cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
GROWING UP IN AN ERA OF INCREASED LEAD (Pb) EXPOSURE: IS THERE A RISK TO THE NEXT GENERATION? † 636

Greater than 85% of children raised in the 1970s had blood lead (BPb) levels ≥10 μg/dL, the level currently defining childhood Pb poisoning. After accumulation in bone, release of skeletal Pb to blood occurs, particularly when the kinetic rates of bone turnover are elevated, such as during pregnancy. We examined a group of childbearing-aged urban African-American and Hispanic women to determine whether they had measurable bone Pb. Methods: Tibial bone Pb content was assessed by L-line X-ray fluorescence (LXRF). This is a noninvasive, low dose radiation technique that measures cortical bone Pb. Other measures included age, years in New York City (NYC), BPb and a home Pb assessment employing KXRF methodology.Results: A convenience sample of 35 women were enrolled. The mean(± sd) age was 28±8 years. Their average time living in New York City was 19±11 years. Mean BPb was 5±6 μg/dL; 5 women had BPb≥ 10 μg/dL. Pb was detected on some surfaces in all the homes and on many surfaces in some homes. Bone Pb was detectable by LXRF in 6 of the 35 women, only two of whom had a BPb ≥10 μg/dL. There was no significant correlation between bone Pb and BPb, or age, home Pb or years in NYC.Conclusion: Bone Pb levels may be elevated in a substantial number of urban minority women of childbearing age. Few of these women would be identified by BPb screening. The risks to the developing fetuses from maternal bone Pb stores deserves further investigation.
A Mole Brought to Light

Bombshell. The Secret Story of America9s Unknown Atomic Spy Conspiracy. JOSEPH ALBRIGHT and MARCIA KUNSTEL. Times Books, New York, 1997. xvi, 400 pp., + plates. $25 or C$35. ISBN 0-8129-2861-X.
Prognostic value of myocardial circumferential strain for incident heart failure and cardiovascular events in asymptomatic individuals: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Aims Left ventricular (LV) circumferential strain (Ecc) is a sensitive index of regional myocardial function. Currently, no studies have assessed its prognostic value in general population. We sought to investigate whether Ecc has a prognostic value for predicting incident heart failure (HF) and other major cardiovascular events in asymptomatic individuals without a history of previous cardiovascular diseases. Methods and results We, prospectively, assessed incident HF and atherosclerotic events during a 5.5 ± 1.3-year period in 1768 asymptomatic individuals aged 45–84 (mean age 65 years; 47% female) who underwent tagged magnetic resonance imaging for strain determination. During the follow-up period, 39 (2.2%) participants experienced incident HF and 108 (6.1%) participants had atherosclerotic cardiovascular events. Average of peak Ecc of 12-LV segments (Ecc-global) and mid-slice (Ecc-mid) was −17.0 ± 2.4 and −17.5 ± 2.7%, respectively. Participants with average absolute Ecc-mid lower than −16.9% had a higher cumulative hazard of incident HF (log-rank test, P = 0.001). In cox regression analysis, Ecc-mid predicted incident HF independent of age, diabetes status, hypertension, interim myocardial infarction, LV mass index, and LV ejection fraction (hazard ratio 1.15 per 1%, 95% CI: 1.01–1.31, P = 0.03). This relationship remained significant after adjustment for LV-end-systolic wall stress into covariates. In addition, by adding Ecc-mid to risk factors, LV ejection fraction, and the LV mass index, both the global χ2 value (76.6 vs. 82.4, P = 0.04) and category-less net-reclassification index ( P = 0.01, SE = 0.18, z = 2.53) were augmented for predicting HF. Circumferential strain was also significantly related to the composite atherosclerotic cardiovascular events, but its relationship was attenuated after introducing the LV mass index. Conclusion Circumferential shortening provides robust, independent, and incremental predictive value for incident HF in asymptomatic subjects without any history of previous clinical cardiovascular disease. Clinical Trial Registration: . Unique identifier: [NCT00005487][1]. [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT00005487&atom=%2Fehj%2Fearly%2F2013%2F05%2F03%2Feurheartj.eht133.atom
Cardiovascular complications of colon and rectal surgery.

Complications of cardiac arrest and of arterial and venous thrombo-embolic disease have been discussed from the viewpoints of etiology, diagnosis, prevention and therapy.
Commitment of Electric Power Generators Under Stochastic Market Prices

A formulation for the commitment of electric power generators under a deregulated electricity market is proposed. The problem is expressed as a stochastic optimization problem in which expected profits are maximized while meeting demand and standard operating constraints. Under an assumption of perfect competition, when an electric power producer has the option of trading electricity at market prices, a unit commitment schedule can be obtained by optimizing the self-commitment of each unit separately subject to stochastic prices. Three certainty-equivalent formulations of the stochastic self-commitment problem are provided. The procedures involve application of dynamic programming, statistical analysis, and asymptotic probability computations. The price of electricity is represented by a stochastic model depending on demand, generating unit reliabilities, and temperature fluctuations. We use several approximation methods (normal, Edgeworth series expansion, and Monte Carlo simulation) for computing the required probability distributions. Numerical examples are provided for a market consisting of 150 generating units.
The Role of the Cathode in Discharge Instability

