cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Twin studies of psychopathology: Why do the concordance rates vary?

Many current discussions of hereditary factors in psychopathology focus on twin studies as the primary source of evidence supporting the importance of genetic determinants. In summarizing the results of these studies, authors often derive estimates of concordance rates by collapsing across studies and presenting mean or median rates. This practice implicitly assumes that the concordance rates yielded by different studies represent equally reliable estimates of the population mean. The present study evaluates the validity of this assumption. Reports of twin studies of schizophrenia and affective disorder were reviewed. A meta-analysis was conducted to examine the influence of methodological factors on concordance rates. Analyses indicated that both sample-selection and zygosity-determination procedure are systematically associated with concordance rates. For schizophrenia, MZ concordance rates are significantly lower when samples are selected from a twin register as opposed to a psychiatric facility. Lower MZ concordance rates are also yielded by studies that employ laboratory procedures to determine zygosity. Implications of the findings for future research are discussed.
Engagement in Classroom Learning: Creating Temporal Participation Incentives for Extrinsically Motivated Students Through Bonus Credits

Extrinsic inducements to adjust students’ learning motivations have evolved within 2 opposing paradigms. Cognitive evaluation theories claim that controlling factors embedded in extrinsic rewards dissipate intrinsic aspirations. Behavioral theorists contend that if engagement is voluntary, extrinsic reinforcements enhance learning without ill effects. The author offers a simple engagement bonus awarding strategy highly adaptable to learners. The model is an application of the labor supply theory and is an extension of the impact of premium wages on incentives to work overtime. Empirical results support the hypothesis that incentives to engage substantially increase as bonus scores increase the opportunity costs of leisure.
The effect of variations in text summarization opportunities on test performance

Abstract The performance of college students who wrote no, 1, or 2 summaries while studying a text for a recall (fill-in-the-blanks) and recognition (multiple-choice) test was compared. Students in the 3 groups were matched on total amount of time spent studying. Performance on recall and recognition measures for students who wrote only 1 summary of an entire text was superior to that of students who wrote no or 2 summaries (1 for each half of the text). These results (a) support the hypothesis that less frequent summarizing, which requires greater effort, produces better performance; (b) rule out total study time as an explanation for the previously found advantage of summarization; and (c) show that the effect can be obtained for recognition as well as recall measures.
The National Arthritis Action Plan: a public health strategy for a looming epidemic.

The disease burdens caused by arthritis in the United States are already enormous. Current estimates are that 43 million Americans have arthritis (1). It is the most common cause of disability in adults (2), and its economic impact exceeds $65 billion in medical and disability costs (3). These burdens will increase dramatically in the near future. By 2020, the prevalence of arthritis is projected to rise to 60 million, an increase of nearly 50% in two decades (4). The economic costs of arthritis are projected to exceed $100 billion by 2020. These remarkable increases indicate that we face a looming epidemic of arthritis. Epidemics call for a public health approach. One key element of the public health approach is population-based efforts to control a disease (5). These population-based efforts complement the medical treatment of individual cases (6). A second key element of the public health approach is an emphasis on prevention. This emphasis encompasses primary prevention (efforts to completely prevent new cases of a disease), secondary prevention (efforts oriented towards early diagnosis and curative intervention), and tertiary prevention (efforts to ameliorate the effects of established disease) (5). Recognizing that arthritis is an increasingly important public health problem, a consortium of national organizations has produced “The National Arthritis Action Plan: A Public Health Strategy.” This exciting new approach to arthritis was developed under the leadership of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Arthritis Foundation, and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. These 3 organizations were joined by nearly 90 other organizations, including governmental agencies, voluntary health associations, academic institutions, professional associations, and others with an interest in arthritis prevention. The result of this collaboration is a comprehensive, ambitious, and inspiring plan for addressing the looming epidemic of arthritis. The National Arthritis Action Plan is based on certain underlying principles, which include the following.
Mobility Assessment: Sensitivity and Specificity of Measurement Sets in Older Adults

Abstract Panzer VP, Wakefield DB, Hall CB, Wolfson LI. Mobility assessment: sensitivity and specificity of measurement sets in older adults. Objective To identify quantitative measurement variables that characterize mobility in older adults, meet reliability and validity criteria, distinguish fall risk, and predict future falls. Design Observational study with 1-year weekly falls follow-up. Setting Mobility laboratory. Participants Community-dwelling volunteers (N=74; age, 65–94y) categorized at entry as 27 nonfallers or 47 fallers by using Medicare criteria (1 injury fall or >1 noninjury fall in the previous year). Interventions None. Main Outcome Measures Test-retest and within-subject reliability, criterion and concurrent validity; predictive ability indicated by observed sensitivity and specificity to entry fall-risk group (falls status), Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA), computerized dynamic posturography Sensory Organization Test (SOT), and subsequent falls reported weekly. Results Measurement variables were selected that met reliability (intraclass coefficient of correlation >.6) and/or discrimination ( P Conclusions Sets of quantitative measurement variables obtained with this mobility battery provided sensitive prediction of future injury falls and screening for multiple subsequent falls by using tasks that should be appropriate to diverse participants.
Embryonic expression of tenascin-X suggests a role in limb, muscle, and heart development

