cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Steps toward Independence: Evaluating an Integrated Service Program for Public Housing Residents.

The Family Development Center (FDC) is an important local welfare reform demonstration located at Lafayette Courts, one of Baltimore, Maryland's largest public housing developments. The FDC approach consists of bringing an array of services on-site and coordinating the delivery of these services to address the myriad of problems facing poor families. To determine if the program was beginning to meet its goal of achieving family economic independence, an evaluation was conducted to investigate the program's early effects during its first 2 years of operations. Using a quasi-experimental design, examining both primary and secondary data, and incorporating a multivariate strategy, the research found that the FDC was successful at increasing participation in programs designed to increase people's labor market participation and earnings. Participation in the FDC was accompanied by increased educational aspirations, higher self-esteem, and a greater sense of control over one's life. Importantly, families'econom...
Central Regulation of Energy Homeostasis Intelligent Design: How to Build the Perfect Survivor

The perfect survivor must be able to eat and store as many calories as possible when food is readily available as a buffer against periods of scarcity. He must also reduce energy expenditure when food is scarce and efficiently and accurately restore lost adipose stores when food is again available. These processes are dependent on information relayed to a distributed central network of metabolic sensing neurons through hard-wired neural, metabolic, and hormonal signals from the periphery. These sensing neurons engage neuroendocrine, autonomic, and motor processes involved in arousal, motor activity, and the ingestion, absorption, assimilation, storage, and expenditure of calories. A raised threshold in these metabolic sensors for detecting inhibitory signals from increasing adipose stores allows continued intake of excess calories when they are readily available. Unfortunately, this mechanism for surviving periods of feast and famine predisposes the perfect survivor to become obese when highly palatable, energy dense foods are readily available at low energetic cost. It further assures that raised adipose stores are metabolically defended against attempts to lower them. Thus, effective treatment of obesity will only come with a better understanding of the physiological, metabolic, and neurochemical processes that ensure this defense of an elevated body weight.
Torsional directed walks, entropic elasticity, and DNA twist stiffness

DNA and other biopolymers differ from classical polymers because of their torsional stiffness. This property changes the statistical character of their conformations under tension from a classical random walk to a problem we call the “torsional directed walk.” Motivated by a recent experiment on single lambda-DNA molecules [Strick, T. R., Allemand, J.-F., Bensimon, D., Bensimon, A. & Croquette, V. (1996) Science 271, 1835–1837], we formulate the torsional directed walk problem and solve it analytically in the appropriate force regime. Our technique affords a direct physical determination of the microscopic twist stiffness C and twist-stretch coupling D relevant for DNA functionality. The theory quantitatively fits existing experimental data for relative extension as a function of overtwist over a wide range of applied force; fitting to the experimental data yields the numerical values C = 120 nm and D = 50 nm. Future experiments will refine these values. We also predict that the phenomenon of reduction of effective twist stiffness by bend fluctuations should be testable in future single-molecule experiments, and we give its analytic form.
Chemotherapy of testis cancer: a review.

It has now been two decades since the single agent activity in testis cancer of an, at that time, new anti-neoplastic drug, cisplatin, was recognized. Since that time, several combination regimens have been developed and evaluated, and the curative potential of such treatment has been recognized. Newer active single agents have been identified and incorporated into the treatment. Rationally derived prospective randomized trials are evaluating the relative therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of these newer regimens. This review will update recent developments in the chemotherapeutic management of disseminated testis cancer, focusing on areas of particular interest to the radiation oncologist. Another article in this issue describes experience in the management of an important but somewhat unusual complication of the disease, brain metastases (22).
Identification of New Agonists and Antagonists of the Insect Odorant Receptor Co-Receptor Subunit

Background Insects detect attractive and aversive chemicals using several families of chemosensory receptors, including the OR family of olfactory receptors, making these receptors appealing targets for the control of insects. Insect ORs are odorant-gated ion channels, comprised of at least one common subunit (the odorant receptor co-receptor subunit, Orco) and at least one variable odorant specificity subunit. Each of the many ORs of an insect species is activated or inhibited by an unique set of odorants that interact with the variable odorant specificity subunits, making the development of OR directed insect control agents complex and laborious. However, several N-,2-substituted triazolothioacetamide compounds (VUAA1, VU0450667 and VU0183254) were recently shown to act directly on the highly conserved Orco subunit, suggesting that broadly active compounds can be developed. We have explored the chemical space around the VUAA1 structure in order to identify new Orco ligands.
Effects of hydrocolloids on the pasting and paste properties of commercial pea starch

