cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of a Novel Method vs the Friedewald Equation for Estimating Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels From the Standard Lipid Profile

Importance In clinical and research settings worldwide, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is typically estimated using the Friedewald equation. This equation assumes a fixed factor of 5 for the ratio of triglycerides to very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG:VLDL-C); however, the actual TG:VLDL-C ratio varies significantly across the range of triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Objective To derive and validate a more accurate method for LDL-C estimation from the standard lipid profile using an adjustable factor for the TG:VLDL-C ratio. Design, Setting, and Participants We used a convenience sample of consecutive clinical lipid profiles obtained from 2009 through 2011 from 1 350 908 children, adolescents, and adults in the United States. Cholesterol concentrations were directly measured after vertical spin density-gradient ultracentrifugation, and triglycerides were directly measured. Lipid distributions closely matched the population-based National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Samples were randomly assigned to derivation (n = 900 605) and validation (n = 450 303) data sets. Main Outcomes and Measures Individual patient-level concordance in clinical practice guideline LDL-C risk classification using estimated vs directly measured LDL-C (LDL-C D ). Results In the derivation data set, the median TG:VLDL-C was 5.2 (IQR, 4.5-6.0). The triglyceride and non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels explained 65% of the variance in the TG:VLDL-C ratio. Based on strata of triglyceride and non–HDL-C values, a 180-cell table of median TG:VLDL-C values was derived and applied in the validation data set to estimate the novel LDL-C (LDL-C N ). For patients with triglycerides lower than 400 mg/dL, overall concordance in guideline risk classification with LDL-C D was 91.7% (95% CI, 91.6%-91.8%) for LDL-C N vs 85.4% (95% CI, 85.3%-85.5%) for Friedewald LDL-C (LDL-C F ) ( P D was also lower than 70 mg/dL in 94.3% (95% CI, 93.9%-94.7%) for LDL-C N vs 79.9% (95% CI, 79.3%-80.4%) for LDL-C F in samples with triglyceride levels of 100 to 149 mg/dL; 92.4% (95% CI, 91.7%-93.1%) for LDL-C N vs 61.3% (95% CI, 60.3%-62.3%) for LDL-C F in samples with triglyceride levels of 150 to 199 mg/dL; and 84.0% (95% CI, 82.9%-85.1%) for LDL-C N vs 40.3% (95% CI, 39.4%-41.3%) for LDL-C F in samples with triglyceride levels of 200 to 399 mg/dL ( P Conclusions and Relevance A novel method to estimate LDL-C using an adjustable factor for the TG:VLDL-C ratio provided more accurate guideline risk classification than the Friedewald equation. These findings require external validation, as well as assessment of their clinical importance. The implementation of these findings into clinical practice would be straightforward and at virtually no cost. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT01698489
Effect of elevated manganese on the ultraviolet‐ and blue light‐absorbing compounds of cucumber cotyledon and leaf tissues

Abstract The effect of manganese [Mn(II)] on the pigments of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L., cv Poinsett 76) leaf and cotyledon tissues was investigated. Tissue disks (7 mm) were exposed to increasing Mn(II) concentrations from 100 μM to 2.5 mM. Acetone (carotenoid‐rich fraction) and acidified methanol (flavonoid‐rich fraction) extracts were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Although none of the Mn(II)‐treated tissues showed visible damage, Mn(II) at concentrations of 250 μM and above significantly reduced (60%) the s‐carotene levels of light‐incubated leaf tissues. A major Mn(II)‐induced, UV‐absorbing compound was observed in methanol extracts of cotyledonary tissues exposed to Mn(II) in the dark. In leaf tissues, Mn(II) reduced the levels of certain UV‐absorbing compounds under both light conditions. These results demonstrate that excess leaf Mn(II) can rapidly impair isoprenoid metabolism, altering tissue carotenoid composition. Furthermore, Mn(II) may also modify phenylpropanoid metabo...
Design and applications of strongly dispersive photonic crystal structures

The opportunity to manipulate optical properties of materials through fabrication is the unique capability offered by photonic crystals. Among different directions to exploit the possibilities in this field, there have been recent research activities to engineer the dispersive properties of photonic crystals to change the propagation properties of waves passing through these periodic structures. To provide an efficient way to implement such devices, an approximate modeling technique will be used to simplify the analysis and design process for dispersive photonic crystal devices. Furthermore, the issue of efficient coupling to dispersive photonic crystal modes which is crucial for practical implementation of these devices will be addressed. Here, in particular, we will focus on employing the dispersive properties of photonic crystals to realize compact optical spectrometers and wavelength demultiplexers. We will show that by combining multiple dispersive properties (i.e., negative diffraction and the superprism effect) it is possible to enhance the performance of devices targeted for such applications. The potentials of these photonic crystal devices to meet the requirements of current and future applications in optical information processing and integrated optical sensing will be discussed.
A Bayesian approach to the evaluation of comparisons of individually value-assigned reference materials