Tenascin-X (TN-X) is the newest member of the tenascin family of extracellular matrix proteins and it is highly expressed in muscular tissues during development. To gain insight into the possible functions of TN-X during development, we evaluated its expression in the rat embryo. Using an 800 bp cDNA encoding the fibrinogen-like domain of TN-X, we show that TN-X expression begins in migrating cells of the epicardium in the E12 heart. The epicardium provides progenitors of fibrous and vascular tissue to the developing heart. After the epicardium is complete, TN-X is expressed in the sub-epicardial space in association with developing blood vessels, and later by non-myocytes dispersed through the myocardial wall. A similar pattern of TN-X expression, first in connective tissue surrounding muscle, and then by a subset of cells within muscle, was seen in para-axial, body wall, craniofacial, and appendicular muscle. This pattern suggests a role in connective tissue cell migration and late muscle morphogenesis. TN-X is also highly expressed in the interdigital space at E15 and surrounding developing tendons, suggesting an additional role in cell fate determination. Although the pattern of TN-X expression is distinct from that of tenascin C, they are frequently expressed in close proximity. Indirect genetic evidence in humans suggests an essential function for TN-X, and the pattern of TN-X expression in heart, skeletal muscle, and limb is consistent with this hypothesis.
Patterns of inhaled corticosteroid use and asthma control in the Childhood Asthma Management Program Continuation Study

Background Daily controller medication use is recommended for children with persistent asthma to achieve asthma control. Objective To examine patterns of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use and asthma control in an observational study of children and adolescents with mild-to-moderate asthma (the Childhood Asthma Management Program Continuation Study). Methods We assessed patterns of ICS use during a 12-month period (consistent, intermittent, and none) and asthma control (well controlled vs poorly controlled). Multivariate logistic regression examined the association between pattern of ICS use and asthma control. Results Of 914 patients enrolled, 425 were recommended to continue receiving ICS therapy in the Childhood Asthma Management Program Continuation Study. Of these patients, 46% reported consistent ICS use and 20% reported no ICS use during year 1. By year 4, consistent ICS use decreased to 20%, whereas no ICS use increased to 57%; poorly controlled asthma was reported in 18% of encounters. In multivariate models controlling for age, sex, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and asthma severity assessment, patients reporting consistent ICS use during a 12-month period were more likely to report poor asthma control (odds ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.1) compared with those reporting no ICS use. Conclusions In this observational study of children and adolescents with mild-to-moderate asthma, most did not report continued use of ICS. Patients recommended to continue receiving ICS therapy and reporting consistent ICS use were less likely to report well-controlled asthma even after controlling for markers of asthma severity. Although residual confounding by severity cannot be ruled out, many children and adolescents may not achieve well-controlled asthma despite consistent use of ICS.
Ice Can Look like Glass: A Phenomenological Investigation of Movement Meaning in One Fifth-Grade Class during a Creative Dance Unit

Abstract The movement meanings of students (n = 19) in one fifth-grade class during a creative dance unit focusing on effort (force, time, space, flow) are investigated using a perspective grounded in transcendental phenomenology (Husserl, 1931). Data were collected via videotape, journal, and homework documents and semistructured interviews. Analytical induction (Patton, 2002) structured a four-step analysis process that reduced meaning to its essential essence. Movement meaning was found to be a multifaceted construct that varied among students within and across five dimensions. To enhance meaningful learning educators are encouraged to consider reflexively (a) their philosophical orientation relative to knowledge making and curriculum values, (b) instructional techniques that help students' access meaning and (c) the contribution of dance as a source of meaning.
Development of a parallel acquisition system for ultrasound research

Medical ultrasound research is typically performed using either video image data, or summed Radio Frequency (RF) data. While such data has led to improved understanding of ultrasound image formation, and in the development of novel image formation and signal processing algorithms, it contains only a fraction of the information available in the individual beamformer channels before summation. This paper describes the development of an advanced experimental system which will simultaneously acquire RF data from 128 individual beamformer channels. We refer to such data, acquired across the transducer face, as aperture domain data. The system will be capable of continuous acquisition over a period of 1.6 seconds, the equivalent of 50 image frames. The system will also incorporate a data interface to allow future connection to custom processing units, ultimately enabling real-time processing of aperture domain data. The system will be constructed around a state of the art Agilent Technologies SONOS 5500 ultrasonic imaging system to enable real-time imaging and preserve broad signal bandwidth, high signal to noise ratio, and high dynamic range. The proposed system will facilitate research on adaptive imaging, system architecture, multidimensional blood flow estimation, broadband transducers, and a number of other areas.
Implications of pulse sequence in structural imaging of trabecular bone.

