cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Infant psychometric functions for detection: Mechanisms of immature sensitivity

Psychometric functions are described for individual 6‐ to 9‐month‐old infants and for individual adults for auditory detection of repeated, long‐ and short‐duration tone bursts in quiet and for single, long‐duration tone bursts in quiet and in noise. In general, infant psychometric functions have reduced upper asymptotes, shallower slopes, and poorer thresholds than adult psychometric functions. Infant–adult differences in slope and threshold are greater for short‐duration tones than for other stimuli. Infant upper asymptotes are around 0.85 correct for all stimuli. One explanation for these findings is that infants are inattentive a certain proportion of time during the detection task. This model cannot account for the very shallow short‐duration stimulus slope, nor can it account for infant–adult threshold differences for any stimulus. Other models of immature attention, or listening strategies, may be able to account for the slope and upper asymptote as well as the threshold of infant psychometric functions. Some combination of inattentiveness and primary neural immaturity may also account for the data. Although immaturities exist, some aspects of the detection process appear to be quantitatively similar in infants and adults.
An Exact Method for Partitioning Dichotomous Items Within the Framework of the Monotone Homogeneity Model

The monotone homogeneity model (MHM—also known as the unidimensional monotone latent variable model) is a nonparametric IRT formulation that provides the underpinning for partitioning a collection of dichotomous items to form scales. Ellis (Psychometrika 79:303–316, 2014, doi: 10.1007/s11336-013-9341-5 ) has recently derived inequalities that are implied by the MHM, yet require only the bivariate (inter-item) correlations. In this paper, we incorporate these inequalities within a mathematical programming formulation for partitioning a set of dichotomous scale items. The objective criterion of the partitioning model is to produce clusters of maximum cardinality. The formulation is a binary integer linear program that can be solved exactly using commercial mathematical programming software. However, we have also developed a standalone branch-and-bound algorithm that produces globally optimal solutions. Simulation results and a numerical example are provided to demonstrate the proposed method.
Personal care product use and urinary phthalate metabolite and paraben concentrations during pregnancy among women from a fertility clinic

Personal care product use and urinary phthalate metabolite and paraben concentrations during pregnancy among women from a fertility clinic
A Novel Endoscopic Approach to Brachytherapy in the Management of Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma

OBJECTIVES: Traditionally, biliary brachytherapy sources are placed percutaneously via transhepatic drains or endoscopically via nasobiliary tubes (NBT). Another ERCP is needed for stent replacement after NBT removal. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility and safety of endoscopic transpapillary insertion of irradiation sources through 10-Fr stents. METHODS: Medical records of Mayo Clinic Rochester patients undergoing biliary brachytherapy for hilar cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) were reviewed. Patients were part of a treatment protocol with curative intent including external beam radiation therapy (4,500 cGy), radiation sensitization (5-FU), and low dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy (<3,000 cGy) followed by liver transplantation. The 10-Fr biliary stent placed across the malignant biliary stricture was directly cannulated using a radiopaque 192 Ir embedded ribbon within a 300-cm long, 5.1-Fr plastic sheath. After withdrawal of the endoscope, the external end of the brachytherapy catheter was rerouted transnasally and secured. Each patient was hospitalized in a shielded room up to 24 h after which the brachytherapy catheter was removed by hand. RESULTS: Between 1999 and 2004, 32 patients underwent biliary brachytherapy via endoscopically placed 10-Fr plastic stents (mean age 50.6 yr, 69% PSC, bilateral brachytherapy catheters 28.1%). The technical complication observed was immediate brachytherapy catheter displacement (7 of 32, 22%) managed by prompt brachytherapy catheter repositioning. CONCLUSION: LDR biliary brachytherapy administration via endoscopically placed biliary stents is technically feasible and appears reasonably safe in select patients with unresectable perihilar CCA. Unlike NBTs, stents can potentially be placed in bilateral ductal systems to accommodate dual brachytherapy catheters when indicated.
Photolabile protection of 1,2- and 1,3-diols with salicylaldehyde derivatives.

1,2- and 1,3-diols, including carbohydrates, can be readily caged as acetals of 5-methoxy- or 5-hydroxysalicylaldehydes. Irradiation of these acetals with 300 nm light results in their efficient (Φ = 0.2−0.3) cleavage, regenerating an aldehyde and a glycol in excellent chemical yield. Photoreactive 5-hydroxysalicylaldehyde acetals can be produced by mild in situ reduction of photostable p-quinone precursors.
Trypanosoma lewisi: avidity and adsorbability of ablastin, the rat antibody inhibiting parasite reproduction.

