cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Activation of Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein and NLRP3 Inflammasome in Atherosclerotic Lesion Development in Diabetic Pigs

Background Aberrantly elevated sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP), the lipogenic transcription factor, contributes to the development of fatty liver and insulin resistance in animals. Our recent studies have discovered that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylates SREBP at Ser-327 and inhibits its activity, represses SREBP-dependent lipogenesis, and thereby ameliorates hepatic steatosis and atherosclerosis in insulin-resistant LDLR−/− mice. Chronic inflammation and activation of NLRP3 inflammasome have been implicated in atherosclerosis and fatty liver disease. However, whether SREBP is involved in vascular lipid accumulation and inflammation in atherosclerosis remains largely unknown. Principal Findings The preclinical study with aortic pouch biopsy specimens from humans with atherosclerosis and diabetes shows intense immunostaining for SREBP-1 and the inflammatory marker VCAM-1 in atherosclerotic plaques. The cleavage processing of SREBP-1 and -2 and expression of their target genes are increased in the well-established porcine model of diabetes and atherosclerosis, which develops human-like, complex atherosclerotic plaques. Immunostaining analysis indicates an elevation in SREBP-1 that is primarily localized in endothelial cells and in infiltrated macrophages within fatty streaks, fibrous caps with necrotic cores, and cholesterol crystals in advanced lesions. Moreover, concomitant suppression of NAD-dependent deacetylase SIRT1 and AMPK is observed in atherosclerotic pigs, which leads to the proteolytic activation of SREBP-1 by diminishing the deacetylation and Ser-372 phosphorylation of SREBP-1. Aberrantly elevated NLRP3 inflammasome markers are evidenced by increased expression of inflammasome components including NLPR3, ASC, and IL-1β. The increase in SREBP-1 activity and IL-1β production in lesions is associated with vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in atherosclerotic pig aorta, as demonstrated by the induction of NF-κB, VCAM-1, iNOS, and COX-2, as well as by the repression of eNOS. Conclusions These translational studies provide in vivo evidence that the dysregulation of SIRT1-AMPK-SREBP and stimulation of NLRP3 inflammasome may contribute to vascular lipid deposition and inflammation in atherosclerosis.
Dopamine receptor binding in rat striatum: Ultradian rhythm and its modification by chronic imipramine

To investigate diurnal variations in dopamine receptor binding, the amount of specifically bound 3H-spiroperidol was measured at 4-h intervals over a 24-h period in the striatum of rats which had been housed under a controlled 12-h light-dark cycle (lights on 7 a.m.). A highly significant ultradian rhythm with peaks at 2 a.m. and 2 p.m. was found with an amplitude of about 75%. Chronic imipramine modified the rhythm such that the two peaks occurred 4 h later and amplitude as well as 24-h mean of binding decreased. Scatchard analysis at times of least and greatest binding indicated that the differences in binding were due not to changes in the affinity, but in the number of binding sites. These results are interpreted with regard to the mode of action of psychoactive drugs and to postulated changes of receptor sensitivity in neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Latino Clinical Perspective on Montalvo’s Ethnoracial Gap in Clinical Practice with Latinos

The purpose of this reaction paper is to respond to Montalvo’s scholarly article on Latino phenotyping and colorism. Given the current paucity of clinical research and practice attention to these entrenched problems, my reaction to the article will span three related areas that seem most appropriate to cover at this moment in time. First, I provide personal reflection as a Latino on the article that ran through my mind as I read it and which I have organized below. Second, clinical recollections on the topic are described, both my own as well as anecdotes collected from colleagues doing clinical practice with Latinos. Finally, implications for how Latino-serving clinicians might more routinely address phenotyping and colorism in clinical assessment and practice are offered in order to mitigate their harmful effects on Latino individuals, families, and communities.
Reversible Addition−Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization in Microemulsion

We have conducted reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of n-hexyl methacrylate solubilized in a microemulsion using dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide as surfactant and 2-cyanoprop-2-yl dithiobenzoate (1) as the RAFT agent. The resulting latex particles are stable and much smaller, ranging from 18 to 30 nm depending on the mole ratio of RAFT agent 1 to the free radical initiator, 2,2‘-azobis(2-amidinopropane) hydrochloride (V50), than those produced by conventional microemulsion polymerization. The molecular weight increases linearly with conversion, and the polydispersity remains low when the number of RAFT agent molecules used is in excess of the initial number of swollen micelles. The RAFT technique can be successfully used in microemulsion polymerization to produce stable dispersions of small particles containing low molecular weight polymers. This is believed to be the first report of RAFT polymerization in microemulsion.
Contributions to frequency response models for mass transfer in adsorbents

