cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spatial layout affects speed discrimination

We address a surprising result in a previous study of speed discrimination with multiple moving gratings: discrimination thresholds decreased when the number of stimuli was increased, but remained unchanged when the area of a single stimulus was increased [Verghese & Stone (1995). Vision Research, 35, 2811-2823]. In this study, we manipulated the spatial- and phase relationship between multiple grating patches to determine their effect on speed discrimination thresholds. In a fusion experiment, we merged multiple stimulus patches, in stages, into a single patch. Thresholds increased as the patches were brought closer and their phase relationship was adjusted to be consistent with a single patch. Thresholds increased further still as these patches were fused into a single patch. In a fission experiment, we divided a single large patch into multiple patches by superimposing a cross with luminance equal to that of the background. Thresholds decreased as the large patch was divided into quadrants and decreased further as the quadrants were maximally separated. However, when the cross luminance was darker than the background, it was perceived as an occluder and thresholds, on average, were unchanged from that for the single large patch. A control experiment shows that the observed trend in discrimination thresholds is not due to the differences in perceived speed of the stimuli. These results suggest that the parsing of the visual image into entities affects the combination of speed information across space, and that each discrete entity effectively provides a single independent estimate of speed.
The extrusion and inflation of nonaxisymmetric parisons

Optimization of resin usage in blow molding necessitates the use of nonround or nonaxisymmetric die tooling. These die geometries are referred to as “ovalized.” The extrusion and inflation of parisons formed from nonaxisymmetric dies are complex because of the radial thickness dependency. Four die geometries are considered in this work; one axisymmetric and three nonaxisymmetric. The three nonaxisymmetric dies have one side set at a constant die gap (1.5 mm) and the side rotated 90° from it, set at progressively increasing die gaps (2.0, 2.5, 3.5 mm). A methodology is presented for the measurement of the radial parison diameter and thickness swell profile for ovalized parisons. The methodology employs a simple mass balance approach between an axisymmetric part and the parison it was blown from. Experimental results are obtained for the radial parison diameter and thickness swell at two radial locations. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Monte Carlo Statistical Methods

We have sold 4300 copies worldwide of the first edition (1999). This new edition contains five completely new chapters covering new developments.
Prenatal Involvement of Adolescent Unmarried Fathers

This study investigated factors associated with adolescent unmarried, nonresident fathers’ prenatal involvement with the teenaged mother. The sample consisted of 57 adolescent couples. Father characteristics and social-context factors were expected to predict fathers’ prenatal involvement. Results of the multivariate analysis revealed a significant relationship between romantic involvement and fathers’ prenatal involvement. Also, interparental conflict was negatively associated with father’s prenatal involvement after controlling for romantic involvement. In addition, teenage fathers were less likely to be involved when the young mother had friends with children born outside of marriage, when the adolescent father was unemployed, and when the father scored lower on a measure of empathy.
Reduced isotope dose and imaging time with a high-efficiency CZT SPECT camera

Background In light of recent focus on diagnostic imaging, cardiac SPECT imaging needs to become a shorter test with lower radiation exposure to patients. Recently introduced Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) cameras have the potential to achieve both goals.
Geochemistry of the Detroit River Sediments

The objectives of the investigation were to provide information on the concentration and distribution of metals in bottom sediments of the Detroit River and to study the association of metals with various sediment components. Concentrations of major elements (Si, Al, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Mn, and P) and metals (Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn), particle size distribution, and mineralogical composition were determined in 20 surficial sediment samples collected along the Detroit River in 1983. Significantly higher concentrations of metals in the Detroit River sediments than those reported in Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie sediments indicated input from sources in the river's drainage basin. Poor relationships exist between the metals and organic C and the metals and the silt-clay size fraction ( 63 μm. Zn, Ni, Cr, and Pb were accumulated in the 63 μm fraction. Dolomite, feldspars, and quartz were in the 13 to 63 μm fraction and the clay minerals illite, chlorite, and kaolinite were in the < 13 μm fraction. Concentrations and relationships among major elements reflected the mineralogical composition of different particle size fractions.
Tonotopic organization in auditory cortex of the cat

Microelectrode mapping techniques were employed in the cat's auditory cortex to relate the best frequencies of a large population of neurons with their spatial loci. Based upon the best-frequency distribution, the auditory region was divided into four complete and orderly tonotopic representations and a surrounding belt of cortex in which the tonotopic organization was more complex. The four auditory fields occupy a crescent-shaped band of tissue which comprises portions of both the exposed gyral surfaces and sulcal banks of the ectosylvian cortex. The anterior auditory field (A) is situated most rostrally upon the anterior ectosylvian gyrus. It extends upon the ventral bank of the suprasylvian sulcus and upon the banks of the anterior ectosylvian sulcus. Adjoining field A caudally is the primary auditory field (AI), which extends across the middle ectosylvian gyrus and portions of both banks of the posterior ectosylvian sulcus. The representations of the highest best frequencies in fields A and AI are contiguous. Caudal and ventral to AI are located the posterior (P) and ventroposterior (VP) auditory fields. They lie mainly upon the caudal bank of the posterior ectosylvian sulcus but also extend upon the rostral bank and upon the posterior ectosylvian gyrus. The low best-frequency representations of fields AI and P are contiguous, whereas the low best-frequency representation of field VP lies near the ventral end of the posterior ectosylvian sulcus. Fields P and VP are joined along their middle and high best-frequency representations. Within each auditory field isofrequency lines defined by the spatial loci of neurons with similar best frequencies are oriented orthogonal to the low-to-high best-frequency gradients.
Effects of Placement Changes on Health Insurance Stability Among a National Sample of Children in the Child Welfare System