It is shown that a highly stressed conditioned cathode in a gas will, by positive space charge action, produce an autocatalytic increase in current through a chain reaction leading to complete breakdown. Depending on conditions in the circuit this common tendency will explain a number of phenomena. In pure free electron gases, the discharge has a negative characteristic and must be controlled by external resistance or else lead to an arc. In the presence of adequate low field regions and moderate negative ion formation, a current controlled by the internal space charge resistance of the system results. Where negative ion formation is heavy and low field regions exist, the discharge will choke itself off and be intermittent. In cases where there are large electrically elastic columns of ionized gas at lower pressure that can be swept by ionizing potential waves, as in glow discharges, the cathode instability leads to pulsations or moving striations and is the cause of setting up and sustaining plasma oscillations. Among the consequences of such action where intermittent or pulsed discharges occur, there will be a Faraday dark space and perhaps striations. Faraday dark spaces will occur only where cathode instabilities cause current fluctuations and should not be observed in more stable discharges.
Computer-aided diagnosis of mammography using an artificial neural network: predicting the invasiveness of breast cancers from image features

The study aim is to develop an artificial neural network (ANN) for computer-aided diagnosis of mammography. Using 9 mammographic image features and patient age, the ANN predicted whether breast lesions were benign, invasive malignant, or noninvasive malignant. Given only 97 malignant patients, the 3-layer backpropagation ANN successfully predicted the invasiveness of those breast cancers, performing with Az of 0.88 plus or minus 0.03. To determine more generalized clinical performance, a different ANN was developed using 266 consecutive patients (97 malignant, 169 benign). This ANN predicted whether those patients were benign or noninvasive malignant vs. invasive malignant with Az of 0.86 plus or minus 0.03. This study is unique because it is the first to predict the invasiveness of breast cancers using mammographic features and age. This knowledge, which was previously available only through surgical biopsy, may assist in the planning of surgical procedures for patients with breast lesions, and may help reduce the cost and morbidity associated with unnecessary surgical biopsies.
Rare Isotope Accelerator (RIA) Project

Abstract The proposed Rare Isotope Accelerator (RIA) Project will provide world-class intensities of radioactive beams created by any of the known production mechanisms. A driver linac will be used to accelerate any stable isotope from protons through uranium to energies of ⩾400 MeV/u and intensities of ⩾100 kW. Lighter elements will be used to produce radioactive ion beams by the isotope separation on line (ISOL) method. Typically heavier elements will be used to produce radioactive ion beams by the particle fragmentation (PF) method. A hybrid method of stopping radioactive ion beams produced by the PF method in a gas cell will also be employed. The RIA project has strong support from the nuclear science community as evidenced by RIA being the highest priority for major new construction in the most recent Nuclear Science Advisory Committee (NSAC) Long Range Plan [2002 NSAC Long-Range Plan: Opportunities in Nuclear Science, A long-range plan for the next decade, April 2002]. In addition, RIA is tied for third position for the near term priorities of the Department of Energy (DoE) 20-year plan [DOE Office of Science, Facilities for the future of science: a twenty-year outlook. http://www.sc.doe.gov/Sub/Facilities_for_future/facilities_future.htm ]. The status of the RIA design is presented.
A Review of Different Methods in Initializing and History Matching a Reservoir Model with Tilted Oil-Water-Contact

Initializing a reservoir simulation model with a tilted oil-water-contact requires a special consideration in terms of capillary pressure curves selection and an understanding of reservoir fluid distribution. The paper discusses four different methods used, and presents the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Some of these methods will reveal that it is not enough to initialize a reservoir model, check for original oil-in-place then proceed with the history matching process. Inappropriate use of capillary pressure curves may cause errors in pressure and saturation calculations. The errors are often masked by changes made to reservoir parameters towards achieving a history match. A simple, quick procedure is outlined to identify these errors and to correct them before history matching efforts begin.
Central serotonin involvement in the elaboration of the startle reaction in rats.

Abstract The present investigation provides evidence for serotonergic involvement in the inhibition of the acoustic startle reaction which results from the presentation of neutral stimuli (prepulses) shortly before reflex elicitation. While the specific serotonin (5-HT) synthesis inhibitor p-Chlorophenylalanine did not affect the response, a large amine-depleting dose of reserpine enhanced the reaction elicited under stable (control) stimulus conditions (no prepulse delivered). Selective replacement of 5-HT by administration of the l -amino acid precursor and a monoamine oxidase inhibitor further enhanced control startle amplitude and also eliminated prepulse inhibition. Chemical assays indicated especially large increases in 5-HT levels in the cortex and brainstem. Administration of the 5-HT precursor in the non-reserpinized rat both increased control startle levels and also interfered with prepulse inhibition although not as completely as in the reserpinized animal. The results indicate that 5-HT has a facilitatory effect on the reflex and suggest that a catecholaminergic system is also involved in determining reflex amplitude.
On the existence of longitudinal or flexural waves in rods at nonlinear higher harmonics