Abstract Twenty-one members of five families of hydrocolloids were used. Xanthan alone increased the temperature at which the rapid increase in viscosity was observed; all other hydrocolloids lowered the temperature of initiation of the rapid viscosity increase. Addition of all hydrocolloids (guar gum, methylcellulose (MC), sodium alginate, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), xanthan) other than hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) increased peak viscosities. Increases in final viscosities were generally more modest. Final viscosities increased with increasing MW for CMC and MC products. HPMC appeared to have an optimum size for increasing final viscosity. Both starch-alone and starch–hydrocolloid composite pastes exhibited gel-like characteristics. Addition of any of the hydrocolloids made the pastes/gels less solid-like. G′ increased upon addition of increasing MW preparations of guar gum and HPMC. Both G′ and G′′ increased as the MW of CMC increased. Addition of the carrageenans increased peak and final viscosities, G′, G′′, tan δ, and η* in the order λ > ι > κ.
Job satisfaction as an indicator of the quality of employment

It is suggested that the quality of employment should be assessed from the value perspectives of the employer and of society as well as the perspective of the worker. The prevailing conception of the nature of job satisfaction, and the associated measurement methods, provide useful but unnecessarily limited indicators of the quality of employment. An enlarged conception is offered as to the nature of job satisfaction, its causes, and its possible consequences. The implications of this conception for the utility of satisfaction measures as social indicators are examined as to three aspects: (1) The psychology of job satisfaction; (2) The sociology of job satisfaction; (2) The approach and technology of using subjective satisfaction measures in conjunction with other indicators. The view is expressed that direct measures of subjective job satisfaction are an essential component in any effort to make comparisons or monitor changes in the quality of employment, but that such measures, like other subjective and objective indicators, have ambiguous meaning if used alone.
Equilibrium Bending Fluctuations of Short DNA

Short-lengthscale double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) bending elasticity plays an important role in many biological contexts. We measured dsDNA bending fluctuations using small-angle X-ray scattering from bulk solutions of two gold nanoparticles covalently linked by a 42-94 basepair dsDNA chain, freely fluctuating and not subject to external forces or surface interactions. This method reports on the equilibrium ensemble of bending fluctuations, not just an average value (as in ensemble FRET) or an extreme value (as in cyclization). Through Monte Carlo sampling of coarse-grained models, we find these experiments are consistent with a wormlike chain model of dsDNA, with a persistence length of ∼50nm, in agreement with single-molecule force-extension experiments on much longer chains, but in contrast to recent suggestions of enhanced flexibility at these shorter lengthscales. These findings are plausible because even our shortest dsDNA chain still greatly exceeds the lengthscale of correlated microscopic fluctuations (roughly half a turn, 5 base pairs), and our observable is dominated by (high probability) mild fluctuations and thus insensitive to extremely rare fluctuations. Reproducing experiments required more detailed modeling at the DNA-gold interface, emphasizing the need for care in choosing the appropriate coarse-graining level for complex biomolecular systems.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
The renewed interest in urban form and public health: Promoting increased physical activity in Michigan

In 1996, with the release of the first report by the U.S. Surgeon General on physical activity and health, moderate physical activity was placed firmly on the U.S. public health agenda. Physical Activity and Health recommended moderate exercise five or more days per week or vigorous exercise three or more times per week, suggesting that Americans can be active simply by incorporating moderate activities like walking, cycling or yard-work into their daily routines. Within this context, urban planners and policy makers have recognized their potential role in shaping the urban built environment as one variable that might facilitate increased moderate physical activity among the American population. This article explores the explicit links that have been made between specific characteristics in the urban built environment and moderate physical activity. It also reviews current policy and procedures in Michigan that can influence change in urban development patterns as well as recent initiatives that have been introduced to promote moderate physical activity. Michigan is the focus since it is among the leading U.S. States in decentralization (with 60% of the population living in suburbs) and also in overweight and obesity prevalence (with over 60% of the population being either obese or overweight).
Reversible Cervical Hemispinalization of the Rat Spinal Cord by a Cooling Device

Differentiation between traumatic and activity dependent plasticity in the CNS has been a challenge to neuroscientists in the past. We describe a cooling device that allows reversible block of the inspiratory drive to phrenic motoneurons without injury to the spinal cord at the C2 level. Thus, this experimental approach can be used to differentiate between the plasticity induced by blockade of synaptic activity in the phrenic nucleus from the trauma-induced plasticity caused by a C2 spinal cord hemisection which would also interrupt descending inspiratory drive. Complete block of axon transmission of the respiratory pathways running unilaterally in the ventral as well as in the lateral funiculus was achieved by approximation of a cold probe to the ventral surface of the spinal cord. The spinal cord surface temperature was lowered to 7 degrees C. The temperature was maintained by a cold recirculated alcohol system. The efficacy of the reversible block was assessed by bilateral continuous EMG activity recording from the hemidiaphragms ipsilateral and contralateral to the cold application. Quantitative analysis of the EMG hemidiaphragmatic signals was performed in two sham-operated control (no cold application) and an experimental (cold application) group of Sprague-Dawley rats. The control groups were employed to confirm that the surgical exposure of the cord and/or the chronic placement of the probe and the administration of IV dopamine given to maintain stable blood pressure did not affect respiration. No significant change occurred in EMG hemidiaphragmatic activity in control animals. The descending pathway from the rVRG to the phrenic nucleus was completely and continuously blocked for 4 h in all four experimental animals as demonstrated by abolition of the EMG hemidiaphragmatic signal ipsilateral to cold block. In all experimental animals hemidiaphragmatic activity returned when the cold block was removed. The recovered EMG activity was significantly higher than pre-block values. Interestingly, EMG activity contralateral to the block did not change significantly from control values after the block was removed, but was significantly enhanced during cold block. The present results suggest that cold block provides a means of studying activity-dependent plasticity in the respiratory pathways of the spinal cord.
A parallel trajectory optimization tool for aerospace plane guidance