ABSTRACT Children in the child welfare system have entitlements to health insurance coverage—critical because of their considerable physical and mental health needs—based largely on their placement status. This study conducted path and transitions analyses on data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (3,801 children followed-up for 3 years) to examine the interplay between placement changes and insurance stability. Children maintained in-home at Wave 1 had significantly lower odds of being insured (OR = 0.7); children transitioning from out-of-home placement to in-home care had significantly lower odds of maintaining insurance coverage (OR = 0.6). Child welfare workers working with children maintained in-home and those being reunified should safeguard the children's insurance status. Policy makers should consider extension of categorical eligibility to all children presenting to child welfare agencies in order to assure access to needed services for these vulnerable children.
Educational attainment of siblings in stepfamilies

Abstract In this paper, we compare the educational attainment of birth and nonbirth children of women in the US Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID). We find that children raised by step, adoptive, or foster mothers obtain significantly less education, on average, than do the birth children of the same women. Nonbirth children of a woman receive, on average, 1 year less schooling than do her birth children, with the educational break occurring at the time children finish high school and begin college.
Wind Exposure and Distribution of Pitcherplant Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae)

In western Newfoundland the pitcherplant mosquito, Wyeomyia smithii (Coquillett), is absent from many potential habitat patches (bogs with populations of the purple pitcher plant, Sarracenia purpurea ). Bog size, pitcher-plant density, and wind exposure in bogs were estimated and ranked. Rank ordered variables were intercorrelated and any single variable had significant predictive power for mosquito occurrence, but only wind exposure was significant in a multiple regression. Bogs exposed to wind harbored smaller or no mosquito populations. A likely explanation for this pattern is that reduced winter snow cover induces high overwinter mortality of diapausing mosquito larvae.
Large-aperture compound refractive lenses

We have measured the intensity profile and transmission of x-rays focused by a series of bi-concave parabolic unit lenses fabricated in lithium and beryllium. For specified focal length and photon energy, lithium and beryllium compound refractive lenses (CRL) have a larger transmission, aperture size, and gain compared to aluminum, epoxy, and kapton CRLs. One Li CRL was composed of 335 bi-concave, parabolic unit lenses, each with an on-axis radius of curvature of 0.95 mm. This Li CRL achieved a 95 cm focal length at 8 keV with an effective aperture of 1 mm, an on-axis (peak) transmission of 26 %, and an on-axis intensity gain of 18.9. The beryllium compound refractive lens was composed of 160 bi-concave unit lenses, each with a radius of curvature of 1.9 mm. The Be CRL achieved two-dimensional focusing at 6.5 keV with a gain of 1.5, peak transmission of 9 %, focal length of 93 cm, and an effective aperture of 600 μm. Based upon the principle of spontaneous emission amplification in an FEL wiggler, coherent x-ray sources are being developed with wavelengths of 1-1.5 a and source diameters of 50-80 μm, and the Be and Li CRL may be used to provide a small, intense image. For these coherent x-ray source parameters, the large apertures of Be and Li CRLs enable intensity gains of 10 5 to 10 6 .
Methotrexate (MTX) effect on pancreatic enzymes in leukemic mice.

We evaluated the effects of MTX on normal and leukemic mice (L-1210) in order to determine the effects of MTX on the pancreas in both leukemic and normal control mice. The mice were divided into two experiments according to their treatment schedule. The first group consisted of mice with L-1210 leukemia and normal controls treated with escalating doses of MTX or with placebo at 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, or 45 mg/kg. These mice were all arbitrarily sacrificed at 48 hr. The second group consisted of mice with L-1210 leukemia and normal controls treated with an arbitrary dose of MTX (20 mg/kg) or with placebo and sacrificed at spaced time intervals of 12, 24, 48, and 96 hr after MTX administration. Both L-1210 and normal nonleukemic mice were examined for histological changes in the pancreas as well as pancreatic zymogen enzyme levels. In general, the maximal effect on the pancreas occurred at a dose of 20 mg/kg of MTX and at 48 hr following MTX administration. Histologically, in the L-1210 leukemic mice, there was leukemic infiltration, diminished acini, and fatty changes in the pancreas; these findings were less pronounced following treatment with MTX compared to those treated with placebo. All pancreatic enzymes in untreated leukemic mice were significantly diminished (P<0.001) compared to normal mice. Amylase and lipase were decreased more than trypsin and chymotrypsin. The zymogen enzymes in MTX-treated normal mice responded in a hyperbolar fashion, falling to a nadir at 20 mg/kg of MTX. In contrast, in the MTX-treated leukemic mice, the zymogen enzymes increased significantly reaching a peak at 20 mg/kg of MTX and then falling off with increasing MTX doses.
Residual stress in pulsed dc microarc oxidation treated AZ31 alloy

