cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kinetic energy distributions and momentum resolved ESDIAD measurements of CO + ions and excited neutral CO∗ molecules — {CO}/{Cu(110) }

Abstract We report for the first time a coincidence of the kinetic energy distributions of the ionic and excited neutral forms of a desorbing species produced by electron impact. By using a novel TOF-ESDIAD instrument and applying different accelerating voltages between the sample and the detector it was possible to separate CO + from neutral CO∗ species by their flight times and to perform momentum-resolved ESDIAD measurements of the O + , CO + and neutral CO∗ species. Two possible desorption scenarios are discussed.
Study of air-ventilated cavity under model hull on water surface

Abstract The use of air cavities beneath ship hulls can lead to significant drag reduction. A study of air-ventilated cavities under a simplified hull has been undertaken. Experiments with a 56-cm-long stepped-hull model were carried in an open-surface water channel at flow velocities 28–86 cm/s. The air-cavity parameters were measured at different model positions. Different cavity forms, a strong growth of the cavity length with the flow velocity, and an optimal trim angle for the largest air-cavity area were identified. Numerical studies were conducted using a linear potential-flow method and the finite-volume viscous code Fluent. The computationally inexpensive three-dimensional potential-flow modeling predicted air-cavity shapes and provided qualitative agreement with the measured average length of the air cavity. Two-dimensional viscous modeling reasonably predicted macroscopic features and viscous effects in the air-cavity flow, while exaggerated the mixed-phase flow regions.
Racial, Ethnic, and Gender Differences in Perceptions of the Police The Salience of Officer Race Within the Context of Racial Profiling

Prior research has consistently demonstrated the salience of minority status in understanding racial and ethnic differences in perceptions of the police. This research has overwhelmingly shown that Blacks and Latinos hold lower levels of trust and confidence in the police than do Whites and other racial minorities. The increased skepticism of the police expressed by minority citizens is commonly associated with racial profiling and documented racial disparities in police behavior. Although policing research has empirically demonstrated the influence of race on perceptions of the police, few studies have explored the relevance of officer race in shaping citizens’ evaluations of police encounters. Using data from the BJS Police–Public Contact Survey, the purpose of this study is to examine whether racial variation in evaluations of police behavior is moderated by the race of the officer. The results suggest that officer race may be an important factor in shaping citizen perceptions of police stops, particul...
Anisotropic nuclear spin relaxation in single-crystal xenon

We extend the theory of longitudinal spin relaxation of ${}^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ nuclei in frozen xenon to the case of single-crystal samples, where the relaxation rate depends on the direction of the applied magnetic field with respect to the crystalline axes. For sufficiently large magnetic fields, the relaxation is dominated by spin-flip Raman scattering of lattice phonons. Two closely related interactions couple the lattice phonons to the spins of ${}^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ nuclei: the nuclear spin-rotation interaction between nearest-neighbor atoms, which leads to an isotropic, field-independent relaxation rate, and the paramagnetic antishielding of the externally applied field at the site of ${}^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ nuclei by the electrons of neighboring Xe atoms. The latter interaction, also known as the chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) interaction, leads to an anisotropic relaxation rate proportional to the square of the applied field. This mechanism dominates spin relaxation at fields of the order of the Debye field ${B}_{D}{=k}_{B}{T}_{D}/{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}=82 \mathrm{T}.$
A survey of optometry leadership: participation in disaster response.

Abstract Background A study was completed to assess the academic and state-level professional optometry leadership views regarding optometry professionals as surge responders in the event of a catastrophic event. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a 21-question, self-administered, structured questionnaire. All U.S. optometry school deans and state optometric association presidents were mailed a questionnaire and instructions to return it by mail on completion; 2 repeated mailings were made. Descriptive statistics were produced and differences between deans and association presidents were tested by Fisher exact test. Results The questionnaire response rate was 50% (25 returned/50 sent) for the state association presidents and 65% (11/17) for the deans. There were no statistically significant differences between the leadership groups for any survey questions. All agreed that optometrists have the skills, are ethically obligated to help, and that optometrists should receive additional training for participation in disaster response. There was general agreement that optometrists should provide first-aid, obtain medical histories, triage, maintain infection control, manage a point of distribution, prescribe medications, and counsel the “worried well.” Starting intravenous lines, interpreting radiographs, and suturing were less favorably supported. There was some response variability between the 2 leadership groups regarding potential sources for training. Conclusions The overall opinion of optometry professional leadership is that with additional training, optometrists can and should provide an important reserve pool of catastrophic event responders.
THE PREVALENCE OF NEUTRALIZING ANTIBODY TO THE COMMON ADENOVIRUSES IN CHILDREN WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS |[dagger]| 457

