cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Discrete BDNF Neurons in the Paraventricular Hypothalamus Control Feeding and Energy Expenditure

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a key regulator of energy balance; however, its underlying mechanism remains unknown. By analyzing BDNF-expressing neurons in paraventricular hypothalamus (PVH), we have uncovered neural circuits that control energy balance. The Bdnf gene in the PVH was mostly expressed in previously undefined neurons, and its deletion caused hyperphagia, reduced locomotor activity, impaired thermogenesis, and severe obesity. Hyperphagia and reduced locomotor activity were associated with Bdnf deletion in anterior PVH, whereas BDNF neurons in medial and posterior PVH drive thermogenesis by projecting to spinal cord and forming polysynaptic connections to brown adipose tissues. Furthermore, BDNF expression in the PVH was increased in response to cold exposure, and its ablation caused atrophy of sympathetic preganglionic neurons. Thus, BDNF neurons in anterior PVH control energy intake and locomotor activity, whereas those in medial and posterior PVH promote thermogenesis by releasing BDNF into spinal cord to boost sympathetic outflow.
IBIST/spl trade/ (interconnect built-in-self-test) architecture and methodology for PCI Express

This paper summarizes the test challenges associated with next generation platform buses and introduces an Intel developed technology called IBIST/spl trade/ created to meet those challenges. The IBIST/spl trade/ testing methodology and associated on-die architecture customized for the PCI Express (PCIe) interface are described.
Gamma-Ray Bursts: Theoretical Considerations

With the launch of the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory it was hoped that the longstanding γ-ray burst mystery would find a solution. This hope has not been fulfilled, on the contrary, data gathered with BATSE have deepened the mystery. According to the old paradigm galactic neutron stars, detected in the vicinity of the Sun, were responsible for the bursts. This paradigm has essentially perished with the BATSE observation of an inhomogeneous spatial distribution coupled with nearly perfect isotropy on the sky. A new paradigm developed, involving cosmological source distributions. Presently, the merger of neutron stars appears to be the leading contender for explaining bursts at large redshifts. However, a variety of more local solutions are still considered. Suggestions range from Oort cloud models to a very extended Galactic halo. Most of the new models retain neutron stars as the basic building block. We review the modeling of classical γ-ray bursts and Soft Gamma Repeaters.
Transnational circulation and digital fatigue in Ghana's Azonto dance craze

Azonto is a Ghanaian urban dance craze whose popularity is built through its global circulation. I trace its production and flow across studios, radio stations, dance floors, and digital platforms in Accra and among Ghanaians in London and New York. I argue that, as a technologically mediated style, Azonto is the embodiment of being Ghanaian in a mobile, digital world. This dance reveals both the potentials and the hazards of digital repetition and copying for self-recognition. Ghanaian musicians and fans creatively use the repetitive aspects of digital technologies, making this dance a style of symbolic appropriation that links Ghanaian youth both in Accra and abroad into a dispersed community of musical participation that valorizes mobility itself. The dance's sudden ubiquity, however, creates “digital fatigue,” an uncertainty among participants about belonging in an era of digital replication that threatens to unmoor signs of recognition from the cultural registers that empower them in the first place.
A general co-design approach to multi-level package modeling based on individual single-level package full-wave S-parameter modeling including signal and power/ground ports

The power-aware SI (Signal Integrity) simulation takes into account the effect of the power supply noise. It is one of the key issues in the high-speed multi-level package system design. The multi-level package co-design requires a corresponding accurate modeling approach to include all signal, crosstalk and power noise effects to support the power-aware SI simulation. A general co-design approach to multi-level package modeling base on individual single-level package full-wave S-parameter modeling including signal and power/ground ports defined at chip-package and package-board vertical contact arrays is proposed in this paper with three features. Firstly, it includes not only the signal ports, but also the power and ground ports to support the power-aware SI simulations. Secondly, a port in the single-level model by this approach is seamlessly connectable to the corresponding port in another model by virtually connecting not only the port signal terminals, but also the port reference terminals. Thirdly, it combines package DC simulation and high-frequency full-wave simulation to guarantee wide band accuracy. A simple test case of a module-board-module with 20 ports on each module, and 20 ports on the board is used to verify the proposed method by both AC and nonlinear transient simulations. Another simple test case shows that the models by this approach can be used to fully model the transmission line structure in package even in the case of any transmission line referencing.
Knowledge and practice of sleep hygiene techniques in insomniacs and good sleepers.

Abstract An instrument was developed to assess sleep hygiene knowledge and practice in 44 sleep-onset insomniacs, 49 sleep-maintenance insomniacs and 50 good sleepers. Multivariate ANOVAs revealed that insomniacs had more general sleep hygiene knowledge than good sleepers, but practiced it less often. Sleep-onset and sleep-maintenance insomniacs had equivalent hygiene awareness, but the former group had less healthy hygiene practices. Hygiene knowledge was most deficient regarding the effects of nicotine, sleep medication, alcohol and exercise; hygiene practice needed most improvement in the areas of regular exercise, prebedtime relaxation and managing prebedtime worry. The results suggest that poor sleep hygiene is not a primary cause of insomnia; however, behavior therapists should continue to include this element in treatment to help insomniacs avoid exacerbation cycles.
Exchange protein directly activated by cyclic AMP isoform 2 is not a direct target of sulfonylurea drugs.