This paper addresses the residual stress in the microarc oxidation (MAO) coating on AZ31 magnesium alloy. The MAO coating was deposited by pulsed direct current (dc) and examined by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction for its microstructure and composition. The porosity of the coatings was measured by potentiodynamic polarisation tests and found to be in the range of 3–6%. The residual stresses in the MAO coatings prepared at 300, 500, 1000 and 3000 Hz respectively were found to be between −860 and −1272 MPa. Using a high pulse frequency at 3000 Hz can produce a less porous and less stressed MAO coating, a desirable feature in the biomedical applications of MAO coated AZ31. This finding was further verified by establishing a first principle relation between the residual stress and the porosity via Stoney equation, which enables extrapolation of the experimental data measured.
Efficient Transmission of Graphics Using Polyomino Filtering at the Receiver

A simple new coding scheme has been developed which increases the transmission efficiency for graphics by a factor of 2, or what amounts to the same, can transmit two documents over the initial channel used to transmit a single picture, while preserving the subjective picture quality. Based on the exploration of polyominoes, the initial message is submitted to a well-defined information extraction process at the transmitter and a corresponding reconstruction manipulation for message display at the receiver.
Chromatographic resolution of soluble and particulate protein phosphatases from Dictyostelium discoideum

Abstract We have examined protein phosphatase activities that are present during the cellular differentiation of Dictyostelium. Utilizing differential centrifugation, ion exchange, gel filtration, and concanavalin A affinity chromatography we found a number of distinct protein phosphatase activities. Three peaks of soluble Kemptide phosphatase activity and a very broad and heterogeneous soluble histone phosphatase activity were resolved by anion exchange chromatography. Histone phosphatase was associated with the particulate fraction, while Kemptide phosphatase was not. The protein phosphatase activities were able to dephosphorylate sites that had been phosphorylated by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Therefore it is possible that their function in vivo may be to oppose the action of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. In addition several paranitrophenyl phosphate phosphatase activities are shown to be largely separable from the protein phosphatases. An apparent heat-stable inhibitor of histone phosphatase is shown to be artifactual in that instead of interacting with the enzyme it acts by complexing With histone.
Opening of the EPR bottleneck in amorphous Gd x Y 0 . 3 3 − x Al 0.67

The temperature dependence of the EPR linewidth and $g$ shift are measured in amorphous evaporated films of ${\mathrm{Gd}}_{x}{\mathrm{Y}}_{0.33\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Al}}_{0.67}$ with $0.0008lxl0.33$. Both the $g$ shift and the Korringa slope of the linewidth-versus-temperature curve increase with decreasing $x$ in a fashion which can be fitted to classic EPR bottleneck theory. This procedure yields the spin-lattice relaxation rate for the conduction electrons consisting of a "structural" term (1.3-6) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{11}$ Hz and a term proportional to Gd concentration of $1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{13}x$. The latter is within 50% of the value in the crystalline counterpart, but the former is larger by a factor of 3 to 15, showing for the first time (aside from studies on liquids) the effect of amorphous structure on this relaxation rate. Similarity of unbottlenecked $g$ factors and Korringa slopes of amorphous and crystalline materials suggest that the conduction band is not strongly affected by structure.
Outcomes of open distal aortic aneurysm repair in patients with chronic DeBakey type I dissection

Objectives In patients with acute DeBakey type I dissection, endovascular repair of the descending thoracic aorta during proximal aortic repair is an increasingly popular approach to preventing distal aortic sequelae and subsequent repair. To better define the risks and outcomes associated with these secondary operations, we examined our contemporary experience with open distal aortic repair in patients with chronic type I aortic dissection. Methods Data were collected between January 2005 and June 2013 regarding 198 consecutive open descending thoracic (n = 27) or thoracoabdominal (n = 171) aortic repairs performed in patients with chronic type I dissection. The median interval between the dissection onset and the subsequent distal operation was 5.0 years (interquartile range, 2.4-10.5 years). A total of 110 repairs (56%) were performed in patients with genetic disorders. Results There were 14 early deaths (7%). Permanent paraplegia developed in 2 patients (1%), 5 patients (3%) had permanent stroke, and 9 patients (5%) had permanent renal failure. Factors associated with early death included greater age ( P = .01), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( P = .01), clamping proximal to the left subclavian artery ( P = .004), and use of hypothermic circulatory arrest ( P = .002). The use of cold renal perfusion ( P Conclusions In survivors of DeBakey type I aortic dissection with distal aneurysm, open repair of the descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aorta can be performed with excellent early survival, acceptable morbidity, and relatively few late aortic events.
MotifCluster: an interactive online tool for clustering and visualizing sequences using shared motifs

MotifCluster finds related motifs in a set of sequences, and clusters the sequences into families using the motifs they contain. MotifCluster, at http://bmf.colorado.edu/motifcluster, lets users test whether proteins are related, cluster sequences by shared conserved motifs, and visualize motifs mapped onto trees, sequences and three-dimensional structures. We demonstrate MotifCluster's accuracy using gold-standard protein superfamilies; using recommended settings, families were assigned to the correct superfamilies with 0.17% false positive and no false negative assignments.
Response suppression to a distressed conspecific: Are laboratory rats altruistic?