Several recent international comparison studies used a relatively novel experimental design to evaluate the measurement capabilities of participating organizations. These studies compared the values assigned by each participant to one or more qualitatively similar materials with measurements made on all of the materials by one laboratory under repeatability conditions. A statistical model was then established relating the values to the repeatability measurements; the extent of agreement between the assigned value(s) and the consensus model reflected the participants’ measurement capabilities. Since each participant used their own supplies, equipment, and methods to produce and value-assign their material(s), the agreement between the assigned value(s) and the model was a fairer reflection of their intrinsic capabilities than provided by studies that directly compared time- and material-constrained measurements on unknown samples prepared elsewhere. A new statistical procedure is presented for the analysis of such data. The procedure incorporates several novel concepts, most importantly a leave-one-out strategy for the estimation of the consensus value of the measurand, model fitting via Bayesian posterior probabilities, and posterior coverage probability calculation for the assigned 95% uncertainty intervals. The benefits of the new procedure are illustrated using data from the CCQM-K54 comparison of eight cylinders of n-hexane in methane.
Corrigendum to “Risk factors for unidirectional and bidirectional intimate partner violence among young adults” [Child Abuse Neglect 35 (2011) 970–978]

The authors regret that the following corrections were not included in the published version of the manuscript. Page 42: The first sentence of the last paragraph in the Review of the Literature was printed with an error. The sentence as not complete, and should read: Being younger and having a lower level of education have been found to increase the risk of male perpetration, but age nd education have not consistently been associated with an increased risk for female victimization (Stith et al., 2004).
Indirect arthroscopic rotator interval repair

Repair of the capsular rotator interval has become a successful adjunct to arthroscopic procedures that address glenohumeral instability. This technical note presents a procedure that allows imbrication of the rotator interval in an indirect fashion regardless of pre-existing arthroscopic portals. A monofilament suture is passed percutaneously using a No.18-gauge spinal needle through the inferior portion of the rotator interval capsule. A soft tissue penetrator is passed through the anterior superior portal to retrieve the suture through the superior portion of the rotator interval capsule. A braided suture is then shuttled in the standard fashion. An arthroscopic knot pusher is placed on the inferior limb of the suture and drives this limb below the deltoid and anterior to the capsule to join the second limb for extracapsular fixation. The technique also provides for direct arthroscopic visualization of the repair and does not necessitate entry into the subacromial space. This is a reproducible procedure that allows efficient repair of the rotator interval.
Scaling military symbols: a comparison of techniques to derive associative meaning

The use of symbolic representations of concepts is explored in the context of their inherent, associative meaning. Several symbol sets in military use were evaluated using two scaling techniques, ratings and pair comparisons. Findings validate a model of symbol categorization proposed by Modley (1966) and provide implications for the use of ratings vs. pair-comparisons in evaluating symbols. Language: en
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows: The Art & Science of Flow Visualization

The flow of fluids explains how airplanes fly, why a curveball curves, why atherosclerotic plaque clogs arteries, why Jupiter's red spot is changing size, and how hurricanes form. Yet it is difficult to see fluids flowing: you can't see the wind, or ocean currents, without the techniques of flow visualization. Flow visualization reveals an invisible world of fluid dynamics, blending scientific investigation and artistic exploration. The resulting images have inspired, and in some cases themselves become appreciated as, art. At Lafayette College, a sophomore-level seminar in The Art and Science of Flow Visualization exposes students to these techniques and the science of fluid mechanics, and to the photographic methods needed to create effective images that are successful both scientifically and artistically. Unlike other courses in flow visualization, this course assumes no a priori familiarity with fluid flow or with photography. The fundamentals of both are taught and practiced in a studio setting. Students are engaged in an interdisciplinary discourse about fluids and physics, photography, scientific ethics, and historical societal responses to science and art. The development, implementation, and assessment of this team-taught course will be discussed.
The charge asymmetry in the μ± - nucleus collision as a test for the neutral weak current☆

Abstract The effect of the neutral weak current can be detected in the inelastic μ ± -nucleus collisions through the Q 2 dependence of the charge asymmetry in the cross sections. The asymmetry is estimated for the four-quark model of Weinberg by use of the experimental data on the muonless neutrino processes. The effect may be as large as 2 ∼ 3% in the large Q 2 region accessible at NAL.
Isolation and composition of bacteriophage-like particles from kappa of killer Paramecia.

