cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relation of smoking with carotid artery wall thickness and stenosis in older adults. The Cardiovascular Health Study. The Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) Collaborative Research Group.

BACKGROUNDCigarette smoking has been associated with increased risk of atherosclerotic diseases in hospital-based studies and in studies of middle-aged populations but not in population-based studies of older adults with and without clinical cardiovascular disease.METHODS AND RESULTSWe investigated the relation of smoking to carotid artery atherosclerotic disease, expressed as intimal-medial wall thickness and arterial lumen narrowing (stenosis) measured by ultrasound. Subjects were 5116 older adults participating in the baseline examination of the Cardiovascular Health Study, a community-based study of cardiovascular diseases in older age. With increased smoking there was significantly greater internal and common carotid wall thickening and internal carotid stenosis: current smokers > former smokers > never-smokers; for instance, the unadjusted percent stenosis was 24%, 20%, and 16%, respectively (P < .0001). A significant dose-response relation was seen with pack-years of smoking. These findings persist...
Effect of Dislocations on the Minority Carrier Lifetime in Semiconductors

The density of random dislocations in germanium and silicon crystals has been measured by means of x-ray rocking curves and by etch pit counting. Data obtained by the two methods are in good agreement, and dislocation densities in the range ${10}^{4}$-${10}^{7}$/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ were found. The minority carrier lifetime was shown to vary with the dislocation density, and the results could be expressed in terms of a recombination efficiency per unit length of dislocation line, ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{R}=\frac{1}{{N}_{D\ensuremath{\tau}}}$ (where ${N}_{D}=\mathrm{dislocation}\mathrm{density}$, $\ensuremath{\tau}=\mathrm{lifetime}$). ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{R}$ was found to decrease with increasing resistivity of germanium and was higher for silicon than for germanium of comparable purity.
The experimental Alzheimer drug phenserine: preclinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Phenserine, a phenylcarbamate of physostigmine, is a new potent and highly selective acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, with a > 50-fold activity versus butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), in clinical trials for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Compared to physostigmine and tacrine, it is less toxic and robustly enhances cognition in animal models. To determine the time-dependent effects of phenserine on cholinergic function, AChE activity, brain and plasma drug levels and brain extracellular acetylcholine (ACh) concentrations were measured in rats before and after phenserine administration. Additionally, its maximum tolerated dose, compared to physostigmine and tacrine, was determined. Following i.v. dosing, brain drug levels were 10-fold higher than those achieved in plasma, peaked within 5 min and rapidly declined with half-lives of 8.5 and 12.6 min, respectively. In contrast, a high (> 70%) and long-lasting inhibition of AChE was achieved (half-life > 8.25 h). A comparison between the time-dependent plasma AChE inhibition achieved after similar oral and i.v. doses provided an estimate of oral bioavailability of 100%. Striatal, in vivo microdialysis in conscious, freely-moving phenserine-treated rats demonstrated > 3-fold rise in brain ACh levels. Phenserine thus is rapidly absorbed and cleared from the body, but produces a long-lasting stimulation of brain cholinergic function at well tolerated doses and hence has superior properties as a drug candidate for AD. It selectively inhibits AChE, minimizing potential BChE side effects. Its long duration of action, coupled with its short pharmacokinetic half-life, reduces dosing frequency, decreases body drug exposure and minimizes the dependence of drug action on the individual variations of drug metabolism commonly found in the elderly.
The disjunction effect reexamined: Relevant methodological issues and the fallacy of unspecified percentage comparisons

Abstract Leonard J. Savage’s sure-thing principle (1954) is a key assumption of the consequentialist conception of decision making under uncertainty, which more-or-less assumes that decision makers are rational and thorough. The sure-thing principle states that if some option x is preferred given some other event A occurs, and if option x is preferred given this event A does not occur, then x should be preferred even when the outcome of A is unknown. Tversky and Shafir [Tversky, A., & Shafir, E. (1992). The disjunction effect in choice under uncertainty. Psychological Science, 3(5) 305–309] claim that this basic principle is frequently violated in two-step gambles. They call such violations disjunction effects. Kuhberber, Komunska, and Perner [Kuhberber, A., Komunska, D., & Perner, J. (2001). The disjunction effect: does it exist for two step gambles? Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 85(2) 250–264] attempted to replicate Tversky and Shafir’s findings and claim their results show that people do not violate the sure-thing principle in repeated gambles. This article evaluates Kuhberger, Komunska, and Perner’s claims, suggesting they did not appropriately analyze their results, and further provides evidence that people do regularly violate the sure-thing principle in two-step gambles, providing further evidence for the reality of disjunction effects.
The triggering signal dictates the effect of docosahexaenoic acid on lymphocyte function in vitro.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an n-3 fatty acid beneficial to several human conditions including inflammation and autoimmune disease. To better understand the effect of DHA on immunity, we monitored the rise in cytosolic free calcium, interleukin 2 receptor (IL2R) expression, and proliferation of splenic lymphocytes triggered with three different stimuli in the presence or absence of DHA. We found that 10 μg DHA/mL suppressed concanavalin A-induced mitogenesis and the mixed lymphocyte reaction while concurrently enhancing proliferation stimulated with anti-Thy-1 antibodies. Proliferation, as measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation after 2 to 5 d of culture, was affected by DHA, but earlier activation effects such as elevation of cytosolic free calcium and IL2R expression were not altered. These results imply that DHA incorporated into membrane phospholipids differentially affects the activity of distinct membrane-bound receptors and signaling molecules. This result suggests that DHA may be used to modulate immune responses selectively, e.g., to suppress, undesired autoimmunity while maintaining protective immunity.
Centrally-administered oxytocin promotes preference for familiar objects at a short delay in ovariectomized female rats.