Abstract Analytical models are presented for the interpretation of adsorption rate data measured using frequency response techniques. The first is a general model for a bidisperse particle including the contributions of micropore diffusion, macropore diffusion, a surface barrier resistance, and nonisothermal effects caused by the heat of adsorption. The remaining two models describe the degenerate case in which a surface barrier resistance is limiting. These two models pertain to the “shell and core” interpretation of the carbon molecular sieve (CMS) surface barrier with different levels of complexity. The more complex model treats the shell and core as two concentric spheres for which the adsorption rate is limited by micropore diffusion through the outer sphere, while the simpler model treats steady diffusion through a thin sheet, ignoring shell curvature and time dependence. These two models are used to explore the implications of having different isotherm characteristics in the shell compared to the core of a CMS microparticle. In the simple model, allowing for a different isotherm in the shell results in a loading dependence of the surface barrier transport coefficient that is different from what would be expected if the isotherms in the two regions were the same. In the more complex concentric sphere model, a different shell isotherm can result in rate behavior that no longer resembles that of an LDF-equivalent surface barrier.
Nuclear Protein Binding at the β-Myosin Heavy Chain A/T-rich Element Is Enriched following Increased Skeletal Muscle Activity

In adult mouse skeletal muscle, β-myosin heavy chain (βMyHC) gene expression is primarily restricted to slow-type I fibers but can be induced in fast-type II fibers by mechanical overload (MOV). Our previous transgenic analyses have delimited an 89-base pair (bp) MOV-responsive region (−293 to −205), and shown that mutation of the MCAT and C-rich elements within this region did not abolish βMyHC transgene induction by MOV. In this study we describe an A/T-rich element (βA/T-rich; −269 5′-GGAGATATTTTT-3′ −258) located within this 89-bp region that, only under MOV conditions, revealed enriched binding as characterized by electrophoretic mobility shift assays and dimethyl sulfate and diethyl pyrocarbonate interference footprinting. Direct, competition, and supershift electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed highly enriched specific binding activity at the βA/T-rich element that was antigenically distinct from GATA-4, MEF2A–D, SRF, and Oct-1, nuclear proteins that were previously shown to bind A/T-rich elements. In vitro translated GATA-4, MEF2C, SRF, and Oct-1 bound to consensus GATA, MEF2, SRE, and Oct-1 elements, respectively, but not to the βA/T-rich element. Two-dimensional UV cross-linking of the bromodeoxyuridine-substituted βA/T-rich element with mechanically overloaded plantaris (MOV-P) nuclear extract detected two proteins (44 and 48 kDa). Our results indicate that the βA/T-rich element may function in vivoas a βMyHC MOV-inducible element during hypertrophy of adult skeletal muscle by binding two distinct proteins identified only in MOV-P nuclear extract.
Competition-colonization trade-offs and disturbance effects at multiple scales.

The competition-colonization trade-off has long been a mechanism explaining patterns of species coexistence and diversity in nonequilibrium systems. It forms one explanation of the intermediate disturbance hypothesis (IDH) for local communities— specifically that diversity should be maximized at intermediate disturbance frequencies, yet only a fraction of empirical studies support IDH predictions. Similarly, this trade-off is also a powerful explanation of coexistence at larger spatial scales. I show, with a microbial experimental system, that the diversity-disturbance relationship is dependent on the relative distribution of species along this trade-off. Here I show that, when species are skewed toward late-successional habits, local diversity declines with disturbance. Yet, despite this trait skew, diversity at scales larger than the patch appears insensitive to the trade-off distribution. Intermediate disturbance frequencies produce the greatest diversity in patch successional stage, thus benefiting the maximum number of species at larger scales.
Implementation and structural variables

Abstract Considerable attention has been given to the importance of structural and contextual variables in the successful implementation of computer-based information systems. A perusal of the empirical studies, however, reveals only moderate evidence to substantiate the critical nature of macro organizational variables. This paper reviews the hypothetical and empirical studies concerning organizational factors and gives several recommendations for future research strategies.
Breeding structure of a colonizing species: Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in peninsular Malaysia and Borneo

The mosquito, Aedes albopictus, has recently become established in a number of cities throughout the United States. An initial survey of allozyme and genotypic frequencies in U.S. populations (Black et al., 1988) revealed an extensive amount of local differentiation of populations and suggested that much genetic drift may have accompanied colonization. A study of gene flow was initiated in native habitats of Ae. albopictus in Malaysia to determine if the result observed in the U.S. was a consequence of colonization or simply followed the natural breeding structure of the species. Allelic and genotypic frequencies were monitored at ten enzymatic loci in 11 populations from peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. Multiple populations were sampled within the districts of Kuala Lumpur and Kuala Trengganu. Peninsular Malaysian and Borneo populations were strongly genetically differentiated. Allele frequencies were significantly different among and within districts in both regions. Variance in allele frequencies among all collections was partitioned into the variance among regions, districts within regions and collections within districts. Almost all of the variance within regions was attributable to local differentiation suggesting that genetic drift is an important component of the natural breeding structure of this species. This indicates that the large amounts of local differentiation found in U.S. populations was not a consequence of recent colonization.
Impact of chelators on the oxidative stability of whey protein isolate-stabilized oil-in-water emulsions containing ω-3 fatty acids