This article theoretically studies the conditions for existence of longitudinal or flexural waves in nonlinear, isotropic rods and presents numerical simulations corroborating the theoretical results. It has been known that the existence of guided waves at nonlinearity induced double harmonics is subject to constraints which arise from the potential of power flux transfer from the primary generating mode to the generated higher order modes. The knowledge about the behavior of waves in rods at harmonics higher than double is still limited. This gap was addressed here by the method of perturbation coupled with wavemode orthogonality and forced response. This reduces the nonlinear problem to a forced linear problem which was subsequently investigated to formulate an angular order-based constraint as the condition of existence/nonexistence of nonlinearity-driven higher harmonics of longitudinal and flexural waves in rods.
Assay of δ-aminolevulinic acid synthetase in homogenates of mouse, rat, and human liver: Species differences in requirement for an exogenous succinyl-CoA-generating system

Abstract Conditions required for optimal assay of low levels of activity of hepatic δ-aminolevulinic acid synthetase have been studied, comparing dilute homogenates of mouse, rat, and human livers. The assay method used was a modification of that described by Ebert et al. (Biochim. Biophys. Acta (1970) 208 , 236–250), and livers were studied from both untreated animal and human subjects and subjects pretreated with porphyrinogenic compounds. In homogenates of mouse and human but not rat liver, maximal rates of δ-aminolevulinic acid formation required addition to the incubation mixture of an exogenous system for succinyl-CoA generation. The requirement for this generating system was increased if livers from pretreated subjects were frozen and stored prior to assay, suggesting that the endogenous capacity for succinyl-CoA generation was more labile than δ-aminolevulinic acid synthetase under these conditions. Of the metabolic inhibitors tested (F − , malonate, and arsenite), only F − (100 m m final concentration) enhanced activity. Increasing the permeability of mitochondria by quick freezethawing of fresh homogenates just before assay did not increase the rate of δ-aminolevulinic acid formation.
Above threshold spectral dependence of linewidth enhancement factor, optical duration and linear chirp of quantum dot lasers

The spectral dependence of the linewidth enhancement factor above threshold is experimentally observed from a quantum dot Fabry-Perot semiconductor laser. The linewidth enhancement factor is found to be reduced when the quantum dot laser operates approximately 10 nm offset to either side of the gain peak. It becomes significantly reduced on the anti-Stokes side as compared to the Stokes side. It is also found that the temporal duration of the optical pulses generated from quantum dot mode-locked lasers is shorter when the laser operates away from the gain peak. In addition, less linear chirp is impressed on the pulse train generated from the anti-Stokes side whereas the pulses generated from the gain peak and Stokes side possess a large linear chirp. These experimental results imply that enhanced performance characteristics of quantum dot lasers can be achieved by operating on the anti-Stokes side, approximately 10 nm away from the gain peak.
Call Duration as an Indicator of Genetic Quality in Male Gray Tree Frogs

The "good genes" hypothesis predicts that mating preferences enable females to select mates of superior genetic quality. The genetic consequences of the preference shown by female gray tree frogs for long-duration calls were evaluated by comparing the performance of maternal half-siblings sired by males with different call durations. Offspring of male gray tree frogs that produced long calls showed better performance during larval and juvenile stages than did offspring of males that produced short calls. These data suggest that call duration can function as a reliable indicator of heritable genetic quality.
Influence of depression and alcoholism on learning, recall, and recognition

Tested four groups (N = 491) of male general hospital Ss with the AVLT to determine differences between alcoholic Ss and depressed Ss (measured by MMPI D). Those both depressed and alcoholic and those neither completed the four groups. Alcoholism lowers initial repetition, recall, and recognition scores; depression lowers only the first of these. Depth of depression is only suggestive as a variable. Beyond trial one depression does not affect AVLT performance, whereas alcoholism is more pervasive.
Differentiation characteristics of human neuroblastoma cells in the presence of growth modulators and antimitotic drugs.

Abstract Morphological characteristics of undifferentiated and differentiated human neuroblastoma cells were studied. Monolayer cultures of a human neuroblastoma, IMR-32 clone, were grown in Eagle's minimum essential medium with fetal calf serum in tissue culture dishes with polystyrene film liners. After 48 h, cultures were treated with either mitomycin C and 5-bromodeoxyuridine or prostaglandin E 1 (PGE 1 ) and dibutyryl adenosine 3′,5′-cyclophosphate (cAMP). A third dish was untreated to study as an undifferentiated control. Three days later, all cultures were processed for acetylcholinesterase staining, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and high performance liquid chromatography. Treatment with mitomycin/5-bromodeoxyuridine and PGE 1 /cAMP inhibited growth as seen by the growth curves and caused morphological differentiation as seen by the extension of long neurites. The treated cells showed increased acetylcholinesterase staining compared to the controls. With the scanning electron microscope, the differentiated cells showed long neurites, processes with beaded varicosities and growth cones. By transmission electron microscopy, these cells contained a large number of neurosecretory granules in their cytoplasm and neurites. Specialized cell contacts were also observed between the treated cells. This is the first study demonstrating that both the treated and control cells of IMR-32 clone contain large quantities of serotonin and comparatively small amounts of norepinephrine and dopamine.
Sensitivity vector fields in embedded coordinates