Abstract Oxytocin has been previously associated with social attachment behaviors in various species, however, most studies focused on partner preference in the socially-monogamous prairie vole. In these, oxytocin treatment was shown to promote partner preference, such that females receiving either central or pulsatile peripheral administration would spend more time with a familiar male. This behavioral outcome was blocked by oxytocin receptor antagonist treatment. The aim of the current study was to further explore the preference-inducing properties of oxytocin by examining its effects on object preference on ovariectomized female rats. In other words, we assessed whether these effects would apply to objects and if they would be persistent across species. Eight rats were infused with oxytocin into the left ventricle and object preference was assessed at two delays: 30 min and 4 h. At the 30 min delay, oxytocin-treated animals showed preference for the familiar object, whereas saline-treated controls exhibited preference for the novel object. At the 4 h delay, both groups showed novel-object preference. Our findings show that oxytocin modulates object preference in the female rat at a shorter delay, similar to the findings from partner-preference studies in the prairie vole, suggesting that the mechanisms driving object preference might be in part similar to those responsible for partner preference.
Resolving the relationship between ApolipoproteinE and depression

Abstract Several studies have reported an association between the ApolipoproteinE-ɛ4 (APOE4) allele and depression among elders. However others have failed to find an association. Since APOE4 is a well recognized risk factor for Alzheimer dementia, cognitive status may represent an important confounder between APOE4 and depression. In this investigation, we examined the relationship between the ApolipoproteinE-ɛ4 allele and depression among elders accounting for cognitive status. Using a case-control design ( n = 1052), we investigated the association between ApolipoproteinE-ɛ4 and depression in Alzheimer disease patients ( n = 528) and in cognitively intact controls ( n = 524). We demonstrated an apparent association between the APOE4 allele and depression in the combined dataset ( p = 0.001) when not controlling for cognitive status. However, once stratified by the presence of Alzheimer disease, there was no association in either the Alzheimer group ( p = 0.290) or the cognitively intact controls ( p = 0.494). In this dataset there is no association between the ApolipoproteinE-ɛ4 allele and depression among those with Alzheimer disease or among cognitively intact elders. However there is a significant association between female gender and depression in the cognitively intact ( p = 0.003) but not among those with Alzheimer disease. Additionally, individuals with Alzheimer disease and depression had a significantly younger age of onset for their Alzheimer disease than those without depression ( p = 0.017).
The cancer-testis antigen NY-ESO-1 is highly expressed in myxoid and round cell subset of liposarcomas

Liposarcomas are a heterogenous group of fat-derived sarcomas, and surgery with or without chemoradiation therapy remains the main stay of treatment. NY-ESO-1 is a cancer-testis antigen expressed in various cancers where it can induce both cellular and humoral immunity. Immunotherapy has shown promise in clinical trials involving NY-ESO-1-expressing tumors. Gene expression studies have shown upregulation of the gene for NY-ESO-1, CTAG1B, in myxoid and round cell liposarcomas. Herein, we evaluated the expression of NY-ESO-1 among liposarcoma subtypes by quantitative real-time PCR, western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry. Frozen tissue for quantitative real-time PCR and western blot analysis was obtained for the following liposarcoma subtypes (n=15): myxoid and round cell (n=8); well-differentiated (n=4), and dedifferentiated (n=3). Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks were obtained for the following liposarcoma subtypes (n=44): myxoid and round cell (n=18); well-differentiated (n=10); dedifferentiated (n=10); and pleomorphic (n=6). Full sections were stained with monoclonal antibody NY-ESO-1, and staining was assessed for intensity (1-3+), percentage of tumor positivity, and location. In all, 7/8 (88%) and 16/18 (89%) myxoid and round cell expressed CTAG1B and NY-ESO-1 by quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Western blot correlated with mRNA expression levels. By immunohistochemistry, 94% (15/16) of positive cases stained homogenously with 2-3+ intensity. Also, 3/6 (50%) pleomorphic liposarcomas demonstrated a range of staining: 1+ intensity in 50% of cells; 2+ intensity in 5% of cells; and 3+ intensity in 90% of cells. One case of dedifferentiated liposarcoma showed strong, diffuse staining (3+ intensity in 75% of cells). Our study shows that both CTAG1B mRNA and protein are overexpressed with high frequency in myxoid and round cell liposarcoma, enabling the potential use of targeted immunotherapy in the treatment of this malignancy.
SO(n)-Invariant Special Lagrangian Submanifolds of ℂ n+1 with Fixed Loci*