Abstract The oxidative stability of oil-in-water emulsions can be improved by engineering the surface of the emulsion droplets to decrease transition metal–lipid interactions. This can be accomplished in protein-stabilized emulsions where the pH is less than the p I of the protein and the emulsion droplets are cationic. While these emulsions have high oxidative stability, little is known about whether metal chelators can be used to further decrease lipid oxidation. Therefore the purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), citrate and polyphosphates on the physical and oxidative stability of algae oil-in-water emulsions, stabilized by whey protein isolate. Chelators were added to emulsions at concentrations ranging from 1 to 100 μM and lipid oxidation was monitored with lipid hydroperoxides and headspace propanal. The oxidative stability of whey protein isolate-stabilized emulsions, at both pH 3.0 and 7.0, was improved by EDTA at concentrations ⩾1 μM. Neither citrate nor polyphosphates were effective at inhibiting lipid oxidation at the concentrations tested. None of the chelators tested had any impact on the physical stability of the emulsions. These results indicate that the oxidative stability of whey-protein isolate-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion can be increased by EDTA without having any impact on physical stability.
Angular spin-orbit coupling in cold atoms

We propose coupling two internal atomic states using a pair of Raman beams operated in Laguerre-Gaussian laser modes with unequal phase windings. This generates a coupling between the atom's pseudospin and its orbital angular momentum. We analyze the single-particle properties of the system using realistic parameters and provide detailed studies of the spin texture of the ground state. Finally, we consider a weakly interacting atomic condensate subject to this angular spin-orbit coupling and show how the interatomic interactions modify the single-particle physics.
Privacy-Preserving IR 2015: When Information Retrieval Meets Privacy and Security

Information retrieval (IR) and information privacy/security are two fast-growing computer science disciplines. There are many synergies and connections between these two disciplines. However, there have been very limited efforts to connect the two important disciplines. On the other hand, due to lack of mature techniques in privacy-preserving IR, concerns about information privacy and security have become serious obstacles that prevent valuable user data to be used in IR research such as studies on query logs, social media, tweets, and medical record retrieval. We propose this privacy-preserving IR workshop to connect the two disciplines of information retrieval and information privacy and security. We look forward to spurring research that aims to bring together the research fields of IR and privacy/security. Last year, the first privacy-preserving IR workshop focused on mitigating privacy threats in information retrieval by novel algorithms and tools that enable web users to better understand associated privacy risks.
Aggregate reactivation mediated by the Hsp100 chaperones.

Hsp100 family of molecular chaperones shows a unique capability to resolubilize and reactivate aggregated proteins. The Hsp100-mediated protein disaggregation is linked to the activity of other chaperones from the Hsp70 and Hsp40 families. The best-studied members of the Hsp100 family are the bacterial ClpB and Hsp104 from yeast. Hsp100 chaperones are members of a large super-family of energy-driven conformational “machines” known as AAA+ ATPases. This review describes the current mechanistic model of the chaperone-induced protein disaggregation and explains how the structural architecture of Hsp100 supports disaggregation and how the co-chaperones may participate in the Hsp100-mediated reactions.
Fitting multilevel models in complex survey data with design weights: Recommendations

Multilevel models (MLM) offer complex survey data analysts a unique approach to understanding individual and contextual determinants of public health. However, little summarized guidance exists with regard to fitting MLM in complex survey data with design weights. Simulation work suggests that analysts should scale design weights using two methods and fit the MLM using unweighted and scaled-weighted data. This article examines the performance of scaled-weighted and unweighted analyses across a variety of MLM and software programs. Using data from the 2005–2006 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN: n = 40,723) that collected data from children clustered within states, I examine the performance of scaling methods across outcome type (categorical vs. continuous), model type (level-1, level-2, or combined), and software (Mplus, MLwiN, and GLLAMM). Scaled weighted estimates and standard errors differed slightly from unweighted analyses, agreeing more with each other than with unweighted analyses. However, observed differences were minimal and did not lead to different inferential conclusions. Likewise, results demonstrated minimal differences across software programs, increasing confidence in results and inferential conclusions independent of software choice. If including design weights in MLM, analysts should scale the weights and use software that properly includes the scaled weights in the estimation.
User performance under several automated approaches to changing displayed maps

State-of-the-art computer displays seldom have sufficient resolution and size to show usable detail for a large map. One solution is to satisfy user needs by designing map display systems that present sequential map segments. The utility of two types of presentation conditions was evaluated: (a) continuous map scanning, and (b) discrete map segments using three different amounts of border overlap (0%, 25% and 50%). The task was to determine the fastest road routes between cities. A 19 in. color television monitor displayed 6×8 km map segments (1:50,000 scale) within a 60×80 km map region; participants viewed the larger map area by changing the displayed segments. Solution time, number of map segments viewed, and quality of route solutions were recorded by 24 participants on each of 12 problems divided among presentation conditions. Results showed that different presentation conditions did not significantly affect the quality of routes chosen. Problems took the least time when map segments with 50% overlap were used although 25% overlap produced similar data. Overall, the participants who changed map segments more often took less time working problems. Discrete map segments with around 25% overlap would contribute to an efficient design for a sequential map display system.
X11α haploinsufficiency enhances Aβ amyloid deposition in Alzheimer's disease transgenic mice