Identifying variations in system parameters is a crucial task in many diagnostic engineering applications. Although modal methods are typically employed to quantify such parametric variations in dynamical systems, sensitivity vector fields (SVFs) provide an alternative that can be more effective under certain circumstances. Currently, the application of SVFs has been restricted to systems in which it is possible to know the entire state. For physical systems where only a few components of the state can be measured, this represents a significant obstacle to the adoption of SVFs. Fortunately, even with only partial knowledge of the state, time-delay coordinate embedding can be used to reconstruct the attractors of a nonlinear system. This paper presents techniques for computing SVFs in such embedded coordinates, making their application practical in a much wider range of physical systems. Successful construction of embedded SVFs for various simulated time series demonstrate the reliability of the techniques proposed.
Expression and regulation of the renin gene

Elucidating the expression and regulation of the renin gene has been the focus of intense investigation because of its participation in the renin-angiotensin system and its links to hypertension. Since the cloning of the first complementary DNA (cDNA) encoding mouse submandibular gland renin over a decade ago, a great deal of progress has been made toward understanding the expression and regulation of renin in a number of species. These include the isolation of cDNA and genomic clones for interspecific renin genes, the demonstration of primary expression in tissues where only renin activity data were previously reported, and, more recently, the development of tools to examine specifically the mechanisms of renin transcription and regulation, and to define the role played by the renin-angiotensin system in the pathogenesis of hypertension.
The function of adenosylcobalamin in the mechanism of ribonucleoside triphosphate reductase from Lactobacillus leichmannii.

Abstract Ribonucleoside triphosphate reductase from Lactobacillus leichmannii catalyzes the reduction of nucleotides to deoxynucleotides and uses adenosylcobalamin as a cofactor. transient protein-based thiyl radical is essential for catalysis. Studies directed toward the elucidation of the function of adenosylcobalamin during catalysis have shown that formation of the thiyl radical and 5′-deoxyadenosine occurs in a concerted fashion with CCo bond homolysis, that the homolysis is entropically and not enthalpically driven, that the dimethylbenzimidazole moiety of adenosylcobalamin is the axial ligand during catalysis, and that the CCo bond is reformed after every turnover.
A Generalized Tree Circuit

From the very founding of switching theory by Claude E. Shannon, the tree circuit has been a useful instrument in the design of logic networks. Besides being a valuable practical addition to the designer's “tool kit”, it has been a theoretical asset in the study of circuit complexity and the establishment of general bounds on the relative costs of switching networks. The object of this paper is to expand the practical and theoretical scope of the tree circuit. The expansion is effected by the formulation of a generalized tree circuit, which in actuality is a set of circuits having basic tree circuit characteristics.
79Br nuclear-quadrupole-resonance line shape and Raman-induced spin-lattice relaxation in the incommensurate phase of beta -ThBr4.

We performed $^{79}\mathrm{Br}$ nuclear-quadrupole-resonance (NQR) line-shape and spin-lattice relaxation time measurements in the incommensurate (I) system \ensuremath{\beta}-${\mathrm{ThBr}}_{4}$ over the temperature range 293\char21{}2.5 K. In addition, we extended the theory of the effects of Raman processes on amplitudon and phason spin-lattice relaxation in incommensurate systems by obtaining general expressions for the spectral densities and phason gap ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\ensuremath{\varphi}}$ that are valid at all temperatures in the I phase. By measuring ${T}_{1}$ selectively for the different parts of the broadened NQR line in \ensuremath{\beta}-${\mathrm{ThBr}}_{4}$, we separately obtained the phason and amplitudon contributions, ${T}_{1\ensuremath{\varphi}}$ and ${T}_{1A}$, respectively. A comparison between theory and the experimental data shows excellent agreement and demonstrates that spin-lattice relaxation in \ensuremath{\beta}-${\mathrm{ThBr}}_{4}$ is dominated by Raman processes. The phason gap ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\ensuremath{\varphi}}$ was determined to be 0.072\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.020 THz.
Characterization of bromine-77-labeled proteins prepared using myeloperoxidase

Abstract Myeloperoxidase has been used to label proteins with 77Br at neutral pH. The essential reaction parameters were varied to obtain those conditions which resulted in the highest yield of radiolabeled protein. Proteins labeled with radiobromine using myeloperoxidase were found to contain bromotyrosyl residues as the predominantly labeled species. The integrity of proteins labeled with bromine-77 using the myeloperoxidase technique was investigated by several in vivo and in vitro methods. The 77Br-protiens were superior to proteins radioiodinated by conventional methods, indicating that the enzymatic labeling method results in stable attachment of the radiobromine to the protein without significantly altering the structure of the protein molecule.
The deuterium enrichment observed in recent comets is consistent with the cometary origin of seawater