Let SO(n) act in the standard way on ℂ n and extend this action in the usual way to ℂ n+1 = ℂ ⊕ ℂ n . It is shown that a nonsingular special Lagrangian submanifold L ⊂ ℂ n+1 that is invariant under this SO(n)-action intersects the fixed ℂ ⊂ ℂ n+1 in a nonsingular real-analytic arc A (which may be empty). If n > 2, then A has no compact component. Conversely, an embedded, noncompact nonsingular real-analytic arc A ⊂ ℂ lies in an embedded nonsingular special Lagrangian submanifold that is SO(n)-invariant. The same existence result holds for compact A if n = 2. If A is connected, there exist n distinct nonsingular SO(n)-invariant special Lagrangian extensions of A such that any embedded nonsingular SO(n)-invariant special Lagrangian extension of A agrees with one of these n extensions in some open neighborhood of A. The method employed is an analysis of a singular nonlinear PDE and ultimately calls on the work of Gerard and Tahara to prove the existence of the extension.
Synthesis and anion recognition of three new preorganized colorimetric urea/thiourea compounds and their corresponding reference receptors

Abstract Three new thiourea/urea preorganized tripodal anion receptors were synthesized in high yield utilizing the thiol-Michael reaction as a key synthetic step. The binding affinity and selectivity of the various receptors towards chloride, fluoride, acetate, and dihydrogen phosphate were evaluated through UV–vis and 1H NMR spectroscopic titrations. In addition, four new thiourea/urea reference receptors were synthesized and analyzed in a similar fashion in order to evaluate the cooperative binding effects often observed with preorganized tripodal receptors. The binding constants for the various preorganized tripodal receptors and their reference receptors were determined using HypSpec and HypNMR2008.
Cloning and characterization of a putative human holocytochrome c-type synthetase gene (HCCS) isolated from the critical region for microphthalmia with linear skin defects (MLS).

Microphthalmia with linear skin defects syndrome (MLS) is an X-linked male-lethal disorder associated with X chromosomal rearrangements resulting in monosomy from Xpter to Xp22. Features include microphthalmia, sclerocornea, linear skin defects, and agenesis of the corpus callosum. Using a cross-species conservation strategy, an expressed sequence from the 450- to the 550-kb MLS critical region on Xp22 was identified by screening a human embryo cDNA library. Northern analysis revealed a transcript of {approx}2.6 kb in all tissues examined, with weaker expression of {approx}1.2- and {approx}5.2-kb transcripts. The strongest expression was observed in heart and skeletal muscle. Sequence analysis of a 3-kb cDNA contig revealed an 807-bp open reading frame encoding a putative 268-amino-acid-protein. Comparison of the sequence with sequences in the databases revealed homology with holocytochrome c-type synthetases, which catalyze the covalent addition of a heme group onto c-type cytochromes in the mitochondria. The c-type cytochromes are required for proper functioning of the electron transport pathway. The human gene (HGMW-approved symbol HCCS) and the corresponding murine gene characterized in this paper are the first mammalian holocytochrome c-type synthetases to be described in the literature. Because of the lack of a neuromuscular phenotype in MLS, it is uncertain whether the deletion ofmore » a mitochondrial holocytochrome synthetase would contribute to the phenotype seen in MLS. The expression pattern of this gene and knowledge about the function of holocytochrome synthetases, however, suggest that it is a good candidate for X-linked encephalomyopathies typically associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. 25 refs., 4 figs.« less
UV Absorption microspectrophotometry and digestibility of cell types of bermudagrass internodes at different stages of maturity

The walls of sclerenchyma, vascular bundle sheaths, and parenchyma at different maturities (internodes 2, 5, and 7 from the apex) of bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L) Pers] were analyzed by UV absorption microspectrophotometry, and the results were related to wall digestibility. Sclerenchyma walls from internode 2 were degraded by rumen microorganisms, with only the middle lamella remaining. Undegraded sclerenchyma walls gave a UV absorption spectrum similar to that of p-coumaroyl and feruloyl arabinoxylo-trisaccharides isolated from bermudagrass cell walls. Absorption maxima occurred at ˜ 245 and 320 nm, together with a shoulder at ˜ 280 nm. Sclerenchyma from the older internodes 5 and 7 showed only partial degradation of the secondary wall adjacent to the lumen. Spectra of undegraded walls from these internodes showed absorption maxima at ˜ 245 and 285 nm with a shoulder at ˜ 320 nm. Spectra of sclerenchyma walls that included the middle lamellae gave a higher absorption at ˜ 320 nm than did wall layers excluding the middle lamellae. Vascular bundle sheaths generally were similar in digestion patterns and spectra to those of sclerenchyma. Parenchyma cells in internode 2, which were totally degradable, gave low absorbance. Parenchyma cell walls from internodes 5 and 7 were degraded except for the middle lamellae in cells nearest to the sclerenchyma; parenchyma cells nearest to the stem centre were totally degraded. Spectra of parenchyma wall regions that included middle lamellae were similar to the p-coumaroyl and feruloyl arabinoxylo-trisaccharides, and absorbance values were low compared with sclerenchyma and vascular walls. Results suggested that esteror ether-linked phenolic acids accounted for most of the UV absorption in young sclerenchyma and young and old parenchyma; lignin-like aromatics increased in older, poorly digested sclerenchyma as ester/ether-type compounds decreased. An estimation of the amount of ‘ferulic acid equivalents’ of the walls was made assuming all the absorbance at ˜ λmax 320 nm was due to ferulic acid; older sclerenchyma walls had the highest values (160 mg g−1 walls) and parenchyma walls the lowest (11 mg g−1 walls).
Long-term results from endoscopic choledochoduodenostomy closure using a cardiac septal occluder device in a patient with refractory sump syndrome