The neuronal adaptor protein X11alpha/mint-1/APBA-1 binds to the cytoplasmic domain of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) to modulate its trafficking and metabolism. We investigated the consequences of reducing X11alpha in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We crossed hAPPswe/PS-1DeltaE9 transgenic (AD tg) mice with X11alpha heterozygous knockout mice in which X11alpha expression is reduced by approximately 50%. The APP C-terminal fragments C99 and C83, as well as soluble Abeta40 and Abeta42, were increased significantly in brain of X11alpha haploinsufficient mice. Abeta/amyloid plaque burden also increased significantly in the hippocampus and cortex of one year old AD tg/X11alpha (+/-) mice compared to AD tg mice. In contrast, the levels of sAPPalpha and sAPPbeta were not altered significantly in AD tg/X11alpha (+/-) mice. The increased neuropathological indices of AD in mice expressing reduced X11alpha suggest a normal suppressor role for X11alpha on CNS Abeta/amyloid deposition.
A device for the direct measurement of atomic weight

Abstract This paper describes the modification of a magnetic deflection mass spectrometer to produce a device for the direct measurement of the atomic weight of a multi-isotopic sample. To accomplish this, a modification of the collector slit system is proposed. Construction of the collector slit system and preliminary testing with a measurement of the atomic weight of neon are discussed.
In vivo imaging of human teeth and skin using real-time confocal microscopy

Confocal microscopy is currently being used to obtain images with higher lateral and axial resolution than conventional light microscopic techniques. Most current confocal microscopic applications describe the use of in vitro preparations. The tandem scanning microscope (TSM) can be applied in the in vivo microscopic evaluation of living tissue. This article discusses in vivo applications of the TSM in the study of human teeth and skin.
Gay Language and Indonesia: Registering Belonging

Many homosexual men in Indonesia speak what they call bahasa gay‘gay language’, a linguistic phenomenon based upon bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian), Indonesia's national language. Bahasa gay involves derivational processes including unique suffixes and word substitutions, and a pragmatics oriented around community rather than secrecy. Although mainstream knowledge of gay men's existence is limited, bahasa gay is increasingly being appropriated by Indonesian popular culture. By examining bahasa gay in terms of state power and register, the article asks how this form of speaking might contribute to better understanding how gay subjectivity is bound up with conceptions of national belonging. Gay Indonesians might seem to epitomize difference; they seem to lie radically outside the norms of Indonesian societies. Within gay communities and in popular culture, however, bahasa gay appears as a register of belonging, not one of hierarchy or distance.
Generalized Penner models and multicritical behavior.

In this paper, we are interested in the critical behavior of generalized Penner models at $t\ensuremath{\sim}\ensuremath{-}1+\frac{\ensuremath{\mu}}{N}$ where the topological expansion for the free energy develops logarithmic singularities: $\ensuremath{\Gamma}\ensuremath{\sim}\ensuremath{-}({\ensuremath{\chi}}_{0}{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{2}\mathrm{ln}\ensuremath{\mu}+{\ensuremath{\chi}}_{1}\mathrm{ln}\ensuremath{\mu}+\ensuremath{\cdots})$. We demonstrate that these criticalities can best be characterized by the fact that the large-$N$ generating function becomes meromorphic with a single pole term of unit residue, $F(z)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\frac{1}{(z\ensuremath{-}a)}$, where $a$ is the location of the "sink." For a one-band eigenvalue distribution, we identify multicritical potentials; we find that none of these can be associated with the $c=1$ string compactified at an integral multiple of the self-dual radius. We also give an exact solution to the Gaussian Penner model and explicity demonstrate that, at criticality, this solution does not correspond to a $c=1$ string compactified at twice the self-dual radius.
Distal tibia fractures: locked or non-locked plating?: A systematic review of outcomes

Background and purpose — Although plating is considered to be the treatment of choice in distal tibia fractures, controversies abound regarding the type of plating for optimal fixation. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate and compare the outcomes of locked plating and non-locked plating in treatment of distal tibia fractures. Patients and methods — A systematic review was conducted using PubMed to identify articles on the outcomes of plating in distal tibia fractures that were published up to June 2012. We included English language articles involving a minimum of 10 adult cases with acute fractures treated using single-plate, minimally invasive techniques. Study-level binomial regression on the pooled data was conducted to determine the effect of locking status on different outcomes, adjusted for age, sex, and other independent variables. Results — 27 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis of 764 cases (499 locking, 265 non-locking). Based on descriptive analys...
Effect of continuous speech and non-speech signals on stuttering frequency in adults who stutter