A parallel trajectory optimization algorithm is being developed. One possible mission is to provide real-time, on-line guidance for the National Aerospace Plane. The algorithm solves a discrete-time problem via the augmented Lagrangian nonlinear programming algorithm. The algorithm exploits the dynamic programming structure of the problem to achieve parallelism in calculating cost functions, gradients, constraints, Jacobians, Hessian approximations, search directions, and merit functions. Special additions to the augmented Lagrangian algorithm achieve robust convergence, achieve (almost) superlinear local convergence, and deal with constraint curvature efficiency. The algorithm can handle control and state inequality constraints such as angle-of-attack and dynamic pressure constraints. Portions of the algorithm have been tested. The nonlinear programming core algorithm performs well on a variety of static test problems and on an orbit transfer problem. The parallel search direction algorithm can reduce wall clock time by a factor of 10 for this part of the computation task.
Plate-fin heat exchanger performance reduction in special two-phase flow conditions

Abstract This paper discusses the occurrence of various flow patterns of a cold, upflowing two-phase stream in an aluminium plate-fin heat exchanger (PFHE) and their impact on the overall heat exchanger performance. Various flow patterns were observed in a flow visualization rig comprising a single PFHE passage. At high gas mass fluxes both phases flow uniformly upwards. When decreasing the gas flow, a reversing slug flow becomes more and more pronounced. In this flow pattern fluid particles of significantly different temperatures can mix within the same passage. If the number of transfer units (NTU) is high, the effective temperature difference against a hot stream of the exchanger decreases. At very low gas mass fluxes a sudden static instability with liquid logging was observed. The liquid zones thus appearing can cover and thus deactivate large portions of the heating area. In PFHE design both phenomena should be taken into account, particularly for exchangers with low mean temperature differences and heated multicomponent streams with large boiling ranges.
Contribution of intraoperative enteroscopy in the management of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

Abstract Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding remains a significant diagnostic challenge. Our aims were (1) to determine the efficacy of intraoperative enteroscopy (IOE) in identifying lesions responsible for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and (2) to determine the outcome of patients after treatment of these lesions. We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent IOE for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding from 1992 to 1998. Patients were divided into those with overt and those with occult gastrointestinal bleeding. Follow-up was complete in 67 patients (96%), with a median of 32 months (range 1 to 91 months). Seventy patients (52 overt and 18 occult) underwent IOE after extensive preoperative evaluation. Median duration of bleeding was 12 months, requiring a median of 14 blood transfusions. Risk factors for bleeding were identified in 46 patients (61%). A lesion was identified and treated in 52 patients (74%)—39 in the overt group and 13 in the occult group. Lesions identified were vascular (54%), ulcerations (31%), tumors (11%), and small bowel diverticula (4%). Overall, 35 patients (52%) were found to have one or more lesions at IOE that were treated surgically and had no further bleeding. IOE, through a mid-small bowel enterotomy, has low morbidity and is effective in that it identified a treatable lesion in 74% of patients, which led to cure of bleeding in 52%.
Application of near Infrared Spectroscopy on-Combine for Canola Breeding:

Oil yield and agronomic properties are the most important targets for canola breeders (Brassica napus L.) in northern Europe. In order to enhance Pioneer's canola oil yield breeding efforts, oil content was measured with near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy directly on a harvester (NIR spectroscopy on-combine) and, in addition, moisture, protein and glucosinolate content were determined. NIR spectroscopy, coupled with rapid harvesting, can significantly improve the quality and speed of oil yield determinations so they occur within a very narrow harvest time window. Moisture, oil, protein and glucosinolate calibrations were developed with 449 samples from the 2004 to 2005 harvests, comprising spectra from four diode array NIR spectrometers mounted on-combine. Applying these calibrations to an independent dataset from the 2006 harvest resulted in standard errors of prediction (SEP) and coefficients of determination (r2) of 0.41% and 0.93 for moisture, 0.7% and 0.84 for oil, 0.61% and 0.81 for protein, 4.0% and ...
Utility of different body composition indicators: demographic influences and associations with blood pressures and heart rates in adolescents (Heartfelt Study).