Abstract The deuterium enrichment observed in the water molecules of comets Halley, Hyakutake and Hale–Bopp is about twice as large as that of seawater. Their orbital features suggest that they probably originated in the zones of the outer planets; this implies that their deuterium enrichment was not modified from its interstellar origin. In contrast, most of the seawater was likely brought to Earth by an early bombardment of comets, that originated mostly in Jupiters zone, where steam from the inner Solar System condensed onto icy interstellar grains before they accreted into larger bodies, explaining why Jupiters comets were of a different kind. The deuterium enrichment of seawater is quantitatively consistent with its origin from a cometary bombardment of the primitive Earth.
The accuracy of leadership ratings: A cognitive categorization perspective☆

Abstract The effects of cognitive leadership labels, item type, and temporal delays on the descriptive accuracy of leadership ratings was examined in a sample of observer-subjects who viewed a videotaped interaction of a problem-solving group. The results of the study provided support for several hypotheses derived from cognitive categorization models of the leadership perception process. Observers tended to ascribe more behavior to the leader that was consistent with an initial leadership label (prototypic behavior) than behavior that was either inconsistent with that label or unrelated to it (nonprototypic behavior). In addition, observers were more capable of accurately reporting the presence of nonprototypic behavior than prototypic behavior within an immediate rating condition. This accuracy, however, deteriorated significantly with a temporal delay in rating. In contrast, to the extent that prototypic behavior had been accurately rated within the immediate rating condition, the temporal delay had no significant impact on observers' rating accuracy for these behaviors.
Optical Diffuse Reflectance in Anisotropic Media

We simulated optical diffuse reflectance in fibrous scattering media. We found the equi-intensity distribution of surface reflectance obtained using anisotropic diffuse equation is similar to Monte Carlo simulation results when fiber diameter is small.
The Context of the Demand for Special Education Faculty: A Study of Special Education Teacher Preparation Programs.

Understanding the context of the demand for special education (SE) teacher education (TE) faculty is important because it can provide faculty at doctoral-granting universities with useful informati...
The role of enteroviral infections in the development of IDDM: limitations of current approaches.

Enteroviruses have been examined for their possible role in the etiology of IDDM for nearly 40 years, yet the evidence remains inconclusive. The mechanism of acute cytolytic infection of β-cells, proposed by earlier studies, appears to be incompatible with the long preclinical period of autoimmunity preceding IDDM. Advances in molecular biology have improved our understanding of enteroviral biology and of potential alternative pathogenic mechanisms through which enteroviruses may cause diabetes. The focus of future human studies will likely shift from people with IDDM to those with prediabetic autoimmunity to determine whether acute enteroviral infections can promote progression from autoimmunity to overt diabetes. We propose that such studies use assays to detect enteroviral RNA, in addition to IgM serology. RNA assays can overcome sensitivity and type-specificity limitations of IgM assays as well as identify diabetogenic strains of enteroviruses, if such exist. Evaluation of the role of enteroviruses in triggering β-cell autoimmunity in humans will require large prospective studies of young children. The Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the Young—one of very few such studies currently underway—is focusing on potential interactions between HLA class II genes and enteroviral infections. Future studies will likely examine interactions between viral infections and non-HLA IDDM candidate genes, including those that may determine β-cell tropism of candidate viruses.
Carving up space at imaginary joints: can people mentally impose arbitrary spatial category boundaries?

Empirical attempts to understand connections between abstract cognition and sensori-motor processes have pointed toward an embodied view of cognition, where cognitive activity is strongly tied to sensori-motor activity. Here the authors test the ability of the cognitive system to impose structure on the world using a well-established phenomenon in spatial cognition—biases near spatial category bound- aries. Results from 5 experiments suggest that participants were unable to mentally impose a spatial category boundary without perceptual support, even when explicitly instructed to do so. The authors conclude by considering the implications of these findings for abstraction within other domains of cognition. Human beings lead rich mental lives that often seem far re- moved from the sensori-motor world. For instance, scholars have made fundamental contributions to knowledge by imagining im- possible events (e.g., traveling at the speed of light; Einstein, 1987) and by contemplating abstract concepts like truth, morality, and respect (Uzgalis, 2005). Although these examples clearly reflect the abstract nature of thought, recent evidence suggests that hu- mans' rich mental lives are more grounded in the sensori-motor world than appears at first blush. For instance, Richardson, Spivey, Barsalou, and McRae (2003) demonstrated implicit spatial orien- tations for words like respect and admire. In this study, partici- pants listened to sentences like "The athlete admired the coach" across study trials. At test, participants were faster to verify pic- tures depicting key elements of these sentences (e.g., an athlete and a coach) when the pictures were aligned consistently with the spatial implication of the verb (i.e., with the coach above the athlete). Results like these suggest that even abstract terms carry some implicit sensory information. Empirical attempts to address the sensori-motor foundations of abstract cognition have pointed toward an embodied view of cognition, where cognitive activity is intricately and obligatorily connected to sensori-motor activity (e.g., Barsalou, 1999; Gibson, 1966; Glenberg, 1997; Thelen & Smith, 1994). But is abstract cognition always tied to the sensori-motor world? Can people, for instance, mentally impose abstract concepts onto the world in completely arbitrary ways, that is, unsupported by sensori-motor activity? As is evident from the discussion above, seemingly abstract and arbitrary concepts may be linked to sensori-motor systems in subtle ways (see also Barsalou & Wiemer-Hastings,
Localization of a Fibrillar Amyloid β-Protein Binding Domain on Its Precursor