Abstract Several studies provide evidence that laboratory rats respond to another rat in distress. Two experiments were conducted to determine why. Two general classes of motivation were considered: social and nonsocial. Social-motivation explanations suggest that rats respond because they are concerned about reducing the other rat's distress. This would seem to imply at least the rudiments of altruism. Nonsocial explanations suggest that the response to another rat's distress is not different from the response to one or more inanimate stimuli. Results of the two experiments provided evidence for two nonsocial explanations, sensitization and conditioning. They provided no clear evidence for either innate or acquired social concern. These results suggest that when laboratory rats help a distressed companion, it is not because of altruistic concern for the other; their concern is for themselves.
An illuminant-stable color vision test; experimental-statistical evaluation.

Previously the physical specifications and the psychophysical requirements were presented for six inks from which an illuminant-stable red-green color vision test could be constructed. The test of 17 polychromatic plates was prepared and administered to 100 color blind and 100 normal subjects under illuminants ranging from minus-blue to 14000°K. The present paper reports the results of the evaluation of the test in actual practice. Theoretical expectations have been realized in that the test is illuminant-stable, discriminatory between normals and deficients, properly varied in relative difficulty of individual plates for normals and for color blinds, yielding scores well distributed in terms of the probability function, and with a minimum of overlapping between normals and color blinds.
Time to re-think: ovarian tissue transplantation versus whole ovary transplantation

Abstract Transplantation of cryobanked ovarian tissue is a promising strategy to restore fertility in cancer patients. However, ischaemia following ovarian tissue grafting can lead to significant follicular loss. Transplantation of the whole ovary by vascular anastomosis has been considered as a method of preventing ischaemic damage that occurs with avascular transplantation of ovarian tissue. Even so, the unavailability of the cryotechnology for whole organs can be a major barrier to whole ovary transplantation. Severe cryoinjury will cause not only follicular death but also irreversible damage to the vascular system of the ovary. Damaged ovarian vasculatures can induce thromboembolism after transplantation which leads to severe tissue ischaemia and follicular loss. As a consequence, follicular loss after the frozen–thawed whole ovary was transplanted with microsurgical vascular anastomosis has been shown to be as severe as that which occurred after ovarian tissue was grafted. In addition, the risk of cancer cell reintroduction can be potentially higher with whole ovary transplantation with vascular anastomosis. The safety and efficacy of the new procedure should be proven before any further clinical applications take place. Nevertheless, research on whole ovary cryopreservation should not be discouraged.
Nucleobases and Ribose Bind to and Stabilize Aggregates of a Prebiotic Amphiphile

One scenario for the origin of life postulates that catalytic RNA can be synthesized and encapsulated in a membranous compartment to form primitive cells. Here we examine physical interactions between fatty acid aggregates, especially vesicles, and the bases and sugar composing RNA. Our goal is to employ an array of fundamental physical techniques to establish the plausibility of a scenario in which aggregates of amphiphiles preceded RNA and facilitated its synthesis by binding and concentrating the bases and sugars of which it is composed. We find that fatty acid membranes do indeed bind nucleobases and ribose more effectively than they bind several related bases and sugars. Moreover, we find that nucleobases and ribose also inhibit flocculation of fatty acids by salt, and do so more effectively than several other bases and sugars. This result is important because it addresses how prebiotic membranes could have been stabilized in early oceans with high salt concentrations. Taken together, our results yield mutually reinforcing mechanisms of adsorption, concentration and stabilization that could have driven the emergence of a population of stable vesicles enriched in the components of RNA.
Developing and integrating ProDAG in the Arcadia environment

ProDAG is an analysis toolset that provides an application programmatic interface for program dependence analysis. Program dependences are syntactic relationships between program statements. The ProDAG interface provides a uniform set of operations for creating and accessing several pre-defined dependence relations, which are represented as graphs, as well as a standard mechanism for developing new dependence graphs. ProDAG is one analysis toolset in Arcadia, ProDAG was developed in the Arcadia environment and has been integrated with the language processing, oject management, and process definition components of the Arcadia architecture, and further integration with the user interface development system and the measurement and evaluation components are underway. This paper describes the design, implementation and integration of proDAG within Arcadia.
Biliary Dyskinesia and Symptomatic Gallstone Disease in Children: Two Sides of the Same Coin?