Purpose: To investigate the SNR and image properties of 3D steady-state free precession (SSFP), fast large-angle spin echo (FLASE), gradient-recalled acquisition in steady state (GRASS), and spoiled GRASS (SPGR) for structural imaging of trabecular bone (TB). Materials and Methods: SNR was examined theoretically and experimentally on phantoms, bone specimens, and in vivo. The bone volume fraction, TB thickness, and echo time (TE) dependence of the thickness were compared. The trabecula was modeled as a cylinder in simulations to examine the intravoxel spin-dephasing in SSFP and GRASS. Images were acquired on a 1.5T Siemens Sonata system (40 mT/m maximum gradient, 200 T/m/s peak slew rate). Results: Within the hardware and safety limit constraints, SNR of FLASE was superior, followed by SSFP, GRASS, and SPGR. The trabecular thickness derived from gradient-echo images was 10 – 45% greater than that obtained with FLASE. Conversely, SSFP images delineated partial volume trabeculae better than FLASE. Simulations indicated that the artifactual thickening was more severe in SSFP than in GRASS, which was attributed to off-resonance effects from the induced gradients at the bone/marrow interface. Conclusion: FLASE had the highest SNR and was insensitive to susceptibility dephasing. Although SSFP has superior SNR compared to GRASS, off-resonance effects and duty cycle limitations may compromise its practicality in this application.
Light Transmission Through Selected Cuticular Areas of Blaberus craniifer

The relative transmittance of visible and infrared radiation was measured for cuticle from the vertex, 2 pairs of wing tips in repose plus underlying tergite, light and dark pigmented pronotal areas, one wing tip, and the 6th abdominal tergite and sternite of the cockroach, Blaberus craniifer Burmeister. Significant differences in transmission between these cuticular areas, measured in μw/cm2, were observed with the light pigmented pronotal cuticle having the highest and the dark pigmented pronotal cuticle having the lowest percent transmittance at all wave lengths.
Tutorial CIFER-T1 Frontiers of computational engineering and finance: Modeling and calibrating credit risk

We start discussing the main components of credit risk frameworks which require to model default probability, loss given default and their product which generates the credit spreads. We discuss how credit spreads are related to default risk. We review the main approaches to credit risk modeling including structural frameworks, intensity based methods and models with incomplete information which combine the best features of the previous two approaches.
Electrical conductivity and defect chemistry of PbMoO4 and PbWO4

The ionic and electronic conductivities of Czochralski-grown single crystals of PbMoO4 and PbWO4 are reported and discussed. Nominally pure crystals, as well as crystals with various aliovalent dopants, were used. From the electrical measurements it is concluded that oxygen vacancies are responsible for the ionic conductivities in both compounds. At high temperatures electronic conductivity predominates. Measurements of the oxygen partial pressure dependence of the electronic conductivity reveal that hole conduction prevails in PbWO4, while mixed conduction by holes and electrons is present in PbMoO4.
A very low-cost 3D scanning system for whole-body imaging

A low-cost, high resolution 3D scanning system has been developed at the University of North Dakota that creates 3D models (complete with color and texture data) using hardware and software with a cost of approximately $5,000. This paper presents the design, testing and initial uses for this scanning hardware; it also discusses the efficacy of this technology for a variety of applications and the utility of being able to capture high-quality scans at low cost. A discussion of the required operating conditions and the limitations that this places on the applications the scanner is suitable for is also included.
Complete inlining of recursive calls: beyond tail-recursion elimination

A compiler optimizing transformation called complete inlining to inline and eliminate recursive calls is presented. The complete inlining can eliminate the recursive calls that cannot be eliminated by tail-recursion elimination. It can inline the recursive calls completely which the existing procedure inlining can only inline partially.
Architecture for intelligent control systems

Intelligent control, encompassing the theory and applications of both artificial intelligence and automatic control, is discussed. Three types of software environment and architecture have been developed: single expert systems that only process symbolic information and assist control engineers in the decision-making process for design and offline monitoring; coupling systems that simply combine numerical computation programs with an expert system so that it can be used to solve some engineering problems; and large knowledge-integration environments that can integrate different expert systems and numerical packages to solve complex problems. The authors point out that building an expert system is not just a translation from the existing knowledge into a computer program. It is a process in which new expert knowledge can be generated and acquired. >
Restoration of domain folding and interdomain assembly by second-site suppressors of the ΔF508 mutation in CFTR