Abstract The relation of naturally acquired host IgG in the surface coat of bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma lewisi to ablastin was studied to determine whether, contrary to a long-held conclusion, the antibody is avid and adsorbable. It was found by immunofluorescence and agglutination tests with monospecific antisera to rat IgG that bloodstream forms collected from immunosuppressed hosts, in contrast to those from immunocompetent hosts, have little or no detectable surface IgO. Specificity of adsorption was also demonstrated in other immunofluorescence experiments in which bloodstream forms from immunosuppressed hosts adsorbed IgG from immune serum with ablastic activity only (previously adsorbed with trypanosomes from immunocompetent hosts to remove the trypanocidal antibodies), but did not adsorb IgG from normal rat serum. To determine whether this specific adsorption of IgG by the parasite could be correlated with a reduction in ablastic activity, immune sera were adsorbed with bloodstream forms from immunosuppressed hosts at packed cell/serum ratios of either 1.2 or 2.0, and the adsorbed sera were then tested for ablastic activity in vitro. With both cell/serum ratios, ablastic activity was reduced by 50%. In comparison, similar adsorptions of immune sera with trypanosomes from immunocompetent hosts resulted in reductions of ablastic activity of only about 9 and 27% with the low and high cell/serum ratios, respectively. It is concluded that the failure to effect significant adsorption of ablastin in earlier studies resulted from the use of ablastinsensitized trypanosomes from immunocompetent hosts.
Petrophysical Rock Types of the Khuff C - Eastern Saudi Arabia

Petrophysical rock types (PRTs) can be defined as objects in the three dimensional space defined by Thomeer pore system parameters. Classifications in the Thomeer parameter space must also be accompanied by relationships to convenient well bore measurements (commonly well logs) and geologic parameters to create economic value in the petroleum business. Recent and detailed core-and-log-based high-frequency, sequence-stratigraphic characterization of the Khuff-C by Eid, Dukhayyil and Tawil are now complete and this work builds on that important geological foundation. Hence, any effort to define petrophysical rock types must include and utilize a host of multidisciplinary data.
Regional and subcellular distribution of aryl-and steroid sulfatases in brain.

Abstract The optimal conditions of assay of 3 insoluble sulfatases, namely, nitrophenylsulfate (NPS) sulfohydrolase, methylumbelliferone sulfate (MUS) sulfohydrolase and steroid sulfate sulfohydrolase were studied in rat brain. The pH optima were found to be 7.2, 6.8 and 6.6 respectively for the above 3 enzymes. Unlike extraneural tissues, the NPS-and steroid sulfatase activities were found to be rich in the crude nuclear fraction. Very little to no steroid sulfatase activity was observed in microsomal and supernatant fractions. Thalamic, hippocampal and hypothalamic regions show highest steriod sulfatase activity in the human brain with parietal grey and white matter having the least activity of the regions studied. These findings are discussed in relation to their biological significance.
Serum testosterone levels in African-American and white men undergoing prostate biopsy.

Abstract Objectives. Because androgen levels are known to influence prostate growth, we performed a prospective analysis of serum testosterone levels in all African-American and white men who underwent transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsies to evaluate an abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE) and/or serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level greater than 4 ng/mL. Methods. From June 1996 through July 1998, we evaluated 453 men (189 African-American and 264 white men) who underwent prostate needle biopsy because of an abnormal DRE or serum PSA greater than 4 ng/mL, or both. All men had morning serum testosterone levels determined just before undergoing prostate needle biopsy. Serum testosterone levels were compared on the basis of the prostate biopsy result (positive or negative for prostate cancer) and by race. Results. A total of 453 men underwent prostate biopsy and had morning serum testosterone levels available for comparison. Of the 264 white men who underwent biopsy, 88 (33%) were found to have prostate cancer compared with 67 (35%) of 189 African-American men who underwent biopsy. In the white men without cancer, the mean serum testosterone level was 380.19 ng/dL; those with prostate cancer had a mean serum testosterone level of 419.52 ng/dL. The mean serum testosterone level in African-American men without cancer was 424.30 ng/dL; it was 386.55 ng/dL in those with prostate cancer. There was no statistical difference in serum testosterone levels based on biopsy result or race. Conclusions. Although several studies have suggested that African-American men have higher serum testosterone levels than white men, these differences were noted only in men 40 years of age or younger. As was noted in our study, after age 40, African-American and white men have comparable serum testosterone levels. In addition, although prostate growth is androgen dependent, we found no difference in serum testosterone levels in men with and without prostate cancer.
Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging: An Overview for Nonradiologists