Background Despite lack of consensus criteria, biliary dyskinesia (BD) is an increasingly accepted pediatric diagnosis.
Force frequency structure below 1 Hz in chronic stroke: paretic arm control.

Abstract This study investigated force variability and frequency structure below 1 Hz to determine whether coupled bilateral training and neuromuscular stimulation facilitated force control in paretic arms. Fifteen chronic stroke participants received 9 h of coupled bilateral movement training. Unilateral and bilateral force control tasks were administered before and after rehabilitation. Repeated measures ANOVAs were performed on the: (a) coefficient of variation and (b) absolute and relative power below 1 Hz in the paretic hand. Further, a multiple linear regression analysis determined the relationship between the coefficient of variation and frequency power. Three significant rehabilitation findings indicated: (a) reduced force variability across unilateral and bilateral force control conditions, (b) decreased absolute power in 0.09−0.41 Hz and 0.59−1.08 Hz whereas increased relative power in 0.59−1.08 Hz during unilateral force control, and (c) reduced absolute and relative power in 0.09−0.41 Hz that were associated with decreased variability during both unilateral and bilateral force control. Improved force variability in controlling unilateral paretic arms after training was attributed to less power below 0.41 Hz. Reorganization of the force frequency structure appears as a prominent component in force control improvements in paretic arms.
A “True” Time Series and its Indicators: An Alternative Approach

Abstract de Leeuw and McKelvey proposed a method for using two imperfect indicators to predict the values of an unobserved series. In this article we suggest an alternative method that uses the multiple indicator approach to model the true time series and its indicators. We examine the identification status of the model, estimate the parameters by maximum likelihood, and use the Kalman filter to obtain predictions of the unobserved series. The method is applied to the U.S. gross private saving rate using flow of funds and national income and product accounts data as indicators.
A yearlong comparison of plot‐scale and satellite footprint‐scale 19 and 37 GHz brightness of the Alaskan North Slope

[1] Subpixel heterogeneity remains a key issue in the estimation of land parameters using satellite passive microwave sensors; the scales of spatial variability on land are typically much smaller than sensor footprints (tens of km). Disaggregation is a necessary component of any successful assimilation or retrieval scheme attempting to exploit satellite passive microwave observations to estimate parameters at the local scale. This paper quantifies the similarity between ground-based brightness and satellite brightness observations at 19 and 37 GHz for Arctic tundra on the North Slope of Alaska, identifying and quantifying sources of the differences. To the extent that this very homogeneous area represents a limiting case, the impact of subpixel heterogeneity in less homogeneous areas may be gauged. The ground-based radiobrightness observations were collected during the Radiobrightness Energy Balance Experiment 3 (REBEX-3) conducted on the North Slope in 1994–1995. A comparison was made of 381 days of brightness observations from a tower-mounted Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) simulator representing the full range of annual conditions with coincident satellite SSM/I observations. Issues such as instrument stability, the effects of atmospheric radiative transfer, and consistency of satellite pixel locations are considered. Linear correlations between tower-based and SSM/I brightness observations of 0.93, 0.94, 0.93, and 0.92 were observed for the 19V, 19H, 37V, and 37H channels, respectively. Footprint sizes were 2 � 4 m for the tower-based observations and 43 � 69 km for the resampled SSM/I observations. Atmospheric, topographic, and time-ofobservation effects can account for the differences between the best fit lines and the 1:1 lines, with calibration errors accounting for the residual differences. INDEX TERMS: 1823 Hydrology: Frozen ground; 1863 Hydrology: Snow and ice (1827); 3360 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Remote sensing; 6969 Radio Science: Remote sensing; 9315 Information Related to Geographic Region: Arctic region; KEYWORDS: remote sensing, microwaves, radiometry, Arctic, tundra, land surface
Support and Air Supply Tube for Vitreous Surgery

• A metallic tube is attached to the operating table or wrist rest, acts as a support for the assistant's hand, and provides free air flow during vitreous surgery while the patient is under local anesthesia.
Infrared Analysis of Phenylchlorosilanes in the CsBr Region

The infrared spectra of seven phenylchlorosilanes have been measured from 2 to 30 microns The spectra of certain phenylchlorosilanes are very similar in the 2-15 micron wavelength region but show marked differences in the 15-30 micron range, where there are Si-Cl stretching and aromatic-ring deformation vibrations. Based on these differences, methods for the quantitative analysis of mixtures of phenylchlorosilanes have been developed using a double-beam, double-pass spectrometer equipped with a CsBr prism and a new, low-cost KBr spectrometer With double-beam compensation, low concentrations of phenyltrichlorosilane in diphenyldichlorosilane can be determined Techniques for the quantitative analysis of mixtures of phenyltrichlorosilane, diphenyldichlorosilane, and chlorobenzene are described. Because atmospheric water vapor absorbs strongly in the CsBr region, flushing the spectrometer with dry air or nitrogen improves the accuracy of absorbance measurements.
Preliminary studies of the secondary structure in solution of two phosphoproteins of chicken bone matrix by circular dichroism and fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy.