Primary objective: To compare the utility of 10 commonly used body composition indicators (BCIs) in relation to demographic characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors.Research design: A cross-sectional, school sample was studied.Subjects: Three hundred and eighty-four Black, White and Hispanic adolescents 11–16 years of age from Houston, Texas, USA (Heartfelt Study) were studied.Methods: BCIs include impedance and skinfold estimates of fat-free mass (FFM); fat mass (FM) and per cent body fat (PBF); resistance mass index (RMI); body mass index (BMI); and waist and abdomen circumferences. The cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressures/heart rates) are summarized by factor analysis. Sexual maturity was clinically assessed.Results: Two distinct classes of BCIs emerged with respect to demographic influences: (1) RMI, impedance and skinfold estimators, for which sexual dimorphism is evident, and (2) BMI and circumferences, for which it is not. All BCIs were strongly related to general (systolic) blood pr...
The Effects of Haptic and Visual Aiding on Psychomotor Task Strategy Development During Virtual Reality-Based Training:

The objective of this work was to observe how haptic and visual assistance in virtual reality (VR) task performance can affect individual strategy selection. Participants received psychomotor training with a VR simulation of a block design (BD) test, as part of the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale for Intelligence. Training included one of three forms of assistance: haptic, visual, or a combination of both. Strategy was evaluated in terms of accuracy in orienting blocks in pattern reproduction. Results revealed participants to develop personal strategies when receiving only haptic assistance. When receiving visual assistance, participants tended to rely on the aiding instead of a strategy. Participants performed best with visual assistance and showed significant improvement during training, based on the aiding. Participants also performed well with the combination of haptic and visual assistance, but showed little improvement during training. The results confirm that properly-designed assistance can help users ...
The self-energy of a confined massive quark

Abstract Using cavity perturbation theory, we calculate the one-loop QCD and OED energy shifts for a massive quark confined to a spherical bag. We discuss the renormalization procedure in detail, and give a renormalization prescription which interpolates smoothly between on-shell subtraction for large quark masses, and subtraction at the bag scale ≅ 1 R for massless quarks. We compare our results to those of earlier calculations, and briefly discuss some consequences for bag model phenomenology.
Progesterone has no effect on serum thyroxine-binding globulin concentration in men.

To examine the possible effect of progesterone on circulating T4-binding globulin (TBG) in men, RIA measurements of plasma TBG and T4 levels were made before and after weekly administration of 500 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate, im, to men being treated for paraphilia (sexual deviation syndromes). No change in the mean pretreatment plasma TBG concentration was found after 7-29 days [21.5 ± 1.2 (±SEM) to 22.0 ± 0.9 Mg/ml; n = 14) or 381-415 days (23.0 ± 2.5 to 23.1 ± 2.5 fig/ml; n = 5) of medroxyprogesterone treatment. Similarly, the mean pretreatment plasma T4 concentration was unaltered by acute (9.7 ± 0.6 to 9.7 ± 0.4 Mg/dl; n = 14) or chronic (11.1 ± 1.2 to 11.4 ± 1.0 Mg/dl; n = 5) medroxyprogesterone therapy. We conclude that progestational agents alone do not modify circulating TBG or total T4 concentrations in men.
Dendritic Cell Based Therapy of Cancer

The recent identification of techniques both in the mouse and in man to culture dendritic cells which could be adoptively trasnferred for therapy have opened new avenues of research. We have applied both synthetic and natural or acid eluted peptides from the tumor cell surface in order to elicit effective antitumor responses in vivo and in vitro in murine tumor models as well as in vivo in human preclinical trials. Based on these studies, we will soon initiate a human clinical trial utilizing human dendritic cells pulsed with synthetic melanoma derived peptides presented by HLA-A2. The delivery of genes into human dendritic cells to constitutively express cytokines, costimulatory molecules or tumor antigens represents another potential approach to the development of dendritic cell based therapies.
Evaluation of serum prostate-specific antigen velocity after radical prostatectomy to distinguish local recurrence from distant metastases

Abstract Objective. Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values are most useful for prediction of disease recurrence after surgery. It is unknown whether a detectable PSA level after surgery indicates a local recurrence potentially benefiting from pelvic irradiation or distant metastases requiring hormonal treatment. Methods. We analyzed postoperative rate of change of serum PSA levels as a predictor of local versus distant disease recurrence after radical prostatectomy. Between 1982 and 1991, 1,058 men underwent radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer and follow-up consisted of determining serum PSA levels and digital rectal examinations. Clinical follow-up of 542 men for four or more years and 78 men for eight or more years yielded ten-year actuarial disease recurrence rates of 4 percent for local recurrence, 8 percent for distant metastases, and 23 percent for an isolated elevation of serum PSA level only. Fifty-one patients with isolated elevations of PSA levels only were followed expectantly until they were diagnosed with either local or distant metastases. Results. A linear mixed effects regression analysis was used to model these data. Using these models, the time to a serum PSA level of 0.5 ng/mL, the PSA level one year following surgery, pathologic stage, Gleason sum, and the rate of change of PSA (PSA velocity [PSAV)) were tested as predictors of local versus distant metastases. A combination of PSAV, pathologic stage, and Gleason grade best distinguished local from distant metastases. Conclusions. These data suggest that PSAV in men with an isolated elevation of PSA levels following radical prostatectomy might aid in clinical decision making.
JIP1 regulates neuronal apoptosis in response to stress.