Phage-like particles from kappa of stock 562 of Paramecium aurelia have been isolated by CsCl density gradient centrifugation. Analyses show that the particles contain about 1.6×1016g DNA and 2.0×10-16g protein. Their buoyant density is approximately 1.47. DNA from the particles has a buoyant density very close to that of whole kappa DNA. The presence of DNA in the particles has been confirmed by a cytochemical technique. The results support the conclusion that kappa contains a bacteriophage.
The Evolution of Vascular Smooth Muscle Responses to Histamine and 5-Hydroxytryptamine: II. Appearance of inhibitory actions of 5-hydroxytryptamine in amphibians1

Systematic studies on the vascular smooth muscle responses to histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine, similar to those previously accomplished in jawless vertebrates and fish, were performed in amphibians (frogs, toads and salamanders). Both intact animals and artificially perfused preparations were studied. The effects were recorded as changes in systemic arterial blood pressure after intravascular administration of drugs or as changes in vascular resistance after introduction of drugs into the perfusion fluid during perfusion at constant flow rate. Responses to adrenaline, noradrenaline and acetylcholine were studied for comparison. The direct or indirect nature of actions produced by the different drugs were evaluated by means of pharmacological blocking agents. The outcome of the studies may be summarized as follows: Marked and specific inhibitory actions of 5-hydroxytryptamine on vascular smooth muscle, manifest as vasodilatation, are present in all studied species, displaying a feature which has not been demonstrated in jawless vertebrates and fish. In addition, the blood vessels of some amphibians occasionally show a constrictor response to 5-hydroxytryptamine. The nature of the latter response remains uncertain. Histamine apparently has but negligible influence on amphibian vascular smooth muscle. The inhibitory and stimulatory actions of adrenaline and noradrenaline and the stimulatory action of acetylcholine, pharmacological characteristics of vascular smooth muscle also in more primitive vertebrates, are retained in the amphibians, while the inhibitory action of acetylcholine, like the inhibitory action of 5-hydroxytryptamine, appears as a new feature.
Family Limitation and Family Economy in Bradford, West Yorkshire 1851–1881

The experience of Bradford an industrial town in West Yorkshire is used to examine factors associated with the fertility decline that occurred in late nineteenth-century England. The author concludes that second-generation immigrant women in industrial urban areas experienced alternatives to marriage and children. As independent women they were exposed to greater possibilities for experimentation in many aspects of life. Their use of fertility control particularly during times of economic hardship was part of this change in womens roles. "Material realities rather than cultural diffusion shaped the family life of Bradfords working class and led to the adoption of family limitation." (EXCERPT)
Evaluating Environmental Scenes Using Dynamic Versus Static Displays

HARRY HEFT is a professor of psychology at Denison University. His recent work includes the chapters “The Relevance of Gibson’s Ecological Approach to Perception for Environment-Behavior Studies” in Advances in Environment, Behavior, and Design (Vol. 4); “The Ecological Approach to Navigation: A Gibsonian Perspective” in The Construction of Cognitive Maps; and “Toward a Functional Ecology of Behavior and Development: The Legacy of Joachim F. Wohlwill” in Children, Cities, and Psychological Theories. JACK L. NASAR is a professor of city and regional planning at Ohio State University and editor of the Journal of Planning Literature. He has recently published the books The Evaluative Image of the City (Sage), Design by Competition: Making Design Competition Work (Cambridge), and coedited Directions in PersonEnvironment Research and Practice (Ashgate).
Oversight as Constraint or Catalyst?: Explaining Agency Influence on State Policy Decision Making

Do agency officials hold influence over the policy decisions made by state legislators and governors? For years, scholars have asserted the important informational role that bureaucrats play within the U.S. policy-making process. However, we have only limited knowledge of the theoretical mechanisms that may allow for this influence, or ultimately, whether this influence matters to public policy outcomes. We theorize that the political oversight of the bureaucracy by elected officials not only constrains the bureaucracy but also provides a pathway for agency officials to advance their preferences by communicating their policy expertise. We assess this argument with survey data from almost 600 state agency heads, drawn from the 50 states and across all agency types. Using a multilevel model, we find that the “oversight mechanism” is a key driver of agency influence over gubernatorial policy decisions; however, it does a poor job explaining agency policy influence within state legislatures. These results sug...
Tele-sports and tele-dance: full-body network interaction

Researchers have had great success using motion capture tools for controlling avatars in virtual worlds. Another current of virtual reality research has focused on building collaborative environments connected by networks. The present paper combines these tendencies to describe an open source software system that uses motion capture tools as input devices for realtime collaborative virtual environments. Important applications of our system lie in the realm of simulating interactive, multiparticipant physical activities like sport and dance. Several challenges and their respective solutions are outlined. First, we describe the infrastructure necessary to handle full-body articulated avatars as driven by motion capture equipment, including calibration and avatar creation. Next, we outline the PC cluster solution chosen to render our worlds, exploring methods of data sharing and synchronization, both within the PC cluster nodes and between different sites in the distributed system. Finally, virtual sports require physics, and we describe the simulation algorithms used.
Ecologically inspired cooperative control of multi-robot systems

