cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
After-discharges and seizures during pediatric extra-operative electrical cortical stimulation functional brain mapping: Incidence, thresholds, and determinants

Abstract Objective This study examined the incidence, thresholds, and determinants of electrical cortical stimulation (ECS)-induced after-discharges (ADs) and seizures. Methods Electrocorticograph recordings were reviewed to determine incidence of ECS-induced ADs and seizures. Multivariable analyses for predictors of AD/seizure occurrence and their thresholds were performed. Results In 122 patients, the incidence of ADs and seizures was 77% (94/122) and 35% (43/122) respectively. Males (odds ratio [OR] 2.92, 95% CI 1.21–7.38, p = 0.02) and MRI-negative patients (OR 3.69, 95% CI 1.24–13.7, p = 0.03) were found to have higher odds of ECS-induced ADs. A significant trend for decreasing AD thresholds with age was seen (regression co-efficient −0.151, 95% CI −0.267 to −0.035, p = 0.011). ECS-induced seizures were more likely in patients with lateralized functional imaging (OR 6.62, 95% CI 1.36–55.56, p = 0.036, for positron emission tomography) and presence of ADs (OR 3.50, 95% CI 1.12–13.36, p = 0.043). Conclusions ECS is associated with a high incidence of ADs and seizures. With age, current thresholds decrease and the probability for AD/seizure occurrence increases. Significance ADs and seizures during ECS brain mapping are potentially hazardous and affect its functional validity. Thus, safer method(s) for brain mapping with improved neurophysiologic validity are desirable.
Microhabitat estimation of an imperiled headwater fish, the Yazoo darter (Etheostoma raneyi), in Coastal Plain streams

Headwater fishes in the southeastern United States make up much of the fish biodiversity of the region yet many are imperiled. Despite this, the specific habitat requirements of imperiled headwater fishes in lowland Coastal Plain streams have rarely been quantified. Using data collected over three years of seasonal sampling we provide estimates of the microhabitat requirements of the imperiled Yazoo darter (Etheostoma raneyi Suttkus and Bart), a small benthic insectivore. Our results indicate that the species is a microhabitat specialist and that optimum microhabitat within degraded contemporary streams consists of a narrow range of water depths (about 20–30 cm), current velocity ≥ 0.25 m·s−1, complex stable debris piles, rooted macrophytes, and likely coarse substrate. No pronounced or generalized seasonal shifts in microhabitat use occurs, and no evidence exists for intraspecific partitioning of microhabitat. Though stable and complex instream cover is one of the most important variables explaining variation in microhabitat use by Yazoo darters, such cover is rare in the degraded streams within the range of the species. Current conservation classifications of the Yazoo darter by governmental agencies and nongovernmental organizations as well as associated management plans that are based on the assumption that Yazoo darters are habitat generalists should be reviewed in recognition of the increased risk of decline because Yazoo darters are microhabitat specialists. These considerations should also be extended to other closely related imperiled species of snubnose darters.
An integrated approach to surveying an Early Agricultural period landscape: Magnetic gradiometry and satellite imagery at La Playa, Sonora, Mexico

Abstract La Playa (SON F:10:3) in Sonora, Mexico is the single largest Early Agricultural period (2100 BCE–50 CE) site in the Greater Southwest. Modern erosion is rapidly destroying large portions of the archaeological site, highlighting the urgent need for documentation of threatened archaeological structures and features. An integrated approach to archaeological survey is presented here with particular emphasis on magnetic gradiometry as a tool to efficiently survey and document the complex palimpsest of irrigation canals, agricultural fields, and structures at La Playa. This is an under-utilized method in the identification of prehistoric earthen irrigation canals in the southwest U.S./northwest Mexico region. Magnetic gradiometry detected approximately 3 km of intact irrigation canals, almost 8700 m2 of agricultural fields, and twelve circular structures in areas that had not yet been eroded. Satellite imagery and GPS survey documented the remains of almost 12 km of irrigation canals in eroded areas of the site. This multi-technique methodology successfully documented locations of irrigation canals and associated agricultural features both in eroded areas of the site and areas threatened by erosion. These datasets contribute to a comprehensive spatial reconstruction of the Early Agricultural period landscape and lend insight into landscape organization and a deeper understanding of early irrigation technology.
Cold Adaptation in Ectotherms: Regulation of Membrane Function and Cellular Metabolism

Ecotherms generally lack mechanisms for physiological temperature regulation. Consequently, body temperature is determined by ambient temperature and the physical characteristics of the environment. Even the active swimming muscles of teleost fish are generally within 1 °C of ambient water temperature (Linthicum et al. 1972). Although many ectotherms (especially terrestrial forms) possess a remarkable capacity for behavioral thermoregulation and select specific microenvironments to maintain body temperature within a preferred range (Cherry et al. 1975; Nelson and Prosser 1979; Crawshaw 1980), microhabitat selection is most effective in dealing with short-term fluctuations in temperature, and behavioral thermoregulators must still cope with seasonal climatic changes. In addition, adaptation to new thermal habitats over evolutionary time periods further imposes changes in body temperature in ectotherms.
Estimation of the Under-Ice Acoustic Field in AUV Communication Networks

