cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heparin flushing and other interventions to maintain patency of central venous catheters: a systematic review

Title. Heparin flushing and other interventions to maintain patency of central venous catheters: a systematic review. Aim. This paper is a report of a review to assess clinical studies comparing the effectiveness of different means of maintaining central venous catheter patency. Background. Flushing with heparin is a routine part of central venous catheter maintenance, but it presents risks, including heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Other techniques used to prevent occlusion of catheters include saline flushes, heparin-bonded catheters and pressure caps. Data sources. A search was conducted using the MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane, National Guideline Clearinghouse and University Healthsystem Consortium databases. Methods. A systematic review of effectiveness was conducted, using GRADE criteria to assess the strength of evidence for each intervention. The review period covered 1982 or earlier to January 2008. Results. There is weak evidence that heparin flushing reduces occlusion of catheters, but no evidence that it reduces bloodstream infections. Results from clinical trials of pressure caps are inconsistent regarding their ability to maintain catheter patency, but provide moderate evidence that at least some varieties of caps are associated with increased bloodstream infections. Conclusion. The evidence base on heparin flushing and other interventions to prevent catheter occlusion is small, and published studies are of low quality. There is insufficient evidence on which to conclude that flushing catheters with heparin is more effective than flushing with saline solution.
Arginine-genotype interactions and immune status

The effects of arginine on selective immune responses were investigated in a high arginine-requiring (HA) and low arginine-requiring (LA) strain of chickens. Female chickens from these strains were fed diet containing a nutritionally inadequate level of arginine (0.53% arginine diet) or a surfeit level of arginine (1.53% arginine diet) for 2 weeks. Compared to LA chickens, HA chickens showed a higher feed efficiency, body weight gain, and relative thymus and spleen weights with L-arginine supplementation (p < 0.05). In both HA and LA chickens, a deficiency of arginine significantly decreased the delayed-type hypersensitivity response (p < 0.05) and nitric oxide (NO) production from macrophages. Chickens of the HA strain had higher NO production than those of LA strain with E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activation. This study indicates that dietary arginine concentration influences the immune status of chickens and that strains that differ in arginine requirements for growth may differ in their arginine needs for immune function.
Evolutionary Basis for the Coupled-domain Motions in Thermus thermophilus Leucyl-tRNA Synthetase

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases are multidomain proteins that catalyze the covalent attachment of amino acids to their cognate transfer RNA. Various domains of an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase perform their specific functions in a highly coordinated manner to maintain high accuracy in protein synthesis in cells. The coordination of their function, therefore, requires communication between domains. In this study we explored the relevance of enzyme motion in domain-domain communications. Specifically, we attempted to probe whether the communication between distantly located domains of a multidomain protein is accomplished through a coordinated movement of structural elements. We investigated the collective motion in Thermus thermophilus leucyl-tRNA synthetase by studying the low frequency normal modes. We identified the mode that best described the experimentally observed conformational changes of T. thermophilus leucyl-tRNA synthetase upon substrate binding and analyzed the correlated and anticorrelated motions between different domains. Furthermore, we used statistical coupling analysis to explore if the amino acid pairs and/or clusters whose motions are thermally coupled have also coevolved. Our study demonstrates that a small number of residues belong to the category whose coupled thermal motions correspond to evolutionary coupling as well. These residue clusters constitute a distinguished set of interacting networks that are sparsely distributed in the domain interface. Residues of these networking clusters are within van der Waals contact, and we suggest that they are critical in the propagation of long range mechanochemical motions in T. thermophilus leucyl-tRNA synthetase.
Mutations in demyelinating peripheral neuropathies support molecular model of myelin PO-glycoprotein extracellular domain

Homophilic interactions of the major integral membrane protein of peripheral nerve myelin, P0-glycoprotein, are thought to mediate membrane adhesion and compaction. Molecular modeling of its extracellular domain (P0-ED), based on its resemblance to an immunoglobulin variable domain and on X-ray diffraction measuements of inter-membrane spacings of myelin, has suggested which amino acid sidechains may be involved in the homophilic adhesion. Recently identified point-mutations in the human P0 gene result in amino acid substitutions in P0 protein and correlate with demyelinating motor and sensory neuropathies. The molecular model explains how these changes result in disrupted P0-P0 interactions; indicates how compensatory changes in amino acids, as occur in P0-ED of other species, preserve normal homophilic interactions; and predicts what other residue substitutions might underlie additional cases of demyelinating neuropathies. Copyright © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Holistic Electron Theory

A relativistic, non-quantum theory of electrons is constructed in which the electron is not considered to be composed of any type of distribution of charge. The electron's structurelessness is defined by several assumptions which, together with Maxwell's equations outside the electron, yield the general fields produced by such an arbitrarily movingholistic electron. Several equations of motion for the holistic electron are found to result from the formulation, the Lorentz-Dirac equation being among them. The formulation, by its very nature, avoids the problems of the electron self-energy and the need for normalization.
Management's role in U.S. rail passenger decline, 1920–1941

