconstruction for neuromagnetic source localization

To improve methods of localizing electrical sources in the human brain, systems were developed for: (1) digitizing the head surface at high resolution; (2) displaying measured neuromagnetic field distributions on the resulting model; (3) locating estimated neuromagnetic sources on magnetic resonance images (MRIs); and (4) performing 3-D volumetric reconstructions of brain structures from a series of MRI scans. The systems facilitate the localization of sources of neuromagnetic activity and permit visualization of the anatomical context of such sources. >
Sect-State Relations: Accounting for the Differing Trajectories of Seventh-day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses

Seventh-day Adventists and Jeho~ah's Wimesses share common roots; both began as o~ca/yp~ sects with lyremiUennial expectat/ons; both rejected political participation as contaminaang and distracting from their God-~ven purposes; both expected to be the object of l)ersecution from the state; and both held theolos positions that put them ora of step with demands of the state, suda as a re. [usal to bear amas in wartime. However, over time tho foUowed ve~ different trajectories in the matter of relations with g~. While the Witnesses increased their intransig�91 and endared considerable lx, rsecution, Advena increasingly compromt~ their orinal posiaons, prifmg governmental approval. Ir, foUo~ing Stark and Bair/m~e, r}ae degree of ten.sima uiith state and socie~ is invok~ as the measure of a re//g/ous group's posit/on cm the church-sect conanuum, Wimesses ate … to be ah "esmb//shed sea" wh//e Advenasts have trave/ed a co.s/derab/e d/stance hora sea tmuards denominat/on. This palx'r sets ola to acwurtt … these differing trajectories. In doing so, ir focgw.s on the evoluaon of the rdoxionships of &ese sects ~th eove.mman, pa~ine particular attenaon to ~ rda~ns in tinw.s of ~.,ar and heiehte.d ruaio.olism. The d, aa leacl ~o an ~~ tl~ p.ds several rela~, imeracane Ÿ Tt~se ~ d~ ~eree of ~ea.iz, aio.al operm~, ideolof~ r~l~, apocalyptic urgeno, the. inm~t~ ~ ~aich they ind~trinate converts, and the ext~ to ~ tkO hape faced persecu~on. These factors to~ther shape the group's rdat/ons ~th the state and soc/et% and consequem/y a/so its pos/t/on on the daa'ch-sect corufnuum. Seventh-day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses share common roots. Adventists grew directly out of the Millerite movement: They were one of several fragments which survived the "great disappointment" of October 22, 1844, the date which Baptist [ay preacher and biblical chronologist William Miller had set for the Second Coming of Christ (Judd 1987:33). Charles Taze Russell, the founder of the Intemational Bible Students, later renamed Jehovah's Wimesses, was heavily influenced by members of other Millerite fragments, especially Advent Christians. He began his religious joumey in 1869 asa resuk of the preaching of Advent Christian James Wadell. He adopted the doctrine of condi
Second Generation Inflatable/Rigidizable Wings for Low- Density Flight Applications

Recent projects involving unfolding rigid-wing aircraft have demonstrated high-altitude, low-density flight capabilities, moving the concept of an unmanned aircraft exploring Mars or Venus nearer to reality. An alternative approach for the wing design is an inflatable wing impregnated with a UV-curable composite. Once rigid, the wings no longer require pressurization to maintain their shape and so are less vulnerable to catastrophic failure due to loss of pressurization. The initial effort to demonstrate the feasibility of inflatable, rigidizable wing technologies culminated in a balloon-launched experiment on May 3, 2003. The first-generation wing design was a uniform two-layer woven composite impregnated with curing vinyl ester resin. After the first feasibility experiment, a second generation wing design was undertaken to minimize the weight by tailoring the composite layering for the expected loads. This paper presents details of the design, along with stress analyses and optimization studies performed to determine the second generation design. A series of low- temperature cure tests were completed to define the flight test protocol. Wings fabricated following the new design were launched on May 1, 2004 via weather balloon, inflated, cured and then recovered after a premature balloon burst and parachute return to ground. This flight test demonstrated the successful inflation deployment and UV-rigidization of the second-generation wing. Postflight evaluation results are also included in the paper.
Population genetic variation in rare and endangered Iliamna (Malvaceae) in Virginia