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are the platform of choice for ocean exploration and surveillance in the ice-covered regions. Due to the large attenuation of radio signals in water, acoustic communications have been the major technique for underwater wireless information transfer. In the under-ice environment, the acoustic propagation is largely determined by a stratified sound speed profile (SSP) and the ice-reflection characteristics. Based on the ray theory, this work develops an inversion algorithm to estimate the SSP and the ice reflection coefficient via an iterative method. The acoustic measurements collected during data transmission within the AUV network, including the propagation delay and the amplitude of the received signal along each eigen path, are used for the inversion. With the estimated SSP and the ice-reflection coefficient, the under-ice acoustic field can then be constructed to guide future acoustic communications among the AUVs. The proposed algorithm is evaluated via Bellhop synthesized data and achieves decent accuracy in the SSP and the ice-reflection coefficient estimation.
Reconfiguring mathematical settings and activity through multi-party, whole-body collaboration

This study examines the consequences of whole-body, multi-party activity for mathematics learning, both in and out of the classroom. We develop a theoretical framework that brings together contemporary theories related to social space, embodied cognition, and mathematical activity. Then, drawing on micro-ethnographic and case-comparative techniques, we examine and juxtapose two cases of implementing whole-body, collaborative movement to engage learners in the mathematics of number sense and ratio and proportion. Analytically foregrounding the interdependence among setting, embodied activity, and mathematical tools and practices, we illustrate how whole-body collaboration can transform how learners experience learning environments and make sense of important mathematical ideas. The analysis enriches our understanding of the changing spatial landscapes for learning and doing mathematics as well as how re-instating bodies in mathematics education can open up new forms of collective mathematical sense-making and activity.
The observed effects of changes in groundwater flow on a borehole heat exchanger of a large scale ground coupled heat pump system

Abstract A study was completed comparing the effectiveness of a borehole heat exchanger (BHE) within a large scale closed-loop geothermal system to changes in groundwater flow, as a result of periodic pumping of a large municipal well. The BHE studied consists of 144 geoexchange boreholes drilled to a depth of 122 m into karstic bedrock of the Ozark Aquifer. Estimated groundwater flows rates range from 15 to 1.1 × 10 −3 m/year were measured, and the effectiveness of the BHE during pumping was calculated to understand the effects of groundwater flow on the system. Changes in the BHE effectiveness under varying flow rates were compared to estimates from previous study estimates with changes in aquifer saturation. Overall, the variations in aquifer saturation tended to have the greatest influence on the effectiveness of the BHE.
The Relational Turn: Third Wave HCI and Phenomenology

Third wave HCI (Human Computer Interaction) proposes an innovative method for framing human computer interactions by putting emphasis on the terms and conditions of the interactive relationship prior to determinations concerning the human subject and its computational object. As promising as this “relational turn” appears to be, there are important theoretical, epistemological, and axiological challenges that remain and need to be addressed. This chapter takes up and investigates a number of these open questions regarding third wave HCI. It begins by briefly reconsidering the three waves or paradigms of HCI research and demonstrating how what appears last in the numbered sequence, the third wave, is actually older and “more original” than it initially appears to be. It then examines the opportunities and challenges of the phenomenological commitment that is operationalized in third wave HCI. And it concludes by identifying and outlining the consequences of this innovation for current and future research efforts.
Transmembrane helix-helix recognition modeled by disulfide trapping in organic-aqueous solutions

Transmembrane helix (TMH) interactions are essential for the structure and folding of membrane proteins. Disulfide trapping is a powerful tool that has the potential to probe these interactions using synthetic TMH peptides that can be studied in solution. For example, Kim et al. trapped two peptide segments corresponding to an and a sheet from bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) by a disulfide bridge to form a native-like fold from BPTI [1]. The leucine zipper motif was also defined as an antiparallel coiled coil using disulfide trapping experiments [2].
Channel Strategy Evolution in Retail Banking

Information and banking technology have combined to throw the retail banking business model into disarray. Many predicted that lower cost online-oriented services such as Citibank’s Citi f/i venture would dominate the retail banking market and drive out high cost old technologies. The subsequent failure of Citi f/i and other virtual banks raises questions about how technology choice affects retail banking competition: Under what conditions would an online-only banking strategy be successful? When can a bank deploy both old and new technologies and still be competitive? Can an ATM network substitute for a branch network? Do customers’ attitudes about technology affect banking strategy? We use an economic model of a competitive retail banking market to address those and other questions. Our model allows banks to choose their technology, including establishing separate branch and ATM networks or relying on third party ATM networks. We also include customers that have differing attitudes toward technology. Our analysis suggests that customer preferences, rather than technology cost structure, drive the evolution of banks’ strategic technology choices. Also, banks in our model tend to deploy ATMs in the same numbers as branches, despite ATM’s cost advantages. Finally we show that virtual banks will remain unprofitable until a much larger proportion of the population is comfortable with online bank transaction technology. These results suggest that banks should carefully study their customers’ preferences to align major strategy shifts with customer attitudes.
The potential of calibrated fMRI in the understanding of stress in eating disorders