The secondary structures of two phosphoproteins from chicken bone matrix of Mr ≈15kDa and ≈28kDa, rich in Asx, Glx, and Ser, and containing Ser(P) and Thr(P) residues, have been investigated in solution by Circular Dichroism (CD) and Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). CD spectroscopy, which yields useful information on the backbone conformation of polypeptides and proteins, suggests a predominantly β-sheet structure for the two phosphoproteins. The FT-IR spectra of the ≈15kDa protein, which is sensitive to secondary structure and hence provides complimentary information to CD spectroscopy, are consistent with the results obtained by CD studies.
A Model for Promoting Self‐Regulated Learning

Self-regulated learning is defined as learning that is planned, assessed, and analyzed by the person doing the learning. The benefits of self-regulated learning are detailed in a review of the literature. A three-stage model for the instructional process that promotes self-regulated learning in adult learners is presented: (a) instructing learners about the thinking, feeling, and behaving patterns that enhance learning; (b) instructing learners about the processes for self-regulating their thinking, feeling, and behaving; and (c) assigning activities that involve learners in self-regulating their learning. Several examples of implementation of the model are provided.
Understanding Intrinsic Diversity in Web Search: Improving Whole-Session Relevance

Current research on Web search has focused on optimizing and evaluating single queries. However, a significant fraction of user queries are part of more complex tasks [Jones and Klinkner 2008] which span multiple queries across one or more search sessions [Liu and Belkin 2010; Kotov et al. 2011]. An ideal search engine would not only retrieve relevant results for a user's particular query but also be able to identify when the user is engaged in a more complex task and aid the user in completing that task [Morris et al. 2008; Agichtein et al. 2012]. Toward optimizing whole-session or task relevance, we characterize and address the problem of intrinsic diversity (ID) in retrieval [Radlinski et al. 2009], a type of complex task that requires multiple interactions with current search engines. Unlike existing work on extrinsic diversity [Carbonell and Goldstein 1998; Zhai et al. 2003; Chen and Karger 2006] that deals with ambiguity in intent across multiple users, ID queries often have little ambiguity in intent but seek content covering a variety of aspects on a shared theme. In such scenarios, the underlying needs are typically exploratory, comparative, or breadth-oriented in nature. We identify and address three key problems for ID retrieval: identifying authentic examples of ID tasks from post-hoc analysis of behavioral signals in search logs; learning to identify initiator queries that mark the start of an ID search task; and given an initiator query, predicting which content to prefetch and rank.
Tight bounds for minimax grid matching, with applications to the average case analysis of algorithms

The minimax grid matching problem is a fundamental combinatorial problem associated with the average case analysis of algorithms. The problem has arisen in a number of interesting and seemingly unrelated areas, including wafer-scale integration of systolic arrays, two-dimensional discrepancy problems, and testing pseudorandom number generators. However, the minimax grid matching problem is best known for its application to the maximum up-right matching problem. The maximum up-right matching problem was originally defined by Karp, Luby and Marchetti-Spaccamela in association with algorithms for 2-dimensional bin packing. More recently, the up-right matching problem has arisen in the average case analysis of on-line algorithms for 1-dimen-sional bin packing and dynamic allocation.
Ontogeny of the Ponzo Illusion: Effects of Age, Schooling, and Environment

Abstract Subjects were 384 Moroccan males (age range 6–22 yrs.), divided into 16 equal groups, according to the factorial design: age (4) x schooling (2) x environment (2). Subjects were tested on four Ponzo configurations (differing in contextual information) from Leibowitz eta/. (1969), the Ponzo perspective stimulus from Segall et al. (1966), the CEFT from Witkin et at. (1971), and a measure of pictorial depth perception. Individual measures of contact with mass-media and urban life were collected on each subject. Analyses indicated that all main factors of age, schooling, and environment played important, and differing, roles in inducing illusion susceptibility. Piaget's (1969) theory of primary and secondary illusions was found useful in understanding the results of the Ponzo configurations used in the study. Primary illusion configurations were found to be relatively insensitive to experiential variables, and illusion susceptibility decreased with chronological age. In contrast, secondary illusion c...
The "active" gatekeeper in collaborative information seeking activities

Multidisciplinary team members often must work together to find needed information. To identify when team members collaborate, why they collaborate, and how they collaborate during information seeking activities, we conducted a field study of a multidisciplinary patient care team. We found that the unit secretary, a non-clinical team member, had characteristics of various types of gatekeepers identified in previous studies. However, unlike those gatekeepers, the unit secretary also played a particularly active role during information seeking activities. Most medical information systems design focus on supporting collaboration amongst clinical staff. Our study highlights the importance of also supporting non-clinical team members.
Inhibition of simian immunodeficiency virus by foamy virus vectors expressing siRNAs