Abstract We examined if the relative expression of JNK-interacting protein 1 (JIP1) and phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) regulates cell signaling and contributes to selective neuronal vulnerability in response to environmental stress. In clonal neuroblastoma cultures, stresses such as hypoxia, ischemia, Aβ peptides, and UV irradiation rapidly reduced JIP1 expression. JIP1 mRNA expression was also down-regulated by UV stress and was accompanied by increased JNK and c-Jun activation and cell death. JIP1 protein reduction was partially reversed both by inhibitors predominantly of caspase 3 and of the JNK pathway and resulted in significantly increased cell survival. Conversely, overexpression of JIP1 decreased both nuclear translocation of activated-JNK, and c-Jun phosphorylation induced by either UV irradiation, or the JNK upstream activators, MKK7 or MEKK1. Cell death was reduced about 50% compared to GFP-transfected controls. JIP1 overexpression did not facilitate either JNK expression or activation. In the normal, non-stressed human hippocampus and rat hippocampal organotypic cultures, JIP1 and JNK3 were inversely expressed with more JIP1 in CA2 and CA3 and less in CA1 neurons. In the human hippocampus, transient hypoxia/ischemia selectively spares neurons in CA2 and CA3 and induces death of neurons in the hippocampal CA1 subregion. In the cultures, ischemia reduced JIP1 expression and activated JNK, c-Jun, and caspase 3. Inhibitors of the JNK pathway, JNK activation directly and of caspase 3 activation each partially reversed these effects. Thus, under certain stress conditions, down-regulation of JIP1 expression makes neurons more susceptible to apoptosis, suggesting JIP may serve as an anti-apoptosis factor.
The Relationship between Psychopathic Traits and Attachment Behavior in a Non-Clinical Population

Attachment processes have been proposed to play a key role in the development of the core features of psychopathy (Fowles & Dindo, 2006). The findings reported in the literature regarding the associations between attachment and psychopathic traits are far from conclusive, especially in non-clinical populations. The present study investigated the relationship between self-reported attachment behavior and psychopathic traits in a college sample. Two-hundred nine participants completed the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised scale and the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy scale. Controlling for gender and race, hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that individuals high in both attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety had higher primary psychopathy scores. Both individuals high in attachment avoidance and individuals high in attachment anxiety had higher secondary psychopathy scores. Implications of these findings for future research and clinical practice are discussed.
The place and role of female workers in the Japanese labor market

Abstract An increasing number of middle-aged women enter and re-enter the labor market in Japan. This increase in number, however, has not brought about an improvement of their wage or employment status. Most of them become part of the peripheral labor force. The number of peripheral workers has been growing and a corresponding feminization of peripheral workers has been taking place. Furthermore, many women who remain in the household have an interest in working and many of this group are seeking jobs. Female labor flows between the household and the labor market according to the economic demand. The economic raison d'etre of peripheral workers is a reduction of labor costs and the adjustment of employment to economic fluctuations. The presence of a large potential labor supply among housewives ensures the smooth functioning of the role imposed on peripheral workers.
Modèles animaux des infections naturelles et expérimentales à Helicobacter pylori

L'utilisation de modeles animaux a permis de faire de grands progres dans la comprehension de la physiopathologie et de l'immunologie de l'infection a H pylori . En outre, ces modeles sont et seront necessaires a l'etude de nouvelles approches therapeutiques et preventives avant que leur efficacite ne soit testee chez l'hommE Chaque modele a des avantages et des inconvenients qui devront etre peses avant de choisir l'animal le mieux adapte a la question poseE
Constructing the global corporation and corporate constructions of the global: a picture essay

Abstract The constructive potential of text and numbers is now fairly well established in the accounting literature. In this paper we explore further the constructive potential of images as part of the mediascape of annual reports. We seek to do this in and through pictures and by establishing a tension between image and text by placing quotes from other sources throughout the picture essay. To frame the picture essay we re-present how corporations construct themselves as global entities and in doing so how they construct the global. ©
Wafer-level non conductive films for exascale servers

Wafer-Level Non Conductive Films (WLNCFs) were evaluated as a potential underfill solution for future exascale server packages. The fundamental chip-joining ability and reliability on a small die package were tested. The fillet shapes, fillet overcoating, adhesion strength, and simplifications of the chip joining conditions, and the thermomechanical stresses in relation to the lower CTE substrate were evaluated and assessed for the future advanced packages.
The welfare costs of monopoly are larger than you think

We show that monopoly is the parent of monopsony when an industry employs specialized resources. This means that the welfare loss from monopoly and monopolization is larger than commonly portrayed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural Determinants of Cadherin-23 Function in Hearing and Deafness.