Gene therapy with a replication defective recombinant adenovirus has emerged as a viable strategy for correcting the genetic defect in cystic fibrosis (CF). The prevalence of adenovirus (Ad) specific antibodies in serum may influence the infectivity of the adenovirus vector. In children, Ad infections are common with types 1 through 7 accounting for approximately 85% of infections. In this study, we determined the prevalence of neutralizing antibodies to Ad types 1 through 7 in children with CF and in many of their mothers. 78 CF children mean age 3.3 years (0.5 to 8.7 yrs) were followed for a mean of 13.1 months (0.03 to 19.1 mo). 47 mothers of CF children were also followed. Blood specimens were obtained every 3 to 6 months during the study and were tested for Ad type specific neutralizing antibodies with a microneutralization assay. Subjects with Ad type specific neutralizing antibody titers ≥ 3.5 log2 were considered to have been infected with that Ad type. Illustrated in the table is the percent of subjects with Ad type specific neutralizing antibody titers ≥ 3.5 log2. As expected, CF children had lower seroprevalence to the common adenoviruses compared to their mothers. Seroprevalence data to Ad types 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 were consistent with the age distribution of infection with adenoviruses. However we observed a very high percent of CF children with Ad 3 specific antibody. Our observations suggest that the majority of CF children will not contain antibodies that will interfere with the sequential administration of the normal CF gene packaged in different types of Ad vectors.
Exact solutions to the Liénard equation and its applications

Abstract In this paper, a kind of explicit exact solutions to the Lienard equation is obtained, and the applications of the result in seeking traveling solitary wave solution of the nonlinear Schrodinger equation are presented.
Exploiting multiple robots to accelerate self-modeling

In previous work [8] a computational framework was demonstrated that allows a mobile robot to autonomously evolve models its own body for the purposes of adaptive behavior generation or recovery from damage. Conceivably, robots working in tandem could share their experiences such that one robot, when faced with a situation already encountered by another robot, could draw on that experience and adapt more rapidly. A first demonstration of this is given here: multiple robots with the same or similar body plan, but acting independently, combine self-models such that they accelerate modeling. Two approaches are investigated: the robots feed their experiences back into a common modeling engine, or they maintain their own modeling engine but share their best self-models with each other. It was found that the latter approach achieves a significant improvement in modeling compared to a single robot and compared to the former approach. This finding has implications for how to design autonomous robots acting in concert to achieve large-scale tasks.
Plastic deformation of 1020 steel over a wide range of strain rates and temperatures

Abstract The response of hot-rolled 1020 steel over a wide range of temperatures and strain rates is investigated. Pure shear tests have been conducted at strain rates of 5 × 10−4, 2 and 1000s−1, and temperatures of 25, 200, 400, and 600°C. Results show that temperature and strain rate greatly affect material response. In general, the stress decreases with increasing temperature and decreasing strain rate. At temperatures of 200–400°C, however, effects of dynamic strain aging are very significant. At this temperature range, negative strain rate sensitivity is observed as well as a region of increasing stress with increasing temperature. Constitutive equations are developed for modeling the material response. The relations are based on a model of thermally activated motion of dislocations that include the effect of dynamic strain aging. The parameters in the constitutive relations are determined, and there is good agreement between the model and the tests.
Teflon vials for low level C-14 liquid scintillation counting

This manuscript presents a partial re-examination of results from a paper published by Calf and Polach on the use of Teflon vials for liquid scintillation of carbon-14 samples. Five Teflon vials similar to “Design A” of Calf and Polach, except for an increased vial capacity (from 5 to 6 ml), were fabricated; their 14 C counting performance was compared with low 40 K glass vials. Use of the Teflon vials resulted in an increase in carbon-14 counting efficiency of from 5–to–10 percent using a Packard 3255 1 liquid-scintillation counter optimized to yield a maximum figure of merit E 2 /B. However, no reduction in the background counting rate was observed for a 3-ml benzene sample added to 1-ml of scintillation solution, as opposed to the significant reduction observed by Calf and Polach. Tests on Teflon vials show that the loss of hydrocarbon-scintillation mixture through the vial is less than 0. 5 percent by weight per week.
Hand-grip dynamometry provides a valid indication of upper extremity strength impairment in home care patients

This retrospective study investigated the validity of hand-grip dynamometry with respect to its use in predicting generalized upper extremity strength. The records of 37 patients (mean average age, 77.7 years) receiving home care were used. Discriminant construct validity was examined by comparing their dynamometry measurements with measurements of age- and gender-matched healthy individuals reported in the literature. Convergent construct validity was described by the correlations of their dynamometry measurements and manual muscle test scores of the upper extremities. The patients' dynamometer-measured grip forces were significantly less than reported normative values. The patients' dynamometer measured grip forces were correlated significantly with their manual muscle test scores. These findings support the construct validity of hand-grip dynamometry for characterizing upper extremity strength impairment among adults treated in a home care setting.
Kinetics of pseudo-continuous flow bioreactor treatment of diesel contaminated soils