Viral vectors available for gene therapy are either inefficient or suffer from safety concerns for human applications. Foamy viruses are non-pathogenic retroviruses that offer several unique opportunities for gene transfer in various cell types from different species. In this report, we describe the use of simian foamy virus type 1 (SFV-1) vector to examine the efficacy of therapeutic genes. Hairpin short-interfering RNA (siRNA) that targets the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) rev/env was placed under the control of the PolIII U6 snRNA promoter for expression and screened for silencing target genes using cognate target-reporter fusions. We have identified an effective siRNA (designated R2) which reduces the rev and env gene expression by 89% and 95%, respectively. Using the simian foamy virus type 1 (SFV-1) based vector, we delivered the PolIII expressed R2 siRNA into cultured cells and challenged with SIV. The results show that the R2 siRNA is a potent inhibitor of SIV replication as determined by p27 expression and reverse transcriptase assays. Vectors based on a non-pathogenic SFV-1 vector may provide a safe and efficient alternative to currently available vectors, and the SIV model will help devise protocols for effective anti-HIV gene therapy.
A reciprocity theorem for the interaction of electromagnetic plane waves with a one-dimensional inhomogeneous slab

Directional independence of the transmission of electromagnetic waves through a one dimensional inhomogeneous plasma
Evidence in postmortem brain tissue for decreased numbers of hippocampal nicotinic receptors in schizophrenia.

This study tests the hypothesis that nicotinic cholinergic receptors, including those sensitive to the antagonist α-bungarotoxin, are decreased in the hippocampus of schizophrenics. The hypothesis is derived from the finding that α-bungarotoxin causes a defect in the inhibitory gating of auditory-evoked potentials in laboratory animals that resembles a defect in auditory sensory gating observed in schizophrenics. Nicotine transiently normalizes this psychophysiological deficit in schizophrenic patients. Postmortem brain tissue was obtained from eight schizophrenic and eight age-matched nonschizophrenic subjects. Sections of the hippocampus were labeled with [ 125 I]-α-bungarotoxin and imagined by autoradiography. Binding of the nicotinic agonist [ 3 H]-cytisine was determined in tissue homogenates. α-Bungarotoxin labeled a population of putative interneurons in the hippocampus, primarily in the dentate gyrus and the CA3 region of Ammon's horn. This labeling was significantly decreased in the tissue from the schizophrenic patients, with seven or eight patients below the range of the nonschizophrenic subjects. There was also a significant decrease in the binding of cytisine. The results were not related to generalized hippocampal cell loss, drug exposure at time of death, or smoking history. This initial study suggests that schizophrenic patients have fewer nicotinic receptors in the hippocampus, a condition which may lead to failure of cholinergic activation of inhibitory interneurons, manifest clinically as decreased gating of response to sensory stimulation.
Early Estrogen Replacement Therapy Reverses the Rapid Loss of Trabecular Bone Volume and Prevents Further Deterioration of Connectivity in the Rat

To evaluate the ability of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) to prevent changes in trabecular bone volume (BV/TV) and connectivity beginning either at ovariectomy (OVX) or 5-13 days after OVX in adult female rats, the right proximal tibial was examined by three-dimensional X-ray tomographic microscopy (XTM) in vivo. Animals had XTM scans of the right tibia and then were randomized into six groups (n = 9). Groups 2-6 had bilateral (OVX), while group 1 was sham-ovariectomized (OVXd) on day 0. Animals were treated with vehicle (groups 1 and 2) or 17beta-estradiol therapy (ERT) at 10 microg/kg three times per week starting at days 0, 5, 8, and 13 post-OVX (groups 3, 4, 5, and 6), until day 50 when they were rescanned by XTM and sacrificed. Trabecular bone structural variables were calculated from XTM data (BV/TVx and beta1/BV/TVx) and standard histomorphometry. Trabecular bone volume (BV/TVx) and the trabecular connections per cubic millimeter of trabecular bone (beta1/BV/TVx) were maintained in both sham-OVXd animals and OVX animals given ERT from the time of OVX. However, OVX + vehicle-treated animals lost 54% BV/TVx and 46% beta1/BV/TVx (p < 0. 01 from day 0). BV/TVx and beta1/BV/TVx decreased rapidly post-OVX to -22% and -25% at day 13 (p < 0.01 from day 0). ERT initiated at day 5, 8, and 13 post-OVX restored BV/TVx to baseline values at day 50 by modestly increasing trabecular plate thickness; however, beta1/BV/TVx was reduced in all OVX groups when compared with their baseline values. ERT also caused a significant reduction in bone turnover compared with OVX + vehicle; however, resorption was suppressed more than formation. These results demonstrate that ERT can restore the lost trabecular bone, but not trabecular connectivity, that occurs soon after OVX by allowing bone formation to continue in previously activated bone remodeling units while suppressing the production of new remodeling units. This may be the mechanism by which prompt intervention with estrogen and other antiresorptive agents can restore bone mass that has been lost from the increase in remodeling space, and thereby reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women.
β‐Catenin expression enhances generation of mature thymocytes