Abstract It has been reported by Zhang et al. that antidiabetic sulfonylurea drugs promote insulin secretion by directly binding to exchange protein directly activated by cyclic AMP isoform 2 (Epac2) and activating its down-stream effector Rap1. However, a critical link for an unambiguous validation of a direct interaction between Epac2 and sulfonylurea using purified individual components is missing. Our in vitro analyses using purified full-length Epac2 and Rap1 suggest that sulfonylureas are not able to directly bind to Epac2, nor are they capable of triggering Epac2-dependent Rap1 activation.
Two phases of the anyon gas and broken T symmetry; Some exact results

We report the first exact finite-temperature studies of anyons. Our method is an extension to finite T of earlier numerical work with small numbers of anyons on a lattice. We study the spontaneous magnetization M0(T), since this signature has been identified as a key signature of broken symmetry for anyon models. Our results confirm the two-phase picture suggested by earlier work: we find a low-temperature regime where M0 is very small or zero, and a high-temperature regime where M0 is of per particle. In the high-temperature regime we can obtain an excellent estimate of M0(T) in the thermodynamic limit (which we will call ), since our finite-size results extrapolate smoothly with little scatter. Our values for can then be compared with the results of μSR experiments on high-temperature superconductors, which set an upper experimental bound on the internal fields from such moments. We find that in a bulk material of many planes will almost certainly give a signal well above this threshold if (and only if) the planes are ordered ferromagnetically. In the antiferromagnetic case (which is strongly favored energetically) the signal from is probably undetectable. Finally, we estimate the transition temperature Tc from our finite-size studies, obtaining a value on the order of a few hundred Kelvins.
Adaptation of van der waals equation of state to the gaseous and liquid behavior of argon: Its application to simple substances

Utilizing the fact that the co-volume parameter, b = vc/3, van der Waals equation of state has been reduced to the form where β = a/Pcv2c and z = Pcvc/RTc. PVT data for argon, extending into the liquid region, have been utilized to establish the cohesive pressure parameter a as a function of temperature and density. This dependence is expressed in equation form and has been used to predict the PVT behavior of argon in its gaseous and liquid states, with an average deviation of 1.35% (250 points). The deviations resulting from this relationship for substances having similar zc-values (zc ≈ 0.291) were found to be of this order of magnitude. En se basant sut le fait que le parametre du co-volume b = vc/3, on a ramene l'equation d'etat de van der Waals a la forme suivante: ou β = a/PCvc2 et ze = Peve/RTe. On a utilise les donnees sur l'argon relativement a la pression, au volume et la temperature, en les etendant a la region liquide, pour etablir le parametre de pression cohesive a comme fonction de la temperature et de la densite. On exprime cette dependance sous forme d'equation et s'en est servi pour predire le comportement de l'argon a l'etat gazeux et a l'etat liquide par rapport a la pression, au volume et a la temperature, et ce, avec un ecart moyen de 1.35% (250 points). On a trouve que les ecarts resultant de cette relation, dans le cas des substances ayant des valeurs de zc (zc ≈ 0.291) semblables, etaient de cet ordre de grandeur.
Effects of IFN‐β and 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 on cellular proliferation, induction of 2′,5′‐oligoadenylate (2‐5A) synthetase and changes in immunoreactive pRB/p53 in human prostatic JCA‐1 cells

The combined antimitogenic effects of IFN-beta and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (vit. D3) were investigated by treating the androgen-independent JCA-1 cells, established from the primary prostatic tumor site prior to anti-hormonal therapy, with IFN-beta (1000 IU/ml), vit. D3 (100 nM), and both agents. Cell growth, changes in overall RNA and protein contents, and cell cycle regulatory proteins pRB/p53 were determined. After a 24 h exposure, a significant reduction in cell proliferation was observed in all three conditions. IFN-beta, vit D3, and their combination elicited, respectively, a 1.7-, 1.6- and 2.5-fold increase in total RNA and a corresponding 1.4-, 1.2- and 1.7-fold increase in soluble proteins. The IFN-inducible 2-5A synthetase activity was elevated by 15-, 1.4- and 21-fold, respectively. No differences in cell cycle phase distribution were found between control and treated samples. However, a significant change in pRB and p53 expression was observed upon exposure to these agents. A progressive increase in total pRB was observed in untreated JCA-1 cells, with the 48 h culture showing a 1.9-fold increase over the 6 h culture. The ratio of phosphorylated to the nonphosphorylated forms of pRB, however, decreased from 3.00 at 6 h to 1.2 at 48 h. The overall pRB increase as well as the modified:unmodified protein ratio change were both markedly decreased when the cells were treated with IFN-beta, vit. D3, or their combination. With p53, a similar progressive increase was also observed in control cells, which was largely abolished by IFN-beta but only partially blocked by vit. D3. The combination of IFN-beta and vit. D3 gave results similar to samples receiving vit. D3 alone suggesting that the effects of IFN-beta, insofar as p53 modulation is concerned, is distal to the effects of vit. D3.
The yeast SUA7 gene encodes a homolog of human transcription factor TFIIB and is required for normal start site selection in vivo.