Abstract Opinions vary as to whether the decline of American railroad passenger service can be attributed primarily to consumer choice or partly to structural impedances to the supply. Results are reported from testing the hypothesis that railroad management supplied service inappropriate in the new motor era: that management catered to a small, high-priced market, whereas it should have catered to a mass, low-priced market. An aggregate demand model with non-linear elasticity characteristics is estimated on railroad traffic between a sample of American cities for 1933. The model is sensitive to speed, fare and headway variables under the control of railroad management and reveals that there was a unique fare for a service of a given speed that maximized gross revenues. The observed fare for most of the 187 cases in the study was near or below the optimal fare, showing that rail managers judged their markets well, at least in the short run.
Second constant of motion for two-dimensional positronium in a magnetic field

Recent numerical work indicates that the classical motion of positronium in a constant magnetic field does not exhibit chaotic behavior if the system is confined to two dimensions. One would therefore expect this system to possess a second constant of the motion in addition to the total energy. In this paper we construct a generalization of the Laplace-Runge-Lenz vector and show that a component of this vector is a constant of the motion.
A reversible gel for chiral separations.

The use of a guanosine gel as a chiral selector in capillary electrophoresis is introduced. Guanosine gels are reversible organized media that are formed through the self-association of guanosine compounds. Their degree of organization and their physicochemical properties can be modulated through variations in guanosine monomer concentration, pH, temperature, and cation content. Baseline resolution of the d and l enantiomers of propranolol was achieved using a reversible biogel formed by 5‘-guanosine monophosphate as the run buffer in capillary electrophoresis. Conditions were optimized to provide enantiomeric resolution of 2.1−2.3 in less than 5 min. The reversibility of the gel network offers potential advantages for chiral separations, including the possibility of using thermal or chemical dissociation of the gel network to remove the nucleoside monomers from the separated enantiomers, thereby eliminating the chiral selector as a source of physical contamination of the enantiomerically pure products an...
Voltages-length product for modal evolution-type digital switches

Voltage-length products for modal evolution-type digital switches are calculated by utilizing an analytic solution for normal-mode coupling in specifically shaped waveguide branches. The operating principles of the digital switch are demonstrated, and, for the shaped devices, interferencelike solutions with perfect crosstalk are shown to exist. Voltage-length products are compared to interferencelike-type devices and to experimental results with linear branches. >
Possible regulation of ornithine decarboxylase activity in the adrenal medulla of the rat by a cAMP-dependent mechanism.

Abstract Ornithine decarboxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis, may be controlled by a cAMP-dependent mechanism. This hypothesis was investigated in the adrenal medulla of the rat. Exposure of rats to cold (4°, 2 hr) leads to increased cholinergic nerve transmission and to a 10- to 20-fold increase in cAMP levels in the medulla within 30 min. The cAMP level returned to normal within 2 hr of the initiation of cold exposure. Ornithine decarboxylase activity was elevated within 1 hr of cold exposure and by 4 hr was increased 10- to 20-fold. We also studied the effects of various drugs which were agonists and antagonists of the cAMP response to cold exposure in the medulla. Aminophylline (200 μmoles/kg), an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase activity, caused a large, rapid increase in the cAMP level followed by an increase in ornithine decarboxylase activity similar to that after cold exposure. Injection of a cholinomimetic drug, carbamylcholine (4.1 μmoles/kg), caused a 10- to 15-fold increase in cAMP within 20 min and a 10-fold elevation in ornithine decarboxylase activity within 2.5 hr. Pretreatment of the rat with the nicotinic receptor antagonist, mecamylamine (15 μmoles/kg), greatly reduced the carbamylcholine-induced rise in both cAMP levels and ornithine decarboxylase activity. Mecamylamine administered alone did not alter either cAMP levels or ornithine decarboxylase activity. Administration of reserpine (16 μmoles/kg) also resulted in an early rise in cAMP concentration in the adrenal medulla and a concomitant increase of ornithine decarboxylase activity. Cyclic AMP has been postulated to exert its effect on cellular metabolism via the activation of a cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Varying doses of reserpine from 1.6 to 16 μmoles/kg yielded a 1:1 relationship between the degree of activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase(s) and the induction of ornithine decarboxylase. We feel that evidence from this and other laboratories supports the hypothesis that ornithine decarboxylase may be controlled by cAMP-dependent protein kinase(s).
Respiratory Support With Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation During Stenting of Tracheobronchomalacia

A subset of patients with severe airway disease cannot be adequately supported with conventional mechanical ventilation during complex airway procedures. We report the successful respiratory support of a patient with severe tracheobronchomalacia with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation during rigid bronchoscopy with stent removal and stent placement.
Mechanisms of INT (2-(4-iodophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-phenyl tetrazolium chloride), and CTC (5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl tetrazolium chloride) reduction in Escherichia coli K-12