Sump syndrome can be managed effectively by biliary sphincterotomy and duct clearance. However, options for the management of sump syndrome in patients who have not responded to sphincterotomy are limited. We report a case of refractory sump syndrome managed with endoscopic closure of the choledochoduodenostomy using a cardiac septal occluder device.
Chronic Accessibility and Individual Cognitions: Examining the Effects of Message Frames in Political Advertisements

This study examines the effects of media framing on voter cognitions and how such effects can be moderated by voters' chronically accessible schemas. Participants in this study were exposed to political ads that have been systematically framed as either issue oriented or character oriented. Results indicated that, although message frames could indeed prime audiences and generate related mental activations in political evaluations, these effects varied among those with different political schemas. When message frames were consistent with individual schemas, audiences were more likely to be affected than when message frames were inconsistent. They suggest that identifying individual-level factors in the study of framing effects might be an important link in understanding the dynamic relationship between media frames and audience responses.
Establishment of a murine model of aggressive systemic mastocytosis/mast cell leukemia.

Aggressive systemic mastocytosis (ASM) and mast cell leukemia (MCL) are rare but devastating diseases, for which no effective specific therapy is currently available. Most patients harbor the D816V mutant of KIT (KIT D816V ), a constitutively active tyrosine kinase that is essential for pathogenesis, raising hopes that specific inhibition of KIT D816V may be therapeutically efficacious. To facilitate testing of new inhibitors in an animal model with similarity to human ASM/MCL, we developed a murine model that is based on retro-orbital injection of P815 cells, a murine mastocytoma line expressing the homologous D814Y mutant of KIT, into syngeneic DBA/2 mice. We found that the systemic disease induced by this approach is highly reproducible and resembles human ASM/MCL. Malignant mast cells were consistently detected in the peripheral blood by morphology and fluorescence-activated cell sorting after a stable latency whose length could be modulated by inoculum size. This easy and inexpensive tumor model should be useful for testing potential drugs with activity against KIT D816V .
The horizontal and vertical structure of east Asian winter monsoon pressure surges

East Asian cold-air outbreaks, accompanied by increasing surface pressure (‘pressure surges’), are shown to be an important aspect of the subseasonal variability of the winter monsoon system. In this study the statistical linear relationship between pressure surges, tropical convection, and tropospheric circulation is assessed using a ten-year data set (1985/86-1994/95) of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts gridded operational analyses. From spectral analysis the pressure, wind, and temperature fluctuations indicative of strong pressure surges are found to have statistically-significant spectral peaks at submonthly periods (6 to 30 days). Linear regression analysis is used to detail the time evolution of the dominant horizontal and vertical structure of east Asian pressure surges. Surges are shown to relate significantly to circulation anomalies in both the meridional and zonal components of the lower-tropospheric wind. Relationships between east Asian pressure surges in the submonthly band and tropical circulation anomalies are found over the Bay of Bengal, the eastern Indian Ocean, Indonesia, and the western Pacific regions. Submonthly surges over the South China Sea are related to strong surges and convective activity south of Indonesia, over the South China Sea, the eastern Indian Ocean, and the Philippine regions. Surge-enhanced convective activity is found to precede an enhancement of the local east Asian Hadley cell. Submonthly surges over the Philippine Sea are related to periods of westerly-wind anomalies and convective activity in the western Pacific. Upper-level wave activity over western Asia precedes submonthly surges. the wave activity amplifies in the region of the Pacific jet stream, and can be traced dispersing equatoward through the region of upper-level westerlies over the eastern tropical Pacific.
Development of connections between hybrid steel truss–FRC beams and RC columns for precast earthquake-resistant framed construction