Abstract Mutations in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae SUA7 gene were isolated as suppressors of an aberrant ATG translation initiation codon in the leader region of the cyc1 gene. Molecular and genetic analysis of the cloned SUA7 gene demonstrated that SUA7 is a single copy, essential gene encoding a basic protein (calculated M r of 38, 142) that is homologous to human transcription factor TFIIB. Analysis of cyc1 transcripts from sua7 strains revealed that suppression is a consequence of diminished transcription initiation at the normal start sites in favor of initiation at downstream sites, including a major site between the aberrant and normal ATG start codons. A similar effect was found at the ADH1 locus, establishing that this effect is not cyc1 gene-specific. Thus, SUA7 encodes a yeast TFIIB homolog and functions in transcription start site selection.
Study of the Spin and Parity of the B Meson

A study of the spin and parity of the pi omega resonance at 1220 Mev is presented. An assignment of 1- is favored. (R.E.U.)
Helminths and Mucosal Immune Modulation

Geographic and ethnic variations in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease frequency suggest that environmental factors affect disease risk. Prevention of parasitic worms (helminths) through improved hygiene may be one factor leading to the increased disease prevalence. Helminths alter host mucosal and systemic immunity. Animals exposed to helminths are protected from experimental colitis and other immunological diseases, and helminthic colonization can be used to treat ongoing murine and human disease. Helminths induce mucosal T cells to make Th2 and regulatory cytokines. Helminth-induced mucosal IL4, TGFbeta, and IL10 likely are part of the protective process. Helminths affect pathways of innate immunity like TLR4 expression and function. Worms also induce various regulatory-type T-cell subsets in the gut that limit effector T-cell growth and function. These effects of once ever-present helminths may have protected people from immune-mediated illnesses like inflammatory bowel disease.
Tropical social parasites in the ant genus Pheidole , with an analysis of the anatomical parasitic syndrome (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Because social parasites are relatively rare in tropical ant faunas, new or poorly known forms deserve special attention. TwoPheidole species evidently parasitic onP. indica are here described as new species from India (P. lanuginosa, P. parasitica), while a previously known northern South American form,P. microgyna Wheeler, is redescribed and evaluated as a possible parasite ofP. minutula or a closely related host species. Next, all of the nine certain or likely social parasites ofPheidole known worldwide are compared, and an anatomical parasitic syndrome is identified through character state analysis. The nine species appear to be independently evolved. The parasitic character states have tended to evolve within each of these species at different rates, and hence the evolution is interpreted as having been not only parallel among species but mosaic in nature within species (seetable I). In spite of the lesser irregularities in this pattern, an overall trend is evident: the first changes to occur were loss of the worker caste (a loss still incomplete in the overall slightly modifiedP. inquilina), reduction of size, lengthening of the scape, reduction of sculpturing on the body surface, and broadening of the postpetiole. These shifts were followed by reduction of the mandibles and the segments of the funiculus. The generaAnergatides andBruchomyrma, each based on a single extremely advanced species, are placed in synonymy underPheidole. The problematic generaHagioxenus, Parapheidole, andSifolinia are compared withPheidole and their status evaluated. The greater known diversity of parasitic ants in the temperate zones, as compared with the tropics, remains a key problem in the study of ant evolution. Whether the difference is genuine or an artifact of differential sampling cannot be determined until more intensive collecting is undertaken in the tropics.
Cellular transplantation of nephrons

Cellular transplantation of nephrons. Embryonic renal cellular primordia transplanted into animal hosts undergo nephrogenesis in situ, become vascularized by blood vessels of host origin, exhibit excretory function, and support life in otherwise anephric hosts. Renal primordia can be transplanted across isogeneic, allogeneic, and both concordant (rat to mouse) and highly disparate (pig to rodent) xenogeneic barriers. Here I review studies exploring the therapeutic potential for renal organogenesis posttransplantation of cellular kidney primordia.
The 9th International Symposium on Fluid Control, Measurement and Visualization (FLUCOME 2007)

This paper is the report on the Ninth International Symposium on Fluid Control, Measurement and Visualization. The symposium was scheduled on September 17-19, 2007 in Florida State University Center, Tallahassee Florida, USA. Topics for FLUCOME 2007 included fluid processes across a wide range of scales in multiple disciplines: from micro-scale fluid flows in micro biomechanical devices, small-scale machine flows to large-scale civil and environmental fluid flows, and global scale geophysical and meteorological fluid flows.
Classifying and detecting anomalies in hybrid knowledge-based systems