The inhibitory effects of continuously presented audio signals (/a/, /s/, 1,000 Hz pure-tone) on stuttering were examined. Eleven adults who stutter participated. Participants read four 300-syllable passages (i.e. in the presence and absence of the audio signals). All of the audio signals induced a significant reduction in stuttering frequency relative to the control condition (P = 0.005). A significantly greater reduction in stuttering occurred in the /a/ condition (P 0.05). These findings are consistent with the notion that the percept of a second signal as speech or non-speech can respectively augment or attenuate the potency for reducing stuttering frequency.
Heart Failure and Pulmonary Hypertension in Women

Heart failure is characterized as a syndrome caused by cardiac dysfunction, leading to neurohormonal and circulatory abnormalities, resulting in the characteristic signs/symptoms of fluid retention, shortness of breath, and fatigue, particularly on exertion [1]. The worldwide prevalence and incidence continues to rise over time and is rapidly approaching epidemic proportions. In the United States alone, there are an estimated six million people living with heart failure and 670,000 new cases diagnosed each year, of which 320,000 of these are women [2]. This has led to an annual expenditure approaching nearly 39 billion dollars [2, 3].
A unified theory of the diocotron, cyclotron maser, and negative-mass instabilities

A small-signal theory is developed which simultaneously includes the diocotron, negative mass, and cyclotron maser effects. The simple analysis is performed using a Pierce type approach for an axis encircling electron beam inside a circular waveguide. Relativistic, nonrelativistic, synchronous, and nonsynchronous limits are considered to recover the individual instabilities. It is found that the diocotron and the negative mass/cyclotron maser effect strengthen each other. At voltages higher than a few kiloelectron volt the relativistic negative mass/ cyclotron maser effects become dominant. However, the threshold beam voltage, which appears in gyrotron literature, for the onset of the cyclotron maser instability is found absent when the diocotron effect is taken into account. The feasibility of building a low-voltage tube is explored.
Variations in amoxicillin pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters may explain treatment failures in acute otitis media.

Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modeling and Monte Carlo simulations suggest that amoxicillin should rarely fail as therapy for Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae acute otitis media (AOM) infections except when the S. pneumoniae are highly penicillin resistant or the H. influenzae are β-lactamase producing. However, important and not infrequent exceptions to this expectation have been described. The objective of this review was to define the biologic variations in amoxicillin PK/PD parameters for the treatment of AOM in children and assess whether these variations could explain why the commonly employed amoxicillin PK/PD model is imperfect in predicting outcome for every patient in this clinical setting. To this end, a literature search of MEDLINE (1966–2006) and EMBASE (1974–2006) was conducted to identify studies that evaluated ampicillin or amoxicillin intestinal absorption, serum concentrations, and/or middle ear fluid (MEF) concentrations. Analysis of studies identified for review showed that the intestinal bioavailability of amoxicillin depends on passive diffusion and a saturable ‘pump’ mechanism that produces variable serum concentrations of the antibacterial agent. Indeed, substantial differences from patient to patient in serum (5- to 30-fold) and MEF (up to 20-fold) concentrations of amoxicillin occur following oral administration, and 15–35% of children have no detectable amoxicillin in MEF. These findings suggest that variability in PK/PD parameters may impact amoxicillin concentrations in serum and MEF, possibly explaining some AOM treatment failures.
A Scalable Non-blocking Multicast Scheme for Distributed DAG Scheduling

This paper presents an application-level non-blocking multicast scheme for dynamic DAG scheduling on large-scale distributed-memory systems. The multicast scheme takes into account both network topology and space requirement of routing tables to achieve scalability. Specifically, we prove that the scheme is deadlock-free and takes at most logN steps to complete. The routing table chooses appropriate neighbors to store based on topology IDs and has a small space of O (logN ). Although built upon MPI point-to-point operations, the experimental results show that our scheme is significantly better than the simple flat-tree method and is comparable to vendor's collective MPI operations.
Control path implementation for a low-latency optical HPC switch

A crucial part of any high-performance computing system is its interconnection network. In the OSMOSIS project, Corning and IBM are jointly developing a demonstrator interconnect based on optical cell switching with electronic control. Starting from the core set of requirements, we present the system design rationale and show how it impacts the practical implementation. Our focus is on solving the technical issues related to the electronic control path, and we show that it is feasible at the targeted design point.
Wild rice and the Ojibway people

Wild rice has always been essential to life in the Upper Midwest and neighboring Canada. In this far-reaching book, Thomas Vennum, Jr., uses travelers' narratives, historical and ethnological accounts, scientific data, historical and contemporary photographs and sketches, his own field work, and the words of Indian people to examine the importance of this wild food to the Ojibway people. He details the technology of harvesting and processing, from seventeenth-century reports though modern mechanization. He explains the important place of wild rice in Ojibway ceremony and legend and depicts the rich social life of the traditional rice camps. And he reviews the volatile issues of treaty rights and litigations involving Indian problems in maintaining this traditional resource. A staple of the Ojibway diet and economy for centuries, wild rice has now become a gourmet food. With twentieth-century agricultural technology and paddy cultivation, white growers have virtually removed this important source of income from Indain hands. Nevertheless, the Ojibway continue to harvest and process rice each year. It remains a vital part of their social, cultural, and religious life.
Prevention of Fatal Cage-layer Osteoporosis