Eating disorders (ED), including Anorexia Nervosa (AN), Bulimia Nervosa (BN), and Binge Eating Disorder (BED), are medically dangerous psychiatric disorders of unknown etiology. Accumulating evidence supports a biopsychosocial model that includes genetic heritability, neurobiological vulnerability, and psychosocial factors, such as stress, in the development and maintenance of ED. Notably, stress hormones influence appetite and eating, and dysfunction of the physiological stress response has been implicated in ED pathophysiology. Stress signals also appear associated with food reward neurocircuitry response in ED, providing a possible mechanism for the role of stress in appetite dysregulation. This paper provides a review of some of the interacting psychological, behavioral, physiological, and neurobiological mechanisms involved in the stress response among individuals with ED, and discusses novel neuroimaging techniques to address potential physiological confounds of studying neural correlates of stress in ED, such as calibrated fMRI.
Porcine Breast Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel for Spatial Tissue Culture

Porcine mammary fatty tissues represent an abundant source of natural biomaterial for generation of breast-specific extracellular matrix (ECM). Here we report the extraction of total ECM proteins from pig breast fatty tissues, the fabrication of hydrogel and porous scaffolds from the extracted ECM proteins, the structural properties of the scaffolds (tissue matrix scaffold, TMS), and the applications of the hydrogel in human mammary epithelial cell spatial cultures for cell surface receptor expression, metabolomics characterization, acini formation, proliferation, migration between different scaffolding compartments, and in vivo tumor formation. This model system provides an additional option for studying human breast diseases such as breast cancer.
How impartial are the observers of justice theory

This paper develops a unified framework for studying justice and impartiality - identifying six opportunities for impartiality, four for observers and two for allocators; generating the person-specific impartiality profile, including separate subprofiles for observer and allocator activities; and characterizing groups and societies by the impartiality profiles of their members. The immediate challenge is to measure the six kinds of impartiality. This paper takes a first step, focusing on three kinds of observer impartiality - the classic just-reward impartiality and the two new kinds identified by justice theory, framing impartiality and expressiveness impartiality. Understanding the two new forms of impartiality is important because their absence could destroy the good effects of impartiality in other justice elements. The paper reports the results of three factorial surveys carried out among college students in the United States, assessing the students' just-reward, framing, and expressiveness impartiality with respect to the earnings of fictitious workers. The paper makes three main contributions. Theoretically, it illuminates the marriage of justice and impartiality, leading to new insights and new research avenues. Methodologically, the paper develops new analytic and graphical tools for assessing observer impartiality. Substantively, the paper shows that (1) while just gender gaps in aggregate analyses of college students are almost nil (contrary to the just gaps found among adults), closer respondent-specific analyses indicate an intricate mix of subsets of respondents favoring one or the other gender; (2) framing impartiality by gender is almost universal; and (3) expressiveness impartiality ranges from 28 to 57 percent, with an intriguing mix of results by sample and respondent gender. Overall these results suggest that there may be "little cultures" of justice and impartiality on U.S. college campuses. If that is so -- and pending future research on all six kinds of impartiality in a variety of samples across countries and over time and as well with respect to rewards other than earnings, such as grades, bequests, and prison sentences - we have offered a way to measure those cultures and understand them theoretically.
Sleep reductions associated with illicit opioid use and clinic-hour changes during opioid agonist treatment for opioid dependence: Measurement by electronic diary and actigraphy

Abstract Sleep problems are commonly reported during opioid agonist treatment (OAT) for opioid use disorders. Inpatient studies have found both sleep disturbances and improved sleep during OAT. Illicit opioids can also disrupt sleep, but it is unclear how they affect sleep in outpatients receiving OAT. Therefore, we used electronic diary entries and actigraphy to measure sleep duration and timing in opioid-dependent participants (n = 37) treated with methadone (n = 15) or buprenorphine (n = 22). For 16 weeks, participants were assigned to attend our clinic under different operating hours in a crossover design: Early hours (07:00–09:00) vs. Late hours (12:00–13:00) for 4 weeks each in randomized order, followed for all participants by our Standard clinic hours (07:00–11:30) for 8 weeks. Throughout, participants made daily electronic diary self-reports of their sleep upon waking; they also wore a wrist actigraph for 6 nights in each of the three clinic-hour conditions. Drug use was assessed by thrice-weekly urinalysis. In linear mixed models controlling for other sleep-relevant factors, sleep duration and timing differed by drug use and by clinic hours. Compared to when non-using, participants slept less, went to bed later, and woke later when using illicit opioids and/or both illicit opioids and cocaine. Participants slept less and woke earlier when assigned to the Early hours. These findings highlight the role OAT clinic schedules can play in structuring the sleep/wake cycles of OAT patients and clarify some of the circumstances under which OAT patients experience sleep disruption in daily life.
Working with Native American Families During the Perinatal Stage and Early Childhood