Abstract The tetrazolium salts INT and CTC are frequently used as indicators of bacterial respiration. Mechanisms of tetrazolium reduction to formazan in eukaryotic cells have been proposed, however those in prokaryotes remain largely unresolved. We undertook studies to determine the sites, and degree of coupling for INT and CTC reduction in the aerobic Escherichia coli K-12 respiratory chain using both intact cells and inverted membrane vesicles. In addition, reduction in whole cells was assayed under anaerobic conditions which elicit different electron transport pathways. Results of experiments with inhibitors of specific electron transport components indicated that both CTC and INT were reduced prior to ubiquinone in the E. coli respiratory chain by the primary aerobic [succinate and NAD(P)H] dehydrogenases. INT was also reduced at ubiquinone and possibly cytochromes b555, 556. Quantitative CTC reduction was more closely correlated with respiration in whole cells than INT, but the reverse was true in inverted membrane vesicles. Both tetrazolium salts were reduced to significant degrees under anaerobic conditions, particularly glucose fermentation. Mid-point reduction potential of CTC was determined to be −200 mV by redox titration. However, it appears that CTC forms a weakly fluorescent, poorly-localized intracellular formazan at redox potentials higher than ca. −200 mV. Inhibition of the aerobic terminal oxidases with KCN or azide strongly increased INT-, but significantly decreased CTC reduction in whole cells, indicating that these agents may not be useful for optimizing CTC-formazan or CTC (+) cell numbers in some bacteria. However, several other chemical agents stimulated CTC and INT reduction. These results suggest strategies for optimizing methods using these tetrazolium salts for assessment of bacterial respiratory activity.
In situ measurement of root respiration and soluble C concentrations in the rhizosphere

Abstract Rhizosphere respiration can consume up to 30% of total net photosynthetic production, principally from root respiration and from rhizo-microbial respiration using plant-derived substrates. Rhizosphere respiration has rarely been studied in situ because of technical difficulties in partitioning respiration between roots and their rhizosphere associates. We report a procedure to simultaneously measure root respiration, rhizo-microbial respiration and soluble C concentration in the rhizospheres of intact plants. This procedure involves: (1) 14 CO 2 pulse-labelling and tracing of photosynthetically-fixed C released from the root-soil column as 14 CO 2 under three concentrations of [ 12 C]glucose added to the soil; and (2) calculation of root respiration, rhizo-microbial respiration and soluble C concentrations in the rhizosphere. In an experiment with 3-week old wheat plants, we found that root respiration and rhizo-microbial respiration contributed, on average, 40.6 and 59.4% of total rhizosphere respiration, respectively, and that the soluble C concentration in the rhizosphere averaged 667 mg C 1 −1 of soil water. This soluble C concentration was about 20–100 times higher than the previous estimates used in some rhizosphere models.
Enabling Future Robotic Missions with Multicore Processors

Recent commercial developments in multicore processors (e.g. Tilera, Clearspeed, HyperX) have provided an option for high performance embedded computing that rivals the performance attainable with FPGA-based reconfigurable computing architectures. Furthermore, these processors offer more straightforward and streamlined application development by allowing the use of conventional programming languages and software tools in lieu of hardware design languages such as VHDL and Verilog. With these advantages, multicore processors can significantly enhance the capabilities of future robotic space missions. This paper will discuss these benefits, along with onboard processing applications where multicore processing can offer advantages over existing or competing approaches. This paper will also discuss the key artchitecural features of current commercial multicore processors. In comparison to the current art, the features and advancements necessary for spaceflight multicore processors will be identified. These include power reduction, radiation hardening, inherent fault tolerance, and support for common spacecraft bus interfaces. Lastly, this paper will explore how multicore processors might evolve with advances in electronics technology and how avionics architectures might evolve once multicore processors are inserted into NASA robotic spacecraft.
An empirical analysis of the ideological barrier in community corrections

Abstract This article examines the ideological perspectives of individuals involved with the administration of community correctional programs for juveniles. The primary purpose of the research is to assess the degree to which staff members in these programs embrace the innovative theoretical and operational concepts of community corrections. In general, the data indicates a tendency to cling to traditional, individualistic approaches to delinquency prevention. Newer concepts regarding the social aspects of delinquency and the need for systems level change were not found to be instrumental. Proposals are drawn from the study with respect to overcoming the ideological barrier in community corrections.
MICROSTRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SINGLE CELL PROTEIN CURD