Deletion of PHE508 (ΔF508) from the first nucleotide-binding domain (NBD1) of CFTR, which causes most cystic fibrosis, disrupts the folding and assembly of the protein. Although the folding pathways and yield of isolated NBD1 are altered, its global structure is not, and details of the changes in the rest of the protein remain unclear. To gain further insight into how the whole mutant protein is altered, we have determined the influence of known second-site suppressor mutations in NBD1 on the conformation of this domain and key interfaces between domains. We found that the suppressors restored maturation of only those processing mutations located in NBD1, but not in other domains, including those in the C-terminal cytoplasmic loop of the second membrane-spanning domain, which forms an interface with the NBD1 surface. Nevertheless, the suppressors promoted the formation of this interface and others in the absence of F508. The suppressors restored maturation in a ΔF508 construct from which NBD2 was absent but to a lesser extent than in the full-length, indicating that ΔF508 disrupts interactions involving NBD2, as well as other domains. Rescue of ΔF508-CFTR by suppressors required the biosynthesis of the entire full-length protein in continuity, as it did not occur when N- and C-terminal “halves” were coexpressed. Simultaneous with these interdomain perturbations, ΔF508 resulted in suppressor reversed alterations in accessibility of residues both in the F508-containing NBD1 surface loop and in the Q loop within the domain core. Thus, in the context of the full-length protein, ΔF508 mutation causes detectable changes in NBD1 conformation, as well as interdomain interactions.—He, L., Aleksandrov, L. A., Cui, L., Jensen, T. J., Nesbitt, K. L., Riordan, J. R. Restoration of domain folding and interdomain assembly by second-site suppressors of the ΔF508 mutation in CFTR.
Ret-dependent and Ret-independent mechanisms of Gfl-induced sensitization

The GDNF family ligands (GFLs) are regulators of neurogenic inflammation and pain. We have previously shown that GFLs increase the release of the sensory neuron neuropeptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) from isolated mouse DRG. Inhibitors of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway abolished the enhancement of CGRP release by GDNF. Neurturin-induced enhancement in the stimulated release of CGRP, used as an indication of sensory neuronal sensitization, was abolished by inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI-3K) pathway. Reduction in Ret expression abolished the GDNF-induced sensitization, but did not fully inhibit the increase in stimulus-evoked release of CGRP caused by neurturin or artemin, indicating the presence of Ret-independent GFL-induced signaling in sensory neurons. Integrin β-1 and NCAM are involved in a component of Ret-independent GFL signaling in sensory neurons. These data demonstrate the distinct and variable Ret-dependent and Ret-independent signaling mechanisms by which GFLs induce sensitization of sensory neurons. Additionally, there is a clear disconnect between intracellular signaling pathway activation and changes in sensory neuronal function.
Plasma constituents and body weights of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) selected for twelve generations for plasma cholesterol responses to adrenocorticotropin.

Abstract Japanese quail were selected bidirectionally over 12 generations for plasma cholesterol (PC) responses to adrenocorticotropin (ACTH). In addition to the selected trait, plasma corticosteroids (PCS), triglycerides (PT), and glucose (PG) were measured before and after 3 daily injections of ACTH. The quail were also weighed at 31 days of age. By the 12th generation of selection, when measurements were expressed as deviations from the randombred control (C) line from which the selected lines had been derived, there was a difference in PC of approximately 55% between the high response (HR) and the low-response (LR) lines. Pre-ACTH PCS levels increased in all three lines over generations; however, relative to the C line, there was no difference between selected lines. The 3 days of ACTH injection depressed PCS levels. Relative to the C line, pre- and post-ACTH levels of PT were higher in the HR line than in the LR line, and the LR line declined linearly over generations. Levels of PG did not change over generation in the selected lines; however, pre-ACTH levels of PG tended to be higher in the LR line than in the HR line in all generations. Body weights of the HR line at 31 days remained almost exactly the same as the C line, but those of the LR line declined linearly over the 12 generations of selection. These studies demonstrated that the PC response to ACTH was moderately heritable (h2≅20)
A biologically-inspired computational model for transformation invariant target recognition