Deposition of fibrillar amyloid-β protein (Aβ) in senile plaques and in the walls of cerebral blood vessels is a key pathological feature of Alzheimer's disease and certain related disorders. Fibrillar Aβ deposition is intimately associated with neuronal and cerebrovascular cell death both in vivo and in vitro. Similarly, accumulation of the Aβ protein precursor (AβPP) is also observed at sites of fibrillar Aβ deposition. Recently, we reported that fibrillar Aβ, but not unassembled Aβ, promotes the specific binding of AβPP through its cysteine-rich, amino-terminal region (Melchor, J. P., and Van Nostrand, W. E. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 9782–9791). In the present study we sought to determine the precise site on AβPP that facilitates its binding to fibrillar Aβ. A series of synthesized overlapping peptides spanning the cysteine-rich, amino-terminal region of AβPP were used as competitors for AβPP binding to fibrillar Aβ. A peptide spanning residues 105–119 of AβPP competitively inhibited AβPP binding to fibrillar Aβ in a solid-phase binding assay and on the surface of cultured human cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells. Alanine-scanning mutagenesis of residues 105–117 within glutathioneS-transferase (GST)-AβPP-(18–119) revealed that His110, Val112, and Ile113 are key residues that facilitate AβPP binding to fibrillar Aβ. These specific residues belong to a common β-strand within this region of AβPP. Wild-type GST-AβPP-(18–119) protected cultured human cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells from Aβ-induced toxicity whereas H110A mutant GST-AβPP-(18–119) did not. Wild-type GST-AβPP-(18–119) bound to different isoforms of fibrillar Aβ and fibrillar amylin peptides whereas H110A mutant and I113A mutant GST-AβPP-(18–119) were substantially less efficient binding to each fibrillar peptide. We conclude that His110, Val112, and Ile113, residing in a common β-strand region within AβPP-(18–119), comprise a domain that mediates the binding of AβPP to fibrillar peptides.
Compound F: The History of Hydrocortisone and Hand Surgery

Hydrocortisone (cortisol) is used daily in the practice of medicine and hand surgery. It has an effective use in a number of orthopedic conditions, including tendinitis, tenovaginitis, bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and joint inflammation. But are surgeons aware of how this important pharmaceutical agent was discovered and prepared for clinical trial and who was responsible for its first clinical application? How did medical doctors determine that, like penicillin, cortisone and its derivative hydrocortisone would have such a life-changing effect on certain medical conditions? The purpose of this review is to relate the story of the development of cortisone (Compound E) and hydrocortisone (Compound F) and how both influenced the practice of hand surgeons in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and related inflammatory conditions. This history of cortisone and hydrocortisone also relates to the importance of partnership between physician and research scientist and of the principle at Mayo Clinic that the only concern—or the first concern—is the concern for the patient.
A novel multiwavelength optically controlled phased array antenna with a programmable dispersion matrix

We propose and demonstrate a "programmable-dispersion" matrix (PDM) for a novel multiwavelength optically controlled phased array antenna (MWOCPAA). The PDM, when employed in conjunction with a multiwavelength source, generates all the time delays for the entire array. In this multiwavelength control scheme, an optical wavelength-to-array element correspondence is established and there is no splitting loss associated with signal distribution to array elements. The time delays are controlled by the dispersion of the PDM which can be programmed by optical switches. Experimental results demonstrating the feasibility of the MWOCPAA are presented. Broadband linear RF phase shift is measured among various wavelength channels.
Attributes Associated with Success as Perceived by Managers in Three Levels of Multidepartment Management in Acute Care Hospitals

This research identified personal attributes for success as perceived by three distinct levels of management in contracted managed services within acute care hospitals. From the researcher-designed...
Byte Caching in Wireless Networks

The explosion of data consumption has led to a renewed interest in byte caching. With studies showing potential reductions in network traffic of 50%, this fine grained caching technique looks like a very good and attractive solution for mobile wireless operators. However, properties of wireless networks actually present new challenges. We first show that a single packet loss, re-ordering or corruption -- all common conditions over the air interface -- can result in circular dependencies and cause existing byte caching algorithms to loop endlessly. To remedy the problem, we then explore a new set of encoding algorithms. Third, we assess the impact of packet losses on byte caching performances, both in terms of byte savings and delay reduction. We found that a mere 1% packet loss can already nullify any delay reduction and instead cause significant increases that users may not be willing to tolerate. Finally, we shared several insights, including interactions between transport layer protocol's mechanisms (e.g., TCP window congestion) and byte caching operations that can cause sophisticated encoding algorithms to perform poorly. We believe that these insights are important for designing more efficient and robust byte caching encoding algorithms.
WHAM Observations of Hα, [S II], and [N II] toward the Orion and Perseus Arms: Probing the Physical Conditions of the Warm Ionized Medium