A bioremediation treatability study was evaluated on a laboratory scale for its effectiveness in treating a sandy soil contaminated at 1500 mg kg−1 wet weight by No. 2 diesel fuel. A continuous type reactor system was used and by continuously loading different reactors at different levels, a variation in mean cell age was obtained. Adequate nutrients, moisture, and oxygen were available at all times so that the fuel was the only limiting nutrient and was measured in terms of TPH. The off-gases C02 and volatile hydrocarbons were also monitored. At steady state, biokinetic equations which conform with microbial physiology and growth kinetics were evaluated and included the following coefficients: specific growth rate, specific substrate utilization rate, substrate affinity (half-saturation constant), microbial decay rate and growth yield. The solids retention time for evaluating final TPH concentration of 100 mg kg−1 were also calculated. The reactors reached steady state conditions at 70 days based on biomass and TPH levels. This preliminary study shows that a continuous bioreactor system is effective in reducing diesel fuel concentration over a given period of time, and that the kinetics of the process can be evaluated. Removal efficiencies up to 80% were attainable.
Prevalence of Incidental Narrowing of the Superior Segment of the Internal Jugular Vein in Patients Without Multiple Sclerosis

Internal jugular vein (IJV) narrowing superiorly is likely relatively frequent. IJV narrowing has been proposed as a potential pathophysiologic component for multiple sclerosis (MS). Our purpose was to investigate the prevalence of incidental superior IJV narrowing in patients imaged with neck computed tomography angiography (CTA) for reasons unrelated to IJV pathology or MS. We retrospectively identified 164 consecutive adult patients who had undergone neck CTA in which at least one IJV superior segment was opacified (158 right, 155 left IJVs). At the narrowest point of the upper IJV, each IJV was assessed for dominance, graded (shape and narrowing), measured (diameter and area), and located (axially and craniocaudally). Associations were analyzed using Spearman rank correlations (p < 0.05 significant). Medical records were reviewed for MS. Among 164 patients, at least one IJV was: absent/pinpoint in 15 % (25/164), occluded/nearly occluded in 26 % (43/164). Shape, narrowing, and the three measurements all correlated with each other (all p < 0.01). Lateral location with respect to C1 transverse foramen correlated with subjectively and objectively smaller IJVs (p < 0.01). The most common craniocaudal location was at the C1 transverse process (79 % (125/158) of right and 81 % (126/155) of left IJVs). No patient had a diagnosis of MS. The appearance of the superior IJV is variable, with an occlusive/near-occlusive appearance present in approximately one-quarter of patients without known MS undergoing CTA. Radiologists should be aware of and cautious to report or ascribe clinical significance to this frequent anatomic variant.
Polycrystalline sputtered Cd(Zn, Mn)Te films for top cells in PV tandem structures

The CdTe-ZnTe or CdTe–MnTe alloy system is evaluated for application in high efficiency polycrystalline thin film multijunction solar cells. CdZnTe alloy films with 1.6 and 1.7 eV band gap and CdMnTe with 1.6 and 1.8 eV were deposited by RF magnetron sputtering from targets made of mixed powders of CdTe and ZnTe (25% and 40%) or MnTe (13% and 25%), respectively. Without postdeposition treatment, however, both of these alloy films exhibit quite low photovoltaic performance when used to make cells with CdS as the heterojunction partner. Therefore, we have searched for an appropriate postdeposition treatment to improve the efficiency of these alloy films. As-grown films have been postdeposition treated with vapors of chlorine-containing materials such as HCl gas, CdCl2, ZnCl2 or MnCl2 in dry air or H2+Ar atmosphere. When the CdCl2 + ZnCl2 or MnCl2 vapor was used, the ratio of CdCl2 to ZnCl2 or MnCl2 was adjusted to match the stoichiometry of alloy films. The temperature of the treatment was chosen to represent conditions employed for those alloy films/CdS structures. As a result, the postdeposition treated CdZnTe and CdMnTe cell efficiency can be improved by a factor of over 100. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Isolation of polar insertion mutants and the direction of transcription of ribosomal protein genes in E. coli.

Transcription of ribosomal protein genes in the str-spc region in Escherichia coli seems to be exclusively anticlockwise. Insertion mutations in this region inactivate many but not all distal ribosomal protein genes. Thus, there seems to be more than one transcriptional unit for the ribosomal protein genes in this region.
Multiple agreement and inversion in bantu

. Carstens (2001) argues that multiple agreement constructions in Bantu arise through raising of the subject through each verb's specifier. This paper argues against this account, providing evidence from relative inversion that subjects move directly from their base position to their final position with no intermediate stops. It is argued that these facts are consistent with a Multiple Agree analysis in which agreement on participle verbs is parasitic on the φ-features of their selecting auxiliary verbs. Carstens's arguments against Chomsky's (2000, 2001) system of φ-complete Case checking are also discussed and a new argument against Chomsky's system is presented that demands φ and Case feature checking relations be divorced. Data come from Swahili and Kirundi.
An Optimal Control Method Applied for the Compensation of the Fundamental VAR Fluctuations in the Arc Furnace

An optimal feedback control scheme is suggested and investigated analytically in order to suppress the stochastic voltampere reactive (VAR) fluctuations in the arc furnaces. It has been verified that this control scheme is effective and efficient compared with the proportional, integral, and differential (PID) feedforward control scheme through several simulation studies.
The masses of charged leptons and quarks from superposition self-interference of their Dirac fields