In this paper we propose a new ecologically inspired control methodology for cooperative control of multi-robot systems. In this method we identify each individual robot as a subsystem of a large system and build the interactions between these subsystems to satisfy the design requirements. Interactions between these subsystems are built such that they mimic the interspecific (between species) interactions in an ecosystem. In the mathematical formulation of the control design, the subsystems and interactions between these subsystems are matrices whereas, interspecific interaction principles in an ecosystem are scalar in dimension. The novelty of this method lies in extending ecological principles that defined for scalars to matrices and then using these results in the design of the controller. Since we define the block matrices on the diagonal as the subsystems, the off-block-diagonal matrices clearly represent the interactions between these subsystems. Since control design involves determination of the off-block-diagonal matrices, it is seen that there is sufficient flexibility in the design of the controller.
Studying survival in Hodgkin's lymphoma: all for one, or one for all? Why methodology matters.

The paradigm of therapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) in the past half century has transformed from nihilism to optimism, and more recently, idealism—in the recognition that successful treatment need not impart a heavy cost. Successive cooperative group trials, testing approaches aiming to minimize treatment-related toxicities while maintaining cure rates, report a steady improvement in survival outcomes (reviewed by Bartlett [1]). Brenner et al. [2] provide insight on this phenomenon from a different vantage point, employing a projection-based model using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data to estimate the survival rate of future HL patients. Their model is first applied to historical cohorts, where it outperforms other methods for estimating outcomes, and is then used to project the survival of HL patients diagnosed in 2006 –2010. Stated goals of the study are to provide more timely and useful survival figures in HL, given that published registry data may lag years behind therapeutic improvements. The model projects that patients diagnosed with HL in 2006 –2010 will achieve higher 5and 10-year survival rates than ever before, especially for adults aged 45–54 (and with the possible exception of adults aged 75, who represent a minute fraction of HL patients). The model, which assumes positive trends for prior years in the SEER data, seems somewhat self-fulfilling. It might be expected to project improvements in many cancers, because survival even for lethal forms has improved in past decades [3]. And, although the authors suggest reasons for optimism based on their findings, the incremental improvements in survival projected in this report are modest in the context of historical gains in HL. Likely of greater relevance to the typical young, curable HL patient is the impact of treatment on fertility, organ function, and development of secondary cancers, and how to reduce their risk for such late effects. As shown in a report on nearly 2,500 HL patients treated at Stanford, mortality in the long-term (15 years after therapy) has more to do with late treatment effects like cardiac disease and second malignancies than recurrent HL [4]. The authors acknowledge the late effects of therapy, and note that their 10-year projection would include few deaths from such causes. Secondary solid tumors attributable to radiotherapy, for example, occur after a latency of 5–10 years and show a continual increase in risk [5]. Chemotherapy alone has been shown to produce equivalent survival to strategies involving radiotherapy in diverse groups of patients with early and advanced stage HL [6–8], suggesting
Synergy of Daptomycin with Oxacillin and Other β-Lactams against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

We previously observed marked synergy between daptomycin and both rifampin and ampicillin against vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). Because the synergy between daptomycin and ampicillin was observed for 100% of VRE strains with high-level ampicillin resistance (ampicillin MIC of ≥128 μg/ml), we looked for synergy between daptomycin and other β-lactams against 18 strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by employing a time-kill method using Mueller-Hinton broth supplemented to 50 mg of Ca2+/liter. All strains were resistant to oxacillin (16 of 18 strains were resistant at drug concentrations of ≥256 μg/ml), and all strains were susceptible to daptomycin (the MIC at which 90% of the tested isolates were inhibited was 1 μg/ml). Daptomycin was tested at concentrations of 2, 1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.125, and 0.0625 μg/ml alone or in combination with oxacillin at a fixed concentration of 32 μg/ml. Synergy was found for all 18 strains with daptomycin at one-half the MIC in combination with 32 μg of oxacillin/ml, and synergy was found for 11 of 18 strains (61%) with daptomycin at one-fourth the MIC or less in combination with oxacillin. At 24 h, the daptomycin-oxacillin combination with daptomycin at one-half the MIC showed bactericidal activity against all 18 strains, and the combination with one-fourth the daptomycin MIC showed bactericidal activity against 9 of 18 strains. We also used a novel screening method to look for synergy between daptomycin and other β-lactams. In this approach, daptomycin was incorporated into Ca2+-supplemented Mueller-Hinton agar at subinhibitory concentrations, and synergy was screened by comparing test antibiotic Kirby-Bauer disks on agar with and without daptomycin. By this method, daptomycin with ampicillin-sulbactam, ticarcillin-clavulanate, or piperacillin-tazobactam showed synergy comparable to or greater than daptomycin with oxacillin. For seven of the eight strains tested, time-kill studies confirmed synergy between daptomycin and ampicillin-sulbactam with ampicillin in the range of 2 to 8 μg/ml. The combination of daptomycin and β-lactams may be useful for the treatment of MRSA infection, but further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms and to determine the in vivo efficacy of the combination.
Assessment of health-related quality of life in orthopaedic outcomes' studies