Transformation invariant image recognition has been an active research area due to its widespread applications in a variety of fields such as military operations, robotics, medical practices, geographic scene analysis, and many others. One of the primary challenges is detection and recognition of objects in the presence of transformations such as resolution, rotation, translation, scale and occlusion. In this work, we investigate a biologically-inspired computational modeling approach that exploits reinforcement learning (RL) for transformation-invariant image recognition. The RL is implemented in an adaptive critic design (ACD) framework to approximate the neuro-dynamic programming. Two ACD algorithms such as heuristic dynamic programming (HDP) and dual heuristic dynamic programming (DHP) are investigated and compared for transformation invariant recognition. The two learning algorithms are evaluated statistically using simulated transformations in 2-D images as well as with a large-scale UMIST 2-D face database with pose variations. Our simulations show promising results for both HDP and DHP for transformation-invariant image recognition as well as face authentication. Comparing the two algorithms, DHP outperforms HDP in learning capability, as DHP takes fewer steps to perform a successful recognition task in general. On the other hand, HDP is more robust than DHP as far as success rate across the database is concerned when applied in a stochastic and uncertain environment, and the computational complexity involved in HDP is much less.
Proviral burden and infection kinetics of feline immunodeficiency virus in lymphocyte subsets of blood and lymph node.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is similar to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 virologically and induces a clinical syndrome in cats comparable to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 syndrome in humans. To determine the lymphoid target cells of FIV, populations of CD4+ lymphocytes, CD8+ lymphocytes, and CD21+ lymphocytes (B cells) were enriched to more than 96.5% purity and then analyzed for FIV provirus by semiquantitative DNA amplification. We found FIV provirus in CD4+, CD8+, and B lymphocytes. In cats infected for 1 log10 higher in acutely infected cats than in chronically infected cats, primarily because of a higher level of CD4+ infection in the acutely infected cats. A comparison of proviral loads in mesenteric lymph node and peripheral blood mononuclear cells in acutely or chronically infected cats revealed no significant difference. A kinetics study of FIV infection demonstrated that all lymphocyte subpopulations were infected by 4 weeks postinoculation. Virus was isolated from CD4+, CD8+, and B cells in vitro, and reverse transcriptase PCR demonstrated that all subsets contained viral RNA in vivo and therefore are productive reservoirs for FIV.
The crossed-beam correlation technique.

Local turbulent properties of shear layer derived from covariance of two crossed perpendicular beams of radiation
A large superconducting thin solenoid for the STAR experiment at RHIC

The author describes the 4.4-m, warm bore diameter, thin superconducting solenoid, for the proposed Solenoidal Tracker at RHIC (STAR) experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). The STAR solenoid will generate a very uniform central magnetic induction of 0.5 T within a space which is 4.0 m in diameter by 4.2 m long. The solenoid and its cryostat will be 0.7 radiation lengths thick over a length of 5.45 m, about the center of the magnet, making it the largest solenoid less than one radiation length to be built. A proposed design for the solenoid and cryostat, its flux return iron, its cryogenic system, and its power supply and quench protection system is described. >
Semiparametric Bayesian Analysis of Selection Models

Selection models are appropriate when a datum x enters the sample only with probability or weight w(x). It is typically assumed that the weight function w is monotone, but the precise functional form of the weight function is often unknown. In this article, the Dirichlet process prior, centered on a parametric form, is used as a prior distribution on the weight function. This allows for incorporation of knowledge about the weight function, without restricting it to be of some particular functional form. By introducing latent variables related to the selection mechanism, computation via Gibbs sampling can be implemented in the case where the total number of selected and unselected observations, N, is known. When N is unknown, a reversible jump Markov chain sampler is needed to carry out the computations. An important difficulty that can be thought of as “practical nonidentifiability” is revealed, even for selection models in which the weight functions are theoretically identifiable. The proposed solution t...
Weight-for-stature compared with body mass index–for-age growth charts for the United States from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Background: The 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts for the United States include population reference data for body mass index (BMI)-for-age (ages 2-19 y) and weight-for-stature (from 77 to 121 cm). For younger children, either set of reference data could be used. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare BMI-for-age with weight-for-stature. Design: We used data for 4348 children (aged 2-5 y) from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Weight-for-stature and BMI-for-age percentiles were calculated for each child. The 10th and 85th percentiles of weight-for-stature at selected ages were also reexpressed as BMI-for-age percentiles. Results: More than 63% of children had lower weight-for-stature than BMI-for-age percentiles. Children were more likely to be classified as ≤ 10th percentile by weight-for-stature than by BMI-for-age, but less likely to be classified as ≥85th percentile. Differences in classification by the 2 measures varied with age and stature and were greater for shorter children. The 10th and 85th percentiles of weight-for-stature corresponded to BMI-for-age percentiles from the 3rd to the 21st percentile and from the 74th to the 92nd percentile, respectively, depending on age and stature. Conclusions: Weight-for-stature is easier to use than BMI-for-age. However, BMI-for-age captures changes in the weight-height relation with age and can be used continuously up to the age of 20 y. BMI-for-age is recommended in most situations. BMI-for-age and weight-for-stature will not give identical results and are not interchangeable.
Optimizing Medical Data Quality Based on Multiagent Web Service Framework

One of the most important issues in e-healthcare information systems is to optimize the medical data quality extracted from distributed and heterogeneous environments, which can extremely improve diagnostic and treatment decision making. This paper proposes a multiagent web service framework based on service-oriented architecture for the optimization of medical data quality in the e-healthcare information system. Based on the design of the multiagent web service framework, an evolutionary algorithm (EA) for the dynamic optimization of the medical data quality is proposed. The framework consists of two main components; first, an EA will be used to dynamically optimize the composition of medical processes into optimal task sequence according to specific quality attributes. Second, a multiagent framework will be proposed to discover, monitor, and report any inconstancy between the optimized task sequence and the actual medical records. To demonstrate the proposed framework, experimental results for a breast cancer case study are provided. Furthermore, to show the unique performance of our algorithm, a comparison with other works in the literature review will be presented.
Inhibition of serum luteinizing hormone and testosterone with an inhibitory analog of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone in adult male rhesus monkeys.