Regular necropsy of samples of laying hen mortality at a large cage-layer ranch revealed significant loses due to osteoporosis. The feeding program consisted of feeding a pullet-growing diet until egg production commenced followed by a change to a laying diet. Literature review and experimental results have demonstrated a requirement for 2% dietary calcium for about 2 wk before first egg is anticipated followed by transfer to a higher calcium level during lay. A nutritional regimen of this design was tested on two paired sister flocks of hens. Necropsy of mortality during the tests showed a striking reduction in mortality due to osteoporosis.
Molecular diagnosis for indeterminate thyroid nodules on fine needle aspiration: advances and limitations

Indeterminate thyroid lesions are diagnosed in up to 30% of fine needle aspirations. These nodules harbor malignancy in more than 25% of cases, and hemithyroidectomy or total thyroidectomy has therefore been advocated in order to achieve definitive diagnosis. Recently, many molecular markers have been investigated in an attempt to increase diagnostic accuracy of indeterminate fine needle aspiration cytology and thereby avoid unnecessary complications and costs associated with thyroid surgery. Somatic mutation testing, mRNA gene expression platforms, protein immunocytochemistry and miRNA panels have improved the diagnostic accuracy of indeterminate thyroid nodules, and although no test is perfectly accurate, in the authors’ opinion, these methods will most certainly become an important part of the diagnostic tools for clinicians and cytopathologists in the future.
Cobalt-catalysed asymmetric hydrovinylation of 1,3-dienes

In the presence of bidentate 1,n-bis-diphenylphosphinoalkane-CoCl2 complexes {Cl2Co[P ∼ P]} and Me3Al or methylaluminoxane, acyclic (E)-1,3-dienes react with ethylene (1 atmosphere) to give excellent yields of hydrovinylation products. The regioselectivity (1,4- or 1,2-addition) and the alkene configuration (E- or Z-) of the resulting product depend on the nature of the ligand and temperature at which the reaction is carried out. Cobalt(II)-complexes of 1,1-diphenylphosphinomethane and similar ligands with narrow bite angles give mostly 1,2-addition, retaining the E-geometry of the original diene. Complexes of most other ligands at low temperature (−40 °C) give almost exclusively a single branched product, (Z)-3-alkylhexa-1,4-diene, which arises from a 1,4-hydrovinylation reaction. A minor product is the linear adduct, a 6-alkyl-hexa-1,4-diene, also arising from a 1,4-addition of ethylene. As the temperature is increased, a higher proportion of the major branched-1,4-adduct appears as the (E)-isomer. The unexpectedly high selectivity seen in the Co-catalysed reaction as compared to the corresponding Ni-catalysed reaction can be rationalized by invoking the intermediacy of an η4-[(diene)[P ∼ P]CoH]+-complex and its subsequent reactions. The enhanced reactivity of terminal E-1,3-dienes over the corresponding Z-dienes can also be explained on the basis of the ease of formation of this η4-complex in the former case. The lack of reactivity of the X2Co(dppb) (X = Cl, Br) complexes in the presence of Zn/ZnI2 makes the Me3Al-mediated reaction different from the previously reported hydroalkenylation of dienes. Electron-rich phospholanes, bis-oxazolines and N-heterocyclic carbenes appear to be poor ligands for the Co(II)-catalysed hydrovinylation of 1,3-dienes. An extensive survey of chiral ligands reveals that complexes of DIOP, BDPP and Josiphos ligands are quite effective for these reactions even at −45 °C and enantioselectivities in the range of 90–99% ee can be realized for a variety of 1,3-dienes. Cobalt(II)-complex of an electron-deficient Josiphos ligand is especially active, requiring only <1 mol% catalyst to effect the reactions.
Organizational Features and Classroom Thoughtfulness in Secondary School Social Studies Departments

This paper offers an empirical analysis of the association between organizational features and classroom thoughtfulness. The findings yield a mixed message. On the one hand, no association was found between classroom thoughtfulness and the organizational features of class size, total numbers of students, amount of planning time and number of courses for which teachers had to prepare. On the other hand, there seemed to be a positive association between levels of thoughtfulness and departmental common visions, curricular revision and instructional improvement programs to promote higher order thinking. While only an exploratory analysis, the evidence from this study suggests that what departments do within extant structures may contribute more to improving the level of classroom thoughtfulness in high school social studies than the mere presence or absence of specific organizational structures.
High-density lipoprotein in uremic patients: metabolism, impairment, and therapy

Several studies have shown that HDL has altered antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in chronic uremia, either by the reduction in its antioxidant enzymes or by the impairment of their activity. Systemic oxidative stress, which is highly prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, has been shown to decrease antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of HDL and even transform it into a pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory agent. For this reason, we believe that the propensity for accelerated cardiovascular disease in CKD is facilitated by a few key features of this disease, namely, oxidative stress, inflammation, hypertension, and disorders of lipid metabolism. In a nutshell, oxidative stress and inflammation enhance atherosclerosis leading to increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in this population. In this detailed review, we highlight the current knowledge on HDL dysfunction and impairment in chronic kidney disease as well as the available therapy.
Discriminated Functional Communication: A Procedural Extension of Functional Communication Training.