The assessment of health-related quality of life is becoming increasingly important in evaluating the effectiveness of orthopaedic interventions. This report provides an overview of issues related to the assessment of quality of life in orthopaedic populations. Discussed are the definition and dimensions of health-related quality of life; the usefulness of collecting quality of life data; methodological considerations in designing outcomes' studies; the selection of quality of life instruments; modes of instrument administration; and scoring.
Inclusion of cocoa as a dietary supplement represses expression of inflammatory proteins in spinal trigeminal nucleus in response to chronic trigeminal nerve stimulation

Scope—Central sensitization is implicated in the pathology of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) and other types of orofacial pain. We investigated the effects of dietary cocoa on expression of proteins involved in the development of central sensitization in the spinal trigeminal nucleus (STN) in response to inflammatory stimulation of trigeminal nerves. Methods and results—Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed either a control diet or an isocaloric diet consisting of 10% cocoa powder 14 days prior to bilateral injection of complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) into the temporomandibular joint to promote prolonged activation of trigeminal ganglion neurons and glia. While dietary cocoa stimulated basal expression of GLAST and MKP-1 when compared to animals on a normal diet, cocoa suppressed basal calcitonin generelated peptide levels in the STN. CFA-stimulated levels of protein kinase A, P2X3, P-p38, GFAP, and OX-42, whose elevated levels in the STN are implicated in central sensitization, were repressed to near control levels in animals on a cocoa enriched diet. Similarly, dietary cocoa repressed CFA-stimulated inflammatory cytokine expression. Conclusion—Based on our findings, we speculate that cocoa enriched diets could be beneficial as a natural therapeutic option for TMD and other chronic orofacial pain conditions.
A comparison of the effectiveness of soy protein isolate and fish oil for reducing the severity of retinoid-induced hypertriglyceridemia.

Abstract The effectiveness of soy protein isolate (SPI) to reduce the severity of retinoid-induced hypertriglyceridemia has been demonstrated in the rat, but not in human subjects. Because fish oil has been demonstrated to be effective at lowering serum triglyceride concentration in human subjects undergoing retinoid therapy, a study was conducted to compare the ability of SPI with that of fish oil to reduce the severity of retinoid-induced hypertriglyceridemia in the rat. Male Fischer 344 rats, n = 8/group, were fed one of four isonitrogenous, isoenergetic diets, consisting of a control diet containing 24% casein +20% corn oil (C), and three 13-cis retinoic acid (13cRA)-supplemented diets containing 24% casein +20% corn oil (R), 24% SPI +20% corn oil (SR), and 24% casein +15% fish oil and 5% corn oil (FR). There was no effect of diet on food intake or final body weight. Serum triglyceride concentration for group R was higher ( P
Multi-scale fracture of random heterogeneous materials

This article presents new probabilistic models for generating microstructures and multi-scale fracture analysis of a random heterogeneous material. The microstructure model involves a level-cut, inhomogeneous, filtered Poisson field comprising a sum of deterministic kernel functions that are scaled by random variables and centred at Poisson points. The fracture model involves stochastic description of the particle volume fraction and locations and constituent material properties, two-scale algorithms including micro-scale and macro-scale analyses, and dimensional decomposition or Monte Carlo simulation for reliability analysis. Numerical results demonstrate that the random field model is capable of producing a wide variety of two- and three-dimensional microstructures containing particles of various sizes, shapes, densities, gradations and orientations. The results of fracture analysis indicate that the concurrent model developed is sufficiently accurate, gives probabilistic solutions very close to those ...
The Use of an Automatic Computer System in Teachin

PLATO II is an automatic teaching device designed to teach a number of students concurrently, but independently, by means of a single, central, high-speed computer. Only two student sites have been constructed thus far, but, in principal, the number of students that can be taught by PLATO II is limited only by the capacity and speed of the central computer. The power of such a computer-based teaching system stems from its ability to ask complex questions, judge the students' answers to these questions, and take an appropriate course of action on the basis of student responses. The computer also keeps detailed and accurate records of student performance, which are extremely useful guides to improving course content. The paper reports in some detail a study using PLATO II to teach nine undergraduate students a portion of a course on computer programming. By way of example of what can be done, the paper presents some analysis and interpretation of data gathered by the computer in the course of the study. The apparent effectiveness of PLATO II as a teacher, as well as the kinds of problems encountered in preparing lesson material for an automatic system, are discussed.
Factors affecting density transients in a fluidized bed