Abstract Results from an investigation aimed at developing a moment connection for a new earthquake-resistant framing system that consists of precast hybrid fiber reinforced concrete (FRC)-encased steel truss beams and reinforced concrete (RC) columns are presented. Various connection schemes between the precast hybrid beams and RC columns were experimentally evaluated for adequate moment and shear transfer during large displacement reversals. From results of four large-scale beam–column subassembly tests, a connection scheme that features external steel rods for moment transfer and a bolted connection between the embedded steel truss and the RC column for shear transfer is proposed. The steel rods are external to the beams to facilitate installation and inspection, but can pass through or outside the precast column, depending on the beam width-to-column width ratio. Force transfer between the truss chords and the external rods is achieved through steel members forming a horizontal truss. The connection components are designed to remain elastic, forcing the inelastic activity to occur in the hybrid beam. Test specimens constructed with these connection details exhibited displacement capacities exceeding 4.0% drift, with full hysteresis loops and good strength and stiffness retention capacity. Inelastic rotations concentrated in the hybrid beams and accounted for most of the applied drift, while the connection members behaved elastically, as intended in design.
Effect Of Digital Processing Of Abdominal Radiographs On The Diagnosing Of Neonatal Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Twelve radiologists each reviewed a randomly selected mixture of 50 pairs of conventional radiographic images (CRI) and contrast-enhanced digital radiographic images (CEDRI) of neonates with either necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or no suspected intra-abdominal abnormality (normal controls). Each image was rated as to overall suspicion of NEC. The data for the NEC and control groups were analyzed and compared to a multiple-review "gold standard" as determined by an experienced pediatric radiologist. For both the CRI and CEDRI, the radiologists tended to underrate the suspicion of NEC in those neonates with NEC and overrate the suspicion of NEC in the control neonates without NEC. Digital manipulation of the original CRI resulted in an increased sensitivity but decreased specificity for the radiographic diagnosis of NEC.
I. Do chronic pain patients' perceptions about their preinjury jobs determine their intent to return to the same type of job post-pain facility treatment?

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate that chronic pain patients' (CPPs') perceptions about their preinjury jobs determine their intent to return to the same type of job post pain facility treatment. DESIGN: A total of 225 CPPs completed a series of rating scales and yes/no questions relating to their preinjury job perceptions and a question relating to intent to return to the same type of preinjury job post-pain facility treatment. The CPPs were broken down into subgroups (males, females, college males, noncollege males, college females, noncollege females), and within each subgroup those not intending to return to the same type of pre-injury job were compared to those intending to return on the preinjury job perception questions. In addition for the whole group, stepwise discriminant analysis was used to predict who planned to return to the preinjury job utilizing the job perceptions questions. SETTING: Multidisciplinary Pain Center. PATIENTS: Consecutive chronic pain patients. RESULTS: For the whole group, CPPs not intending to return were more likely to complain of job excessive physical demands, job satisfaction, and job dislike. Job perception complaints that were significantly different between the intending and not intending to return groups differed between the subgroups. For example, noncollege males not intending to return were more likely to complain of excessive physical demands only versus satisfaction and liking as significant items for college males who did not intend to return. Within the discriminant analysis, the combination of job satisfaction, excessive physical demands, employee conflicts, job liking, job dangerousness, supervisory conflicts, job stress, and age classified 73.46% of the CPPs correctly as to intent to return to the same type of preinjury job. CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be a relationship between preinjury job perceptions and intent to return to the same type of job post pain treatment. However, subgroups of CPPs will differ by which job perceptions are important towards making that decision. Language: en
Grothendieck type inequalities

Abstract We present here the analogue of Grothendieck inequality for positive linear forms. We obtain upper and lower bounds of L p 0 p ≤ ∞ , type, which all lead to sharp inequalities.
Ab Initio Multiple Spawning: Photochemistry from First Principles Quantum Molecular Dynamics

The ab initio multiple spawning (AIMS) method is a time-dependent formulation of quantum chemistry, whereby the nuclear dynamics and electronic structure problems are solved simultaneously. Quantum mechanical effects in the nuclear dynamics are included, especially the nonadiabatic effects which are crucial in modeling dynamics on multiple electronic states. The AIMS method makes it possible to describe photochemistry from first principles molecular dynamics, with no empirical parameters. We describe the method and present the application to two molecules of interest in organic photochemistryethylene and cyclobutene. We show that the photodynamics of ethylene involves both covalent and ionic electronic excited states and the return to the ground state proceeds through a pyramidalized geometry. For the photoinduced ring opening of cyclobutene, we show that the disrotatory motion predicted by the Woodward−Hoffmann rules is established within the first 50 fs after optical excitation.
Advertisers and Ad Agency Views on Electronic Zipping

Only limited research has addressed advertiser re- sponse to electronic avoidance of television commercials. The current research was undertaken in order to further extend that work by sur- veying advertising agency pemnnel to determine their perspectives concerning electronic zipping (fast forwarding through television commercials when viewing previously recorded programs). This pa; per presents a comparison of advertisers' and agency professionals attitudes regarding electronic zipping. Both groups expressed an over- all concern regarding the practice of zipping, but advertisers indicated a signif~cantly higher level of concern than agency respondents. Both groups agreed that zipping behavior is not any worse (or more damag- ing) than other forms of commacial avoidance. While advertisers and agency respondents indicated that longer, more entertaining commer- cials may offer potential for limiting viewer zipping, few have taken proactive steps to counter zipping behaviors.
Decision support approach to fleet maintenance requirements in the aviation industry