A limitation associated with communication-based interventions for problem behavior is the potential for requesting reinforcement at high rates. Multiple-schedule arrangements have been demonstrated to be effective for controlling rates of responding (Hanley, Iwata, & Thompson, 2001). In the current study, we extended previous research by teaching individuals to attend to naturally occurring discriminative stimuli (e.g., caregiver behavior) instead of arbitrary stimuli (e.g., picture cards). Following successful treatment with functional communication and extinction, 2 participants were taught to request attention differentially based on whether the caregiver was engaging in a variety of “busy” (e.g., talking on the phone) or “nonbusy” (e.g., reading a magazine) activities. Following training, each participant engaged in communication primarily when caregivers were engaged in nonbusy activities.
An Awkward Companion: Disability and the Semantic Landscape of English Lame

This article proposes a history of the English word lame, based on quantitative and qualitative evidence from twentieth-century corpora. A path of semantic development is proposed for lame in the twentieth century, from concrete contexts with animate referents to abstract contexts with inanimate referents and abstract contexts with human referents. While lame does participate in the universal tendencies of semantic generalization and subjectification, its participation in contextual generalization is skewed by the strong discursive power of its most common concrete use, human disability. It is suggested that the abstract meanings of lame are the result of the crystallization of frequently occurring inferences surrounding human impairment and disability.
A robust estimator for stochastic systems under unknown persistent excitation

A robust estimator for uncertain stochastic systems under unknown persistent disturbance is presented. The given discrete-time stochastic formulation neither requires a known bound on the magnitude of the unknown excitation nor assumes stability of the system. However, the proposed estimator assumes certain structural conditions on system uncertainties. Though the proposed estimator is developed based on stochastic Lyapunov analysis, its structure and performance are comparable to that of unbiased minimum-variance filters based on the disturbance decoupling technique. Unlike unbiased minimum-variance filters, implementation of the developed estimator only requires adding an auxiliary term to the nominal steady-state Kalman filter, and it does not involve any similarity transformation or propagation of matrix difference equations.
Remote sensing in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean: applications and developments

Remote sensing provides the means to study features and processes that are not easily accessible or amenable to direct observations. The polar regions, and Antarctica in particular, offer a variety of examples where the ability to observe from afar is necessary or highly desirable. In particular, studies of ice shelf processes, changes in the sea-ice cover, and ice-ocean-atmosphere investigations must rely in large part on measurements from aircraft and satellites. The polar regions present a unique set of problems that complicate applications and limit the usefulness of certain sensors; new instruments planned for launch in the 1990s will help resolve many of these difficulties. Examples of remote sensing applications for the study of the continent, drifting ice, ocean, and atmosphere demonstrate ways that existing data as well as new observations can be used to aid polar research.
A highly stereoselective synthesis of axially chiral biaryls. Application to the synthesis of a potential chiral catalysts.

Abstract Excellent diastereoselectivities (⪢98:2) have been obtained in the biaryl coupling of 2′,6′,-disubstituted aryl Grignard reagents 1 with aryl oxazolines 6 , conveniently synthesised from the optically pure amino alcohols L-valinol and (S)-t-leucinol.
Structural Analysis of the Interaction between Dishevelled2 and Clathrin AP-2 Adaptor, A Critical Step in Noncanonical Wnt Signaling

Wnt association with its receptor, Frizzled (Fz), and recruitment by the latter of an adaptor, Dishevelled (Dvl), initiates signaling through at least two distinct pathways ("canonical" and "noncanonical"). Endocytosis and compartmentalization help determine the signaling outcome. Our previous work has shown that Dvl2 links at least one Frizzled family member (Fz4) to clathrin-mediated endocytosis by interacting with the μ2 subunit of the AP-2 clathrin adaptor, through both a classical endocytic tyrosine motif and a so-called "DEP domain." We report here the crystal structure of a chimeric protein that mimics the Dvl2-μ2 complex. The DEP domain binds at one end of the elongated, C-terminal domain of μ2. This domain:domain interface shows that parts of the μ2 surface distinct from the tyrosine-motif site can help recruit specific receptors or adaptors into a clathrin coated pit. Mutation of residues at the DEP-μ2 contact or in the tyrosine motif reduce affinity of Dvl2 for μ2 and block efficient internalization of Fz4 in response to ligation by Wnt5a. The crystal structure has thus allowed us to identify the specific interaction that leads to Frizzled uptake and to downstream, noncanonical signaling events.
The Unnoticed Absence of Emotion in Autobiographical Memory