The effects of five operating variables on the uniformity of fluidization in a 4-in.-diameter column were determined by a statistically designed experiment. Density fluctuations inside the bed were measured by a capacitance method. Certain parts of the experiment were repeated in a 24-in.-diameter column for comparison with the 4-in.-column data. In the 4-in. column gas velocity had by far the greatest effect on uniformity, with uniformity generally decreasing with an increase in gas velocity. This is consistent with the theory that most gas introduced in excess of the rate for incipient fluidization passes through the bed in the form of various-sized bubbles. Better uniformity at the lower bed level indicates that bubbles grow in size as they proceed up the column. An entirely different gas-flow pattern was indicated in the 24-in. column.
Fearless Archaeologist: Susan Kent’s Vision for Ethnoarchaeology

Susan Kent was a remarkable archaeologist who died in 2003 at the age of 50. That she died in her hotel room in Milwaukee while attending the Society for American Archaeology (SAA) meetings rather adds to her mystique leading Kehoe (2006) to refer to her as an ‘anomalous archaeologist.’ In the decade since her death, the American Anthropological Association published a special volume on Sue Kent and her work in their Archaeological Papers series (Ashmore et al. 2006), containing numerous tributes to her and retrospectives on her life and work. It is hard to imagine that anything else needs to be said, but Susan Kent was truly a classic whose work dominates ethnoarchaeology, and she is most deserving of being placed permanently in the pantheon of ethnoarchaeological forebears in the Ethnoarchaeology Classics series. I had the pleasure of knowing Sue, although I did not know her well. Obviously, I knew her work and had heard her give papers at conferences, but I first started speaking with her when she invited me to present a paper in her session on gender at the Society of Africanist Archaeologists meetings in 1996. I was unable to attend the conference but I did contribute a chapter to what would become her edited volume Gender in African Prehistory (Kent 1998a). Sue ran the editorship of the book like a military campaign, demanding that all contributors meet strict deadlines and threatening them with expulsion if they did not comply. At this point Sue had a lot of excellent edited volumes under her belt. She seems to always have had the power to draw big names to her volumes, a power that encouraged everyone to comply with her orders, especially junior scholars like me who were anxious to be associated with the luminaries. In those days, email was just beginning and much of Sue’s cajoling and threatening had to be done by regular mail and by phone. Sue had very little financial support at Old Dominion University, and she had to pay for all her long distance phone calls and all her mail out of her own pocket, making her dedication to producing edited volumes all the more impressive. When I discovered this, I called her back whenever she phoned me so that we could talk at length on my institution’s dime. Sue was full of ideas, a lively conversationalist and very funny. She was a terrifically generous colleague, very interested in networking people, and I have her to thank for several introductions and opportunities that have come my way. The shadow over her life however, was her state of chronic ill health. In the mid 1990s
Direct Binding of GTP Cyclohydrolase and Tyrosine Hydroxylase REGULATORY INTERACTIONS BETWEEN KEY ENZYMES IN DOPAMINE BIOSYNTHESIS

The signaling functions of dopamine require a finely tuned regulatory network for rapid induction and suppression of output. A key target of regulation is the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in dopamine synthesis, which is activated by phosphorylation and modulated by the availability of its cofactor, tetrahydrobiopterin. The first enzyme in the cofactor synthesis pathway, GTP cyclohydrolase I, is activated by phosphorylation and inhibited by tetrahydrobiopterin. We previously reported that deficits in GTP cyclohydrolase activity in Drosophila heterozygous for mutant alleles of the gene encoding this enzyme led to tightly corresponding diminution of in vivo tyrosine hydroxylase activity that could not be rescued by exogenous cofactor. We also found that the two enzymes could be coimmunoprecipitated from tissue extracts and proposed functional interactions between the enzymes that extended beyond provision of cofactor by one pathway for another. Here, we confirm the physical association of these enzymes, identifying interacting regions in both, and we demonstrate that their association can be regulated by phosphorylation. The functional consequences of the interaction include an increase in GTP cyclohydrolase activity, with concomitant protection from end-product feedback inhibition. In vivo, this effect would in turn provide sufficient cofactor when demand for catecholamine synthesis is greatest. The activity of tyrosine hydroxylase is also increased by this interaction, in excess of the stimulation resulting from phosphorylation alone. Vmax is elevated, with no change in Km. These results demonstrate that these enzymes engage in mutual positive regulation.
Path-following algorithm for passive localization of near-field sources

Presents a new algorithm for passive localization of multiple narrow-band near-field sources using a uniform linear array. The algorithm is computationally efficient and has global convergence. It minimizes the MUSIC cost function with respect to the source ranges and bearings, subject to geometrical constraints imposed by the curvature of the received wavefronts. It is shown that, when the cost function is expanded in a two-dimensional power series in the Fresnel region, the estimation problem reduces to one of solving a set of two coupled two-dimensional polynomial equations. The proposed algorithm solves this nonlinear problem using a modification of the path-following (or homotopy) method. >
Biomolecular Computing Realized in Parallel Flow Systems: Enzyme-Based Double Feynman Logic Gate