The microstructure and the physical and mechanical properties of yeast protein curds were investigated by using the scanning electron microscope and the Instron Universal Testing Machine, Model 1122. Heat treatment of the protein dispersion prior to precipitation did not remarkably influence the structure and water-holding capacity of the curds. Yeast protein curd precipitated with calcium had a micro-network structure which was not apparent in the isoelectric point precipitated curd. The calcium precipitated curd had a low value of hardness, high water-holding capacity, low value of adhesiveness and high cohesiveness compared to the isoelectric precipitated curd. The calcium precipitated curd also showed a strong structural potential which was revealed upon freezing. The freeze-thawing of the curd in general increased hardness and springiness but decreased the adhesiveness and cohesiveness. The physical, structural and mechanical properties of yeast protein curds were compared with those of soybean protein curds studied previously.
Quantitative Modeling for Incremental Software Process Control

A software development process modeling framework is constructed under the formalism of state modeling. The approach interconnects instances of a general development-activity model into a composite system. Simulation results are presented, and implications for control-theoretic decision support are briefly discussed.
Sulfinic acid derivatives as accelerators in the polymerization of methyl methacrylate

A study was made of the efficiency of amine salts of p-toluenesulfinic acid as accelerators in the polymerization of methyl methacrylate. These compounds are readily synthesized by addition of amine to the ether solution of the sulfinic acid. Most of the salts are stable in air. Salts of secondary and tertiary aromatic amines, such as the methylaniline or dimethyl-p- toluidine salts, are very efficient accelerators in the benzoyl peroxide-initiated polymerization. However, colored products are formed. Aliphatic amine salts as well as the free acid give colorless polymers, but the setting time is increased considerably. Heterocyclic amines show reduced activity as polymerization accelerators. The setting times of monomer–polymer mixtures containing some of these accelerators have been determined. Physical properties of the polymers have been evaluated by measuring their resistance to indentation and recovery.
Care Worker Migration and Transnational Justice

Here I consider the migration of health workers and propose a conception of transnational justice that can best address the concerns it raises, including the perpetuation of global health inequities. My focus will be on nurses and direct care workers (DCWs), also called paraprofessionals—the vast majority of whom are women—coming from the global South to the United States. In the first part of the paper I will identify the factors behind this flow of what I will hereafter call ‘care workers’. From there, I will describe a conception of transnational justice that seems especially promising and explore selected policy options. Finally, I will conclude by offering specific prescriptions for action on the part of a wide range of agents, including institutions as well as individuals.
Adaptation to trichodermin and anisomycin in Physarum polycephalum

The effects of the protein synthesis inhibitors trichodermin and anisomycin on the growth of the eucaryotic myxomycete Physarum polycephalum have been examined. When either of these drugs is added to log phase monoxenic cultures of myxamoebae, cell division is immediately arrested, but on continued incubation, growth resumes at a rate only slightly lower than that of drug free cultures. The length of the drug induced growth lag is roughly proportional to drug concentration. When adapted cells are transferred to fresh drug containing medium, growth is not inhibited. However, if the drug concentration is increased, transient inhibition is again exhibited. Measurement of the antibiotic concentration in used media demonstrates no significant external inactivation of either drug during adaptation. The resumption of growth cannot be attributed to the selection of stable drug-resistant mutants: single amoebal colonies arising on drug plates are found to be as drug-sensitive as control colonies when retested after subculture. In addition, when adapted cells are transferred to drug free medium, the phenotypic drug-resistance is completely lost after several generations of growth. As recovery occurs in the continuous presence of drug and is not due to the accumulation of drug-resistant mutants, this response appears to be an example of drug adaptation. Cross adaptation between anisomycin and trichodermin is also demonstrated, suggesting a common system is involved in adaptation to these structurally dissimilar, but functionally similar, drugs.
Seismicity in a model governed by competing frictional weakening and healing mechanisms

SUMMARY Observations from laboratory, field and numerical work spanning a wide range of space and time scales suggest a strain dependent progressive evolution of material properties that control the stability of earthquake faults. The associated weakening mechanisms are counterbalanced by a variety of restrengthening mechanisms. The efficiency of the healing processes depends on local material properties and on rheologic, temperature, and hydraulic conditions. We investigate the relative effects of these competing non-linear feedbacks on seismogenesis in the context of evolving frictional properties, using a mechanical earthquake model that is governed by slip weakening friction. Weakening and strengthening mechanisms are parametrized by the evolution of the frictional control variable—the slip weakening rate R—using empirical relationships obtained from laboratory experiments. In our model, weakening depends on the slip of an earthquake and tends to increase R, following the behaviour of real and simulated frictional interfaces. Healing causes R to decrease and depends on the time passed since the last slip. Results from models with these competing feedbacks are compared with simulations using non-evolving friction. Compared to fixed R conditions, evolving properties result in a significantly increased variability in the system dynamics. We find that for a given set of weakening parameters the resulting seismicity patterns are sensitive to details of the restrengthening process, such as the healing rate b and a lower cutoff time, t c, up to which no significant change in the friction parameter is observed. For relatively large and small cutoff times, the statistics are typical of fixed large and small R values, respectively. However, a wide range of intermediate values leads to significant fluctuations in the internal energy levels. The frequency-size statistics of earthquake occurrence show corresponding non-stationary characteristics on time scales over which negligible fluctuations are observed in the fixed-R case. The progressive evolution implies that—except for extreme weakening and healing rates—faults and fault networks possibly are not well characterized by steady states on typical catalogue time scales, thus highlighting the essential role of memory and history dependence in seismogenesis. The results suggest that an extrapolation to future seismicity occurrence based on temporally limited data may be misleading due to variability in seismicity patterns associated with competing mechanisms that affect fault stability.
Finding Probabilities from Observed Rates or How to Make a Life Table