Without Higgs field interaction, accurate pole mass values are obtained for the charged leptons and quarks from a Z3-symmetric linear superposition self-interference of the Dirac fields in the effective free-field Lagrangian. The charged lepton and quark pole masses evidence the discrete Z3 symmetry, the theoretical-experimental deviations δm/m are \( \mathcal{O} \)(10−5) for all three charged leptons, and the quark pole masses are in very satisfactory overall agreement with the experimental data.
Adenosine Deaminase-deficient Mice Generated Using a Two-stage Genetic Engineering Strategy Exhibit a Combined Immunodeficiency

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency in humans leads to a combined immunodeficiency. The mechanisms involved in the lymphoid specificity of the disease are not fully understood due to the inaccessibility of human tissues for detailed analysis and the absence of an adequate animal model for the disease. We report the use of a two-stage genetic engineering strategy to generate ADA-deficient mice that retain many features associated with ADA deficiency in humans, including a combined immunodeficiency. Severe T and B cell lymphopenia was accompanied by a pronounced accumulation of 2′-deoxyadenosine and dATP in the thymus and spleen, and a marked inhibition of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase in these organs. Accumulation of adenosine was widespread among all tissues examined. ADA-deficient mice also exhibited severe pulmonary insufficiency, bone abnormalities, and kidney pathogenesis. These mice have providedin vivo information into the metabolic basis for the immune phenotype associated with ADA deficiency.
Evidence Required to Demonstrate Clinical Utility of Pharmacogenetic Testing: The Debate Continues

Pharmacogenetics is an area of research that has potential to greatly benefit patients. However, the routine use of diagnostic pharmacogenetic testing to inform treatment decisions is limited. Here we discuss the determination of clinical utility of pharmacogenetic testing and the level of evidence required to support translation into clinical practice.
The architecture of representation

Abstract In this article I outline, apply, and defend a theory of natural representation. The main consequences of this theory are: (i) representational status is a matter of how physical entities are used, and specifically is not a matter of causation, nomic relations with the intentional object, or information; (ii) there are genuine (brain‐) internal representations; (iii) such representations are really representations, and not just farcical pseudo‐representations, such as attractors, principal components, state‐space partitions, or what‐have‐you; and (iv) the theory allows us to sharply distinguish those complex behaviors which are genuinely cognitive from those which are merely complex and adaptive.
A Controlled Analysis Of The Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt In Liver Transplant Recipients

Background The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is an important treatment for complications of portal hypertension. As some authors have suggested that TIPS may facilitate liver transplantation technically, the objective of this study was to determine the impact of TIPS on the liver transplant operation and its outcome. Methods The analysis was designed as a retrospective cohort study using a multicenter database. Fifty-five patients with TIPS were matched with 55 controls on the basis of 10 pretransplant laboratory, clinical, and demographic features. TIPS patients and control patients were compared with regard to duration of surgery, intraoperative blood product usage, liver and renal function, volume of ascites, survival, and hospital stay. For confirmatory purposes, a parallel analysis using linear regression methods was performed. Results By matched analysis, TIPS patients had less ascites at surgery (mean 0.9+/-0.20 vs. 2.2+/-0.37 L, P=0.005) and a slightly shorter time from incision to cross-clamp (mean 2.1+/-0.10 vs. 2.5+/-0.15 hr, P=0.03). However, there were not significant differences for total operative time (mean 6.0+/-0.17 vs. 6.3+/-0.25 hr, P=1.00), blood product usage, or any other outcome variable. Regression analysis confirmed these results. Conclusions TIPS does not significantly impact the course of liver transplantation surgery. Therefore, preoperative portal decompression solely to facilitate liver transplantation is not an appropriate indication for TIPS.
Adenine nucleotide and protein kinase C regulation of renal tubular epithelial cell wound healing

Adenine nucleotide and protein kinase C regulation of renal tubular epithelial cell wound healing. The present studies were done to determine the effect of selected adenine nucleotides on healing of wounds made by mechanically denuding areas in confluent monolayers of renal tubular epithelial cells. We found that hydrolyzable and nonhydrolyzable forms of ATP but not UTP stimulated healing of LLC-PK 1 cell wounds, while both ATP and UTP promoted healing of MDCK cell wounds, suggesting that different subtypes of purinoceptors regulated wound healing in these cells. Stimulation of wound healing by ATP was equivalent in control cells and in cells in which irradiation suppressed proliferation, suggesting a prominent role for cell migration in the healing process. Since ATP receptors are often linked to activation of protein kinase C, the effect of a protein kinase C activator (4β-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, PMA) on wound healing was studied. Long-term (24 hr) exposure to PMA inhibited while short-term (30–120 min) exposure to PMA enhanced cell wound healing. Two chemically and mechanistically dissimilar protein kinase C inhibitors (calphostin C and chelerythrine) inhibited LLC-PK 1 and MDCK cell wound healing, and calphostin C prevented ATP enhancement of LLC-PK 1 healing. These observations suggest a role for protein kinase C in regulation of basal and adenine nucleotide-stimulated wound healing. Adenosine triphosphate did not affect cell-cell adhesion of either LLC-PK 1 or MDCK cells. Adenine nucleotides and PMA enhanced and calphostin C inhibited short-term adhesion of LLC-PK 1 and MDCK cells to plastic and to other substrates such as fibronectin, laminin and collagen type IV. These results demonstrate that ATP and protein kinase C can stimulate healing of two types of renal tubular epithelial cell wounds. The effects of ATP to promote wound healing appear to occur by purinoceptors which stimulate cell migration, and a protein kinase C mechanism may be involved in this migration.
SNAP: parallel processing applied to AI