T cell factor (TCF)-1 is a T-cell-specific transcription factor that is expressed at all stages of T cell development. Deletion of the TCF-1 gene leads to an early block in thymocyte maturation precluding the study of its role at late stages and during positive selection of T cells. In this report we show that beta-catenin, a central effector in the Wnt-TCF-1 signaling pathway, regulates late stages of T cell development. Specifically, transgenic expression of beta-catenin enhances generation of mature thymocytes. Interestingly, CD8-expressing mature thymocytes were affected to a greater extent than CD4-expressing cells. These data suggest that the Wnt-beta-catenin-TCF-1 signaling pathway plays a role during late stages of T cell development.
The promise and peril of real-time corrections to political misperceptions

Computer scientists have responded to the high prevalence of inaccurate political information online by creating systems that identify and flag false claims. Warning users of inaccurate information as it is displayed has obvious appeal, but it also poses risk. Compared to post-exposure corrections, real-time corrections may cause users to be more resistant to factual information. This paper presents an experiment comparing the effects of real-time corrections to corrections that are presented after a short distractor task. Although real-time corrections are modestly more effective than delayed corrections overall, closer inspection reveals that this is only true among individuals predisposed to reject the false claim. In contrast, individuals whose attitudes are supported by the inaccurate information distrust the source more when corrections are presented in real time, yielding beliefs comparable to those never exposed to a correction. We find no evidence of real-time corrections encouraging counterargument. Strategies for reducing these biases are discussed.
A partial branch and bound design algorithm for reconfigurable networks

The joint topology, capacity and routing problem in a reconfigurable network is formulated as a nonlinear mixed integer programming problem. To solve this problem, an algorithm is presented which is a partial branch and bound algorithm. The reduced gradient method is used to solve the problem with the integrality constraints relaxed. In the computational experiments, the algorithm found good solutions and lower bounds in a few minutes of CPU time. In addition, the reduction in the minimal delay due to the reconfiguration capability can be as large as 66%. >
Role of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 (SGLT 2) Inhibitors in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes

Hyperglycemia plays an important role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus, i.e., glucotoxicity, and it also is the major risk factor for microvascular complications. Thus, effective glycemic control will not only reduce the incidence of microvascular complications but also correct some of the metabolic abnormalities that contribute to the progression of the disease. Achieving durable tight glycemic control is challenging because of progressive β-cell failure and is hampered by increased frequency of side effects, e.g., hypoglycemia and weight gain. Most recently, inhibitors of the renal sodium-glucose cotransporter have been developed to produce glucosuria and reduce the plasma glucose concentration. These oral antidiabetic agents have the potential to improve glycemic control while avoiding hypoglycemia, to correct the glucotoxicity, and to promote weight loss. In this review, we will summarize the available data concerning the mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety of this novel antidiabetic therapeutic approach.
Advances in Measuring Quality-of-Life Outcomes in Cancer Care

Objective To provide practical guidance for the selection and use of quality-of-life (QOL) instruments for research and clinical practice. Data Sources Published articles, books, and web resources. Conclusion Even among instruments designed specifically to measure QOIL, there are vast differences in what they actually measure. The choice of instrument can make the difference between whether real changes in QOL are captured or not. Implications for Nursing Practice QOL outcomes are ideal for determining the efficacy and impact of cancer care. Incorporating QOL into standard clinical practice holds great promise for improving communication with health care providers, with a resultant improvement in patient outcomes.
Angiotensin II Enhances Connecting Tubule Glomerular Feedback

Increasing Na delivery to epithelial Na channels (ENaCs) in the connecting tubule (CNT) causes dilation of the afferent arteriole (Af-Art), a process we call CNT glomerular feedback (CTGF). Angiotensin II (Ang II) stimulates ENaC in the collecting duct via Ang II type 1 receptors. We hypothesized that Ang II in the CNT lumen enhances CTGF by activation of Ang II type 1 receptors, protein kinase C and ENaC. Rabbit afferent arterioles and their adherent CNT were microperfused and preconstricted with norepinephrine. Each experiment involved generating 2 consecutive concentration-response curves by increasing NaCl in the CNT lumen. During the control period, the maximum dilation of the afferent arteriole was 7.9±0.4 μm, and the concentration of NaCl in the CNT needed to achieve half maximal response (EC(50)) was 34.7±5.2 mmol/L. After adding Ang II (10(-9) mol/L) to the CNT lumen, the maximal response was 9.5±0.7 μm and the EC(50) was 11.6±1.3 mmol/L (P=0.01 versus control). Losartan, an Ang II type 1 antagonist (10(-6) mol/L) blocked the stimulatory effect of Ang II; PD123319, an Ang II type 2 antagonist (10(-6) mol/L), did not. The protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine (10(-8) mol/L) added to the CNT inhibited the stimulatory effect of Ang II. The ENaC inhibitor benzamil (10(-6) mol/L) prevented both CTGF and its stimulation by Ang II. We concluded that Ang II in the CNT lumen enhances CTGF via activation of Ang II type 1 and that this effect requires activation of protein kinase C and ENaC. Potentiation of CTGF by Ang II could help preserve glomerular filtration rate in the presence of renal vasoconstriction.