This paper discusses a decision support approach in modeling jet engine life and predicting maintenance requirements for engine restoration. The removal characteristics are estimated by collecting field data based on the engine age and operating environment. This analysis includes an example of a jet engine application illustrating how the model predictions compare to actual events. In today's highly competitive market, airlines must find more effective ways to reduce costs because the expense of engine spare parts and restoration are steadily increasing. It is critical for airlines to understand how an engine will age towards its mature time-on-wing to determine budgets, shop capacities, and spare engine and spare parts inventories. In an effort to forecast removal rates of jet engines a model was developed that incorporated statistical information obtained from field data. The probability density function for engine removal'classifications was estimated by applying a hazard model with consideration of censored field data. These functions, in conjunction with simulation, were used to forecast jet engine removal patterns. This methodology provided improved performance, based on data fit and forecasting accuracy, compared with traditional techniques such as autoregressive integrated moving average and linear regression.
Behavioral plasticity of antisaccade performance following daily practice.

The ability to change behavior to adapt to the environment, known as behavioral plasticity, is an important part of daily life. In the present study subjects’ performances on antisaccade tasks were manipulated by training them on one of three different eye movement tasks (antisaccade, prosaccade, and fixation). Thirty subjects were tested at three time points over a 2-week period and practiced their assigned task every day between test sessions. Subjects who trained on antisaccades significantly decreased their error rates, while maintaining their reaction time, suggesting that accuracy did not improve at the expense of speed. Subjects who practiced the prosaccade task made more errors on the antisaccade task on subsequent test sessions, while those who practiced the fixation task showed no change across test sessions. These results suggest that deliberate practice of eye movement tasks can alter antisaccade performance, and that the direction of the effect is dependent upon the type of practice in which the subject engages.
Specialized Hsp70 Chaperone (HscA) Binds Preferentially to the Disordered Form, whereas J-protein (HscB) Binds Preferentially to the Structured Form of the Iron-Sulfur Cluster Scaffold Protein (IscU)

The Escherichia coli protein IscU serves as the scaffold for Fe-S cluster assembly and the vehicle for Fe-S cluster transfer to acceptor proteins, such as apoferredoxin. IscU populates two conformational states in solution, a structured conformation (S) that resembles the conformation of the holoprotein IscU-[2Fe-2S] and a dynamically disordered conformation (D) that does not bind metal ions. NMR spectroscopic results presented here show that the specialized Hsp70 chaperone (HscA), alone or as the HscA-ADP complex, preferentially binds to and stabilizes the D-state of IscU. IscU is released when HscA binds ATP. By contrast, the J-protein HscB binds preferentially to the S-state of IscU. Consistent with these findings, we propose a mechanism in which cluster transfer is coupled to hydrolysis of ATP bound to HscA, conversion of IscU to the D-state, and release of HscB.
Bounds and Approximations for the Moments of Order Statistics

Abstract In this paper methods for obtaining approximations and bounds for the moments of order statistics from a continuous parent distribution are discussed. These bounds and approximations depend on the distribution function only through certain moments of order statistics in small samples. It is shown that for the Cauchy distribution bounds and approximations of all finite moments can be obtained. Some numerical calculations for normal and Cauchy distributions are also given.
The stoichiometric hydrogenation of substituted phenyl alkenes by hydridocobalt tetracarbonyl

Abstract The relative rates of hydrogenation of a series of styrenes, phenylpropenes, 1,1-diphenylethylenes, and 1,1-diphenylpropenes were measured. Compared to 1,1-diphenylethylene ( k 2 = 2.42 X 10 -2 I mol -1 sec -1 ), 1,1-diphenylpropene and styrene have relative rates of 0.0045 and 0.011 respectively. The effect of 4-chloro and 4-methoxy substituents on both styrene and diphenylethylene is slightly rate enhancing. An unusual kinetic dependence occurs with mixtures of alkenes.
Articulation Error Patterns in Spanish-Speaking Children:

The study examined the articulation error patterns of 120 Spanish-speaking children aged three to five years, seven months. The common misarticulations produced by the children are described.
Combined application of cortisol and triiodothyronine in the culture of larval marine finfish

Newly-hatched larvae of Pacific threadfin (or ‘moi’; Polydactylus sexfilis) exposed to triiodthyronine (T3; 2.6 p.p.m.) and cortisol (0.1 p.p.m.) by immersion for 1 h exhibited earlier development than untreated controls and larvae exposed to the individual hormones. The onset of initial gut formation and initial somatic pigmentation were accelerated by this treatment. Survival to 29 days of age was also improved (P < 0.05, Experiment 1; P < 0.005, Experiment 2) in hormone-treatment groups as compared with untreated controls. Our ongoing experiments address two working hypotheses: (1) advanced digestive function induced by T3 and cortisol imparts improvements in food utilization during the critical time of first-feeding and (2) uniform growth following hormone treatment leads to reduced rates of cannibalism. These results appear to be consistent with established development-promoting interactions of T3 and cortisol in Japanese flounder, amphibians, and other vertebrates. These observations suggest that hormone therapy may have practical utility in the culture of marine larvae.
Trypanosoma cruzi: Infection of cultured human endothelial cells alters inositol phosphate synthesis