An enzyme system organized in a flow device with three parallel channels was used to mimic a reversible Double Feynman Gate (DFG) with three input and three output signals. Reversible conversion of NAD+ and NADH cofactors was used to perform XOR logic operations, while biocatalytic oxidation of NADH resulted in Identity operation working in parallel. The first biomolecular realization of a DFG gate is promising for integrating into complex biomolecular networks operating in future unconventional biocomputing systems, as well as for novel biosensor applications.
System design that minimizes both missed detections and false alarms: a case study in arc fault detection

This paper considers several components in the architecture and design of systems to discriminate conditions and fuse the data. It focuses on the problems of missing detections and reducing the possibility of generating false positive alarms. It uses a case study of a protective system that detects arcing faults in power switchboards on board ships. The results in this paper can be used in many systems that must monitor and detect hazardous events both accurately and consistently while minimizing false positive alarms that can cause harmful results. Examples include power plants, hospitals, computer installations, web servers, military sensors that detect enemy vehicles, aircraft engine monitoring, and telecommunications.
Altered inotropic response of endothelin-1 in cardiomyocytes from rats with isoproterenol-induced cardiomyopathy

Objective: The positive inotropic effect of endothelin-1 (ET-1) on normal myocardial contraction may be altered in pathological states. The purpose of this study was to assess the direct effect of ET-1 on cardiomyocyte performance and its cellular mechanism in congestive heart failure (CHF). Methods: We measured the plasma levels of ET-1 and compared the effects of ET-1 (10−10–10−8 M) on contractile performance and the [Ca2+]i transient in the myocytes of left ventricles (LV) from 15 age-matched normal adult rats and 15 rats with isoproterenol (ISO)-induced CHF. Results: With CHF, the plasma levels of ET-1 (19.7±6.3 vs. 4.1±0.5 fmol/ml, p <0.05) were markedly elevated. In normal myocytes, superfusion of ET-1 caused significant increases in the systolic amplitude (SA, 8–16%) and the peak velocity of shortening (d L /d t max, 20–35%; p <0.01) without causing a change in the peak [Ca2+]i transient. In contrast, in myocytes from CHF rats, ET-1 produced significant reductions in SA (9–13%) and in the velocity of relengthening, d R /d t max (10–14%; p <0.05). The myocytes' d R /d t max also decreased by 8–10% ( p <0.05). These changes were associated with a significant decrease in the peak [Ca2+]i transient (20–23%, p <0.0 1). These responses to ET-1 were abolished by the incubation of myocytes with an ETA receptor antagonist (BQ123) or a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor (H-7 or staurosporine). Conclusion: ISO-induced CHF is associated with elevated plasma ET-1 and an altered cardiomyocyte response to ET-1. After CHF, ET-1 produces a direct depression of cardiomyocyte contractile performance that is associated with a significant decrease in the peak [Ca2+]i transient. These effects are likely to be mediated through ETA receptors and involve the PKC pathway.
Reconstructing paleocatchments by integrating stable isotope records, sedimentology, and taphonomy: A Late Cretaceous case study (Montana, United States)

Robust isotopic reconstructions of climate, elevation, and biology require a reasonable capture of the range of isotopic variability across a paleolandscape. Here, we illustrate how integrating multiple proxies derived from a variety of paleoenvironments aids in this effort. We determined d 18O and d13C values from lake and soil carbonates, unionid shells, gar scales, and crocodile teeth from multiple depositional environments (lakes, soils, ponds, streams, and large rivers) spanning a 300 km proximal-to-distal transect within the Late Cretaceous foreland basin of Montana. Two major patterns emerge. First, quiet water environments display higher d 18O and lower d13C values than large rivers, which indicates greater input from local precipitation compared to highaltitude runoff, and a relatively larger contribution of degraded vegetative matter to the dissolved inorganic carbon load. Second, proxies with seasonal biases toward late spring and summer growth display lower d18O and d13C values in the basin proximal setting compared to the distal coastal setting, which is linked to the rainout history of vapor masses moving across the foreland basin. Overall these isotopic patterns mirror those in modern catchments, support hypotheses of monsoonal rainfall within the basin, and suggest a hypsometric mean elevation of ,2.6 km within the Sevier orogenic belt. Furthermore, our results indicate a potential to subdivide freshwater paleoecosystems to refine paleobiologic studies of habitat preference and migration patterns.
Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation in Legume Nodules

Nitrogen is an essential element for all living organisms. Although N accounts for only 1 to 2% of the dry weight of most plant materials, it is exceeded in amount only by carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
Nitrogen cycling in a freshwater estuary