Summary The hair-cell tip link, a fine filament directly conveying force to mechanosensitive transduction channels, is composed of two proteins, protocadherin-15 and cadherin-23, whose mutation causes deafness. However, their molecular structure, elasticity, and deafness-related structural defects are unknown. We present crystal structures of the first and second extracellular cadherin repeats of cadherin-23. Overall, structures show typical cadherin folds, but reveal an elongated N terminus that precludes classical cadherin interactions and contributes to an N-terminal Ca 2+ -binding site. The deafness mutation D101G, in the linker region between the repeats, causes a slight bend between repeats and decreases Ca 2+ affinity. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that cadherin-23 repeats are stiff and that either removing Ca 2+ or mutating Ca 2+ -binding residues reduces rigidity and unfolding strength. The structures define an uncharacterized cadherin family and, with simulations, suggest mechanisms underlying inherited deafness and how cadherin-23 may bind with itself and with protocadherin-15 to form the tip link.
Texture, contour, shape, and motion

Abstract Intrinsic magic calculation exploits constraints arising from physical and imaging processes to derive physical scene parameters from input images. After a brief review of a paradigmatic intrinsic image calculation we turn to a recent result in shape from texture and then to a new result that derives shape and motion from a sequence of patterned inputs. Experimental results are demonstrated for synthetic and natural images.
Deep inelastic pion-induced nuclear reactions in the isobar model

Deep inelastic pion-induced nuclear reactions are calculated in the isobar model, which assumes that an interacting resonant pion and nucleon form an unstable particle, the $\ensuremath{\Delta}$, which can propagate through the nucleus and either decay or be absorbed by interacting with other nucleons in the nucleus. The propagation of the particles is treated classically and the interactions are assumed to be incoherent. The lifetime of the $\ensuremath{\Delta}$ is taken to be energy dependent as prescribed by measured pion-nucleon scattering and the cross section of the $\ensuremath{\Delta}$ absorption is determined by measured pion production in two nucleon collisions. The formation of the $\ensuremath{\Delta}$ by a pion and nucleon and the subsequent absorption of the $\ensuremath{\Delta}$ provide a two-step mechanism for pion absorption. These calculations indicate that the pion is absorbed mostly on the inside forward edge of the nuclear surface where the nuclear density has almost reached central density. The calculations are compared with measured pion absorption cross sections, proton spectra, and spallation products in pion-induced reactions. All of these data indicate that pion absorption is underestimated in this model by perhaps as much as 35%, particularly for low energy (\ensuremath{\sim} 100 MeV) pions. Possible explanations for these discrepancies are discussed.[NUCLEAR REACTIONS Calculated absorption cross section, proton spectra, and spallation products for pion-induced reactions on various nuclei.]
Normally-off GaN switching 400V in 1.4ns using an ultra-low resistance and inductance gate drive

A turn-on time of 1.4ns is measured in a normally-off GaN synchronous boost converter switching 400V. The high-speed performance is achieved by significantly improving the GaN switches, packaging and gate drive. A recently developed normally-off, AlN-based insulating-gate, AlGaN/GaN-on-Si HFET operates with a high gate voltage of 6V [1]. The higher gate voltage increases gate current for faster switching. A Multi-Chip-Module (MCM) allows paralleling GaN switch up to 20Arms with low parasitic inductance of ~ 3.6nH in the power loop. The gate drive uses 50mΩ bare MOSFETs integrated onto the MCM to significantly reduce gate driver inductance to 1nH. The very fast switching results in large drain undershoot of 200V, and gate overshoot of more than 6V. Increasing the gate turn-on resistance to 1.4Ω eliminates gate voltage overshoot and reduces drain voltage overshoot to ~20V, at the cost of an increased turn-on time of 3ns.
Classifying k normal populations with respect to a control: making at most Incorrect Decisions

This paper is concerned with classifying k normal populations as better or worse than a control with a goal of making at most incorrect decisions. These populations are first compared by their means assuming their variances to be equal and known. Next, the comparisons are based on their variances assuming their means to be known or unknown. Rules are proposed when the control is known or unknown and exact solutions are tabulated. A modified goal of making at most m1 incorrect decisions in classifying better populations, and making at most incorrect decisions in classifying worse populations is also investigated. Generalizations to location and scale parameter families of distributions are discussed.
Distinctive recruitment of endogenous sleep-promoting neurons by volatile anesthetics and a nonimmobilizer.