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used as input for an analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), homogeneity of molecular variance analysis (HOMOVA), and cluster analysis to describe the population genetic structure ofIliamna corei, a federally endangered plant located only in Virginia, andI. remota, a rare plant in Virginia, Indiana, and Illinois. The analysis was performed to help clarify the taxonomic relationship between the two closely related species. We analysed four clones in the only known population ofI. corei, breeding stock derived from seeds originating from the population site, and threeI. remotapopulations in Virginia. Eighty-five percent of screened primers revealed DNA polymorphisms inIliamna. Ninety-nine informative markers were generated using seven primers. No significant statistical differences (atP = 0·05) in RAPD variation was found between species (24% of variance) using the AMOVA procedure. However, within species/among populations (31% of the variance) and within populations (45% of the variance) there were significant differences (P < 0·002). An unweighted paired group method using arithmetic averages (UPGMA) cluster analysis showed the federally endangeredI. coreipopulation to be genetically distinct from the apparently recently introduced (in Virginia: ≈ 100 ybp)I. remota. The lack of significant differences from the AMOVA and the high number shared bands betweenI. coreiandI. remotasuggest thatI. coreimay be more appropriately classified as a subspecies ofI. remota.Iliamna coreiplants in the natural population were genetically similar to one another while theI. coreibreeding stock plants andI. remotaplants were genetically relatively diverse.
Tumor vs neoplasm: it is not just semantics.

Some people use language to communicate information. Not us docs! For us, words are all too often an opportunity to obfuscate. Why should we ever honestly mumble, ‘‘I don’t know,’’ when we can authoritatively and proudly pronounce a patient’s ills to be ‘‘idiopathic’’ or ‘‘agnogenic’’? So, in this venturesome vein of vaunted ventilation, we definitively expose the word tumor to be the hollow shell of a word that should never have aspired to biologic or etymologic authenticity. Words in science should be used to convey specific meanings. Hence, word choice is important. In our daily conversations with colleagues, and especially in discussions with patients and their families, different, possibly ‘‘less scientifically accurate,’’ but possibly ‘‘softer’’ and ‘‘emotionally better received’’ words may be more appropriate, such as tumor or growth rather than cancer or malignancy, or spread or deposits rather than metastases. We propose that in scientific communication, words should be specifically and scientifically correct. Tumor, derived from Latin, means swelling or, as we like to tell medical students, something that is there that (probably) should not be there or normally is not there. The original use of the word was for describing signs and symptoms of
Do we tend to overestimate poverty gaps? The impact of equivalency scales on the calculation of the poverty gap

The standard formulae used to calculate poverty gaps are incorrect when the poverty analysis is conducted in terms of equivalent units (rather than in per capita terms). An exact calculation requires access to individual level data. If this is unavailable, the paper proposes an approximation.
The high grain protein content gene Gpc-B1 accelerates senescence and has pleiotropic effects on protein content in wheat

High grain protein content (GPC) is a frequent target of wheat breeding programmes because of its positive effect on bread and pasta quality. A wild wheat allele at the Gpc-B1 locus with a significant impact on this trait was identified previously. The precise mapping of several senescence-related traits in a set of tetraploid recombinant substitution lines (RSLs) segregating for Gpc-B1 is reported here. Flag leaf chlorophyll degradation, change in peduncle colour, and spike water content were completely linked to the Gpc-B1 locus and to the differences in GPC within a 0.3 cM interval corresponding to a physical distance of only 250 kb. The effect of Gpc-B1 was also examined in different environments and genetic backgrounds using a set of tetraploid and hexaploid pairs of isogenic lines. The results were consistent with those observed in the RSLs. The high GPC allele conferred a shorter duration of grain fill due to earlier flag leaf senescence and increased GPC in all four genetic backgrounds. The effect on grain size was more variable, depending on the genotype-environment combinations. These results are consistent with a model in which the wild-type allele of Gpc-B1 accelerates senescence in flag leaves producing pleiotropic effects on nitrogen remobilization, total GPC, and grain size.
Staphylococcal bacteriophage-associated lysin: a lytic agent active against Staphylococcus aureus