It is argued that a viable solution for building future intelligent systems is to design special-purpose parallel computer architectures. The applications are restricted to those using semantic networks for knowledge representation. Reasoning on these networks is achieved with a marker-passing model of processing. The Semantic Network Array Processor (SNAP), a marker-passing parallel computer dedicated for natural-language and other knowledge-processing applications, is considered. Solutions for several nontrivial natural-language problems using the marker-passing approach are discussed. >
Interacting quantum field theory in de Sitter vacua

We discuss interacting quantum field theory in de Sitter space and argue that the Mottola-Allen (MA) vacuum ambiguity is an artifact of free field theory. The nature of the nonthermality of the MA vacua is also clarified. We propose analyticity of correlation functions as a fundamental requirement of quantum field theory in curved spacetimes. In de Sitter space, this principle determines the vacuum unambiguously and facilitates the systematic development of perturbation theory.
Loss of hepatoma ribosomal RNA during warfarin therapy.

40–50% decreases in cytoplasmic ribosomal RNA were observed in mouse hepatoma implants, but not livers, after 4–5 daily warfarin injections. Similar treatment greatly depressed rates of invivo14C-orotate incorporation into hepatoma ribosomal RNA in the cytoplasm. Labelling of mature 18S and 28S RNA in the nucleus appeared to be unaffected. Possible mechanisms for this warfarin effect are briefly discussed.
Effect of wind-duration, swell-contamination, and bimodal ocean wave spectra on acoustic doppler

The purpose of the this paper is to apply a new time domain scattering model (not limited to small wave heights, small slopes, or plane waves) to developing seas which may be swell-contaminated and which assume a new bimodal ocean wave directionality function. This attribute of the directionality of the ocean waves is generated through nonlinear wave-wave interaction in which energy near the spectral peak feeds into both, shorter and longer wavelength components. The goal in this paper is to use these new models to further refine current estimations for the magnitude and Doppler characteristics of the acoustic scattering from the sea surface. It is hoped that these revised estimates can be used by other researchers trying to determine the characteristics of other scattering mechanisms expected to be active in the near-surface region of the sea surface.
The optical nature of methylsuccinic acid in human urine.

Methylsuccinic acid was isolated from human urine, derivatized as the di-S-(+)-2-butyl ester, and analyzed using a gas chromatographic system capable of separating the enantiomers of the derivative. The R-(+)-isomer was found to be present. Methylsuccinic acid is potentially important as a criterion for abiogenicity, having been obtained as a racemic mixture from sources known to be abiotic.
Partial cDNA sequence encoding a nuclear pore protein modified by O-linked N-acetylglucosamine.

Abstract The nuclear pore complex contains a family of proteins ranging in molecular mass from 35 to 220 kDa that are glycosylated with O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residues. We sought to determine the primary sequence of a nuclear pore protein modified by O-linked GlcNAc. The major (62 kDa) nuclear pore glycoprotein (np62) was purified from rat liver nuclear envelopes by immunoaffinity chromatography and preparative gel electrophoresis. After CNBr fragmentation, a glycopeptide was isolated and microsequenced. An oligonucleotide probe based on this sequence information was used to screen a lambda gt11 cDNA library constructed from poly(A) mRNA of the rat thyroid cell line FRTL-5. A clone (B5) was isolated and shown to hybridize to a single 2.5-kilobase species in poly(A) mRNA from rat liver and FRTL-5. This insert was sequenced and found to contain a 691-base-pair cDNA encoding a 155-amino acid open reading frame. This open reading frame contained a CNBr fragment identical to the original glycopeptide sequence and a second CNBr fragment corresponding to a nonglycosylated peptide that was also isolated from the purified pore glycoprotein. The B5 cDNA produced a beta-galactosidase fusion protein of the size predicted by the open reading frame. Analysis of the residues making up a presumptive glycosylation site suggests that the sequence is unlike any known sites for enzymatic N- or O-linked glycosylation. The partial sequence of the 62-kDa nuclear pore glycoprotein shows little similarity to other characterized proteins and elucidates structural features of a member of the family of nuclear pore glycoproteins.
The Family Therapist’s Own Family:

Approaches to family therapy and counseling are influenced not only by client needs and presenting complaints but also by the clinician’s theoretical orientation and personal experiences. This article explores the reciprocal influence that takes place between family therapists, their families of origin, and the families they treat. The relative influence of these dimensions are explored from a systems theoretical perspective.
Subunits of the triadic junction in fast skeletal muscle as revealed by freeze-fracture.