Infection of cultured endothelial cells with Trypanosoma cruzi alters intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. To help understand the biochemical basis for this phenomenon, we determined the influence of infection on inositol phosphate formation in a broken cell preparation. Inositol phosphates participate in the regulation of cytosolic Ca2+. In uninfected endothelial cells, bradykinin guanosine 5'-O-thiophosphate (GTP tau S), and calcium all stimulated inositol phosphate (IP1), inositol bisphosphate (IP2), and inositol trisphosphate (IP3) formation within 5 sec of incubation. At longer periods of incubation with GTP tau S and bradykinin, formation of IP1 was linear for 30 sec, whereas the rate of IP2 and IP3 generation was maximal at 20 and 5 sec, respectively. Second, infection markedly changed these aspects of inositol phosphate generation. First, unstimulated (basal) levels of IP1 and IP3 were markedly increased over those levels in membranes of uninfected cells. Infection decreased the rate of formation for the three inositol phosphates in response to GTP tau S and bradykinin. Finally, infection diminished the magnitude of inositol phosphate synthesis in response to Ca2+ for IP1, IP2, and IP3, respectively. Studies on G proteins using cholera and pertussis toxin were carried out to determine if the infection-associated changes in inositol phosphate generation could be attributed to functional changes in these regulatory proteins known to participate in the activation of phospholipase C. Infection markedly decreased the magnitude of cholera and pertussis toxin-dependent ADP ribosylation, as compared to control uninfected cells. Incubation of uninfected endothelial cells with cholera and pertussis toxin also decreased the magnitude of cholera and pertussis toxin ADP ribosylation. Despite the similar effects of infection and toxin treatment on subsequent toxin-catalyzed ADP ribosylation, toxin treatment did not influence inositol phosphate generation. Collectively, these results demonstrate an influence of infection on receptor-dependent and -independent synthesis of inositol phosphates, possibly by an action on phospholipase C. The results help to explain the apparent infection-associated increase in basal Ca2+ previously observed and suggest that interference with signal transduction may be a consequence of the presence of the parasite.
Comparison of large guided-wave interconnection networks for optical computation systems

Seven common interconnection architectures are evaluated for use as guided-wave interconnection networks. Comparisons are based on characteristics such as the number of switching elements, number of stages or path length, number of layers, number of waveguide crossings, connectivity and routing algorithms. Investigation of the active splitter/active combiner, passive splitter/active combiner, crossbar, n-stage, buddy type multistage interconnection network (MIN), duobanyan and Benes architectures reveals a trade space which is both complicated and previously not well explored. Even among the topologically equivalent MINs such as the baseline, reverse baseline, regular SW banyan with S equals F equals 2, indirect binary n-cube, modified data manipulator, omega or flip networks, the number of waveguide crossings varies while other properties remain constant. Analysis of this larger set of factors reveals more complex trade offs, and presents these architectures in a new perspective.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Endocytic Adaptor Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Substrate 15 (Eps15) Is Involved in the Trafficking of Ubiquitinated α-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid Receptors

AMPA-type glutamate receptors (AMPARs) play a critical role in mediating fast excitatory synaptic transmission in the brain. Alterations in receptor expression, distribution, and trafficking have been shown to underlie synaptic plasticity and higher brain functions, including learning and memory, as well as brain dysfunctions such as drug addiction and psychological disorders. Therefore, it is essential to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that regulate AMPAR dynamics. We have shown previously that mammalian AMPARs are subject to posttranslational modification by ubiquitin, with AMPAR ubiquitination enhancing receptor internalization and reducing AMPAR cell surface expression. Here we report a crucial role for epidermal growth factor receptor substrate 15 (Eps15), an endocytic adaptor, in ubiquitination-dependent AMPAR internalization. We find that suppression or overexpression of Eps15 results in changes in AMPAR surface expression. Eps15 interacts with AMPARs, which requires Nedd4-mediated GluA1 ubiquitination and the ubiquitin-interacting motif of Eps15. Importantly, we find that Eps15 plays an important role in AMPAR internalization. Knockdown of Eps15 suppresses the internalization of GluA1 but not the mutant GluA1 that lacks ubiquitination sites, indicating a role of Eps15 for the internalization of ubiquitinated AMPARs. These results reveal a novel molecular mechanism employed specifically for the trafficking of the ubiquitin-modified AMPARs.
Toddlers' language development: Sex differences within social risk.