A lytic enzyme active against viable, intact staphylococci is released into culture fluids upon lysis of bacteriophage-infected Staphylococcus aureus PS53 cells. This enzyme, staphylococcal phage-associated lysin (PAL), was partially purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and gel filtration through Sephadex G-200. PAL is optimally active at pH 6.5 and 30 C, and lytic activity is greatly enhanced by the addition of reducing agents. Lytic activity was observed against all strains of staphylococci tested and against purified staphylococcal cell walls, but no activity was noted against other bacterial species. PAL possesses peptidase activity and results in the production of spheroplasts which can be osmotically stabilized for extended periods by the addition of 7.5% polyethylene glycol 4000.
Client Goals for Participating in VHA Vocational Rehabilitation: Distribution and Relationship to Outcome

Research into vocational rehabilitation (VR) consumer service preferences has been limited. The current study describes the self-reported goals of 228 applicants to a VR program sponsored by the Veterans Administration (VA) and documents the relationship of those goals to participant background variables and outcomes. Participants endorsed a wide variety of goals for participation, including clinical and practical goals. Competitive employment was a goal of only 53% and was the primary goal of only 5%. The apparent contrast between the diversity of VA participant goals and the growing focus by VA rehabilitation professionals on competitive employment suggests that greater dialogue is needed between providers and consumers.
Three essays on economic forecasting and theory examination

In the first chapter, Monte Carlo simulation and bootstrap methods are used to compare the actual and nominal coverage probabilities of prediction intervals constructed using the Prais-Winsten modified weighted symmetric least squares (PW-MWSLS) estimation method. The evidence suggests that the PW-MWSLS estimator, the best point predictor, for the linear trend model with first-order autoregressive errors also leads to prediction intervals with the most accurate coverage rates for the linear trend model with first-order autoregressive errors.;The second chapter employs an innovative methodology to construct inflation expectations by incorporating information in the commodity futures market. The empirical results from the vector dynamic system show that the constructed expected rate of inflation series provides the best in-sample and out-of-sample forecasts over the sample period under investigation.;Chapter three applies the constructed time series of inflation expectations in the second chapter to examine two broadly debated topics in the field of economics, the Fisher effect and the Phillips curve. The findings provide support for the existence of the short-run Fisher effect; and for the examination of the two main alternative specifications of the Phillips curve, the New Keynesian Phillips curve and the expectations-augmented Phillips curve, the empirical evidence is in favor of the former.
Higher-Order Solution Procedure for Three-Dimensional Nonideal Magnetogasdynamics

A high-resolution scheme developed for use in multidisciplinary applications is applied to solve the equations governingthethree-dimensionale owofanonidealcompressibleconductinge uidinamagnetice eld.Both4th-order and 6th-order spatially implicit schemes are considered in conjunction with up to 10th-order e lters. The fourthorderclassicalRunge ‐Kuttaschemeisemployedfortimeintegration.Theaccuracyandversatility ofthealgorithm and the accompanying code are explored by solving a wide variety of problems, discretized with uniform as well as curvilinear grids, with particular emphasis on the unique physical phenomena arising in conducting e uids. These
Statins, risk of dementia, and cognitive function: secondary analysis of the ginkgo evaluation of memory study.

Background Lipid-lowering medications (LLMs) and especially statin drugs can delay cognitive decline and dementia onset in individuals with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI) at baseline. Methods A longitudinal, observational study was conducted of 3069 cognitively healthy elderly patients (≥75 years of age) who were enrolled in the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study. The primary outcome measure was the time to adjudicated all-cause dementia and Alzheimer dementia (AD). The secondary outcome measure was the change in global cognitive function over time measured by scores from the Modified Mini-Mental State Exam (3MSE) and the cognitive subscale of the AD Assessment Scale (ADAS-Cog). Results Among participants without MCI at baseline, the current use of statins was consistently associated with a reduced risk of all-cause dementia (hazard ratio [HR], 0.79; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.65-0.96; P = .021) and AD (HR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.39-0.85; P = .005). In participants who initiated statin therapy, lipophilic statins tended to reduce dementia risk more than nonlipophilic agents. In contrast, there was no significant association between LLM use (including statins), dementia onset, or cognitive decline in individuals with baseline MCI. However, in individuals without MCI at baseline, there was a trend for a neuroprotective effect of statins on cognitive decline. Conclusions Statins may slow the rate of cognitive decline and delay the onset of AD and all-cause dementia in cognitively healthy elderly individuals, whereas individuals with MCI may not have comparable cognitive protection from these agents. However, the results from this observational study need to be interpreted with caution and will require confirmation by randomized clinical trials stratifying treatment groups based on MCI status at baseline.
Analysis of I/O efficient order-statistic-based noise power estimators