Freeze-fracture analysis of triadic junctions utilizing an abbreviated glycerination schedule reveals regularly arranged intramembranous subunits within junctional portions of sarcoplasmic reticulum terminal cisterns. The subunits appear as round to square 20-nm elevations of the junctional terminal cistern E-face; the complementary P-face is characterized by a concentration of small particles, the detailed arrangement of which is less obvious. The E-face subunits may contain a pore, and their spatial arrangement corresponds to the tetragonal array of dimples or feet previously described within the junctional gap. No corresponding subunits have been detected within T-tubular membranes. Stereo techniques and complementary replica analysis have been utilized for detailed study of the subunits as well as associated features of the fracture faces of both T-tubular and terminal cistern junctional and nonjunctional membranes. The new findings are discussed in relation to structural models which might explain the mechanisms of the triadic junction involved in excitation-contraction coupling.
Hormone receptor expression in interdigital glands of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus)

Recently, our group performed the first histologic, histochemical, and immunohistochemical analysis of eccrine-type interdigital glands in the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) (Lamps et al. [2001] Res Vet Sci 71:197–200). Since morphologically similar human eccrine glands express reproductive hormone receptors (including androgen, estrogen, and progesterone receptors), the purpose of the current study was to determine whether interdigital eccrine glands in the Asian elephant contain these same hormone receptors. Necropsy samples of interdigital areas from two adult Asian elephants (one male and one female) were obtained. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for estrogen, progesterone, and androgen receptor proteins. Immunoreactivity to all three receptor proteins was seen in a nuclear distribution in eccrine glands from both samples. This staining pattern is similar to that seen in human eccrine glands and tumors of eccrine derivation, although the significance of the receptor protein expression is unknown. The immunoreactivity of elephant interdigital glandular epithelium with monoclonal antibodies raised to human receptor proteins also suggests a high degree of phylogenetic conservation of these proteins between Asian elephants and humans. Despite detailed morphologic characterization, the function of these glands remains unclear. Further studies are needed to elucidate the function of these glands, the possible relationship between hormone receptor expression and circulating hormone levels, and the potential role of these glands in chemical communication in Asian elephants. Zoo Biol 23:463–469, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Core function of an RNS number with no ambiguity

This work is based upon the core function of a RNS (residue number system) number. In determination of the core of a RNS number, an ambiguity problem arises. In this study, we have proposed a new technique named SAS (scaled and shift) to eliminate the ambiguity problem existing in Akushkii's [1] core function. The gain is to compute the core value straightforward without utilizing any other subsystem to detect and remove the ambiguity. Also a new algorithm named WSA (weight selection algorithm) is introduced that gives us the optimum weight set for SAS technique. The optimum weights achieved from WSA provide us with the least complex (smallest possible) weights with the least nonlinearity of the core function.
Mip/LIN-9 can inhibit cell proliferation independent of the pocket proteins ☆

Progression through the G1-phase of the cell cycle requires that cyclin D and CDK4 phosphorylate pRB and the other pocket proteins, p107 and p130. Cyclin E and CDK2 further phosphorylate pRB to complete its inactivation and allow the cell to enter S-phase. These phosphorylation events lead to the inactivation of the antiproliferative effect of the pocket proteins. The pocket proteins are the main targets of CDK4, and its unregulated activity can contribute to carcinogenesis. Mip/LIN9 is a recently described protein with growth suppressor, as well as growth promoting effects due to its ability to stabilize B-Myb and induce genes required for S phase and mitosis. The finding that a mutation that deletes the first 84 amino acids of Mip/LIN-9 corrects the defects of the CDK4 knockout mouse suggests that it should have a growth repressor effect that is blocked by CDK4. However, overexpression of cyclin D only partially blocks the inhibitory effect of Mip/LIN-9 on cell proliferation. Here, we performed experiments to further understand the antiproliferative effect of Mip/LIN-9 within the context of the pocket proteins. Our results suggest that there is a pocket protein-independent mechanism of the Mip/LIN-9 antiproliferative effect since it can be observed in cells with ablation of the three members of the family, and in NIH3T3 cells expressing the adenovirus E1A-12S protein. Altogether, the independence from the pocket proteins and the partial blockade of the antiproliferative effect produced by expression of cyclin D suggest that the role of Mip/LIN-9 downstream of CDK4 may be more closely related to the activation of B-Myb and the induction of S/M genes. Importantly, the regulatory effect of CDK4 is not due to direct phosphorylation of Mip/LIN-9 by this kinase or even CDK2, suggesting an indirect mechanism such as phosphorylation of the pocket proteins.
Streptozotocin-induced non-insulin-dependent diabetes protects the heart from infarction.