Abstract The effects of single and repeated administration of a potent LHRH inhibitory analog (antagonist) ([Nacetyl-D-ρ-chloro-Phe1,2,D-Trp3,D-Arg6,D-Ala10]LHRH) on serum concentrations of LH and testosterone (T) in adult rhesus monkeys were studied. In Exp 1, single sc injections of the LHRH antagonist (400 fig and 50 fig) or vehicle were administered and the temporal changes in serum LH and T were determined (n = 4 per group). Both LH and T declined markedly in all animals as soon as 30 min after the LHRH antagonist injection, reaching the nadir (80%) approximately 8 h later and remaining significantly lower than baseline levels for up to 24 h. Control animals had no marked variations in either LH or T serum levels. In Exp 2, daily sc injections of different doses of LHRH antagonist (400 μg, 50 μg, and 10 μg) or vehicle were administered for 7 days to four animals in each group. The animals in the control group had no significant changes in LH or T levels, whereas those treated with the lowest dose of ...
OCEANIC 231PA/230TH RATIO INFLUENCED BY PARTICLE COMPOSITION AND REMINERALIZATION

Abstract We have investigated the role of particle compositions in affecting the distribution of 231Pa and 230Th in the ocean by separating sediments collected by sediment-traps and cores into three size fractions and analyzed for their excess 231Pa (231Paex), excess 230Th (230Thex) and major chemical components. The samples came from stations along 140°W in the equatorial Pacific and from the Blake Outer Ridge in the North Atlantic. Results indicate that aluminosilicates (`clays') are the major carrier of 231Pa and 230Th, and the ratio 231Paex/230Thex in marine particulates decreases with increasing 232Th concentration. Model simulation shows that sea-floor sediments and trap-collected particles have similar 231Paex/230Thex ratios in their biogenic components, which are very close to the seawater ratio but are about one order higher than the ratios in coexisting clays. Preferential scavenging of 230Th over 231Pa by clays is primarily responsible for the 231Pa–230Th fractionation in the ocean. The fractionation factor between 230Th and 231Pa (FTh/Pa) varies from ∼10 for aluminosilicates to ∼1 for biogenic (232Th-free) particles. Changes in FTh/Pa as a function of particle composition exert primary controls on 231Paex/230Thex in marine particulates and bottom sediments and on the boundary scavenging of Pa. Remineralization of biogenic particles in the water column may result in a decrease of 231Paex/230Thex. Our observations place an important constraint on the use of sediment 231Paex/230Thex as a paleoproductivity proxy. Namely, in order to use down-core variations of 231Paex/230Thex to assess past changes in surface productivity, one must either verify or assume that the lithogenic particle flux and water-column particle remineralization have remained essentially constant at the core site.
Survival and Mortality Patterns of an Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Cohort in New York State

The survival experience and causes of death of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients were studied using a cohort of 3,699 AIDS patients in New York State, excluding New York City, whose illness was diagnosed before January 1990 at age 13 years or older. The median length of survival for all cases was 11.5 months, and survival increased over time from 5.3 months pre-1984 to 9.3 months in 1984-1986 and to 13.2 months in 1987-1989. In a Cox proportional hazards model, risk of dying was higher for persons aged 35 years or more at diagnosis and for persons with a diagnosis other than Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia or Kaposi's sarcoma whose illness was diagnosed before 1986. In this AIDS cohort, 2,834 (77 percent) persons died before 1991; 87 percent of the death certificates listed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS or an AIDS indicator disease as one of the multiple causes of death. The finding that 13 percent of the death certificates did not mention AIDS/HIV suggests that use of death certificates alone to count HIV-related deaths would result in an undercount. The recent expansion of the federal AIDS case definition is expected to add HIV-infected persons who die from conditions, such as recurrent pneumonia, that were not included in the earlier definition.
Design Assessment Tool

This paper describes the implementation and use of a design assessment tool in the DICE (DARPA’s Initiative in Concurrent Engineering) architecture. The internal structure of the tool and the user interface are described in detail along with a brief discussion of work planned for the future.
Regulation of Virulence in Staphylococcus aureus: Molecular Mechanisms and Remaining Puzzles