Magnetic resonance imaging is a major component of breast imaging. Many studies have shown that magnetic resonance imaging is the most sensitive imaging method for detecting invasive breast cancer in comparison with mammography, ultrasound, and clinical breast examinations. Evidence-based clinical indications for breast magnetic resonance imaging include screening patients at high risk for breast cancer, including those with breast/ovarian cancer genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2), those who are untested first-degree relatives of carriers of these genes, those whose lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is 20% to 25% or greater, those who had chest radiation when they were 10 to 30 years old, and those who have or are first-degree relatives of people with Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome, or Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome. Breast magnetic resonance imaging is performed in conjunction with mammography and does not replace mammography. Outside of the screening population, utilization of breast magnetic resonance imaging for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and its use as a problem-solving technique for equivocal mammographic or clinical findings remain controversial. An understanding of the current evidence facilitates appropriate utilization of this important medical resource. This article discusses indications for ordering breast magnetic resonance imaging and how to read the breast magnetic resonance imaging report and understand the lexicon used.
Is the term “tricuspid atresia” appropriate?☆

he term “tricuspid atresia” has most frequently been defined as the congenital absence or agenesis of the morphologic tricuspid valve.t,* In the nineteenth century3,4 and in the early twentieth century,5 long descriptive names were used for this anomaly. The twentieth century term “tricuspid atresia” has been in common usage,3,4 is almost exclusively used in textbooks,2 and is short and simple. Furthermore, the term connotes a true pathologic and clinical entity as it is visualized by most cardiologists, surgeons and pathologists.1-4 There has been a debate with regard to terminology between Bharati and Lev versus Anderson et a16-12 I favored the old term “tricuspid atresia” and stated the reasons for such conclusions previously.1,2 I was repeatedly criticized i3-16 for taking that position. Recently, further evidenceI became available that will reaffirm my belief. This communication discusses the problem and the appropriateness of using the term “tricuspid atresia” to describe the congenital absence or agenesis of the morphologic tricuspid valve.
The Other Side of the Model Minority Story: The Familial and Peer Challenges Faced by Chinese American Adolescents.

The image of the model minority dominates scholarly and public discourse on Asian American children and adolescents. However, recent research has shown that despite their high levels of educational achievement Asian American students report poor psychological and social adjustment. Using an ecological framework, this article sought to explore the family and peer experiences of Chinese American adolescents as these are the two most critical contexts influencing adolescents' psychological and social adjustment. Drawing on longitudinal data collected from two studies conducted in Boston and New York on 120 first- and second-generation Chinese American students, our analyses suggested that many Chinese American adolescents feel alienated from their parents and peers. The alienation from parents was due to factors such as language barriers, parenting work schedules, and high parental educational expectations. Alienation from peers was due to ongoing peer discrimination from both Chinese and non-Chinese peers. ...
Understanding the Value of Features for Coreference Resolution

In recent years there has been substantial work on the important problem of coreference resolution, most of which has concentrated on the development of new models and algorithmic techniques. These works often show that complex models improve over a weak pairwise baseline. However, less attention has been given to the importance of selecting strong features to support learning a coreference model. This paper describes a rather simple pairwise classification model for coreference resolution, developed with a well-designed set of features. We show that this produces a state-of-the-art system that outperforms systems built with complex models. We suggest that our system can be used as a baseline for the development of more complex models -- which may have less impact when a more robust set of features is used. The paper also presents an ablation study and discusses the relative contributions of various features.
Health Care Professionals' Death Attitudes, Experiences, and Advance Directive Communication Behavior

The study surveyed 135 health care professionals (74 nurses, 32 physicians, and 29 social workers) to examine their personal death attitudes and experiences in relation to their reported advance directive communication practice behavior. Negative correlations were found between collaborating with other health care professionals regarding the directives and fear of death, avoidance of death, and escape acceptance of death. Approach acceptance of death positively correlated with initiating the discussion of advance directives. Practitioners indicating recent personal experiences with terminal illness reported disclosing more information about the documents.
The Pharmacologic Approach to the Treatment of Obesity

Obesity is a major risk factor for morbidity and mortality, and a series of pharmacologic approaches are available for helping to manage the problem. Obesity is caused by an imbalance between caloric intake and energy expenditure, which is influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. Pharmacologic treatments include anorexigenic agents, which fall into two broad categories: those that act via brain catecholamine pathways and those that act via serotonin pathways. The most recent oral agents approved are dexfenfluramine, which is currently being marketed, and sibutramine. Both agents inhibit the control reuptake of serotonin but in addition may have effects on thermogenesis. Under investigation are agents that increase energy expenditure: the β3-adrenergic receptor agonists and drugs that prevent the intestinal absorption of free fatty acids and cholesterol. In development are innovative approaches to influence leptin and its receptors, various obesity genes, and biologic substances thought to influence satiety (neuropeptide Y, enterostatin, cholecystokinin, bombesin, and amylin). Obesity has now become a major target for drug development not only for affecting obesity per se but also for managing and preventing comorbid conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Physicians and the Pharmaceutical Industry: Working Together on Conflict of Interest

Current definitions of conflict of interest in medicine are unwieldy, impractical, and difficult to apply. Although well intentioned, Brody's (2011) approach to clarifying conflict of interest as i...
Coordinated active and reactive power management implementation based on dual-stage PLL method for grid-connected PV system with battery