This chapter discusses the diversity among many Native American tribes and the difficulty of generalizations. It describes, however, some common themes such as the history of displacement, cultural devaluation, ethnic segregation, and growing up in a reservation. It emphasizes the transgenerational effects the systematic taking over lands, extermination of tribal members, and the treatises that legalized the current status quo, including the Indian Health Service. There is a description of traditional practices such as swaddling, healing through natural remedies during pregnancy and early childhood, and resorting to “medicine men.” These practices coexist or supplement the medicalized modern system of provision of healthcare. Many tribes emphasize harmony with nature, respect for the individuality of children, and an approach to child-rearing that favors nonverbal interactions, implicit messages, storytelling, and teaching by example and observation. The problems in reservations such as poverty, segregation, alcoholism, and hopelessness are addressed, as well as the resilience of families who adapt family relationships and use kinship care to supplement the care of children who need it, extending the concept of family and a caregiving system. The communicational style may be different; avoiding eye contact, taking time to develop trust, and speaking in an oblique way about problems are described in contrast to the more businesslike approach that is commonly used in Westernized health systems. The effect of boarding schools and attempting to “acculturate” Native American children in previous generations is described as well as its transgenerational effects.
Examining the Role of Video in Sports Media Viewing

As virtual reality becomes more prevalent in society, there has been a renewed focus on developing experiences for consumers to enjoy (Hartl and Berger, 2017). The current research project explores...
Expedited Optimization of AM Materials Using Miniaturized Testing

The small punch test (SPT) has been developed for the purpose of characterizing materials which are scarce or costly by using reduced-size test samples. While limitations exist for utilizing the SPT for material characterization, the test economizes resources in optimizing processing for additive manufacturing (AM). Several AM materials were tested under varying conditions and stages of processing. Parameters such as build orientation, post-processing variations, and testing conditions are shown to cause notable differences in sample responses. Conditions varied in samples include variations in both sample preparation and testing conditions, including both monotonic and cyclic loading. Comparisons are made between tests to find the effects of each varied condition, and trends are correlated to show the capabilities of the SPT. Fractography results are shown exploring fracture patterns which vary depending on test conditions such as load and control type and are shown to be dependent on manufacturing orientation and processing conditions.
Orthostatic Hypotension and Urine Specific Gravity Among Collegiate Athletes.

Introduction The purpose of this study is to describe orthostatic blood pressure (BP) and urine specific gravity (USG) among collegiate athletes and then to examine if correlations between these variables could support use of orthostatic hypotension (OH) measures to screen for dehydration. Methods A prospective observational study was performed using a sample of convenience of collegiate athletes. Athlete's sex and sport were recorded in addition to height, weight, seated and standing BP and USG measured at a pre- and post-season encounter. An OH response was defined as either the systolic BP decreasing ≥ 15 mmHg or the diastolic BP decreasing ≥ 7 mmHg when transitioning from sit to stand. The USG was considered positive for dehydration if >1.020. Descriptive statistics, pairwise t-tests, and the Spearman version of the correlation coefficient were used with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results Eighty athletes met inclusion criteria. Six athletes had an OH response during pre-season and three during post-season. Increased frequencies of athletes testing positive for dehydration were identified during the post-season compared to pre-season measures. No significant association was identified between OH and elevated USG. A secondary analysis identified significant associations between athletes with increased height and OH responses and correlations between higher BP and USG. Conclusion This study identified collegiate athletes with pre- and post-season OH as well as athletes with USG measures meeting the threshold for dehydration. While no correlation between OH and USG was identified, findings suggest screening of both BP and hydration status among collegiate athletes may be warranted.
Target Detection and Interference Mitigation in Future AI-Based Radar Systems

A new target detection and interference mitigation approach is proposed for future artificial intelligence (AI) - based radar. Targets in AI radar systems are detected based on target and interference classification without removing interference, in contrast to interference cancelation processing in traditional radar target detection approaches. The general AI target detection approach is presented and demonstrated to be more robust and effective in target detection in unknown environments.
Properties of Organic Fluorine Compounds

Apart from chemical properties, which will be dealt with in a special chapter, the following features of organic fluorine compounds will be discussed: physical properties, physicochemical properties, and biological properties. Where possible, comparison with the properties of the nonfluorinated parent compounds will be made.
14 Intellectual Abilities and Age: Concepts, Theories and Analyses