Abstract The increasing need for hybrid Knowledge-Based Systems (KBS) that accommodate more complex applications has led to the need for new verification concerns that are more specific to the hybrid representation using objects and rule-based inference. Traditionally, verification of expert systems has focused solely on rule-based inference systems. Hybrid KBSs present additional verification problems not found in traditional rule-based systems. This paper is an investigation into the anomalies that may be present in a hybrid representation that warrant detection for the verification of the KBS. Many anomalies are due to the interaction of the component parts of the hybrid KBS. For example, subsumption anomalies arise due to an interaction between inheritance of objects and rule-based inference. In this paper, we extend the context of subsumption anomalies and introduce additional types of anomalies that may be present in the KBS. The goal of this research is to make hybrid KBSs more reliable by detecting such anomalies.
Response Independent Habituation of Territorial Aggression in the Three‐spined Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)3

Territorial sticklebacks were habituated to a male conspecific confined to a clear glass tube in a two stage experiment. In the first stage, one group was allowed complete access to a stimulus tube containing a live, male conspecific and the number of bites directed at the stimulus was recorded. A second group was prevented from biting at the stimulus fish by placing a glass barrier between the territorial resident and stimulus tube. A third group was treated the same as the second but without a stimulus fish present. During the second stage of the experiment, which followed a 15 min rest, all groups were allowed access to the stimulus tube and confined conspecific. A typical habituation curve resulted across both sessions for the first group. The second group, which was characterized by very infrequent attempts to bite during state 1, showed behavior during stage 2 identical to that of group 1. During the second stage, the third group demonstrated typical initial habituation behavior (parallel to that of group 1 during the first stage). These results are interpreted as evidence that habituation proceeds as a function of exposure to a stimulus and is independent of whether or not a response is made.
Luminescence of the flexible dye molecule julolidinemalononitrile in polymer matrices at pressures above 40 kbar

Abstract We study the luminescence efficiency of julolidinemalononitrile (JDMN) as a function of pressure in a series of vinyl polymers, PVAs, PVCI, PS, PVP and PIVN which exhibit increasing polarizability in the order listed. This molecule has both a planar and twisted excited state. Only the former emits luminescence. We concentrate on the behavior at pressures above 40 kbar. A decrease in intensity of emission is found with pressure which is larger, the larger the polarizability of the medium. This decrease results from increased stabilization of the polar twisted state with pressure in the more polarizable media.
A Practical Real Time Svd Machine With Multi-Level Fault Tolerance

A fault tolerant systolic processor system is proposed for computing the singular value decomposition of an nxn matrix. This approach uses only orthogonal interconnections and simple multiply and accumulate processors in the array. The fault tolerant properties are achieved through a composite of simple low overhead structures. The square root computations, and all fault tolerance computations are performed in one highly pipelined boundary processor. The architecture requires 0(n) processors and 0(n2 log n) time.
Semiparametric normal transformation models for spatially correlated survival data

There is an emerging interest in modeling spatially correlated survival data in biomedical and epidemiologic studies. In this article we propose a new class of semiparametric normal transformation models for right-censored spatially correlated survival data. This class of models assumes that survival outcomes marginally follow a Cox proportional hazard model with unspecified baseline hazard, and their joint distribution is obtained by transforming survival outcomes to normal random variables, whose joint distribution is assumed to be multivariate normal with a spatial correlation structure. A key feature of the class of semiparametric normal transformation models is that it provides a rich class of spatial survival models where regression coefficients have population average interpretation and the spatial dependence of survival times is conveniently modeled using the transformed variables by flexible normal random fields. We study the relationship of the spatial correlation structure of the transformed no...
Hardware implementation of processor allocation schemes for mesh-based chip multiprocessors

Well-designed Processor Allocator (PA) is an important factor in modern Chip MultiProcessors (CMPs). It needs to be fast as well as area and energy efficient, because it is only a small component of the CMP. In this paper, we propose an architecture for such an efficient and fast PA. The PA structure is based on bit map approach and is driven by an Improved First Fit (IFF) algorithm, which is presented and described. Together with the proposed IFF technique, a new Improved Adaptive Scan (IAS) and an Improved Quick Allocation (IQA) algorithms are introduced and discussed and compared with previously known important techniques. The presented synthesis results reveal that the proposed PA achieves good frequency results while, at the same time is characterized by low logic utilization.
Mullite/Alumina Particulate Composites by Infiltration Processing: IV, Residual Stress Profiles

Residual stress profiles through mullite/alumina bodies prepared by an infiltration process were determined. In one approach, residual stress profiles were predicted by obtaining concentration profiles and treating the bodies as laminates. In a second approach, a strain gage technique in which part of the sample was ground away while recording the resulting strain was used. The results showed that residual compressive stresses existed in the surface region of all composite samples. The strain gage approach indicated values of surface compression in the range of 176 to 291 MPa, which were higher than those predicted using the laminate approach. The results were compared with changes in the mechanical properties and found to be consistent with the increases in the strength and indentation fracture toughness which resulted when mullite was added to alumina by the infiltration technique.
Therapeutics in Food Allergy: The Current State of the Art

Food allergy is an increasing public health dilemma in Westernized countries, yet no viable treatments are currently available for those who are afflicted. The only options available for patients with food allergies are prevention of reactions by strict avoidance of the offending food(s) and symptomatic treatment of any adverse effects from accidental exposures. Approaches are being pursued to develop treatments, and allergen-specific therapies such as oral immunotherapy, sublingual immunotherapy, and epicutaneous immunotherapy with different foods have shown promise. Other modalities are also being investigated, potentially leading to the discovery of novel therapeutic options.
Bone scans, bisphosphonates, and a lack of acute changes within the mandible.