Tables for Biological, Agricultural and Medical Research. Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, Ltd. (6th edition, idern, 1963; and Hafner Publishing Company, New York, 1964). MAURICE FRECHET. 1968. Pierre Simon de Laplace. International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, Vol. 9, 23-27. New York: The Macmillan Company & The Free Press. KIYOSI ITO and HENRY P. McKEAN, Jr. 1965. Diffusion Processes and Their Sample Paths. Berlin and Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag. (New York: Academic Press, Inc., 1965) CHARLES JORDAN. 1939. Calculus of Finite Differences. Introduction by Harry C. Carver. Budapest: Printed by R6ttig and Romwalter, Sopron, Hungary. (2nd edition, Chelsea Publishing Company, New York, 1947.) MAURICE G. KENDALL and ALISON G. DOIG. 1968. Bibliography of Statistical Literature, Pre-1940. With supplemeints to the Volumes for 1940-49 and 1950-58. Edinburgh and London: Oliver & Boyd, Ltd. KARL PEARSON (editor). 1931. Tables for Statisticians and Biometricians, Part 2. Cambridge: University Press, for the Biometrika Trustees.
The Impact of Breast Cancer Knowledge and Attitudes on Screening and Early Detection Among an Immigrant Iranian Population in Southern California

Few studies explored factors influencing breast cancer screening and early detection behaviors among immigrant Iranian women residing in the USA. Using a cross-sectional survey, a convenience sample of 319 Iranian American women was selected to investigate the impact of breast cancer knowledge and attitude on screening. A self-administered questionnaire assessed breast cancer screening knowledge, attitude, and mammography use (ever, previous year, and future intention). 79 % of the women in the study reported ever receiving at least one mammogram and 74 % received a mammogram in the past year. Personal attitude had an independent significant effect on: mammography use in the last year, ever use of mammography, and future intention to screen. Knowledge and morality-induced attitude influenced screening behavior but not significantly. Interventions targeting breast cancer screening among immigrant Iranian women in the USA should focus on enhancing personal attitudes in order to influence actual screening behavior.
Differential localization of nuclear-encoded tRNAs between the cytosol and mitochondrion in Leishmania tarentolae.

All mitochondrial tRNAs of the kinetoplastid protozoan Leishmania tarentolae are encoded in the nucleus and are imported from the cytosol into the mitochondrion. We previously reported the partitioning of five tRNAs and found that all were shared between the two compartments to different extents. To increase our knowledge of the tRNAs of this organism, and to attempt to understand the signals involved in their subcellular localization, a method to RT-PCR amplify new tRNAs was developed. Various tRNAs were 39 polyadenylated and reverse transcribed with a sequencetagged primer. The cDNA was tagged by ligation to an anchor oligonucleotide, and the resulting double-tagged cDNA was amplified by PCR. Four new tRNAs were obtained, bringing to 20 the total number of L. tarentolae tRNAs identified to date. The subcellular localization of 17 tRNAs was quantitatively analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and northern hybridization. In general, the previously suggested operational classification of tRNAs into three groups (mainly cytosolic, mainly mitochondrial, and shared between the two compartments) is still valid, but the relative abundance of each tRNA in the cytosol or mitochondrion varied greatly as did the level of expression.
A study of beaconing mechanism for vehicle-to-infrastructure communications

In this paper we study the use of a beaconing mechanism for vehicle-to-infrastructure communication and information exchange in intelligent transportation systems. We provide analytical expressions for the probability of successful connection between roadside infrastructure and passing vehicles showing the dependence on the beacon frequency and distribution of the vehicle speed, as well as on the amount of information to be exchanged between vehicle and roadside infrastructure and the data rate of the wireless link established between the vehicle and roadside infrastructure. The performance of the beaconing mechanism is illustrated for specific scenarios which show that it can be used successfully used in conjunction with wireless systems using the Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) standard as well as other types of systems.
New insights into systemic amyloidosis: the importance of diagnosis of specific type.