The agr locus encodes a quorum-sensing (QS) circuit required for the virulence of a spectrum of Gram-positive pathogens and is, therefore, regarded as an important target for the development of chemotherapeutics. In recent years, many of the biochemical events in the Staphylococcus aureus agr circuit have been reconstituted and subject to quantitative analysis in vitro. This work, in conjunction with structural studies on several key players in the signaling circuit, has furnished mechanistic insights into the regulation and evolution of the agr QS system. Here, we review this progress and discuss the remaining open questions in the area. We also highlight advances in the discovery of small-molecule agr modulators and how the newly available biochemical and structural information might be leveraged for the design of next-generation therapeutics targeting the agr system.
CYTOLOGY OF SYNOVIAL FLUID IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

The cytologic examination of synovial fluid in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is not a routine procedure in most clinical laboratories, despite the fact that inflammatory articular effusion is a frequent occurrence in this disease. Laboratory examination of the synovial fluid in RA is usually limited to white blood cell count, characterization of the mucin clot, and possibly tests for rheumatoid factor and hemolytic complement activity. The demonstration of specific crystals in wet preparations of synovial fluid in gouty arthritis and chondrocalcinosis is of definite diagnostic value, as is bacteriologic examination in cases of infectious arthritides. Reports that vacuoles observed in polymorphonuclear leukocytes in wet preparations of synovial fluid are peculiar to rheumatoid arthritis have not been confirmed." The present study was undertaken in the hope that systematic cytologic examination of synovial effusions from patients with rheumatoid arthritis would disclose some consistent findings unique to this disorder. The presence of peculiar Feulgen-positive particles in rheumatoid synovial fluid has been reported in a preliminary communication.
Compensatory Neural Activity in Response to Cognitive Fatigue

Prolonged continuous performance of a cognitively demanding task induces cognitive fatigue and is associated with a time-related deterioration of objective performance, the degree of which is referred to cognitive fatigability. Although the neural underpinnings of cognitive fatigue are poorly understood, prior studies report changes in neural activity consistent with deterioration of task-related networks over time. While compensatory brain activity is reported to maintain motor task performance in the face of motor fatigue and cognitive performance in the face of other stressors (e.g., aging) and structural changes, there are no studies to date demonstrating compensatory activity for cognitive fatigue. High-density electroencephalography was recorded from human subjects during a 160 min continuous performance of a cognitive control task. While most time-varying neural activity showed a linear decline over time, we identified an evoked potential over the anterior frontal region which demonstrated an inverted U-shaped time-on-task profile. This evoked brain activity peaked between 60 and 100 min into the task and was positively associated with better behavioral performance only during this interval. Following the peak and during subsequent decline of this anterior frontal activity, the rate of performance decline also accelerated. These findings demonstrate that this anterior frontal brain activity, which is not part of the primary task-related activity at baseline, is recruited to compensate for fatigue-induced impairments in the primary task-related network, and that this compensation terminates as cognitive fatigue further progresses. These findings may be relevant to understanding individual differences in cognitive fatigability and developing interventions for clinical conditions afflicted by fatigue. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Fatigue refers to changes in objective performance and subjective effort induced by continuous task performance. We examined the neural underpinnings of cognitive fatigue in humans using a prolonged continuous performance task and high-density electroencephalography with the goal of determining whether compensatory processes exist to maintain performance in the face of fatigue. We identified brain activity demonstrating an inverted U-shaped time-on-task profile. This brain activity showed features consistent with a compensatory role including: peaking between 60 and 100 min into the task, a positive association with behavioral performance only during this interval, and accelerated performance decline following its peak. These findings may be relevant to understanding individual differences in cognitive fatigue and developing interventions for clinical conditions afflicted by fatigue.
Evolution of Resistance in a Host Population to Attacking Parasite

Musca domestica L. were exposed to intense selective pressure (70–90%) from a wasp parasite ( Nasonia vitripennis Walker). By the 40th generation parasite progeny produced on the resistant host race was only 57 compared with 231 progeny on the control (unexposed) hosts—a 75% reduction in progeny production. Longevity of female parasites on the resistant hosts was only about 5 days, whereas on control hosts longevity was about 9 days. Knowledge of co-evolution in parasite-host and predator-prey systems can assist entomologists in selecting effective natural enemies for biological control.
Effect of variations in osmotic pressure on macrophages in tissue culture.