Freshwater estuaries may be important control points but have received limited research attention, emblematic of a general under-appreciation of these ecosystems and the services they provide. These ecotone environments exist at the interface of rivers flowing into large lakes, where seiches cause mixing of lotic and lentic waters within flooded river deltas. We assessed the dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) retention and processing controls in the Saint Louis River Estuary (SLRE), which receives inputs from rivers, urban sources, and Lake Superior. Nitrate (NO3–N) was the dominant form of DIN and was consistently highest in the lower estuary due to seiche-delivered Lake Superior water and nitrification of ammonium from urban sources. The estuary transitioned from a net NO3–N source during high flows to a net sink during summer baseflow conditions. NO3–N availability controlled site-specific denitrification rates while sediment organic matter explained the spatial pattern in denitrification potential. As the estuary shifted from a riverine state to one with more lake influence, seiches delivered Lake Superior NO3–N to the lower portion of the estuary, alleviating the final denitrification control and activating the estuary’s ‘denitrification pump’. This amplified removal condition is maintained by critically delivered NO3–N during periods of warm temperatures and long residence times. Often these controls are unsynchronized in streams where NO3–N is typically lowest during summer baseflow. Similar ephemeral biogeochemical processes are likely found within other seiche-prone lakes where organic-rich sediments accumulate at river mouths and are supplied with chemically distinct lake water during low flow periods.
Temperature and Heart Rate in Chick Embryos

In accordance with expectation, the embryonic chick heart exposes recurrently temperature characteristics of the orders 8,200, 14,200, 16,400, 18,300, 20,500 and 25,200. These are found in both myogenic and neurogenic hearts but not with the same frequencies. These two periods of development also differ in the localisation of critical points. So far µ = 8,200, 14,200 and 18,300 have been exposed in embryos only by Fundulus ; the remaining three orders however are recurrent also in the embryogeny of Limulus . Two orders not included in this hst (5,000 and 11,000) are rare, yet, even so, not restricted to any one of the three forms. These facts, together with their implications, suggest for heart rhythm in Limulus, Fundulus and the Chick, an underlying physical-chemical mechanism in structure identical for all three types of heart at all stages of development, and differing in neurogenic stages only by a revision of the myogenic time relations.
Plastic Behavior of Tubular Beams Columns

The elastic and plastic behavior of ASTM A-36 tubular beam columns is studied. Experimental results for three tests of tubular beam columns are presented. These tests show that the tubular section is appreciably stronger than a similar wide flange section. This is especially apparent when the beam column is subjected to a relatively large axial load. A theoretical investigation of the tubular shape of a beam column is also conducted. Theoretical moment-axial load-curvature ratio curves are derived for the tubular section with no residual stresses. Values of curvature are numerically integrated to obtain the theoretical beam column buckling load. These data are compared to current analysis equations for beam columns.
Plastic deformation behavior of a thermo-mechanically processed AZ31 magnesium alloy under a wide range of temperature and strain rate

Abstract Effects of texture evolution and grain refinement induced by Equal Channel Angular Pressing, ECAP, on mechanical responses of an extruded AZ31 magnesium alloy are investigated. Uniaxial compression loading is carried out under a wide range of temperature (77 K–423 K) and strain rate (10 −4 s −1 –3000 s −1 ) along pressing direction (PD), transverse direction (TD), and normal direction (ND). The s-shape strain hardening curve which is the main characteristic of twin-dominated deformation shows a strong dependency on testing temperature and strain rate in the ECAPed material so that during loading at the highest temperature (423 K) and the lowest strain rate (10 −4 s −1 ), s-shape hardening is no longer present. However, measured texture under the mentioned loading condition reveals crystal reorientation due to twinning which implies that the absence of concaved-up stress–strain curve is not necessarily indicative of suppression of twinning. On the other hand, the measured texture during high temperature dynamic loading suggests saturation of twinning at smaller strains. Schmid factor maps, in agreement with Visco-Plastic Self Consistent (VPSC) models, suggest the higher activity of twinning and basal slip in plastic yielding of the extruded and ECAPed AZ31, respectively.
Acoustic courtship communication in Syntomeida epilais Wlk. (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae, Ctenuchinae)

The polka-dot wasp moth,Syntomedia epilais Wlk. (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae, Ctenuchinae), engages in extensive acoustic signaling during courtship. The signals, which are produced by both sexes, consist of sexually dimorphic trains of ultrasonic clicks. Field and laboratory behavioral experiments demonstrated that (1) sound production from both the male and the female is required for mating success, (2) femaleS. epilais show a higher level of acoustic responsiveness to male acoustic signals than to female signals, and (3) males use the female acoustic signals to locate their potential mates. It is suggested that the existence of the system is made possible by a reduction in bat predation pressure, perhaps the result of extreme distastefulness combined with the distinctive acoustic image that flying ctenuchines present to foraging bats.
Subcutaneous emphysema, pneumoretroperitoneum, and pneumomediastinum following rectal surgery: Report of a case and review of the literature

A case of retroperitoneal, mediastinal, and subcutaneous emphysema following rectal surgery is described. This complication has not been reported in medical literature. Treatment was based on the fear of a more extensive and irreversible situation, because on the basis of the single case, it could not be demonstrated that the intestinal gas was not associated with infection.