This paper presents a single phase grid-connected PV system integrating energy storage system (ESS) using cascaded multilevel inverter. A Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) Phase Locked Loop (PLL) method is proposed to improve system dynamic performance. A coordinated active and reactive power management (ARPM) strategy is developed based on the dual-stage DFT PLL method. The point of common coupling (PCC) overvoltage caused by reverse power flow can be mitigated by properly storing extra solar energy in the local ESS. In particular, the proposed system can provide wide range reactive power compensation to improve power quality and system stability. Furthermore, a control system, including dual-current-loop control, energy storage voltage balance control and ARPM control, is developed in grid-connected mode. Finally, a 3.5 kW single phase grid-connected PV system with batteries is implemented in the laboratory. Both simulation and experimental results are presented to verify the validity of the proposed power management strategy.
Fatal Asphyxiation in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Indian River Lagoon

Multiple single case reports of asphyxiation in dolphins caused by fish lodged in the esophagus exist. However, the significance of this cause of mortality in a single population has not been documented. We performed a retrospective evaluation of pathology records from stranded bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Indian River Lagoon to evaluate the impact of this cause of death on this population. From 1997 to 2011, asphyxiation due to choking was identified as the cause of death in 14 of 350 cases (4%). Sampling of an unrelated but adjacent population over this same period yielded 186 necropsy cases of bottlenose dolphins with no cases of asphyxiation. Asphyxiated animals presented with a fish lodged in the cranial esophagus associated with a dislocated and obstructed or compressed larynx. There was no clear sex predilection. Affected animals included 12 adults and two juveniles. The fish species involved included sheepshead, black chin tilapia and striped mojarra. In five cases, recreational fishing gear was also present. Cetacean choking is related to selection of prey fish species with strong dorsal spines and may be secondarily associated with fish attached to fishing gear. Prey abundance and dolphin behavior may influence these selections. Environmental alterations leading to changes in prey availability or increased interactions with fishing gear may change the significance of fatal choking in dolphin populations.
Dynamics of floating exchange rate: how important are capital flows relative to macroeconomic fundamentals?

While focusing on traditional macroeconomic fundamentals, existing literature has provided little understanding of impacts of various types of capital flows on the dynamics of floating exchange rates. This paper develops a structural VAR model that takes into account macroeconomic fundamentals as well as various types of capital flows in explaining the fluctuations of the floating exchange rates of the Australian dollar, the Canadian dollar, and the U.S. dollar over 1980–2004. Our main findings are as follows. Among the traditional macroeconomic fundamentals, relative interest rate still plays a significant role in explaining exchange rate dynamics for all three currencies. Capital flows play an important role in explaining the fluctuations in the Australian dollar and the Canadian dollar, but not the U.S. dollar. In particular, portfolio investment is the most explanatory factor for the Australian dollar and the Canadian dollar. For the U.S. dollar, relative interest rate explains the most of exchange rate fluctuations, especially in the medium to the long run. The results indicate that capital market transactions do play important roles in determining exchange rates; however, it may have different implications for the reserve currencies versus the non-reserve currencies. Further research is needed.
Using Gyratory Compaction to Investigate Density and Mechanical Properties of Roller-Compacted Concrete

Roller-compacted concrete (RCC) is a durable, economical, low-maintenance material for low-speed, heavy-duty paving applications, including industrial and multimodal pavements. However, it is difficult to prepare laboratory specimens to represent field performance, because RCC is very dry and requires considerable compactive effort to achieve field densities. The gyratory compactor, commonly used to prepare hot-mix asphalt specimens, may be used in preparing specimens for laboratory testing. Materials and mix designs from two industrial paving projects were used to prepare specimens for comparison. Field results indicated that the gyratory compactor produced specimens with mechanical properties consistent with those achieved in the field. Specimens had high strength and consistent density, with low variability. The gyratory compactor may be used to replace other methods presently used for preparing RCC specimens such as the modified Vebe apparatus, the vibrating table, and the vibrating hammer. These methods have limitations that may be overcome with the gyratory compactor because of its consistency and its compatibility with field results. The effects of density and specimen aspect ratio on compressive and splitting tensile strength were investigated. The number of gyrations applied to the specimen may be used to duplicate the desired field density. For the industrial pavements investigated, approximately 60 gyrations accurately replicated field conditions.
On the power to domain-specific Hypertext environments

What is the potential power of hypertext technology? This article examines this question and outlines the answer by focussing attention to a domaim-specific view of hypertext environments. I first define what domain-specific hypertext environments (DSHE) represent. Next, I examine DSHE for the domains of encyclopedic and classical studies, creative writing and interactive fiction, journal and book publishing, insurance policy management, and software engineering. Then I describe in more detail the structure of information to evolve within a DSHE for software engineering in terms of document products, processing tasks and mechanisms, and workplace attributes. In turn, this examination provides the basis for identifying seven dimensions along which the power of DSHE can be defined, experienced, and accumulated. I also address the organizational costs that may be borne to realize this power. I conclude with observations as to the source of DSHE power as well as identifying topics for further investigation. 2 1 This is a revised and expanded version of the paper appearing in the J. Amer. Soc. Info.
From gene mutation to protein characterization.