Purpose of review This review aims to summarize recent developments in the area of systemic amyloidoses with emphasis on pathologic diagnosis. Recent findings In recent years, management of amyloidosis has shifted from a purely supportive approach to quite diverse, radical and aggressive treatments. The central issue is the understanding that treatment of systemic amyloidoses depends on the molecular type of the amyloid protein. In the United States and the Western world, AL-amyloidosis is the most prevalent type of systemic amyloidosis, but hereditary amyloidoses are being diagnosed with increasing frequency; genetics also plays a role in a subset of familial AA amyloidoses. The biggest challenge is in the diagnosis of AL-type with confidence and in differentiation of AL and hereditary amyloidoses. While careful clinico-pathologic correlation is recommended for all patients with amyloidosis, it is, in itself, not a substitute for amyloid typing. Summary The diagnosis of the amyloid type ultimately depends on the examination of the amyloid protein within the deposits. The role of immunohistochemistry ‐ the current standard of care in amyloid typing ‐ is evolving with emergence of alternative biochemical methods. Amyloid, being essentially a protein disorder, presents an attractive venue for the application of proteomics methodologies, despite their inherent complexities.
Effects of age, genes, and pulse pressure on executive functions in healthy adults.

Executive functions (EF) evidence significant age-related declines, but the mechanisms underpinning those changes are unclear. In this study, we focus on two potential sources of variation: a physiological indicator of vascular health, and genetic variants related to vascular functions. In a sample of healthy adults (n = 158, ages 18–81), we examine the effects of age, pulse pressure, and two polymorphisms (comt val158met and ace insertion/deletion) on working memory and cognitive flexibility. Results indicate that in addition to often-replicated age differences, the alleles of two polymorphisms that promote vasoconstriction (comt val and ace D) and reduced availability of dopamine in neocortical synapses (comt val), negatively impact virtually all aspects of EF tasks that involve working memory. In some cases, suppression of cognitive performance is limited to men or necessitates a combination of both risk-associated alleles. After accounting for genetic and age-related variation, pulse pressure had no additional effect on EF. These findings suggest that in healthy adults, the effects of genetic risk factors significantly modulate the course of cognitive aging.
Postmastectomy radiotherapy: future directions.

With careful interpretation of existing studies of post-mastectomy radiotherapy, much has been learned about the ability of radiotherapy to significantly reduce local failure and potentially impact on survival. With this knowledge, however, has come additional questions about the mechanisms by which radiotherapy could affect systemic control and the extent of that benefit. Therefore, these questions need to be investigated in well-designed, randomized trials that incorporate aggressive surgical techniques and contemporary chemotherapy regimens into the clinical plan. A trial that is currently in progress should give additional insight into whether regional irradiation in the modern era, which incorporates the internal mammary nodes in the radio-therapy field, impacts systemic control. An upcoming trial will investigate whether women at moderate risk for locoregional failure will benefit from comprehensive radiotherapy after aggressive surgery and chemotherapy. And, although no national studies are currently planned to test the optimal sequencing of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, consideration should be given to studying this issue in large, randomized trials.
Coupled Sea Ice–Ocean-State Estimation in the Labrador Sea and Baffin Bay

Sea ice variability in the Labrador Sea is of climatic interest because of its relationship to deep convection, mode-water formation, and the North Atlantic atmospheric circulation. Historically, quantifying the relationship between sea ice and ocean variability has been difficultbecause ofin situ observation paucity and technical challenges associated with synthesizing observations with numerical models. Here the relationship between ice and ocean variability is explored by analyzing new estimates of the ocean‐ice state in the northwest North Atlantic. The estimates are syntheses of in situ and satellite hydrographic and ice data with a regional 1/38 coupled ocean‐sea ice model. The synthesis of sea ice data is achieved with an improved adjoint of a thermodynamicicemodel.Modelanddataaremadeconsistent, inaleastsquaressense,byiterativelyadjustingcontrol variables, including ocean initial and lateral boundary conditions and the atmospheric state, to minimize an uncertainty-weighted model‐data misfit cost function. The utility of the state estimate is demonstrated in an analysis of energy and buoyancy budgets in the marginal ice zone (MIZ). In mid-March the system achieves a state of quasi-equilibrium during which net ice growth and melt approaches zero; newly formed ice diverges from coastal areas and converges via wind and ocean forcing in the MIZ. The convergence of ice mass in the MIZ is ablated primarily by turbulent ocean‐ice enthalpy fluxes. The primary source of the enthalpy required for sustained MIZ ice ablation is the sensible heat reservoir of the subtropical-origin subsurface waters.
The sulfolipids 2'-O-acyl-sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol and sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol are absent from a Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutant deleted in SQD1.