Purpose The etiology of osteonecrosis of the jaw is poorly understood, but preferential mandibular uptake of intravenous bisphosphonates (IVBPs) has been implicated. We examined this association within a prospective study assessing the effect of IVBPs on radionuclide bone scanning. Patients and Methods Women with at least 3 osseous breast metastases on bone scanning and previous IVBP use within 8 weeks were eligible for the present study. After the first clinically indicated bone scan, the patients received zoledronic acid within 72 hours and underwent a second bone scan within another 72 hours. The regions of interest on the bone scan were read in triplicate, and the mean count per pixel was calculated for the mandible (CM), left femur (CFL), right femur (CFR), and thigh (CB). The mandibular bone turnover (MBT) was quantified as the ratio of (CM − CB)/(CF − CB), where CF = (CFL + CFR/2). The MBT was compared before and after IVBP use. Results A total of 10 patients were enrolled (median age 51 years, range 40 to 71); none had known osteonecrosis of the jaw. Of the 10 patients, 8 had paired bone scans available for analysis. The previous zoledronic acid exposure was 48.6 mg (range 24 to 148) for a median of 13 months (range 6 to 35). The baseline mean MBT ratio was 2.33 (range 0.88 to 4.22). After IVBP administration, the mean MBT ratio was statistically unchanged at 2.23 (range 1.05 to 3.09). The MBT had declined in 4 patients and increased in 4. Only 1 patient had had an MBT of less than 1.0 before IVBP use, and no patient had an MBT ratio of less than 1.0 after IVBP use. Conclusions The mandibular region appears to be a site of increased uptake of technetium-99m bound to methylene diphosphonate-technetium. Acute changes in bisphosphonate binding in the mandible were not observed in our patients receiving chronic IVBP therapy.
A man and his square: Kasimir Malevich and the visualization of the fourth dimension

The author offers the geometric and aesthetic rationale as to why Russian artist Kasimir Malevich subtitled five of his paintings as ‘Colored Masses in the Fourth Dimension’, even though they seemingly do not differ significantly from his other works with titles such as ‘Self Portrait in Two Dimensions’. In explaining Malevich's titling, art historians have, in the main, credited the influence of theosophical concepts of a fourth dimension as proffered by Ouspensky on the artist's desire to project a ‘feeling’ of higher dimension. The author asserts instead that Malevich's paintings could be viewed as actual visualizations of a 4-D geometry and that his notions about geometry in art rely far more on Nikolai Lobachevsky's concept of pangeometry.
Increased immune reactivity to house dust mites in adults with chronic rhinosinusitis.

Summary Sixty-three adults with symptomatic chronic rhinosinusitis had computerized tomegraphic (CT) scans of the paranasal sinuses, which were used to quantify disease severity. These patients were divided into three closely age- and sex-matched groups: a CT scan-negative group (chronic rhinitis only), a mild sinusitis group and a severe sinusitis group. Serum dust mite-specific IgG levels were found to be significantly elevated in the sinusitis patients compared with a matched group of asymptomatic normal individuals. Levels were highest in the more severe sinusitis group, in which the mean titre was 559 U/ml and the incidence of litres greater than 400 U/ml was 48%, as compared with a mean titre of 139 U/ml and only a 10% incidence of litres greater than 400 U/ml in the normal subjects (P< 0.005 and <0.01). In contrast, although the frequency of immediate hypersensitivity to dust mite, as assessed by intradermal skin tests, tended to be higher in patients with sinusitis, it was not significantly different from normal individuals. The association between mite IgG and disease was most striking in the patient sub-group with negative mile skin tests. In this group, mite IgG levels were significantly higher than normal, even in those patients with only chronic rhinitis. These findings demonstrate that increased serum levels of IgG against dust mites are strongly associated with chronic rhinosinusitis, especially in the sub-group of patients who are not allergic to mites.
Activities of daily living in patients with dementia: clinical relevance, methods of assessment and effects of treatment.

Disability, characterised by the loss of ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL), is a defining feature of dementia that results in growing caregiver burden and the eventual need for alternative care or nursing home placement. Functional decline in patients with dementia can also result from causes other than dementia, such as comorbid medical and psychiatric illnesses and sensory impairment. ADL consists of instrumental ADL (IADL) [complex higher order skills, such as managing finances] and basic ADL (BADL) [self-maintenance skills, such as bathing]. Assessment of IADL and BADL is recommended to establish a diagnosis of dementia. Functional assessment also helps the healthcare provider to offer appropriate counselling regarding safety concerns and need for custodial care. Functional capacity measures have been used increasingly in pharmacological trials of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias, although at the present time these measures are generally not primary outcome measures. Functional impairment is not a uniform construct; rather, it is multifaceted and can be measured with various clinical instruments. Many scales have been validated for use in patients with AD for characterising functional impairment and evaluating the efficacy of treatment. Research to date indicates that cholinesterase inhibitors have the potential for modest but meaningful beneficial effects on ADL in patients with mild-to-moderate AD. Memantine also has promising beneficial effects on functional abilities in persons with moderate-to-severe AD. Assessment of ADL as a primary efficacy measure using a validated scale that is non-gender biased and cross-nationally relevant is recommended in new treatment trials of patients with AD and related dementias.
Coronagraphy with HST/NICMOS: detectability is a sensitive issue