A large portion of the Galaxy (l \ 123i¨164i, b \( 6i to (35i), which samples regions of the Local (Orion) spiral arm and the more distant Perseus arm, has been mapped with the Wisconsin Ha Mapper (WHAM) in the (S II) j6716 and (N II) j6583 lines. By comparing these data with the maps from the WHAM Ha Sky Survey, we begin an investigation of the global physical properties of the warm ionized medium (WIM) in the Galaxy. Several trends noticed in emission-line investigations of diUuse gas in other galaxies are con—rmed in the Milky Way and extended to much fainter emission. We —nd that the (S II)/Ha and (N II)/Ha ratios increase as absolute Ha intensities decrease. For the more distant Perseus arm emission, the increase in these ratios is a strong function of Galactic latitude, b, and thus of height, z, above the Galactic plane, while the (S II)/(N II) ratio is relatively independent of Ha intensity. Scatter in this ratio appears to be physically signi—cant, and maps of (S II)/(N II) suggest that regions with similar ratios are spatially correlated. The Perseus arm (S II)/(N II) ratio is systematically lower than local emission by 10%¨20%. With (S II)/(N II) fairly constant over a large range of Ha intensities, the increase of (S II)/Ha and (N II)/Ha with o z o seems to re—ect an increase in temperature. Such an inter- pretation allows us to estimate the temperature and ionization conditions in our large sample of obser- vations. We —nd that WIM temperatures range from 6000 to 10,000 K, with temperature increasing from bright to faint Ha emission (low to high (S II)/Ha and (N II)/Ha), respectively. Changes in (S II)/(N II) appear to re—ect changes in the local ionization conditions (i.e., the S'/S'' ratio). We also measure the electron scale height in the Perseus arm to be 1.0 ^ 0.1 kpc, con—rming earlier, less accurate determi- nations. Subject headings: Galaxy: haloH II regionsISM: atomsISM: structure
Direct numerical simulation of salt sheets and turbulence in a double‐diffusive shear layer

[1] We describe three-dimensional direct numerical simulations (DNS) of double-diffusively stratified flow interacting with inflectional shear. The extreme difference in diffusivity (and thus minimum length scale) between heat, salt and momentum in seawater is replicated for the first time in a three-dimensional simulation. The primary instability generates salt sheets, which are oriented parallel to the direction of the sheared background flow. Subsequently, two distinct mechanisms of secondary instability combine to lead the flow to a turbulent state. In this state, the effective saline diffusivity is smaller than that calculated by previous investigators for the unsheared case. The Schmidt number is much smaller than unity, indicating that salt sheets are less effective at transporting momentum than is often assumed.
3D structural homology detection via unassigned residual dipolar couplings

Recognition of a protein's fold provides valuable information about its function. While many sequence-based homology prediction methods exist, an important challenge remains: two highly dissimilar sequences can have similar folds - how can we detect this rapidly, in the context of structural genomics? High-throughput NMR experiments, coupled with novel algorithms for data analysis, can address this challenge. We report an automated procedure for detecting 3D structural homologies from sparse, unassigned protein NMR data. Our method identifies the 3D structural models in a protein structural database whose geometries best fit the Unassigned experimental NMR data. It does not use sequence information and is thus not limited by sequence homology. The method can also be used to confirm or refute structural predictions made by other techniques such as protein threading or sequence homology. The algorithm runs in O(pnk/sup 3/) time, where p is the number of proteins in the database, n is the number of residues in the target protein, and k is the resolution of a rotation search. The method requires only uniform /sup 15/N-labelling of the protein and processes unassigned /sup H/N-/sup 15/N residual dipolar couplings, which can be acquired in a couple of hours. Our experiments on NMR data from 5 different proteins demonstrate that the method identifies closely related protein folds, despite low-sequence homology between the target protein and the computed model.
Newcastle Disease Virus in Double-crested Cormorants in Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi

In order to understand the epidemiology of Newcastle disease (ND) outbreaks in double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus), a study was conducted on wintering migratory cormorants (P. a. auritus) in Alabama and Mississippi (USA) and non-migratory cormorants (P. a. floridanus) that breed in Florida (USA). Antibodies against ND virus were detected by the hemagglutination-inhibition method in sera from 86 of 183 (47%) migratory cormorants over-wintering in eight roosting sites in Alabama and Mississippi between November, 1997 and April, 1999. Titers ranged from 5 to 40. Antibody prevalences in sera collected from females in early winter (November and December) (26%) and late winter (February and March) (56%) were significantly different (P = 0.0007). None of 45 serum samples from 1- to 7-wk-old nestlings from 11 colonies in Florida during the 1997–98 and 1998–99 breeding seasons was positive. However, antibodies were detected in yolk samples from 98 of 126 (78%) eggs collected in these same colonies. T...
Effort and Cognition in Depression

• Motor performance and cognitive function were examined in depressed patients and controls. Increasing severity of depression was strongly associated with decrements in performance in both motor and memory tasks. Greatest depressionrelated impairment was found on those cognitive and motor tasks that required sustained effort. We discuss these results in terms of a generalized deficit in the central motivational state of depressed individuals.
Accelerated environmental degradation and residual flexural analysis of carbon nanofiber reinforced composites