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the concepts, theories and analyses of the intellectual abilities and age. The study of intellectual abilities in later life continues unabated. It has traditionally been the most highly researched area in the field of adult development and aging. This chapter notes considerable progress but also an increasing awareness of the complexity and subtlety of intellectual functioning in older adults. Broad, unqualified assertions such as general decline or general stability have clearly been rendered obsolete by recent developments. It is necessary to qualify such conclusions carefully with respect to the age level, kind of ability considered as well as the operationalization of the ability in question. Most intellectual abilities show considerable stability for most of the adult life-span. This chapter discusses several theoretical proposals, including speed viewpoints, fluid and crystallized intelligence, stage theories and Sternberg's triarchic theory. A problem in this area, however, is the fact that to a greater or lesser extent, most of the theoretical formulations reviewed here are in fact substantially "borrowed" from the literature of young adulthood or childhood.
Antimicrobial Peptides: Defensins and Cathelicidins

1 Defensins 2 Cathelicidins 3 Concluding Remarks Keywords: antimicrobial peptides, defensins and cathelicidins; antimicrobial defense-neutrophils and polymorphonucleated neutrophilic granulocytes (PMN); defensins, large and growing family of antimicrobial peptides; variability of expression; antimicrobial mechanisms; defensin sequences and composition; defensin biosynthesis; porcine and human cathelicidin genes
Effectiveness of Mixing Wet Distillers Grains and Hay with a Mixer Wagon or a Front End Loader for Long-Term Storage

Materials and Methods Two separate storage studies were conducted in 2007 and 2008 that used a combination of 80 percent wet distillers grains and 20 percent tub ground fescue hay on an as-fed basis. These studies were conducted at the ISU Beef Nutrition Farm and the ISU McNay Research Farm. In the Beef Nutrition Farm study, the combination was mixed in a feeder wagon, delivered to a concrete bunker silo, packed with a tractor and covered with plastic before being fed to growing beef calves in a backgrounding study. The study at the McNay Research Farm used a temporary bunker silo made of big round hay bales covered in plastic. In this study, the ground hay and wet distillers grains were mixed by layering approximately one third of the hay required for a semi load of distillers grains at the bottom of the bunker. After unloading the truck, additional hay was added to the feed, using the front end loader and the tractor wheels to mix the combination of hay and wet distillers grains.
Career Preparations of High School Students in China, Japan, South Korea, and USA

This research brief reports descriptive statistics of an international study on high school students’ career preparations. The survey was designed by a team of researchers at the China Youth and Children Research Center, Japan Youth Research Institute, Korea National Youth Policy Institute and University of Rhode Island in the US.
Pore-scale simulation of dispersion and reaction along a transverse mixing zone in two-dimensional porous media

[1] Several studies have demonstrated that the success of natural and engineered in situ remediation of groundwater pollutants relies on the transverse mixing of reactive chemicals or nutrients along plume margins. Efforts to predict reactions in groundwater generally rely on dispersion coefficients obtained from nonreactive tracer experiments to determine the amount of mixing, but these coefficients may be affected by spreading, which does not contribute to reaction. Mixing is controlled only by molecular diffusion in pore spaces, and the length scale of transverse mixing zones can be small, often on the order of millimeters to centimeters. We use 2D pore-scale simulation to investigate whether classical transverse dispersion coefficients can be applied to model mixing-controlled reactive transport in three different porous media geometries: periodic, random, and macroscopically trending. The lattice-Boltzmann method is used to solve the steady flow field; a finite volume code is used to solve for reactive transport. Nonreactive dispersion coefficients are determined from the transverse spreading of a conservative tracer. Reactive dispersion coefficients are determined by fitting a continuum model which calculates the total product formation as a function of distance to the results from our pore scale simulation. Nonreactive and reactive dispersion coefficients from these simulations are compared. Results indicate that, regardless of the geometrical properties of the media, product formation can be predicted using transverse dispersion coefficients determined from a conservative tracer, provided dispersion coefficients are determined beyond some critical distance downgradient where the plume has spread over a sufficiently large transverse distance compared to the mean grain diameter. This result contrasts with other studies where reactant mixing was controlled by longitudinal hydrodynamic dispersion; in those studies longitudinal dispersion coefficients determined from nonreactive tracer experiments over-estimated the extent of reaction and product formation. Additional work is called for in order to confirm that these findings hold for a wider variety of grain sizes and geometries.
A Theory of Generic Interpreters

We present an abstract theory of interpreters. Interpreters are models of computation that are specifically designed for use as templates in computer system specification and verification. The generic interpreter theory contains an abstract representation which serves as an interface to the theory and as a guide to specification. A set of theory obligations ensure that the theory is being used correctly and provide a guide to system verification. The generic interpreter theory provides a methodology for deriving important definitions and lemmas that were previously obtained in a largely ad hoc fashion. Many of the complex data and temporal abstractions are done in the abstract theory and need not be redone when the theory is used.
Three-dimensional displacement analysis of slopes subjected to seismic loads