BACKGROUNDThe vulnerability of the myocardium of a diabetic animal to an ischemic insult is controversial. To address this issue, streptozotocin-induced non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDD) was induced in rats, and the effects of regional myocardial ischemia were assessed by measuring infarct size.METHODS AND RESULTSOpen-chest rats with NIDD and age-matched control rats underwent 30 or 45 minutes of regional ischemia and 2-hour reperfusion. Infarct size was measured by tetrazolium. Control rats had 32.0 +/- 3.3% infarction of the risk zone after a 30-minute coronary occlusion, whereas NIDD rats had significantly smaller infarcts (11.5 +/- 3.1% of the risk area, P < .005). When ischemic time was extended to 45 minutes, infarct size in control animals averaged 57.9 +/- 6.2%, whereas only 37.3 +/- 5.6% of ischemic myocardium was infarcted in NIDD rats (P < .05). In a subset NIDD group, rats experienced a period of ischemic preconditioning (three cycles of 5-minute ischemia/5-minute reperfusion) before 45-mi...
Nonpaternity in linkage studies of extremely discordant sib pairs

An approach commonly used to increase statistical power in linkage studies is the study of extremely discordant sibling pairs. This design is powerful under both additive and dominant-gene models and across a wide range of allele frequencies. A practical problem with the design is that extremely discordant pairs that are ostensibly full sibs may be half sibs. Although estimates vary, the population rates of such nonpaternity may be as high as 5%–10%. The proportion in discordant pairs may be much higher. The present article explores this potential inflation as a function of the resemblance of sib pairs and the criteria for discordance used for selection.
A platform for building PIC applications for control and instrumentation

The authors have developed a minimal software environment for PIC 18F-series microcontrollers that can he used to rapidly develop mechatronic applications. The environment includes initialization of commonly utilized hardware features such as analog-to-digital conversion, pulse-width modulation control, serial communication and a programmable interrupt-driven timing loop that can he used to provide a sampling interval for a discrete-time control system. The environment also supports simple mathematical operations, interfacing with an LCD display, capturing user input and developing a flexible menu-style user interface. The software will be publicly available to facilitate rapid development of PIC-based mechatronic systems.
Pancreatic Necrosectomy: North American Mortality Is Much Lower than Expected

Background The aim of this analysis was to explore the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database to determine outcomes of patients undergoing debridement for pancreatic and peripancreatic necrosis. Single-institution series suggest that the mortality of patients undergoing pancreatic necrosectomy has improved but remains at 15% to 20%. But no national data have been available for patients with necrotizing pancreatitis. In 2007, a CPT code specific for debridement of pancreatic necrosis became available. Study Design The ACS-NSQIP Participant Use File was queried for all patients who had debridement of pancreatic and peripancreatic necrosis (CPT code 48105) from January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2007. Patient demographics, observed (O) and expected (E) morbidity and mortality, and indices (O/E) were evaluated. A multivariate stepwise logistic regression was performed to determine predictors of mortality. Results During this 12-month period, data were accumulated on 161 patients. The mean age was 54 years; 71% were male; and 75% were Caucasian. The mean body mass index was 30.3 kg/m 2 ; 29% had diabetes; and 11% abused alcohol. Forty-two percent were transferred to NSQIP hospitals from other facilities. Overall morbidity was 62%, and 30-day mortality was 6.8%, but morbidity and mortality indices were 0.86 and 0.33, respectively. Increased age and blood urea nitrogen were independent predictors of mortality. Conclusions These data suggest that patients undergoing debridement for pancreatic and peripancreatic necrosis at ACS-NSQIP hospitals provide a new North American sample and have better than predicted outcomes. We concluded that ACS-NSQIP is a powerful tool to assess contemporary outcomes of uncommon, high-risk procedures.
Factor substitution in a human HSP70 gene promoter: TATA-dependent and TATA-independent interactions.

Abstract To investigate interactions between transcription factors on mammalian promoters, we constructed a set of 24 variations of the human HSP70 gene promoter in which six upstream sequence motifs are paired in every possible combination with four TATA motifs. These promoters were analyzed for in vivo expression, and selected constructs were examined by in vitro template commitment studies. Activation transcription factor (ATF) and CP1 showed dramatically different interactions with the factor(s) bound to the TATA region. CP1 functioned in vivo regardless of the TATA motif that it was paired with and was not capable of sequestering the core promoter complex in a template commitment assay. ATF activity was dramatically altered by changing the TATA motif, and ATF was able to sequester the core promoter complex. These data suggest that CP1 and ATF function by distinct mechanisms that differ with respect to interaction with the factor(s) at the TATA box. Factor Sp1 also appeared to function by a TATA-independent mechanism. These data imply that the ability of a factor to function is determined not only by the intrinsic properties of the factor but also by promoter context.
Novel Cell-Based Method To Detect Shiga Toxin 2 from Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Inhibitors of Toxin Activity