Order-statistic-based noise power estimators for constant false alarm rate (CFAR) detection are considered in terms of required estimator accuracy and estimator dynamic range. By limiting the dynamic range of the value to be estimated, the performance of an order statistic estimator can be achieved by simple threshold-and-count techniques requiring only a single pass of the data. Noise power estimation in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) microwave observing project sky survey is considered as an example CFAR application. By using several parallel threshold-and-count estimation devices, the dynamic range can be expanded to meet SETI system requirements, with minimal hardware complexity. A second order-statistic-based estimator with wider dynamic range, but greater complexity is also examined. >
Some considerations of DS-SS BPSK spectral density and error rate of a high bit rate rake

As cellular technologies evolve, evaluation of modulation schemes with frequency selective fading is an important consideration. We present methods to evaluate a high data rate DS-SS BPSK reverse link, over a wideband channel, with filters and a modified delayed signature dual finger RAKE. For several years the standard Gaussian approximation has been used to estimate error rate of DS-SS BPSK. We derive simple upper and lower bounds on the conditional error rates. The upper bound is in terms of the error rate obtained with two intersymbol interference terms and bounds on the marginal distribution of the smaller terms. The Gaussian approximation error rate is pessimistic for SNR's greater than 8dB and 12dB when compared to that obtained by the total probability theorem and upper bound respectively. Intersymbol interference is not Gaussian and at high front end signal-to-noise ratio's (SNR's) our error rate bound is a better estimate. We have also derived the bandwidth occupancy in a rigorous way for the first time by developing a method to compute the spectral density. The fractional containment bandwidth with two Gold codes is smaller than that with a PN sequence. The spectral density has no discrete lines while it is a function of the signature coefficients and chip Fourier transform. Within the bandwidth the spectral density of a set of frequencies is 15dB greater than at other frequencies and this set varies from signature to signature. Finally, we show that a modified delayed signature RAKE combats multipath interference. These methods can be used to evaluate a dual space diversity four finger RAKE and to select signatures that minimize adjacent and co-channel interference.
The potential for hosted payloads at NASA

The 2010 National Space Policy encourages federal agencies to “actively explore the use of inventive, nontraditional arrangements for acquiring commercial space goods and services to meet United States Government requirements, including…hosting government capabilities on commercial spacecraft”. NASA's Science Mission Directorate has taken an important step towards this goal by adding an option for hosted payload responses to its recent Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for Earth Venture-2 missions. Since NASA selects a significant portion of its science missions through a competitive process, it is useful to understand the implications that this process has on the feasibility of successfully proposing a commercially hosted payload mission. This paper describes some of the impediments associated with proposing a hosted payload mission to NASA, and offers suggestions on how these impediments might be addressed. Commercially hosted payloads provide a novel way to serve the needs of the science and technology demonstration communities at a fraction of the cost of a traditional Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) mission. The commercial communications industry launches over 20 satellites to GEO each year. By exercising this repeatable commercial paradigm of privately financed access to space with proven vendors, NASA can achieve science goals at a significantly lower cost than the current dedicated spacecraft and launch vehicle approach affords. Commercial hosting could open up a new realm of opportunities for NASA science missions to make measurements from GEO. This paper also briefly describes two GEO missions recommended by the National Academies of Science Earth Science Decadal Survey, the Geostationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE) mission and the Precipitation and All-weather Temperature and Humidity (PATH) mission. Hosted payload missions recently selected for implementation by the Office of the Chief Technologist are also discussed. Finally, there are technical differences specific to hosted payloads and the GEO environment that must be considered when planning and developing a hosted payload mission. This paper addresses some of payload accommodation differences from the typical NASA LEO mission, including spacecraft interfaces, attitude control and knowledge, communications, data handling, mission operations, ground systems, and the thermal, radiation, and electromagnetic environment. The paper also discusses technical and programmatic differences such as limits to NASA's involvement with commercial quality assurance processes to conform to the commercial schedule and minimizing the price that makes hosted payloads an attractive option.
Lack of negative cooperativity among binding sites for prostaglandin F2α in bovine corpus luteum cell membranes