Seismic excitation is among the many possible factors contributing to slope failures. Typical design of slopes and analyses of existing slopes are carried out assuming plane strain mechanisms of de...
Current symmetry considerations in the design of the Atlas pulsed power machine

Two factors that influence the load current symmetry of the Atlas pulsed power machine are analyzed to establish design criteria. Deviations in peak current among the 24 Marx modules providing current to the load must be limited to /spl plusmn/3.1% to achieve the goal of /spl plusmn/100 /spl mu/m asymmetry in the imploded liner radius. Current asymmetry may also be caused by azimuthal inductance variations in the disk transmission line leading to the load. Mechanical fabrication tolerances are presented that must be met to achieve the symmetry goals.
Cofactors in Fatty Acid Biosynthesis—Active Site Organizers and Drug Targets

Abstract The structure of E. coli β-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (FabG) in its binary complex with NADPH reveals how cofactor-induced conformational changes configure the active site for catalysis. It provides another target for drug design in the fatty acid biosynthesis pathway.
Evolution of cosmic networks

The cosmological evolution of three-dimensional networks of monopoles connected by strings is studied both numerically and analytically. We find that the networks evolve in a self-similar fashion. Monopoles and antimonopoles annihilate, creating larger and larger gaps in the network, so that the typical scale of the network grows proportionally to time. Observational constraints on the parameters of the model and possible cosmological implications of networks are briefly discussed.
Olfactory dysfunction in pure autonomic failure: Implications for the pathogenesis of Lewy body diseases.

Background Pure autonomic failure (PAF) and Parkinson disease (PD) both are Lewy body diseases, and both entail substantia nigra dopaminergic, locus ceruleus noradrenergic, and cardiac sympathetic denervation. Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a non-Lewy body disease in which alpha-synuclein accumulates in glial cells, with central catecholamine deficiency but preserved cardiac sympathetic innervation in most patients. PD is associated with more severe and consistent olfactory dysfunction than in MSA; whether PAF entails olfactory dysfunction has been unknown. In this study we assessed olfactory function in PAF in comparison with the two other synucleinopathies and whether olfactory dysfunction correlates with neuroimaging evidence of cardiac noradrenergic or nigrostriatal dopaminergic denervation.
Response from Selection for Pectin Concentration and Indirect Response in Digestibility of Alfalfa

Genetic improvement of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) for increased pectin concentration, estimated by neutral detergent soluble fiber (NDSF), would improve the efficiency of utilization of its high protein and digestibility by ruminants. The objectives of this study were to: (i) estimate the realized direct response from one cycle of phenotypic selection for NDSF concentration; (ii) evaluate association of NDSF concentration with other forage quality traits, and; (iii) determine the impact of selection for NDSF concentration on in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of alfalfa. Selection for NDSF was applied to five alfalfa populations from 1996 to 2000 and synthetic generation two seed was produced. Progress from selection for NDSF concentration was evaluated in plot trials for 2 or 3 yr at two locations near Ithaca, NY. Populations divergently selected for NDSF were 1.62 to 5.15 g kg -1 of dry matter (DM) higher and 2.26 to 4.20 g kg -1 DM lower, respectively, than their respective base populations. Neutral detergent soluble fiber concentration was negatively correlated with total cell wall concentration (CW), and proportions of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), cellulose, and lignin in the CW. A positive correlation existed between NDSF concentration and crude protein (CP) concentration and IVDMD. Populations bred for higher or lower NDSF concentration had 0.20 to 8.82 g kg -1 DM higher IVDMD and 0.63 to 15.06 g kg -1 DM lower IVDMD than their respective base populations. Selection for NDSF concentration and indirectly for CP, total CW concentration and composition, and IVDMD of alfalfa forage was successful.
Transport analysis of diffusion‐induced bubble growth and collapse in viscous liquids

Transport models of diffusion-induced bubble growth and collapse in viscous liquids are developed and evaluated. A rigorous model for these important phenomena is formulated taking into account convective and diffusive mass transport, surface tension, and viscous and inertial effects. Predictions for bubble growth dynamics demonstrate the importance of viscous effects in the liquid surrounding the bubble for a wide range of conditions having relevance to polymer processing operations. It is also shown how previous models employing various approximations can be derived from the rigorous model by using different mathematical methods and dimensional analysis. Predicted bubble growth dynamics from the rigorous and approximate models are compared to establish the ranges of validity for two commonly used approximations. These comparisons indicate that models using a thin boundary-layer approximation have a rather limited range of applicability. A new approximate model, based on a previously published result, gives reasonably accurate bubble growth rate predictions with a significant reduction in computational effort.
A unified table-based Viterbi subset decoder for high-speed voice-band modems