A seven-week “gene to protein” laboratory sequence is described for an undergraduate biochemistry laboratory course. Student pairs were given the task of introducing a point mutation of their choosing into the well studied protein, enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). After conducting literature searches, each student group chose the mutation they wanted to introduce into EGFP. Students designed their sequence-specific mutagenic primers and constructed their desired mutation. The resulting EGFP mutant proteins were expressed in E. coli, purified and characterized. This laboratory sequence connected the major concepts of molecular biology and biochemistry, while incorporating the thrill of novel discovery in an undergraduate-level biochemistry laboratory course.
Aging does not alter cytosolic calcium levels of cortical synaptosomes in Fischer 344 rats.

Abstract Several lines of experimental evidence support an association between altered Ca2+ regulation and aging. It has been supposed that free cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) may decrease or increase in aged animals. In this study, both resting and KCl-stimulated [Ca2+]i were measured in purified cortical synaptosomes from young (3 mo.), middle-aged (12 mo.), and old (24 mo.) Fischer 344 rats. Two additional groups of rats were included, one middle-aged and one old which were trained on a treadmill for 6 months prior to experimentation. The [Ca2+]i was determined using the fluorescent Ca2+ chelator fura-2. Net KCl-dependent changes (ΔK) in [Ca2+]i were determined by the difference between stimulatory (100 μM Ca 2+ 60 mM KCl ) and resting (100 μM Ca 2+ 5 mM KCl buffer) conditions among the 3 age groups. Significant increases in [Ca2+]i were observed in each age group upon depolarization with 60 mM KCl. However, there were no significant age-dependent differences in either resting [Ca2+]i or KCl-stimulated [Ca2+]i.
Hydroxyl radical desorption from polycrystalline palladium: evidence for a surface phase transition

Abstract The desorption of hydroxyl radicals, as detected by laser-induced fluorescence, during the reaction of H 2 and O 2 over polycrystalline palladium has been studied as a function of temperature and O 2 /H 2 ratio. The apparent activation energy for OH desorption shows a discontinuity at ≈1210–1220 K for O 2 /H 2 ratios⪢4. This abrupt change in E a is taken as evidence that a phase transition, possibly involving the decomposition of a two-dimensional PdO phase, has occurred in the surface region.
Poorer survival of elderly patients with ovarian cancer: a population-based study

Abstract Objective : To compare ovarian cancer survival in elderly and young patients. Material and methods : Using the Geneva Cancer Registry, we identify women diagnosed with primary ovarian cancer between 1980 and 1998. We compared tumors characteristics, treatment patterns of young patients (⩽70 years) versus older patients (>70 years) by logistic regression. To evaluate the effect of age on prognosis, we compared disease specific survival by Cox proportional hazard analysis, taking into account other prognostic factors. Results : This study included 285 patient aged 70 years and 451⩽70 years. Older women presented more advanced stage and at equal stage were less often treated by optimal surgery and chemotherapy. Five-year of disease specific survival was 18% (95% CI: 13–23%) and 53% (95% CI: 48–58%) among old versus young women. Over ovarian mortality was only partly explained by these differences and after adjustment for tumor characteristics and treatment, older women still had a 1.8-fold increased risk of dying of ovarian cancer compared to younger (HR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.4–2.4). Conclusion : Age strongly decreases ovarian cancer mortality. This over mortality is only partly explained by later diagnosis and suboptimal treatment.
Spherical approximation for multiple cameras in motion estimation: Its applicability and advantages

Estimating motions of a multi-camera system which may not have overlapping fields of view is generally complex and computationally expensive because of the non-zero offset between each camera's center. It is conceivable that if we can assume that multiple cameras share a single optical center, and thus can be modeled as a spherical imaging system, motion estimation and calibration of this system would become simpler and more efficient. In this paper, we analytically and empirically derive the conditions under which a multi-camera system can be modeled as a single spherical camera. Various analyses and experiments using simulated and real images show that spherical approximation is applicable to a surprisingly larger extent than currently expected. Moreover, we show that, when applicable, this approximation even results in improvements in accuracy and stability of estimated motion over the exact algorithm.
A Liquid Derivative of 12-Tungstophosphoric Acid with Unusually High Conductivity

Surface functionalization of the solid heteropolyacid H3PW12O40 with a bulky PEG-containing quaternary ammonium cation through partial proton exchange leads to a polyoxometalate-based liquid salt with high-temperature proton conductivity ( approximately 10-3 S cm-1 at 140 degrees C) under dry conditions. The proton conductivity of the liquid salt is 4 orders of magnitude higher than that of the solid analogue under identical conditions and shows super ionic behavior as defined by Walden plot.
Core–periphery dynamics in the Portland, Oregon, region: 1982–2006