HST provides an unparalleled venue for high contrast imaging which has enabled new observational domains in exo-planet and debris disk imaging. Unburdened by atmospheric 'seeing', NICMOS and STIS achieve very low levels of background contamination from the wings of stellar point spread functions (PSF). Coronagraphy provides additional contrast gains approaching an order of magnitude at small angular distances from occulted stars. The stability of the platform allows scattered and diffracted light to be further reduced by two additional orders of magnitude through PSF-subtraction. The non-destructive read-out modes of the NICMOS detectors permit sampling the PSF, with its strong radial brightness gradient, over a dynamic range exceeding 5x10 7 in a single spacecraft orbit. In H-band, sub-stellar companions of ΔH ~ 8+2 x (angular separation in arcseconds) are unambiguously detected in twenty minutes of integration. Raw sensitivity metrics, such as presumtively static Strehl ratios, are often invoked in comparing the performance of different instrumental systems but belie the true detectability levels which are dominated by systemic non-repeatable PSF variations (not photon statistics). Such variations can give rise to false detections of companions (and circumstellar disks) and introduce very significant photometric errors. The ability to rotate the HST field with high precision about the target axis and acquire temporally stable reference PSFs readily permits the identification and rejection of rotationally-invariant optical artifacts. We discuss the repeatable, quantifiable performance limits routinely reached by HST (currently unachievable on ground-based systems), for which PSF stability is critical.
ENZYME LEVELS IN PANCREATIC TISSUE AND BODY FLUIDS DURING EXPERIMENTAL PANCREATITIS.

Summary The studies described in this paper demonstrate the following points: o 1. Amylase and precursors of the proteolytic enzymes in the pancreas were rapidly depleted upon initiation of severe pancreatitis. 2. Active proteases appeared in pancreatic tissue during pancreatitis (assayed at pH 7.4). 3. Large amounts of pancreatic amylase were lost directly into the peritoneal cavity during pancreatitis. In addition, the pancreatic amount concentration was, in the late stages, thoracic lymph than in blood plasma. Milk secretion was obtained from the cannulated pancreatic duct during pancreatitis. 4. The plasma volumes of dogs with severe pancreatic necrosis decreased from a mean control of 1093 ml. to 711 ml. five hours after initiation of pancreatitis. 5. Hemorrhagic pancreatic tissue slices and tissue homogenates buffered at pH 4.5 were shown to digest a gelatin film. Normal pancreas did not exhibit this ability. It was suggested that the proteolytic activity of diseased pancreas at pH 4.5 indicates the presence of an active catheptic system. 6. A hypothetical description of events in pancreatitis is presented.
The grammar, meaning, and referential functions of else

Although else is recognized as a cohesive device (e.g. Halliday & Hasan, 1976: 76), it has received relatively little attention in the literature. To help remedy the situation, this article investigates how native speakers use else in both written and spoken discourse. We first review the literature for a description of the meaning(s) of else , then identify its most common meaning as reflected in its frequency of use in American English native-speaker discourse. More specifically, we undertake a quantitative analysis of the frequency and distribution of different types of else constructions, as well as a qualitative analysis of how else functions as a referential and cohesive marker. The unique referential role of else is then highlighted by contrasting it with its closest synonym, namely other . It is shown that these two referential and cohesive markers complement each other, with else playing a less specified semantic role than other .
Locality, Listedness, and Morphological Identity

This paper investigates the syntax/morphology interface along four dimensions, in a study of English participial allomorphy. The results are developed in terms of the framework of Distributed Morphology. First, it is shown that considerations of syntactic locality play a direct role in morphological spell-out. Second, the manner in which vocabulary insertion proceeds is argued to be divided into distinct cycles of insertion, with potentially different conditions on insertion applying in Root-attached vs. non-Root-attached structural domains. Third, it is argued that the study of syncretisms must appeal to a notion that I call Substantive Identity in defining what it means for morphology to be ‘the same’ across the distinct cycles of insertion. Finally, it is shown that in addition to structural locality, string adjacency is also a factor in morphological realization.
Decorating in green: surface esterification of carbon and cellulosic nanoparticles

Fischer esterification of surface hydroxyl groups on multiwalled carbon nanotubes, carbon nanospheres, and cellulosic nanowhiskers using acetic and butyric acid is presented as a green approach to decorate the surfaces of nanoparticles.
14 EPILEPTIC ADOLESCENTS' DEVELOPING INDEPENDENCE: INFLUENCE ON ATTITUDES TOWARD THEIR PHYSICIANS