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a leading cause of food-borne illness. This human pathogen produces Shiga toxins (Stx1 and Stx2) which inhibit protein synthesis by inactivating ribosome function. The present study describes a novel cell-based assay to detect Stx2 and inhibitors of toxin activity. A Vero cell line harboring a destabilized variant (half-life, 2 h) of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (d2EGFP) was used to monitor the toxin-induced inhibition of protein synthesis. This Vero-d2EGFP cell line produced a fluorescent signal which could be detected by microscopy or with a plate reader. However, a greatly attenuated fluorescent signal was detected in Vero-d2EGFP cells that had been incubated overnight with either purified Stx2 or a cell-free culture supernatant from Stx1- and Stx2-producing E. coli O157:H7. Dose-response curves demonstrated that the Stx2-induced inhibition of enhanced green fluorescent protein fluorescence mirrored the Stx2-induced inhibition of overall protein synthesis and identified a picogram-per-milliliter threshold for toxin detection. To establish our Vero-d2EGFP assay as a useful tool for the identification of toxin inhibitors, we screened a panel of plant compounds for antitoxin activities. Fluorescent signals were maintained when Vero-d2EGFP cells were exposed to Stx1- and Stx2-containing medium in the presence of either grape seed or grape pomace extract. The antitoxin properties of the grape extracts were confirmed with an independent toxicity assay that monitored the overall level of protein synthesis in cells treated with purified Stx2. These results indicate that the Vero-d2EGFP fluorescence assay is an accurate and sensitive method to detect Stx2 activity and can be utilized to identify toxin inhibitors.
Emotion Processing in Persons at Risk for Schizophrenia

Evidence suggests that individuals with schizophrenia demonstrate emotion-processing deficits. However, the nature and extent of emotion abnormalities in individuals considered at risk for schizophrenia have not been previously summarized. This article provides a review of the recent literature pertaining to emotion processing in 3 at-risk populations: those at familial high risk, those with schizotypal characteristics, and those in the putative prodrome to psychosis. Studies are reviewed across the components of emotion perception, experience, and expression. Further, we discuss investigations into psychophysiology, brain structure, and brain function that employ emotion probes. Review of the literature suggests that individuals at high risk demonstrate similar abnormalities to those with schizophrenia but at an attenuated level. The most robust findings in at-risk groups are in the areas of reduced emotion perception, self-reported anhedonia, and increased negative affect. We conclude with an agenda for future research.
Nerve growth factor promotes reorganization of the axonal microtubule array at sites of axon collateral branching.

The localized debundling of the axonal microtubule array and the entry of microtubules into axonal filopodia are two defining features of collateral branching. We report that nerve growth factor (NGF), a branch-inducing signal, increases the frequency of microtubule debundling along the axon shaft of chicken embryonic sensory neurons. Sites of debundling correlate strongly with the localized targeting of microtubules into filopodia. Platinum replica electron microscopy suggests physical interactions between debundled microtubules and axonal actin filaments. However, as evidenced by depolymerization of actin filaments and inhibition of myosin II, actomyosin force generation does not promote debundling. In contrast, loss of actin filaments or inhibition of myosin II activity promotes debundling, indicating that axonal actomyosin forces suppress debundling. MAP1B is a microtubule associated protein that represses axon branching. Following treatment with NGF, microtubules penetrating filopodia during the early stages of branching exhibited lower levels of associated MAP1B. NGF increased and decreased the levels of MAP1B phosphorylated at a GSK-3β site (pMAP1B) along the axon shaft and within axonal filopodia, respectively. The levels of MAP1B and pMAP1B were not altered at sites of debundling, relative to the rest of the axon. Unlike the previously determined effects of NGF on the axonal actin cytoskeleton, the effects of NGF on microtubule debundling were not affected by inhibition of protein synthesis. Collectively, these data indicate that NGF promotes localized axonal microtubule debundling, that actomyosin forces antagonize microtubule debundling, and that NGF regulates pMAP1B in axonal filopodia during the early stages of collateral branch formation. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 75: 1441–1461, 2015
Training Algorithms for Hidden Conditional Random Fields

We investigate algorithms for training hidden conditional random fields (HCRFs) - a class of direct models with hidden state sequences. We compare stochastic gradient ascent with the RProp algorithm, and investigate stochastic versions of RProp. We propose a new scheme for model flattening, and compare it to the state of the art. Finally we give experimental results on the TEMIT phone classification task showing how these training options interact, comparing HCRFs to HMMs trained using extended Baum-Welch as well as stochastic gradient methods
Comparison of Stormwater Lag Times for Low Impact and Traditional Residential Development

Abstract: This study compared lag time characteristics of low impact residential development with traditional residential development. Also compared were runoff volume, peak discharge, hydrograph kurtosis, runoff coefficient, and runoff threshold. Low impact development (LID) had a significantly greater centroid lag-to-peak, centroid lag, lag-to-peak, and peak lag-to-peak times than traditional development. Traditional development had a significantly greater depth of discharge and runoff coefficient than LID. The peak discharge in runoff from the traditional development was 1,100% greater than from the LID. The runoff threshold of the LID (6.0 mm) was 100% greater than the traditional development (3.0 mm). The hydrograph shape for the LID watershed had a negative value of kurtosis indicating a leptokurtic distribution, while traditional development had a positive value of kurtosis indicating a platykurtic distribution. The lag times of the LID were significantly greater than the traditional watershed for small (<25.4 mm) but not large (≥25.4 mm) storms; short duration (<4 h) but not long duration (≥4 h) storms; and low antecedent moisture condition (AMC; <25.4 mm) storms but not high AMC (≥25.4 mm) storms. This study indicates that LID resulted in lowered peak discharge depth, runoff coefficient, and discharge volume and increased lag times and runoff threshold compared with traditional residential development.