Abstract The Scatchard analysis of equilibrium prostaglandin (PG) F 2 α binding revealed that the binding was heterogeneous. The Hill plot of the same data had a slope of 0.68. This suggested that the heterogeneous nature of [ 3 H] PGF 2 α binding was either due to the presence of negative cooperativity or to the presence of two groups of independent binding sites. The kinetic experiments revealed that the presence of excess unlabeled PGF 2 α in a diluting medium had no effect on dissociation rates at 25 fold dilution and it even retarded dissociation at higher dilutions. Furthermore, the observations that the low affinity PGF 2 α binding sites can exist in the absence of high affinity binding sites and high affinity binding sites can be selectively abolished by treatment with N-ethylmaleimide suggest that negative cooperativity was not responsible for heterogeneous [ 3 H] PGF 2 α binding.
The Effects of Social Skills Instruction and Parental Involvement on the Aggressive Behaviors of African American Males

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of social skills instruction on identified acts of aggression. Five elementary-aged African American male students attending general education classes in an urban public school setting were taught social skills using modeling, role playing, corrective feedback, and differential reinforcement of alternative or incompatible behaviors. Parent training and parent notes were used for the maintenance and transfer of newly learned social skills. A multiple baseline design across students, combined with a withdrawal feature, was employed to assess the effectiveness of the social skills instruction. Data were collected in the classroom and cafeteria to assess generalization of the training to naturalistic settings. Results indicate the social skills instructional package to be functionally related to a decrease in aggressive behaviors with four of the five students and maintained by parental involvement.
The mechanism of breakdown of tubulin in vitro

It is well established that in vitro tubulin is unstable in that it gradually loses its ability to bind colchicine [ 1,2] . The half time of this change has been estimated to be 11 h at 0°C [3]. During the course of experiments designed to study the assembly of microtubules, it was noted that incubation with dithiothreitol (DTT) decreased the extent of conversion of tubulin to the form that does not bind colchicine. This chance observation led to a systematic study of the effects of both reducing and oxidizing agents on the loss of colchicine binding activity by purified tubulin preparations. This loss of colchicine binding activity will be termed breakdown, although it apparently is unclear whether or not it is actually a result of the dissociation of the tubulin dimer into its two constituent monomer proteins. In contrast to the inhibitory effect of DTT, reduced glutathione (GSH) modestly increased the breakdown of tubulin occurring in 90 min. Oxidized glutathione (GSSG) had no apparent effect alone, while combinations of GSH and GSSG increased the extent of this breakdown more than did GSH alone. These results suggest (1) that the mechanism of breakdown of tubulin in vitro involves both the cleavage and the formation of disulfide bonds, and (2) that the tubulin dimer can exist in vitro in several different biochemical forms.
Forward Radar propagation over a rough sea surface: a numerical assessment of the Miller-brown approximation using a horizontally polarized 3-GHz line source

In order to reliably predict long-range radar coverage within an ocean environment, one must accurately account for the effects of ocean roughness on radar propagation. The method known as the Miller-Brown approximation is a widely used technique for computing the coherent field reflected by a rough sea surface and it is often incorporated into sophisticated numerical propagation models such as the Fourier split step algorithm of the parabolic wave equation. Nevertheless, the accuracy of the Miller-Brown approximation has not been systematically or rigorously assessed for realistic scenarios of interest to shipboard radars. We present here a first step toward this assessment by using a method of moments solution to compute the propagation factor, /spl eta/, for an ensemble of one-dimensional (1-D) rough sea surface realizations having dielectric properties and roughness profiles that are consistent with a wind roughened ocean surface. The particular method of moments (MoM) technique used combines an accelerated spectral method and a multigrid iterative approach (MGIA). The MGIA results for the propagation factor /spl eta//sub MGIA/ are compared to the corresponding predictions /spl eta//sub MB/ obtained via the Miller-Brown approximation. In addition, the well-known Ament approximation is used to compute results for the propagation factor, /spl eta//sub A/, and the results predicted by /spl eta//sub A/ are compared with those of /spl eta//sub MB/. A heuristic numerical fitting scheme is also presented that improves the agreement between /spl eta//sub MGIA/ and /spl eta//sub MB/ and is used to facilitate the comparison between /spl eta//sub MB/ and /spl eta//sub A/.
Data processing techniques for airport surveillance radar weather sensing