A teenager's attitudes towards his or her physician are likely to have major impact on the course of treatment and outcome in chronic disease. It has been postulated that some of these attitudes are derived from experiences with significant figures such as parents. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that teenagers' contentment with their developing independence from parents leads to positive attitudes toward their attending physicians. A longitudinal model was constructed to allow this relationship to be tested by multiple regression techniques. Satisfaction with personal freedom (SPF) granted by parents and positive or negative attitudes toward the physician (ATP) were assessed at 6-month intervals by standardized scales in a cohort of 49 epileptic patients aged 9 to 18 years. As hypothesized in the model (1) higher initial SPF was related to positive ATP 6 months later (standardized partial regression coefficient = 0.30, p<0.01) and (2) initial ATP was not associated with SPF 6 months later. These relationships persisted after adjusting for the influence of a potential confounding factor, socioeconomic status. These results indicate that contentment with independence granted by parents affects the attitudes teenagers hold toward their physicians. Counseling parents to attempt to decrease conflicts over emerging independence may have positive effects on the patient-physician relationship and on compliance and outcome in chronic disease.
Respiration of Phormia regina in relation to temperature and oxygen

Abstract Respiratory rates of larvae, pupae, and adults of Phormia regina in general follow a sigmoid curve with respect to temperatures from 0 to 45°C. One exception is an unexplained plateau between 10 and 15° in the curve for intact larvae. At 25° respiration of larvae and pupae is somewhat more dependent on ambient O2 concentration than that of adults, the dependence of the former being limited at concentrations between 10 and 15%, and the latter at concentrations below 5%. The contributions of ‘resting’ and ‘activity’ respiration with respect to temperature and O2 concentration are evaluated by comparing deganglionated larvae and headless flies with intact ones. The role of spiracular area as a respiration-limiting factor is explored in experiments with artificially enlarged larval spiracles. The bearing of this work on the mechanism of gas transfer in insects is briefly considered.
Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Gibb Experimental Test of Testwiseness.

The purpose of the study was to assess the stability of a two-factor model recently proposed for the Gibb Experimental Test of Testwiseness using confirmatory factor analysis. Participants were 173 undergraduate volunteers. Confirmatory factor analyses using LISREL 8 were performed using total scores on the seven skills as data. One- and two-factor models were compared. Results indicated that the data fit the two-factor model and the simpler one-factor model. For this sample, the Gibb test could be characterized as tapping a general proficiency in testwiseness.
Application of laser scatterometry to characterize phase-shifting masks

Laser scatterometry is a noncontact, rapid method of collecting and analyzing light scattered from a structure. We have applied optical scatter techniques to measure the surface roughness as well as the etch depth of phase shifting masks (PSMs). Experimental results and theoretical modeling are discussed.
Using problem-based learning to redesign nursing administration masters programs.

Problem-based learning (PBL) is offered as an appropriate pedagogy to prepare nurse managers for the uncertainties of future administrative practice. It is a student-centered, experiential learning strategy aimed at developing clinical reasoning, structuring knowledge in real-life contexts, motivati
Some remarks on neutrino decay via a Nambu-Goldstone boson

The argument that the decay νi→νj+ϕ is suppressed in triplet majoron models by lepton number conservation is re-examined. It is found that in general the decay rates for νi→νj+ϕ and for $\nu _i \to \bar \nu _j + \phi $ should be of comparable magnitudes.
Molecular basis of human sperm-zona pellucida interaction.

The recognition of carbohydrate sequences by complimentary receptors has been shown to be a critical factor in gamete interaction in many different animal species. We have proposed the hypothesis that
Neointimal hyperplasia on a cell-seeded polytetrafluoroethylene graft is promoted by transfer of tissue plasminogen activator gene and inhibited by transfer of nitric oxide synthase gene.

Objective The objective of this study was to examine the effect of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) on thrombosis and neointimal hyperplasia on a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft seeded with smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Methods SMCs retrovirally transduced with tPA and eNOS genes were seeded on PTFE grafts and then implanted into the infrarenal rabbit aorta. Thrombosis and neointimal hyperplasia on the grafts were examined after 30 and 100 days of implantation. Results At 30 days of implantation, thrombus was observed on the luminal surface of both unseeded and SMC seeded control grafts, whereas grafts seeded with SMCs secreting tPA were nearly free of thrombus. At 100 days, the neointima on grafts seeded with tPA transduced SMCs was significantly thicker (925 ± 150 μm, n = 5) than neointima on the other grafts (range, 132 to 374 μm; P .05); both were thinner than those on grafts seeded with SMCs transduced with only lacZ gene (287 ± 35 μm). The ratio of seeded cells in the neointima was significantly higher on SMC/tPA grafts (46% ± 8%) than SMC/NOS grafts (21% ± 6%, P Conclusions Engineered tPA expression in seeded SMCs causes significantly more neointimal hyperplasia, despite the favorable inhibition of luminal thrombus. eNOS expression in the seeded cells inhibits neointimal hyperplasia.
Quantifying Holocene lithospheric subsidence rates underneath the Mississippi Delta