Background: Numerous studies demonstrate that anesthetic-induced unconsciousness is accompanied by activation of hypothalamic sleep-promoting neurons, which occurs through both pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms. However, the correlation between drug exposure, neuronal activation, and onset of hypnosis remains incompletely understood. Moreover, the degree to which anesthetics activate both endogenous populations of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic sleep-promoting neurons within the ventrolateral preoptic (VLPO) and median preoptic nuclei remains unknown. Methods: Mice were exposed to oxygen, hypnotic doses of isoflurane or halothane, or 1,2-dichlorohexafluorocyclobutane (F6), a nonimmobilizer. Hypothalamic brain slices prepared from anesthetic-naive mice were also exposed to oxygen, volatile anesthetics, or F6 ex vivo, both in the presence and absence of tetrodotoxin. Double-label immunohistochemistry was performed to quantify the number of c-Fos–immunoreactive nuclei in the GABAergic subpopulation of neurons in the VLPO and the median preoptic areas to test the hypothesis that volatile anesthetics, but not nonimmobilizers, activate sleep-promoting neurons in both nuclei. Results: In vivo exposure to isoflurane and halothane doubled the fraction of active, c-Fos-expressing GABAergic neurons in the VLPO, whereas F6 failed to affect VLPO c-Fos expression. Both in the presence and absence of tetrodotoxin, isoflurane dose-dependently increased c-Fos expression in GABAergic neurons ex vivo, whereas F6 failed to alter expression. In GABAergic neurons of the median preoptic area, c-Fos expression increased with isoflurane and F6, but not with halothane exposure. Conclusions: Anesthetic unconsciousness is not accompanied by global activation of all putative sleep-promoting neurons. However, within the VLPO hypnotic doses of volatile anesthetics, but not nonimmobilizers, activate putative sleep-promoting neurons, correlating with the appearance of the hypnotic state.
The edusemiotics of images. Essays on the Art ~ Science of Tarot

The book under review is the third in Semetsky's trilogy following Semiotic Education Experience (2010) and Re-Symbolization of the Self: Human Development and Tarot Hermeneutics (2011). The author...
An Intra-Ethnic Analysis of Social Affiliations Among Latinos in the United States

ABSTRACT Certain forms of capital exist in neighborhoods and represent possible resources across various groups that live there. Studies suggest the importance of social affiliations to acquire such resources and facilitate neighborhood involvement. However, limited research examines these dynamics for Latinos in the United States. This study considers the relationship between individual-level formal and informal ties (religious, kin, friendship, and employment), ethnicity, and social affiliations. Findings based on bivariate and logistic regression analyses show that, regardless of ethnicity, respondents tend to have educational, cultural, and church-related social affiliations. People from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic are more likely to have social affiliations. And although education and age engender such affiliations, frequent religious attendance and Catholicism undermine them.
PLANETS RAPIDLY CREATE HOLES IN YOUNG CIRCUMSTELLAR DISKS

Recent spectral observations by the Spitzer Space Telescope reveal that some disks around young (~a few times 106 yr old) stars have remarkably sharp transitions to a low-density inner region in which much of the material has been cleared away. It has been recognized that the most plausible mechanism for the sharp transition at a specific radius is the gravitational influence of a massive planet. This raises the question of whether the planet can also account for the hole extending all the way to the star. Using high-resolution numerical simulations, we show that Jupiter-mass planets drive spiral waves that create holes on timescales ~10 times shorter than viscous or planet migration times. We find that the theory of spiral wave-driven accretion in viscous flows by Takeuchi et al. can be used to provide a consistent interpretation of the simulations. In addition, although the hole surface densities are low, they are finite, allowing mass accretion toward the star. Our results therefore imply that massive planets can form extended, sharply bounded spectral holes that can still accommodate substantial mass accretion rates. The results also imply that holes are more likely than gaps for Jupiter-mass planets around solar-mass stars.
Randomized Controlled Trial of a Preventive Intervention for Perinatal Depression in High-Risk Latinas.

Objective A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral (CBT) intervention to prevent perinatal depression in high-risk Latinas. Method A sample of 217 participants, predominantly low-income Central American immigrants who met demographic and depression risk criteria, were randomized into usual care (UC; n = 105) or an 8-week CBT group intervention during pregnancy and 3 individual booster sessions during postpartum (n = 112). Participants completed measures assessing depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale at baseline; Beck Depression Inventory, Second Edition [BDI-II]) and major depressive episodes (Mood Screener) at 5 time points throughout the perinatal period. Results Intent-to-treat analyses indicated that intervention participants had significantly lower depressive symptoms and fewer cases of moderate depression (BDI-II ≥ 20) at Time 2 than UC participants. These effects were stronger for women who fully participated in the intervention (≥ 4 classes). The cumulative incidence of major depressive episodes was not significantly different between the intervention (7.8%) and UC (9.6%) groups. Conclusions A CBT intervention for low-income, high-risk Latinas reduced depressive symptoms during pregnancy but not during the postpartum period. Low levels of depressive symptoms and lower than expected rates of clinical depression in both groups may partially be due to methodological issues. As perinatal depression is a significant public health problem, more work is needed to prevent perinatal depression in low-income, ethnically diverse women.
The effects of serotonin on feeding in the rabbit

Serotonin infused through hepatic-portal cannulae of rabbits decreased food intake in a free-feeding condition. Following a 12 hr food deprivation period similar doses of serotonin increased food intake. Other investigators have shown release of serotonin to food and related stimuli. Our results demonstrate that serotonin is not a simple "satiety hormone" but suggest that it may be importantly involved in short-term regulatory mechanisms of feeding.
Aggressive Behaviors in the Adolescent Children of HIV-positive and HIV-negative Drug-abusing Fathers