Discusses data processing techniques that can provide high quality, automated weather information using the FAA's existing Airport Surveillance Radars (ASR-9). The cost of modifying the ASR-9 is significantly less than that for deployment of the dedicated terminal Doppler weather radar. These techniques have been implemented on a prototype ASR-9 weather surveillance processor (WSP) and have been tested operationally at the Orlando, FL and Albuquerque, NM air traffic control towers. The key to the success of this system has been the development of innovative data processing techniques that accommodate the non-optimum parameters of the ASR as a weather sensor. The authors motivate the development of the ASR-9 WSP system and describe in detail the data processing techniques that have been employed to achieve an operationally useful capability. They provide an overview of the WSP and the ongoing system development and test program. They provide specifics on the data processing algorithms that have been key to successful implementation of this capability.
Mexican Immigrant Women Reaching Out: The Role of Informal Networks in the Process of Seeking Help for Intimate Partner Violence

More inquiry is needed into how Mexican immigrant survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) are seeking help, to improve interventions designed to reach this isolated and vulnerable population. This grounded theory study, using a sample of 29 Mexican immigrant survivors of IPV and 15 key informants, examines the help-seeking process. Findings indicate that informal networks, particularly family and female friends, play a critical role in providing assistance and linking women to formal services. These findings have implications for the delivery of formal domestic violence services to this community as well as the response of police and other formal service systems.
Acetylcholine and Olfactory Perceptual Learning.

Olfactory perceptual learning is a relatively long-term, learned increase in perceptual acuity, and has been described in both humans and animals. Data from recent electrophysiological studies have indicated that olfactory perceptual learning may be correlated with changes in odorant receptive fields of neurons in the olfactory bulb and piriform cortex. These changes include enhanced representation of the molecular features of familiar odors by mitral cells in the olfactory bulb, and synthetic coding of multiple coincident odorant features into odor objects by cortical neurons. In this paper, data are reviewed that show the critical role of acetylcholine (Ach) in olfactory system function and plasticity, and cholinergic modulation of olfactory perceptual learning at both the behavioral and cortical level.
Cellular mechanisms of epiboly in leech embryos

Gastrulation in leech embryos is dominated by the epibolic movements of two tissues: germinal bands, composed of segmental precursor cells, and an overlying epithelium that is part of a provisional integument. During gastrulation, the germinal bands move over the surface of the embryo and coalesce along the prospective ventral midline. Concurrently, the epithelium spreads to cover the embryo. We have begun to analyze the mechanisms involved in gastrulation in the leech by assessing the independent contributions of the epithelium and the germinal bands to these cell movements. Here we describe cellular events during epiboly in normal embryos and in embryos perturbed by either reducing the number of cells in the epithelium, or by preventing the formation of the germinal bands, or both. These experiments indicate that both the germinal bands and the epithelium are able to undergo epibolic movements independently, although each is required for the other to behave as in control embryos.
Chipco’s House and the Role of the Individual in Shaping Seminole Indian Cultural Responses to the Modern World

The use of documentary sources resulting from late-19th-century interactions between Florida Seminole Indians and agents of the U.S. government reveals that individual Seminoles responded to the outside world favorably through the adoption of new technologies, housing styles, and other ways viewed as “progressive” by the government observers. Viewing these individuals as agents of cosmopolitanism allows archaeologists to consider the role of the individual as a source of cultural variation that can be expressed in the archaeological record. A theoretical perspective that sees the individual as a source of creative response provides for a nuanced and complex view of past human behavior; less abstract, and closer to the reality of the human experience. In the Seminole case, styles of house building labeled as desirably progressive are shown to have deeper historical roots and reappear in the late 1800s as a selective response to renewed contact with American society after a period of isolation.