Abstract The pattern of Holocene relative sea-level (RSL) change on the US Gulf Coast has been a long-standing subject of debate, featuring opposing scenarios of continuous submergence versus one or more Holocene RSL highstands. The significance of this debate is that the relative role of eustasy, glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA), and lithospheric flexural subsidence associated with Mississippi Delta sediment loading remains unresolved. Here we present a new RSL record from the Louisiana Chenier Plain, > 100 km west of the Mississippi Delta margin, based on AMS 14 C dated marsh basal peat. This enables us to provide – for the first time – constraints on Holocene lithospheric subsidence rates underneath one of the world's major deltas. Our new record conclusively shows that no middle Holocene RSL highstands occurred on the central US Gulf Coast. Rather, it exhibits a pattern of progressive RSL rise comparable to that from the Mississippi Delta, suggesting that long-wavelength GIA is a dominant deformational process driving lithospheric subsidence in the entire region by means of forebulge collapse. Nevertheless, a 0.15 ± 0.07 mm/yr differential rate of subsidence between the Chenier Plain and key portions of the Mississippi Delta (including the New Orleans metropolitan area) exists. This shows that while the sediment loading effect is real, it is about an order of magnitude smaller than recent studies have postulated.
Impact of the age of transfused red blood cells in the trauma population: a feasibility study.

Abstract Following injury, transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs) of increased storage duration has been associated with an increased morbidity and mortality. Prospective trials focusing on the impact of the storage age of RBCs in severely bleeding trauma patients have failed to accrue patients. This has been attributed to an inability to maintain a large inventory of fresh RBCs, and the difficulties in obtaining consent in severely bleeding trauma patients. To address these issues, we performed a prospective, observational pilot study to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a trial focusing on RBC age in patients following injury. Methods Patients with bleeding due to trauma were transfused RBCs ≤10 day old if they were ABO blood Type O (Group O) or were transfused the oldest RBCs in inventory if they were Type A, B or AB (Group A/B/AB). Clinicians were unaware of the specific age of the RBCs. Results 63 patients were analyzed (Group O, n = 19; Group A/B/AB, n = 44). Half of all patients had severe injuries ISS (median 22). The median admission base deficit was −5 mEq/L, and median total 24 h use of RBC and FFP was 1.2 L. The age of RBCs transfused to Group O was significantly lower than for Group A/B/AB [median (IQR) A/B/AB = 18.4 (11.4–25.4) days, and Group O = 6 (4.2–7.8) days; p Conclusions It appears feasible to conduct a RBC age trial in trauma patients using ABO blood type to construct comparative groups. Adequate RBC age separation between cohorts and reduced RBC age in the “young” group of patients who received units ≤10 days old was achieved.
High Spectral Resolution Near-IR Observations of ESO-Hα 279A and 279B

We present high spectral resolution near-IR observations of the stars ESO-Hα 279A and 279B located in the Serpens star formation complex. ESO-Hα 279A is a known young T Tauri star driving a Herbig-Haro flow, while ESO-Hα 279B is a nearby (8'', 2500 AU) extremely red companion. Previous work has suggested that this is not a physically bound system but a chance alignment of a young star and a background giant. Below, we further investigate the nature of ESO-Hα 279B and probe the emission characteristics of ESO-Hα 279A. We find that ESO-Hα 279B shows many narrow absorption features typical of late-type giant stars and unlike those seen in FU Orionis objects and Herbig-Haro energy sources, the only young stars that exhibit such deep CO absorption. This result confirms that ESO-Hα 279B is a background M-type giant viewed through the molecular cloud hosting ESO-Hα 279A, and therefore, the association of ESO-Hα 279A and 279B is fortuitous. For ESO-Hα 279A we find that the Na doublet lines are broadened and self-absorbed and that the v = 2-0 CO overtone band head is similar in shape to that observed in the young pre-main-sequence object SVS 13 in NGC 1333, and not characteristic of a rotating-disk velocity dispersion. We consider the origin of the CO emission in relation to current models and suggest that it perhaps is more indicative of creation in a wind or funnel flow rather than in the inner hot regions of a circumstellar disk.
Long-term maintenance of psoriatic human skin on congenitally athymic (nude) mice.

Transplantation of involved psoriatic and nonpsoriatic human skin onto congenitally athymie (nude) mice has been performed successfully. Although biopsies at selected intervals demonstrate that the excess glycogen deposition normally seen in psoriasis is no longer consistently present, the psoriatic grafts did retain the usual characteristic histologic differences throughout the life of the animal, up to 11 weeks. This grafting procedure potentially represents a useful method whereby the study of psoriasis can be made in a nonhuman, living system.
The growth of single crystal calcite by top-seeded solution growth technique

Abstract Optically clear single crystals of calcite up to 2 cm in length have been pulled from a Li 2 CO 3 flux in the range of 50–75 wt% CaCO 3 under a pressure of 1–15 atm of carbon dioxide. The necessary phase equilibria for this growth was experimentally verified. The best growth parameters were a pull rate of 0.25 mm/hr with a rotation rate of 28 rpm. Seed orientation and perfection are critically important.