This study examined aggressive behaviors in the adolescent children of HIV-positive and HIV-negative drug-abusing fathers. Data were collected via individual structured interviews of low-income, predominantly African American and Hispanic, father-child dyads (N = 415). Structural Equation Modeling was used to assess the interrelationship of several latent constructs with respect to adolescent aggression. Results showed a mediational model linking paternal attributes (including HIV status) and ecological factors with the father-child relationship, which impacted peer influences and the adolescent's vulnerable personality, which was the most proximal construct to aggressive behaviors. Ecological factors were also mediated by peer influences and directly linked with adolescent aggression.
Ethanol reduces Ca2+ concentrations in arterial and venous smooth muscle.

The present results, using isolated rat aortic strips and portal vein segments, demonstrate that ethanol (170–430 mM) significantly inhibits calcium uptake in these 2 different types of vascular smooth muscle.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN ISOLATES OF VIBRIO CHOLERAE AND VIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS PRODUCE A SHIGELLA DYSENTERIAE 1 (SHIGA)-LIKE CYTOTOXIN

Abstract Some strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio cholerae , and non-01 V cholerae produce a bacterial-cell-associated, heat-stable material that is cytotoxic for hela cells. Cytotoxicity is completely neutralised by antibody to purified Shigella dysenteriae 1 (Shiga) toxin but not by antibody to purified cholera toxin.
Focal Plane Array Design For Optimum System Performance

Analytical expressions have been derived to simplify the design process for integrated focal planes. The focal plane parameters (detector size and CTD integration interval) are computed which peak system performance at a specific spatial frequency (fd). The spatial frequency is selected on the basis of target size and range and on an empirically derived relationship between recognition probability and cycles across the target. It is shown that a rectangular detector should have an angular subtense equal to 0.371/fd and that an ellptical detector should have a maximum dimension equal to 0.427/fd. In the case where a focal plane CTD integrator limits the electronics bandwidth, the optimum integration and sample interval is also 0.371/fd indicating that best performance is at one sample per detector dwell time. If a boxcar function is used in the scan direction for the display, and has a hold interval equal to the integration interval, the optimum integration and sample interval is 0.269/fd or 1.4 samples per dwell for the rectangular detector. The elliptical detector has slightly improved MRT and is slightly larger than the optimum rectangular detector. It has fabrication advantages for focal plane arrays using photovoltaic detectors. Signal aliasing is treated as a random noise source based on the fact that its impact on signal distortion is a function of the arbitrary phase relationship of the signal frequency and the sampling frequency. This model can be used to predict the MRT loss due to aliasing as a function of spatial frequency. At the design frequency (fd) a 5 percent loss in MRT is obtained for a rectangular detector and one sample per detector dwell time.
Cytoskeletal Mechanics Regulating Amoeboid Cell Locomotion

Migrating cells exert traction forces when moving. Amoeboid cell migration is a common type of cell migration that appears in many physiological and pathological processes and is performed by a wide variety of cell types. Understanding the coupling of the biochemistry and mechanics underlying the process of migration has the potential to guide the development of pharmacological treatment or genetic manipulations to treat a wide range of diseases. The measurement of the spatiotemporal evolution of the traction forces that produce the movement is an important aspect for the characterization of the locomotion mechanics. There are several methods to calculate the traction forces exerted by the cells. Currently the most commonly used ones are traction force microscopy methods based on the measurement of the deformation induced by the cells on elastic substrate on which they are moving. Amoeboid cells migrate by implementing a motility cycle based on the sequential repetition of four phases. In this paper, we review the role that specific cytoskeletal components play in the regulation of the cell migration mechanics. We investigate the role of specific cytoskeletal components regarding the ability of the cells to perform the motility cycle effectively and the generation of traction forces. The actin nucleation in the leading edge of the cell, carried by the ARP2/3 complex activated through the SCAR/WAVE complex, has shown to be fundamental to the execution of the cyclic movement and to the generation of the traction forces. The protein PIR121, a member of the SCAR/WAVE complex, is essential to the proper regulation of the periodic movement and the protein SCAR, also included in the SCAR/WAVE complex, is necessary for the generation of the traction forces during migration. The protein Myosin II, an important F-actin cross-linker and motor protein, is essential to cytoskeletal contractility and to the generation and proper organization of the traction forces during migration.
Hall of Fame: Rare and Unissued Gems from the FAME Vaults/The FAME Studios Story, 1961–73: Home of the Muscle Shoals Sound/Take Me to the River: A Southern Soul Story, 1961–77/The Muscle Shoals Sound

Various Artists, 2012 CD, Kent #372 Various Artists, 2011 3 CDs, Kent, Kentbox #12 Various Artists, 2008 3 CDs, Kent, Kentbox #10 Various Artists, 1993 CD, Rhino #R2-71517 The stylistic diversity m...