The relative strength of positive and negative spillovers of urban development is a long-standing and contested issue in regional and development economics, and the search for spread and backwash effects of development in urban core economies goes back at least 50 years. Using data from IMPLAN and the Bureau of Economic Analysis to develop multiregional input–output models, we developed estimates of core–periphery economic interdependence (sales and purchases of goods and services and commuting of workers between the core and the periphery) of the Portland, Oregon, region for 1982 and 2006. We explored whether the changing flows of sales and purchases, spillovers and commuting between 1982 and 2006 suggested a dominance of spread effects or backwash effects. We found increased commuting between periphery and core, decreased core–periphery transactions, and smaller core-to-periphery spillovers and periphery-to-core spillovers in both goods and services. Our findings do not point to a clear dominance of spread or backwash effects. Results showing smaller core-to-periphery and periphery-to-core multipliers/spillovers suggest that spread effects related to trade in goods and services weakened between 1982 and 2006. Our findings of increased commuting are consistent with enhanced spread effects in labor markets.
Quantum bio-nanosensors based on quantum dot-metallic nanoparticle systems

When metallic nanoparticles are put in the vicinity of semiconductor quantum dots and driven by a coherent light source, their intrinsic plasmonic fields can be replaced with a new type of fields (coherent-plasmonic fields). These fields are generated via coherent coupling of excitons in quantum dots and localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs). We show the coherent-plasmonic field of a metallic nanoparticle can lead to a significantly larger field enhancement than that caused by its LSPR. Utilizing this, we investigate how such a coherent field enhancement can improve the sensitivities plasmonic nanosensors for detection single biological molecules. The results demonstrate application of quantum coherence in quantum dot-metallic nanoparticle systems for chemical and biological sensing applications.
An overview of lipid-lowering drugs

The long term use of lipid-lowering drugs in the treatment of patients with hyperlipoproteinaemia is aimed at reducing plasma concentrations of known atherogenic lipoproteins with a favourable effect on lipid deposition in the arterial wall. A less common aim is to prevent the adverse sequelae of hyperchylomicronaemia in patients with severe hypertriglyceridaemia. The decision to begin drug therapy should be made only after the exclusion of secondary factors and after an adequate trial of diet has failed to produce acceptable concentrations of plasma lipids and lipoproteins. The bile acid sequestrants (cholestyramine and colestipol), nicotinic acid, fenofibrate and inhibitors of hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase (e.g. lovastatin or simvastatin) are the most effective drugs for use in patients with primary hypercholesterolaemia; these agents reduce plasma concentrations of total and LDL-cholesterol by 15 to 45%. For those patients with concurrent hypertriglyceridaemia, nicotinic acid, lovastatin or simvastatin, or fenofibrate are the preferred drugs for initial use; bile acid sequestrants frequently exacerbate hypertriglyceridaemia in these patients. Fibric acid derivatives (e.g. clofibrate, gemfibrozil, bezafibrate or fenofibrate) are all effective in the therapy of patients with type III hyperlipoproteinaemia, as is nicotinic acid and I have found lovastatin to be effective also. Gemfibrozil or nicotinic acid are the most effective agents to use in the treatment of patients with severe hypertriglyceridaemia who are at increased risk of abdominal pain and pancreatitis. Combined therapy with drugs which have different mechanisms of action can be effectively used in the treatment of patients with severe hypercholesterolaemia or combined hyperlipidaemia; for the former group, combinations which use bile acid sequestrants, HMG CoA reductase inhibitors and nicotinic acid are the most effective.
FUMONISIN TOXICITY AND SPHINGOLIPID BIOSYNTHESIS

Fumonisins are inhibitors of sphinganine (sphingosine) N-acyltransferase (ceramide synthase) in vitro, and exhibit competitive-type inhibition with respect to both substrates of this enzyme (sphinganine and fatty acyl-CoA). Removal of the tricarballylic acids from fumonisin B1 reduces the potency by at least 10 fold; and fumonisin A1 (which is acetylated on the amino group) is essentially inactive. Studies with diverse types of cells (hepatocytes, neurons, kidney cells, fibroblasts, macrophages, and plant cells) have established that fumonisin B1 not only blocks the biosynthesis of complex sphingolipids; but also, causes sphinganine to accumulate. Some of the sphinganine is metabolized to the 1-phosphate and degraded to hexadecanal and ethanolamine phosphate, which is incorporated into phosphatidylethanolamine. Sphinganine is also released from cells and, because it appears in blood and urine, can be used as a biomarker for exposure. The accumulation of these bioactive compounds, as well as the depletion of complex sphingolipids, may account for the toxicity, and perhaps the carcinogenicity, of fumonisins.
Missing the Trees for the Forest: A Construal Level Account of the Illusion of Explanatory Depth