Summary1. The optimal growth in tissue culture of macrophages and the exoerythrocytic forms of Plasmodium gallinaceum occurred between 7 and 11 atmospheres of pressure. Growth was reduced to 50% at 5 and 13 atmospheres.2. High concentrations of serum (over 50%) were inhibitory to both the malarial parasites and the host cell, the macrophage.
Development of Online Intelligent Diagnosing Instrument of HV Motor Incipient Faults

Based on mechanism research of various HV motor incipient faults,an online intelligent diagnosing instrument based on digital signal processing(DSP) techniques is developed successfully.The design of the general structure,the measuring unit and the fault diagnosing software system are described mainly.Some examples of incipient fault detection are shown as well.
Section 1: Primary Ratios

The French word son (sound), as used here, expresses here the pitch of the vibrations. An acute sound differs from a grave sound by the greater (acute) or smaller (grave) number of vibrations that it executes in a given interval of time.
An equivalent circuit formulation for three-phase power flow analysis of distribution systems

In this paper, we describe a power flow formulation for 3-phase distribution systems that is based on an equivalent circuit model. It is shown that this physical model based solution is able to accommodate a wide range of complex and unbalanced loads without loss of generality. The approach is an extension of the single phase formulation in [1] that uses current and voltage as the state variables. This formulation is shown to provide excellent modeling efficiency for distribution system components, such as induction motors that can be modeled as linear circuit elements. The formulation is further capable of incorporating complex nonlinear models to capture more details or represent future bus models. A challenging IEEE 4-bus test case is used as a proof of concept to demonstrate the efficacy of this approach.
The roles of acculturative stress and social constraints on psychological distress in Hispanic/Latino and Asian immigrant college students.

Objectives Acculturative stress has been linked to psychological distress, but few studies have explored the moderating role of social constraints on this relationship. Social constraints are the perception that social networks are unsupportive to stressor-related discussions. In the present study, the relationship between acculturative stress and psychological distress in Hispanic/Latino and Asian immigrants and the moderating role of social constraints in this relationship were examined. Method Participants were 306 college students (169 Hispanics/Latinos, 137 Asians; 33.9% first-generation immigrants, 66.1% second-generation immigrants) from two Texas universities. Results Correlation results showed that acculturative stress and social constraints were significantly associated with higher levels of psychological distress in Hispanics/Latinos and Asians. In addition, regression results indicated a significant three-way interaction effect among acculturative stress, social constraints, and racial/ethnic groups. Social constraints were found to moderate the relationship between acculturative stress and psychological distress in Asians but not in Hispanics/Latinos. Significant association between acculturative stress and psychological distress was found in Asians with higher levels of social constraints but not in Asians with lower levels of social constraints. Conclusions These findings suggested that the interaction effect of acculturative stress and social constraints on psychological distress may be subject to cultural influences, and social constraints may have differential roles in Hispanics/Latinos and Asians. Potential implications on the development of culturally adaptive interventions for different racial/ethnic minority groups were discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record
3D Robotic System Development for High-throughput Crop Phenotyping

Abstract: Plant breeding programs are working towards developing new high-yielding crop varieties to accommodate the increasing demand for food. However, high-throughput phenotyping remains to be the bottleneck that is currently limiting the complete breeding potential. In this project, a 3D robotic system was developed to conduct automated high-throughput phenotyping in cereal crops. The 3D robotic phenotyping system consisted of an aluminum framework to support a 3D sliding system (sliders and tracks), which allows a sensor mount travel in X and Y axis in a selected height (Z axis). The system was controlled with a custom designed algorithm based on LabVIEW program. A control box was used to interface the system with a computer. During preliminary evaluation, a thermal camera and a multispectral camera were installed on the sensor mount, and the integrated automated phenotyping system was continuously operated for 48 hours for autonomous data collection. The 3D robotic system had been working precisely based on the design specifications. Results showed that the 3D robotic system had time repeatability with trigger activation within 4 s and positioning error less than 0.78 mm, indicating the potential of system for automated, systematic high-throughput phenotyping.
Universal capacity of channels with given rate-distortion in absence of common randomness, and failure of universal source-channel separation

Recently, [3] studied the universal capacity of a set of channels where each channel in the set communicates a random source to within a distortion level D, when the transmitter and receiver have access to common randomness. In this paper, we study the universal capacity for this channel set in the case when there is no access to common randomness. We show that when the distortion level D is positive, the universal capacity is 0. This also leads to the conclusion that universal source-channel separation for rate-distortion as stated in [4], is false.
Purine Synthesis During Amino Acid Starvation of Lymphoblasts With HPRT Deficiency or PP-Ribose-P Synthetase Overactivity Decreases Less Than in Normal Cells

Normal human lymphoblastoid cells starved for 3 hours for any of several essential but not nonessential amino acids decrease their rates of purine nucleotide synthesis via the de novo and salvage pathways by 90% and 60%, respectively (1). Cycloheximide and puromycin each reduced de novo synthesis by 96% and salvage synthesis by 72%. The decrease in purine synthesis de novo is of first order kinetics and in the case of amino acid deprivation is fully and rapidly reversible after reconsititution of the amino acid (1).