A unified table-based subset decoder for the Viterbi algorithm has been designed which is capable of decoding any constellation size for any data rate scheme of the CCITT (Comite Consultatif International Telegraphique et Telephonique) V.32, V.32bis, and IBM V.32ter high-speed, full-duplex voice-band modem implementations with a constant number of computations. In addition, no error is introduced as a result of this subset decoding. The data rates include trellis coded 7200-, 9600-, 12000-, 14400-, 16800-, and 19200-bps rates. The number of computations necessary to perform the decoding is the same for any given data rate, resulting in reductions in computational complexity up to a factor of 32 in comparison to existing direct methods. The memory consumption of the decoder is relatively small and increases proportionally with data rate.
Agent-induced excess noise in commercial chemical sensors

The excess noise in commercial semiconductor gas sensors, during exposure to different gases at various temperatures, was studied. The measurements have been carried out using different concentrations of ethanol vapor, CO, NO x , H 2 and SO 2 gases in synthetic air. The normalized noise spectra of the sensors stabilize after the first day of the burning-in process in synthetic air. The sensors do not show significant deviation from the ohmic behavior over the full range of applied voltage. The induced excess noise is proportional to the square of the applied voltage, so resistance fluctuations explain the spectra. Each gas induces a characteristic noise spectrum. The analysis of resistance fluctuations in gas sensors, during exposure to gases, has the potential of a strongly enhanced sensitivity and selectivity.
Convergence acceleration of an aeroelastic Navier-Stokes solver

New capabilities have been added to a Navier-Stokes solver to perform steady-state simulations more efficiently. The flow solver for solving the Navier-Stokes equations is completely rewritten with a combination of the LU-SGS (Lower-Upper factored Symmetric Gauss-Seidel) implicit method and the modified HLLE (Harten-Lax-van Leer-Einfeldt) upwind scheme. A pseudo-time marching method is used for the directly coupled structural equations to improve overall convergence rates for static aeroelastic analysis. Results are demonstrated for transonic flows over rigid and flexible wings.
The asymptotic theory of gasless combustion synthesis

The gasless, self-propagating, high-temperature synthesis of refractory materials is generally associated with a thin reaction zone that propagates through the material, converting the unburned reactant powders into a product alloy. The reactions themselves are characterized by large overall activation energies, a fact that can be exploited to derive asymptotic models in which the reaction zone becomes an infinitesimally thin sheet. Such models have been derived for both kinetically and diffusion-limited reactions, as well as for the intermediate case in which both chemical reaction and mass diffusion occur on comparable time scales. These models are amenable to analytical analysis, yielding formulas for the propagation speed of a steady, planar combustion wave and, in agreement with experiments, predicting critical parameter values above which stability is lost to one or more nonsteady modes of burning. In particular, nonlinear stability analyses have demonstrated the transition from steady to various periodic, quasi-periodic, and even chaotic combustion modes as a parameter related to the activation energy increases beyond the neutral stability threshold.
Integrated power supply planning and floorplanning

One of the most challenging issues in today's high-performance VLSI design is to ensure high-quality power supply to each individual circuit blocks. Reduced power supply voltage can result in slower cell switching, or even circuit failure. Nevertheless, most floorplanning methodologies have ignored power supply considerations. Thus, the resulting floorplan may suffer from local hot spots and insufficient power supply for certain circuit blocks. In this paper, we present an optimal power supply planning algorithm based on network flow to shorten the current paths from power bumps to local power supply wirings. We have incorporated our algorithm into a floorplanning algorithm for integrated floorplanning and power supply planning. Experimental results are encouraging.
Lead and cognitive function in adults: a questions and answers approach to a review of the evidence for cause, treatment, and prevention.

Lead has been extensively used worldwide in gasoline, consumer products, commercial applications, and industrial settings. Its use in gasoline and paint has been particularly hazardous to public health leading to widespread population exposure and substantial lifetime cumulative doses in most Americans over age 40 years. Cumulative lead dose can be estimated by measuring the current concentration of lead in tibia bone by X-ray fluorescence. A growing literature has documented that tibia lead levels are associated with decrements in cognitive function and declines in cognitive function over time. Furthermore, there are several interesting lines of biochemical and epidemiological investigation that have demonstrated potential links of lead to neurodegenerative diseases. These studies support the inference that a proportion of what has been termed ‘normal’ age-related cognitive decline may, in fact, be due to exposure to neurotoxicants such as lead. Well-designed studies of cumulative lead dose and Alzheimer...
Field Methods for Identification of Bearng Support Parameters—Part I: Identification From Transient Rotor Dynamic Response due to Impacts

A simple procedure, with the potential as a field resource, for identification of a bearing support parameter from recorded transient rotor responses due to impact loads follows. The method is applied to a test rotor supported on a pair of mechanically complex bearing supports, each comprising a tilting pad bearing in series with an integral squeeze film damper. Identification of frequency dependent bearing force coefficients is good at a rotor speed of 2000 rpm. Stiffness coefficients are best identified in the low frequency range (below 25 Hz) while damping coefficients are best identified in the vicinity of the first natural frequency (48 Hz) of the rotor bearing system. The procedure shows that using multiple-impact frequency averaged rotor responses reduces the variability in the identified parameters. The identification of frequency-dependent force coefficients at a constant rotor speed is useful to assess rotor-bearing system stability.
Charged particle Q -value measurements in the iron region