Sex differences in the association between environmental risk and language development were examined in a longitudinal study of 54 high-social-risk families. Measures of the environment included information about family stress and coping, opportunities for cognitive and linguistic stimulation, the nature of learning experiences, and the affective quality of the infant-mother relationship. Despite apparently similar family conditions and early experiences, there were significant sex differences favoring girls on observational measures of spontaneous language production at 20 and 30 months of age. For the group as a whole, sex differences on standardized tests at 24 and 36 months of age were nonsignificant. In addition, relations between aspects of the learning environment and children's language performance differed for boys and girls, supporting a moderator interpretation of the findings.
Fractals and Ravens

We report a novel approach to visual analogical reasoning, one afforded expressly by fractal representations. We first describe the nature of visual analogies and fractal representations. Next, we exhibit the Fractal Ravens algorithm through a detailed example, describe its performance on all major variants of the Raven's Progressive Matrices tests, and discuss the implications and next steps. In addition, we illustrate the importance of considering the confidence of the answers, and show how ambiguity may be used as a guide for the automatic adjustment of the problem representation. To our knowledge, this is the first published account of a computational model's attempt at the entire Raven's test suite.
Simultaneous determination of molting and juvenile hormone titers of the greater wax moth

Abstract A simple and rapid extraction procedure was developed to determine simultaneously the molting hormone (MH) and juvenile hormone (JH) activity in a single insect tissue sample. From the onset of the last larval stage to adult eclosion of the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella, three JH peaks were noted: at the time of the sixth larval ecdysis, 1 day before the seventh larval ecdysis, and at the time of adult eclosion. Three MH peaks were recorded for the male: at 1 day before the sixth larval ecdysis, 1 day before the seventh larval ecdysis, and 2 days after pupation. In the female, a fourth peak was shown at the time of adult eclosion. This fourth peak exhibits the highest molting hormone activity of all samples, 1600 Musca units/g of fresh tissue or an equivalent of 5.6 μg/g of ecdysterone. Eighty per cent of this MH accumulated in the ovary. The significance of MH and JH titers as related to the endocrine regulation of development is discussed in the light of this finding.
Parental Work Schedules and Adolescent Risky Behaviors.

Using a large contemporary data set (the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth-Child Supplement), the authors examined the effects of parental work schedules on adolescent risky behaviors at age 13 or 14 and the mechanisms that might explain them. Structural equation modeling suggests mothers who worked more often at night spent significantly less time with children and had lower quality home environments, and these mediators were significantly linked to adolescent risky behaviors. Similar effects were not found for evening work schedules, while other types of maternal and paternal nonstandard work schedules were linked to higher parental knowledge of children's whereabouts, which led to lower levels of adolescent risky behaviors. Subgroup analyses revealed that boys, those in families with low incomes, and those whose mothers never worked at professional jobs may particularly be affected by mothers working at nights, due to spending less time together, having a lower degree of maternal closeness, and experiencing lower quality home environments. In addition, the effects of maternal night shifts were particularly pronounced if children were in the preschool or middle-childhood years when their mothers worked those schedules. Implications and avenues for future research are discussed.
Etiology of individual differences in reading performance: a test of sex limitation.

To test the hypothesis that the etiology of individual differences in reading performance differs in males and females, reading performance data from twin pairs tested in the Colorado Learning Disabilities Research Center were fitted to structural equation models of sex limitation. The sample included 513 pairs of twins in which at least one member of each pair has a positive school history of reading problems [228 monozygotic (MZ), 176 same-sex dizygotic (DZ), and 109 opposite-sex DZ pairs] and 302 matched control pairs [148 MZ, 98 same-sex DZ, and 56 opposite-sex DZ pairs]. Estimates of the genetic correlation between performance in males and females were obtained by analysis of data from both same-sex and opposite-sex twin pairs (Neale and Cardon, 1992). The full model fit the data well χ2=17,74, df=16,p=0.340), and the resulting genetic parameter estimates were highly similar in males and females in both the proband and the control samples. The correlations between genetic influences in males and females do not differ among groups (change in χ2=0.95, df=1,p≥0.25), and the resulting pooled estimate is about .5. Thus, results of this analysis suggest that the etiology of individual differences in reading performance may differ to some extent in males and females.
Large Archival Mass Memory System Using Optical Diskettes

The transition of digital optical mass storage technologies from the laboratory to an integrated deliverable system is a challenge whose time has come. Harris Corporation has accepted the challenge and will deliver a 1013 bit Archival Mass Memory (AMM) System. AMM provides: variable data ingest rates up to 50 Mbits/sec accommodating sources as diverse as telephone links, computer links, and satellite downlinks; Reed-Solomon error detection and correction (EDAC) coding to preserve better than a 10 -9 bit error rate (BER) for up to 10 years of operation without rerecording; real time optical spot recording of 109 user bits on each 148 X 148 mm diskette; storage and automatic on-line retrieval of data from 1024 diskettes housed in each storage and retrieval unit; less than 15 second access time to any record in the archive; simultaneous data recording and readout; forward file management for rapid user-oriented access down to the byte level; simultaneous access to multiple modular storage and retrieval units; and variable output rates up to 50 Mbits/second direct or interleaved for multiple variable rate users tied to the fiber-optic distribution bus. This paper outlines the system design and performance including the complex electro-optic technologies employed to provide high-speed high-density optical spot recording and readout.