The biosynthesis of thylakoid lipids in eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms often involves enzymes in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the chloroplast envelopes. Two pathways of thylakoid lipid biosynthesis, the ER and the plastid pathways, are present in parallel in many species, including Arabidopsis, but in other plants, e.g. grasses, only the ER pathway is active. The unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii diverges from plants like Arabidopsis in a different way because its membranes do not contain phosphatidylcholine, and most thylakoid lipids are derived from the plastid pathway. Here, we describe an acylated derivative of sulfolipid, 2′-O-acyl-sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (ASQD), which is present in C. reinhardtii. Although the fatty acids of sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG) were mostly saturated, ASQD molecular species carried predominantly unsaturated fatty acids. Moreover, directly attached to the head group of ASQD was preferentially an 18-carbon fatty acid with four double bonds. High-throughput robotic screening led to the isolation of a plasmid disruption mutant of C. reinhardtii, designated Δsqd1, which lacks ASQD as well as SQDG. In this mutant, the SQD1 ortholog was completely deleted and replaced by plasmid sequences. It is proposed that ASQD arises from the sugar nucleotide pathway of sulfolipid biosynthesis by acylation of the 2′-hydroxyl of the sulfoquinovosyl head group. At the physiological level, the mutant showed increased sensitivity to a diuron herbicide and reduced growth under phosphate limitation, suggesting a role for SQDG and/or ASQD in photosynthesis as conducted by C. reinhardtii, particularly under phosphate-limited conditions.
Failure in Composite Angle Structures Part II: Onset of Delamination

Fracture mechanics was employed to investigate delamination cracks induced by trans verse matrix cracks in composite angle structures. Critical strain energy release rates were obtained which compare quite reasonably with existing data. Adhesive films were also used to toughen the delamination-prone interfaces in the curved region. Experimental results indicated that the use of adhesive films could improve the load-carrying capacity of composite angle structures.
DC-DC CONVERTER RELIABILITY: DESIGN, COMPONENTS AND QUALIFICATION

This paper provides a comprehensive study on reliability issues related to DC-DC converter design. First of all, some common reliability issues and DC-DC converter design topologies are discussed. Then, a reliability sensitivity study results on an industry standard VRM is presented using a prediction-based design-for-reliability and sensitivity analysis tool created by the author and colleagues at HP. The thermal design issues and component derating in the converter design are discussed. Since electronic component reliability has been a bottleneck in DC-DC converter reliability, the component reliability issues are discussed and some reliability application guidelines are also provided for the DC-DC converters reliability design. In the last part of the paper, an integrated reliability testing, qualification, and quality control procedure is presented using highly accelerated testing methodology. The use of this procedure by HP on DC-DC converter reliability and quality control has shown promising results.
Nonlinear Robust Hybrid Control of Robotic Manipulators

In this paper one proposes a new nonlinear robust hybrid control scheme for robot motion control. The control input consists of a nonlinear and a linear part. This nonlinear robust hybrid control scheme is applied to a two-joint SCARA type robot, and simulation results demonstrates excellent robustness properties and satisfactory hybrid control under severe modeling errors
Demographic analysis of sperm whales using matrix population models

a b s t r a c t The focus of this study is to investigate the demographic and sensitivity/elasticity analysis of the endan- gered sperm whale population. First, a matrix population model corresponding to a general sperm whale life cycle is presented. The values of the parameters in the model are then estimated. The population's asymptotic growth rate � , life expectancy and net reproduction number are calculated. Extinction time probability distribution is also studied. The results show that the sperm whale population grows slowly and is potentially very fragile. The asymptotic growth rate is most sensitive to the survivorship rates, especially to survivorship rate of mature females, and less so to maturity rates. Our results also indicate that these survivorship rates are very delicate, and a slight decrease could result in an asymptotic growth rate below one, i.e., a declining population, leading to extinction.
Variability of wind conditions in citrus groves compared with those recorded outside

Wind velocity and direction, which are normally reported at certain time intervals, fluctuate substantially within a short time frame. These fluctuations may have a significant effect on spray deposition of air-assisted sprayers used in citrus production. Wind measurements are usually made inside or outside a grove at about 10 m height but the latter may not accurately represent the wind conditions within the grove. The objective of this study was to compare data recorded by the Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN) outside the grove at 10.0 m above the ground with the measurements made within a citrus grove at different heights. Within the grove, wind velocity and direction data were collected at 10.0, 3.6, 3.0, 2.4, 1.8, 1.2, and 0.6 m above the ground at 1-s interval. For the same period, FAWN data were available at a minimum of 15-min interval. Results of the 10-m height measurements showed good correlation between wind conditions recorded outside grove and those collected within the grove (r = 0.69 and 0.94 for wind velocity and direction, respectively). However, average wind velocity and direction at both sites were significantly different (p = 0.05). Within the grove, wind velocities of 1.5 m/s or less, recorded at 10 m height, showed almost zero wind velocity at lower heights. Within the grove, maximum wind velocities recorded at 3.6 - 0.6 m amounted to only 59% - 20% of wind velocity recorded at 10 m, respectively. Averaging wind velocity over 15-min interval reduced the wind variability of 1-s interval by 90%. For field characteristics similar to those described in this study, wind conditions recorded at 10 m height outside grove cannot reliably represent wind conditions inside grove, particularly within the canopy height.
Distribution of cephalopod paralarvae across the Florida Current front in the Florida Keys: preliminary results