An illusion of explanatory depth (IOED) occurs when people believe they understand a concept more deeply than they actually do. To date, IOEDs have been identified only in mechanical and natural domains, occluding why they occur and suggesting that their implications are quite limited. Six studies illustrated that IOEDs occur because people adopt an inappropriately abstract construal style when they assess how well they understand concrete concepts. As this mechanism predicts, participants who naturally adopted concrete construal styles (Study 1) or were induced to adopt a concrete construal style (Studies 2-4 and 6), experienced diminished IOEDs. Two additional studies documented a novel IOED in the social psychological domain of electoral voting (Studies 5 and 6), demonstrating the generality of the construal mechanism, the authors also extended the presumed boundary conditions of the effect beyond mechanical and natural domains. These findings suggest a novel factor that might contribute to such diverse social-cognitive shortcomings as stereotyping, egocentrism, and the planning fallacy, where people adopt abstract representations of concepts that should be represented concretely.
Analysis of bioconversion from apogossypol hexaacetate to apogossypol, a novel proapoptotic compound

2259 Overexpression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2-family proteins Bcl-2 or Bcl-X L occurs during apoptosis dysregulation in many malignancies, resulting in resistance to cytotoxic anticancer drugs. Recent studies showed that Bcl-2 and Bcl-X L are targets of (±)Gossypol (Kitada, et al. J Med Chem 46: 4258, 2003), which has then tested for treatment of metastatic adrenal cancer, glioblastoma and breast cancer with low but measurable responses. (-)Gossypol was also developed and showed improved efficacy and pharmacokinetic properties to some extent (Jia, et al. 2003 AACR-NCI-EORTC). It seems that the presence of two highly reactive aldehyde groups in Gossypol may be a limitation to its therapeutic successes. By using a combination of molecular modeling and structural biology techniques, Apogossypol (AG), which lacks the aldehydic groups and retains pro-apoptototic activity, has recently been synthesized and shown to bind to and inhibit the Bcl-2-family proteins, Bcl-2 and Bcl-X L , inducing apoptosis of the tumor cell lines (Becattini et. al ., Chem Biol. 11:389-9, 2004). However, due to the inherent instability of AG in the solid form, the compound has been synthesized as a hexaacetate prodrug form, a very stable compound both in solution and in solid form. Apogossypol hexaacetate (AGA) lacks apoptotic activity because the acetate groups hinder the binding of the compound to the Bcl-2 proteins. Therefore, the acetates must be cleaved for the molecule to exhibit activity in vivo . In preparation for preclinical studies, a method was developed and validated for the analysis of AG in mouse plasma from mice dosed with AGA. The methodology involves protein precipitation of plasma samples followed by LC/MS/MS analysis. The validated concentration range extends from 10-2,000 ng/mL using 100 μL of mouse plasma, with extraction recoveries averaging 90%. The quantitation is based on internal standardization using apigenin as the internal standard. This method was used to determine the short-term stability of AG in mouse plasma stored at room temperature, on ice, and at 37 degrees C. AG was found to be stable for at least 1 hour at room temperature and 3 hours when stored on ice, however, it appeared degraded in plasma in less than 30 minutes at 37 °C. The stability of AG at 37 °C was increased by the addition 1% ascorbic acid to plasma. Incubation of AGA at 0.2, 1 and 5 μg/ml with mouse plasma for 30 min at 37 °C resulted in essentially complete conversion of AGA in AG (>100%). The conversion appears to be temperature-dependent because lowering temperatures delayed the conversion rate. The addition of 1% ascorbic acid to the incubation also delayed the conversion rate. The bioconversion was also demonstrated in mice after administration of AGA. These results suggest that AGA will be a useful prodrug form of apogossypol and may have considerable theoretical and practical significance (Supported by NCI Contract No. N01-CM-07110).
Comparing Feature Sets for Acted and Spontaneous Speech in View of Automatic Emotion Recognition

We present a data-mining experiment on feature selection for automatic emotion recognition. Starting from more than 1000 features derived from pitch, energy and MFCC time series, the most relevant features in respect to the data are selected from this set by removing correlated features. The features selected for acted and realistic emotions are analyzed and show significant differences. All features are computed automatically and we also contrast automatically with manually units of analysis. A higher degree of automation did not prove to be a disadvantage in terms of recognition accuracy
Monoamine-containing cell bodies in the squirrel monkey brain.

Fifteen catecholamine-containing cell groups and eight indoleamine-containing cell groups are present in the brain of the squirrel monkey. Most of the catecholamine-containing cell groups (12) are similar to catecholamine-containing cell groups previously described in the rat. However, three catecholamine-containing cell groups not previously noted are found in the squirrel monkey brain. The indoleamine-containing cell groups are found within, or adjacent to, the raphe nuclei. Differences between the localization of indoleamine-containing cell bodies in the brain of the rat and the squirrel monkey are minor.
PowerPoint Presentation Handouts and College Student Learning Outcomes