Memory for one's own life experiences, or autobiographical memory, is impressive in its accuracy and flexibility. A memory is constructed anew at each recollection through a process of finding and temporarily joining together specific details about location, sensory experiences, and other details. Curiously missing, however, are emotional details. Although emotional experiences are well remembered, the emotional aspect of an experience is neither retained in its full intensity nor reexperienced during recollection. The adaptive benefits of omitting emotion from autobiographical memory include uninterrupted goal pursuit and emotional stability. But most people make metacognitive errors that convince them that autobiographical memories generally do contain emotion. Possible causes of these errors include naive theories, motivation to believe that one is healthy, filling in current emotion for remembered emotion, and biased sampling of memories.
The Residency Review Committee for Surgery and the training of vascular surgeons

Abstract Purpose: This article reviews the activities and actions of the Residency Review Committee (RRC) for Surgery in the accreditation process of of vascular surgery training programs since 1983. Methods: The substantial changes of the Special Requirements for Graduate Education in General Vascular Surgery are discussed for 1983, 1987, 1989, and 1992. The rank-ordered list of RRC citations is reviewed. The national resident operative statistics for the past 4 years are reported for both general and vascular surgery residents. Results: Changes in the Special Requirements have included deletion of two of the four types of programs, elimination of the need for institutional programs in specialties other than core general or thoracic surgery, and relaxation of the restriction against concurrent resident assignment. The most common citation continues to be the negative impact on general surgery residents. Nevertheless national operative statistics show a favorable increase in case load for both general and vascular surgery residents. Conclusions: Future challenges to surgical education and practice are summarized; the solutions to these challenges will require cooperative efforts of the RRC, the American Board of Surgery, and a number of specialty societies and credentialling or regulatory bodies. (J VASC SURG 1993;17:971-4.)
Automatic selection of region of interest for radiographic texture analysis

We have been developing radiographic texture analysis (RTA) for assessing osteoporosis and the related risk of fracture. Currently, analyses are performed on heel images obtained from a digital imaging device, the GE/Lunar PIXI, that yields both the bone mineral density (BMD) and digital images (0.2-mm pixels; 12-bit quantization). RTA is performed on the image data in a region-of-interest (ROI) placed just below the talus in order to include the trabecular structure in the analysis. We have found that variations occur from manually selecting this ROI for RTA. To reduce the variations, we present an automatic method involving an optimized Canny edge detection technique and parameterized bone segmentation, to define bone edges for the placement of an ROI within the predominantly calcaneus portion of the radiographic heel image. The technique was developed using 1158 heel images and then tested on an independent set of 176 heel images. Results from a subjective analysis noted that 87.5% of ROI placements were rated as "good". In addition, an objective overlap measure showed that 98.3% of images had successful ROI placements as compared to placement by an experienced observer at an overlap threshold of 0.4. In conclusion, our proposed method for automatic ROI selection on radiographic heel images yields promising results and the method has the potential to reduce intra- and inter-observer variations in selecting ROIs for radiographic texture analysis.
Targeted complement inhibition as a promising strategy for preventing inflammatory complications in hemodialysis

Hemodialysis is the most common method used to remove waste and hazardous products of metabolism in patients suffering from renal failure. Hundreds of thousands of people with end-stage renal disease undergo hemodialysis treatment in the United States each year. Strikingly, the 5-year survival rate for all dialysis patients is only 35%. Most of the patients succumb to cardiovascular disease that is exacerbated by the chronic induction of inflammation caused by contact of the blood with the dialysis membrane. The complement system, a strong mediator of pro-inflammatory networks, is a key contributor to such biomaterial-induced inflammation. Though only evaluated in experimental ex vivo settings, specific targeting of complement activation during hemodialysis has uncovered valuable information that points toward the therapeutic use of complement inhibitors as a means to control the unwelcomed inflammatory responses and consequent pathologies in hemodialysis patients.
CATCH - Compiler-Assisted Techniques for Checkpointing

A compiler-based approach to generating efficient checkpoints for process recovery is described. The presented approach to checkpointing is programmer, operating system, and hardware transparent. Compile-time information is exploited to maintain the desired checkpoint interval and to reduce the size of checkpoints. Compiler-generated sparse potential checkpoint code is used to maintain the desired checkpoint interval. Adaptive checkpointing has been developed to reduce the size of checkpoints by exploiting potentially large variations in memory usage. A training technique is used in selecting the low-cost, high-coverage potential checkpoints. Since the potential checkpoint selection problem is NP-complete, a heuristic algorithm has been developed to obtain a quick suboptimal solution. These compiler-assisted checkpointing techniques have been implemented in a modified version of the GNU C (GCC) compiler version of 1.34. Experiments utilizing the CATCH GCC compiler on SUN workstations are described. >