$Q$ values are reported for the 11 reactions $^{63,65}\mathrm{Cu}$, $^{64,66}\mathrm{Zn}$, $^{70}\mathrm{Ge}(p,\ensuremath{\alpha})$; $^{46,48,50}\mathrm{Ti}(d,p)$;$^{50}\mathrm{Cr}$, $^{64}\mathrm{Zn}(d,t)$, and $^{54}\mathrm{Fe}(d,\ensuremath{\alpha})$. Uncertainties range from \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.8 to \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2.2 keV. Only the $^{50}\mathrm{Cr}(d,t)^{49}\mathrm{Cr}$ value differs greatly (61 keV) from the values in the 1971 Atomic Mass Evaluation, but in nine cases uncertainties were reduced by factors ranging from 1.5 to 6. The $\mathrm{Ti}(d,p)$ measurements are consistent with ($n,\ensuremath{\gamma}$) values.
Paying for drug approvals--who's using whom?

Since 1992, the United States has relied heavily on the pharmaceutical industry to pay the salaries of FDA scientists who review new drug applications. Dr. Jerry Avorn writes that most federal regulatory agencies do not derive such a large proportion of their operating budgets from the industries they oversee.
Cigarette Smoking among HIV+ Men and Women: Examining Health, Substance Use, and Psychosocial Correlates across the Smoking Spectrum

The prevalence of cigarette smoking among HIV+ individuals is greater than that found in the general population. However, factors related to smoking within this population are not well understood. This study examined the associations between smoking and demographic, medical, substance use, and psychosocial factors in a clinic-based sample of HIV+ men and women. Two hundred twelve participants completed self-report measures of tobacco use, HIV-related symptoms, viral load, CD4, alcohol and illicit drug use, depression, and social support. Multinomial logistic regression (MLR) analyses modeled the independent associations of the cross-sectional set of predictors with smoking status. Results indicated that 74% of the sample smoked at least one cigarette per day; using standard definitions, 23% of the sample were light smokers, 22% were moderate smokers, and 29% smoked heavily. Smoking was associated with more HIV-related symptoms, greater alcohol and marijuana use, and less social support. Light smoking was related to minority race/ethnicity and less income; moderate smoking was associated with less education; and heavy smoking was related to less education and younger age. Viral load, CD4 count, and depression were not associated with smoking status. Psychosocial interventions targeting this population should consider the relationships between biopsychosocial factors and smoking behavior.
TNF primes endothelial cells for angiogenic sprouting by inducing a tip cell phenotype.

Pathological angiogenesis associated with wound healing often occurs subsequent to an inflammatory response that includes the secretion of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Controversy exists on the angiogenic actions of TNF, with it being generally proangiogenic in vivo, but antiangiogenic in vitro. We find that whereas continuous administration of TNF in vitro or in vivo inhibits angiogenic sprouting, a 2- to 3-day pulse stimulates angiogenesis by inducing an endothelial “tip cell” phenotype. TNF induces the known tip cell genes platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGFB) and vascular endothelial cell growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2), while at the same time blocking signaling through VEGFR2, thus delaying the VEGF-driven angiogenic response. Notch signaling regulates tip cell function, and we find that TNF also induces the notch ligand jagged-1, through an NFκB-dependent mechanism. Enrichment of jagged-1 in tip cells was confirmed by immunofluorescent staining as well as by laser capture microdissection/quantitative reverse-transcription–polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) of tip cells sprouting in vitro. Thus, in angiogenesis, the temporal expression of TNF is critical: it delays angiogenesis initially by blocking signaling through VEGFR2, but in addition by inducing a tip cell phenotype through an NFκB-dependent pathway, it concomitantly primes endothelial cells (ECs) for sprouting once the initial inflammatory wave has passed.
Mechanism and stereospecificity of α-hydroxylation of lignoceric acid in rat brain

Abstract Cerebronic acid (2-hydroxytetracosanoic acid) is the major fatty acid component of cerebrosides and sulfatides in mammalian brain. Our previous communication demonstrated the synthesis of cerebronic acid from lignoceric acid (tetracosanoic acid) by a rat brain preparation in the presence of molecular oxygen and a reduced pyridine nucleotide (Hoshi, M., and Kishimoto, Y. (1973) J. Biol. Chem. , 248 , 4123–4130). The present'studies on the conversion of ( RS )-[2- 3 H]-, ( RS )-[3- 3 H]-, ( R )-[2- 3 H]-, and ( S )-[2- 3 H]lignoceric acids to cerebronic acid by rat brain preparations establish that the pro- R hydrogen at the α-carbon of lignoceric acid is replaced by a hydroxyl group with overall retention of configuration.