Abstract Hollow particle filled composites known as syntactic foams presently find numerous applications in structures exposed to high moisture and high temperature environments. Carbon nanofiber (CNF) reinforcement is attractive in these composites because of the possibility of increased strength with negligible density variation. In the present study, syntactic foams containing 15–50 vol% glass microballoons (GMB) and 1–5 wt% CNF reinforcement as well as CNF/epoxy composites containing 1–5 wt% CNF were exposed to accelerated weathering by immersion in 90 °C water for two weeks and characterized for their residual flexural properties. In the worst performing composites, a maximum weight gain of 3.5% and 10% was observed for CNF/epoxy and CNF/syntactic foam composites, respectively. The syntactic foams tested were observed to generally decrease in strength after weathering with the exception of the composites containing 5 wt% CNF and 15 vol% GMB, which were observed to increase in strength by 41–51% after weathering. The composite containing 5 wt% CNF was also shown to increase in strength by 27% after weathering. Strength retention is attributed to the presence of CNF, along with competing weathering effects on composite structure and morphology.
Analysis of the distribution of the INCENPs throughout mitosis reveals the existence of a pathway of structural changes in the chromosomes during metaphase and early events in cleavage furrow formation

The INCENPs are two polypeptides of 135 x 10(3) and 150 x 10(3) Mr that enter mitosis as tightly bound chromosomal proteins, but subsequently leave the chromosomes altogether and become associated with the central spindle and cell cortex at the contractile ring. In the experiments reported here we have used confocal microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy to provide a detailed picture of the intracellular location of these proteins during mitosis. The experiments have not only revealed a number of new details concerning the properties of the INCENPs in mitosis, but have revealed a number of novel aspects of the mitotic process itself. The first of these is the existence of a sequential pathway of structural changes in the chromosomes that occurs during metaphase. This pathway is revealed by the existence of four distinct INCENP staining patterns in mitotic cells. In 'early' and 'early/mid' metaphase, the INCENPs gradually become concentrated at the centromeres, forming a ring at the center of the metaphase plate. During 'mid/late' metaphase they exit from the chromosomes, so that by late metaphase they are found solely in streaks that traverse the plate parallel to the spindle axis. The streaks probably correspond to INCENPs closely associated with microtubule bundles, perhaps as part of the stem body material. Examination of transverse optical sections of the spindle interzone during early anaphase reveals an unexpectedly high degree of order. The INCENP antigens are localized on fibers that are organized into a hollow ring 8 microns in diameter and approximately 4 microns beneath the cell cortex. Measurement of cellular dimensions in the confocal microscope reveals that the maximum diameter of early anaphase cells lies across the spindle equator, so that when the cleavage furrow forms, it does so around the maximum circumference of the cell. During anaphase, a subpopulation of the INCENP antigen becomes localized to the cortex where the furrow will subsequently form. This occurs prior to any other evidence of furrowing. Thus, binding of the INCENPs to this region may represent an early step in furrow formation. Together, these results suggest that the INCENPs may represent a new class of 'chromosomal passenger' proteins that are carried to the spindle equator by the chromosomes and subsequently perform a cytoskeletal role following their release from the chromosomes at the metaphase:anaphase transition.
The Trade-Security Nexus in the Asia-Pacific

The connections between trade and security are hardly new. Analysts and practitioners have clearly recognized this interrelationship since the mercantilist era of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Despite the fact that economic liberals often prefer to separate the political from the economic, it is widely recognized that trade and security are fundamentally interconnected in the foreign policy of states. Over time, as new forms of trade policy have come into being and the international security environment has evolved, the nexus of these two spheres has grown more complex and scholars have struggled to understand their interconnection.
Euscelus species of the West Indies (Coleoptera: Attelabidae)

Fourteen species of Euscelus Schoenherr are recognized from the West Indies: E. armatus (Gyllenhal), E. scutellatus (Klug), E. dentipes (Fabricius), E. angulosus (Gyllenhal), E. scrobiculatus Voss, E. uviferae Marshall, E. pulchellus (Suffrian), E. cribrarius (Olivier), E. biguttatus (Fabricius), E. sexmaculatus (Chevrolat), E. aureolus (Gyllenhal), E. haitensis new species from Haiti, E. postoculidens new species and E. dominicanus new species from the Dominican Republic. Four previously described eusceline species from the West Indies are relegated to synonymy: Euscelus cancellatus Voss, new synonymy; Euscelus callosipennis Voss, new synonymy; Euscelus coccolobae (Wolcott), new synon- ymy and Emphyleuscelus cubensis Janczyk, new synonymy. Specimens were unavailable for Attelabus canaliculatus Olivier, Attelabus spinifex Olivier and Attelabus fornicatus Olivier and they are not included. Lectotypes are designated for E. uviferae and E. pulchellus. A key separating West Indian euscelines is provided and the species are covered in standard taxonomic fashion including habitus images and aedeagal illustrations. KEY WORDS: Attelabidae, Leaf rollers, Euscelus, West Indies