In this communication I present the preli­minary results of a study which will quantita­tively describe the paralarval cephalopod as­ semblages across the FC front off the Florida Keys utilizing multivariate data. Results of this work will help determine the ecological significance of the Florida Current front to pa­ralarval cephalopods.
Commentary: Observations and Concerns on the Bigendering of Our Forensic Fields

The study by Neal et al. of mock jurors in the penalty phase of a homicide case led me to observations on gender changes over the past few decades in the professions of law and forensic psychiatry and psychology. From an earlier paucity of women in these professions, today their percentages have greatly increased. Yet, as in this study, there are differences that work to the advantage of men in how the genders are perceived as expert witnesses. Suggestions for addressing gender discrepancy are offered, along with a cautionary note, such as in the area of experts in cases involving abortion.
Thumb CMC Arthroscopic Electrothermal Stabilization (Without Trapeziectomy)

Instability of the thumb CMC joint is thought to lead to degenerative changes within the joint. Many treatments have been described for the already degenerative joint, but few have focused on treatment of laxity of the joint. Previously, treatment of thumb CMC laxity was limited to invasive open stabilization procedures. Recent advances in small joint arthroscopy and thermal stabilization have made it possible to treat this clinical problem in a minimally invasive fashion. Symptoms of thumb CMC joint instability include pain especially with stress. Dynamic examination with fluoroscopy can aid in the diagnosis. Initial management should consist of conservative treatment with splinting and injections, but failure of nonoperative management should lead to consideration for surgery. Electrothermal stabilization has been used with success in the hand and wrist by affecting heat labile intramolecular bonds in collagen. Standard 1R and 1U portals can be used to allow treatment of the ligaments that comprise the thumb CMC joint. Further stabilization can be provided with a pin or a “tightrope” type implant. After a period of immobilization, early motion and strengthening is started and patients are generally able to resume normal activities with reduced pain due to the increased stability of the thumb CMC joint. Whether the progression of degenerative changes is slowed or halted has yet to be fully determined, but symptomatic relief can be expected with this type of treatment.
Toward automating affordance-based design

The objective of this research is to develop a computational representation of knowledge associated with affordance-based design (ABD). The ABD ontology formalizes the entities, properties, and relationships within the domains of ABD. The ontology enables designers to describe the affordances of existing products and specify the intended affordances of future products in line with ABD. The ontology consists of 14 concepts and 5 relationships. The ontology is developed using Protege 4.3 and DL-query to query and reason with the ontology. The ontology is demonstrated using a consumer vacuum cleaner. The formal ontology serves as the basis for developing computer support for ABD applications. When implemented, these design tools will help designers manage the affordances of artifacts being designed, specifying the interacting entities of every affordance when a three-dimensional model of the artifact is available. Further, these software tools could be used to support ABD methods.
Use of corn height measured with an acoustic sensor improves yield estimation with ground based active optical sensors

An acoustic height sensor could be used with the INSEY value to improve corn in-season N management.The height sensor was especially useful at earlier and later growth stages depending on the site.Normalizing height aided the relationships with active optical sensor INSEY when combining sites. Corn height measured manually has shown promising results in improving the relationship between active-optical (AO) sensor readings and crop yield. Manual measurement of corn height is not practical in US commercial corn production, so an alternative automatic method must be found in order to capture the benefit of including canopy height into in-season yield estimates and from there into in-season nitrogen (N) fertilizer applications. One existing alternative to measure canopy height is an acoustic height sensor. A commercial acoustic height sensor was utilized in these experiments at two corn growth stages (V6 and V12) along with AO sensors. Eight corn N rate sites in North Dakota, USA, were used to compare the acoustic height sensor as a practical alternative to manual height measurements as an additional parameter to increase the relationship between AO sensor readings and corn yield. Six N treatments, 0, 45, 90, 134, 179, and 224kgha-1, were applied before planting in a randomized complete block experimental design with four replications. Height measurement using the acoustic sensor provided an improved yield relationship compared to manual height at all locations. The level of improvement of the relationship between AO readings multiplied by acoustic sensor readings and yield was greater at V6 growth stage compared to the V12 growth stage. At V12, corn height measured manually and with the acoustic sensor multiplied by AO readings provided similar improvement to the relationship with yield compared to relating AO readings alone with yield at most locations. The acoustic height sensor may be useful in increasing the usefulness of AO sensor corn yield prediction algorithms for use in on-the-go in-season N application to corn particularly if the sensor height is normalized within site before combining multiple locations.