This investigation sought to determine if supplementing lectures using Microsoft PowerPoint slides with handouts of the slides enhanced test-taking performance in an undergraduate Human Development course. In the first study, one section of the course (N=50) was given handouts for one exam and a final; the other (N=50) received handouts only for the final. No significant differences in test performance occurred across sections. The second study, conducted the following semester for two sections of the same course, assessed whether the receipt of PowerPoint handouts was moderated by learning styles. Learning styles were not predictive of improved test performance as a function of receipt of handouts. These results question the efficacy of presentation software handouts for student learning outcomes.
Virtual fingerprinting as a foundation for reputation in open systems

The lack of available identity information in attribute-based trust management systems complicates the design of the audit and incident response systems, anomaly detection algorithms, collusion detection/prevention mechanisms, and reputation systems taken for granted in traditional distributed systems. In this paper, we show that as two entities in an attribute-based trust management system interact, each learns one of a limited number of virtual fingerprints describing their communication partner. We show that these virtual fingerprints can be disclosed to other entities in the open system without divulging any attribute or absolute-identity information, thereby forming an opaque pseudo-identity that can be used as the basis for the above-mentioned types of services. We explore the use of virtual fingerprints as the basis of Xiphos, a system that allows reputation establishment without requiring explicit knowledge of entities' civil identities. We discuss the trade-off between privacy and trust, examine the impacts of several attacks on the Xiphos system, and discuss the performance of Xiphos in a simulated grid computing system.
Propiedad urbana y sociedad en Madrid, 1749-1774

Las rentas inmobiliarias y la propiedad urbana constituian una parte importante de los patrimonios de algunos miembros de las elites madrilenas de finales del siglo XVIII. A lo largo de la centuria las inversiones en bienes urbanos se habian incrementado notablemente, en parte por una recuperacion general de las rentas, pero tambien por el aumento de la demanda derivado del crecimiento de la poblacion. Lo que no esta tan claro es el momento en que se inicio este proceso ni cuales fueron los agentes sociales que lo hicieron posible. Sin entrar en matizaciones, aun a riesgo de simplificar en exceso, la dinamica de dicho proceso de transformacion ha sido atribuida tradicionalmente a la irrupcion en el escenario social de una nueva burguesia con impulsos revolucionarios. En la base de todos los cambios, ya fueran economicos, ya politicos, se ha tendido a colocar a los agentes de dicha clase social. Ellos (los burgueses) forzaron los cambios que llevaron a Espana por la senda del capitalismo en lo economico y del liberalismo en lo politico. Sin embargo, sabemos muy pocas cosas acerca de la formacion de esta clase social, de los grupos que la constituyeron o de su capacidad real para protagonizar cambios historicos semejantes.
Ontogeny of form and function: locomotor morphology and drag in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Many fish species transform in body shape during growth, but it remains unclear how this influences the mechanics of locomotion. Therefore, the present study focused on understanding how drag generation during coasting is affected by ontogenetic changes in the mor- phology of zebrafish (Danio rerio). The shapes of the body and fins were measured from photographs of fish ranging in size from small larvae to mature adults and these morphometrics were compared to drag coefficients calcu- lated from high-speed video recordings of routine swim- ming. We found that the viscous drag coefficient of larval and juvenile fish increased by more than an order of mag- nitude during growth and the inertial drag coefficient decreased at a comparable rate in adults. These hydrody- namic changes occurred as zebrafish disproportionately increased the span of their fins and their body changed shape from elongated to streamlined, as reflected by the logistic growth of a newly defined streamlining index, SL. These results suggest that morphological changes incur a performance cost by generating greater drag when larvae and juveniles operate in the viscous regime, but later provide a performance benefit by reducing pressure drag in the inertial regime of the adult stage. J. Morphol. 267: 1099 -1109, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Biodiversity and application of microalgae

The algae are a polyphyletic, artificial assemblage of O2-evolving, photosynthetic organisms (and secondarily nonphotosynthetic evolutionary descendants) that includes seaweeds (macroalgae) and a highly diverse group of microorganisms known as microalgae. Phycology, the study of algae, developed historically as a discipline focused on the morphological, physiological and ecological similarities of the subject organisms, including the prokaryotic bluegreen algae (cyanobacteria) and prochlorophytes. Eukaryotic algal groups represent at least five distinct evolutionary lineages, some of which include protists traditionally recognized as fungi and protozoa. Ubiquitous in marine, freshwater and terrestrial habitats and possessing broad biochemical diversity, the number of algal species has been estimated at between one and ten million, most of which are microalgae. The implied biochemical diversity is the basis for many biotechnological and industrial applications.
A digital signal processing course based on lecture/laboratory integration

An integrated course on digital signal processing (DSP) based on theory and engineering practice is described. The course is organized as a unit containing a traditional lecture component on DSP theory interacting with a hardware based laboratory component containing experiments and projects. The innovative aspect of this course is the digital signal processing laboratory. It consists of DSP workstations which are built around a fixed-point digital signal processor. Concepts taught in the lecture component are analyzed in the laboratory so students can learn practical aspects in the context of a real system. The laboratory is organized into three modules and each module is examined in detail. A representative project performed in the laboratory is described. >