cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
I Don’t See Color, All People Are the Same: Whiteness and Color-Blindness as Training and Supervisory Issues

This article describes cultural responsiveness training, with a particular emphasis to working with white students. Training methods, which have been effective in examining issues of power and privilege, will be described. Excerpts from previous trainees’ correspondences will be shared to demonstrate how they may have been influenced by such exercises. I will share how reflections of this work have helped to shape who I am. Recommendations for others who wish to pursue cultural sensitivity training will be offered.
What would menthol smokers do if menthol in cigarettes were banned? Behavioral intentions and simulated demand

Aims The US Food and Drug Administration must consider whether to ban the use of menthol in cigarettes. This study examines how current smokers might respond to such a ban on menthol cigarettes. Design Convenience sample of adolescent and adult smokers recruited from an online survey panel. Setting United States, 2010. Participants A total of 471 adolescent and adult current cigarette smokers. Measurements Respondents were asked a series of questions about how they might react if menthol cigarettes were banned. In addition, participants completed a simulation purchase task to estimate the demand for menthol and non-menthol cigarettes across a range of prices. Findings Overall, 36.1% of respondents said they always (18.9%) or usually (17.2%) smoked menthol cigarettes. When asked how they might respond to a ban on menthol cigarettes, 35% of current menthol smokers said they would stop smoking, and 25% said they would ‘find a way to buy a menthol brand’. Those who reported they might quit tended to have greater current intentions to quit [odds ratio (OR) = 4.47], while those who reported that they might seek illicit menthol cigarettes were far less likely to report current intentions to quit (OR = 0.06). Estimates for demand elasticity for preferred cigarette type were similar for menthol (α = 0.0051) and non-menthol (α = 0.0049) smokers. Demand elasticity and peak consumption were related to usual cigarette type and cigarettes smoked per day, but did not appear to differ by race, gender or age. Conclusions Preliminary evidence suggests that a significant minority of smokers of menthol cigarettes in the United States would try to stop smoking altogether if such cigarettes were banned.
Validating the geometric accuracy of high spatial resolution multispectral satellite data

Uses of high spatial resolution data obtained from satellite-based sensors include creating land cover maps, deriving large-scale quantitative assessments such as vegetation indices, and visually assessing an area for qualitative information only assessable from large-scale digital data. One of the more popular uses of high spatial resolution data is to use the image as a base map for on-screen digitizing spatially dependent vector products. Since most geographic information system (GIS) databases store a variety of current and historical data, the accuracy of any on-screen digitized product is dependent on the spatial accuracy of the reference data. Therefore, it is important to understand and validate the accuracy of data used to create spatially referenced product, even though the data come with high spatial resolution. One of the more popular and historical high spatial resolution data within most GIS labs is QuickBird's multispectral data at 2.44 × 2.44 m2. Although there are current sensors availabl...
Explanations of sexual assault among violent delinquents.

Despite recent attention both to sex offenders and violent delinquents, there is little empirical knowledge on the causes and correlates of juve nile sex offenses. Juvenile sex offenders (N = 34) were identified among a sample of chronic violent offenders (N = 242) from official records and face-to-face interviews. Juvenile sex offenders were 14. 1 percent of the sample. Sex offenders more often lived with their birth parents while violent offenders often lived in single parent families. Sex offenders had fewer nonviolent offenses, but more often had been incarcerated. Sex offenders had lower self-reported delinquency, fewer drug and alcohol problems, and less often were gang members. Their families, their sib lings and friends had less justice system involvement. However, sex offenders more often came from families with spousal violence, child abuse, and child sexual molestation, according to both official and self reports. They appear to be more sexually and socially isolated, less often have girlfriend...
Mobile Robotic Assembly on a Moving Vehicle

ABSTRACT Mobile manipulators offer the potential of simultaneous mobility and manipulation to meet the challenges of complex assembly tasks. However, there have been few attempts to utilize mobile manipulators for automating the final assembly of automotive manufacturing process. In this paper, we present the development of control strategies for a mobile manipulator to perform the assembly of automotive wiring harnesses onto a moving vehicle. We highlight the coordinated control framework that incorporates pure pursuit tracking control, discuss constrained motion primitives and reactive visual servo with force constraints, examine contact forces of the wiring harness assembly, and present experimental results for both successful and failed attempts of attaching a wiring harness to a moving vehicle body. Finally, we discuss remaining challenges in achieving robotic assembly automation on moving assembly lines. Keywords: mobile manipulator, robotic assembly, robotic coordinated control, robotic compliant motion control, visual servoing, force control, automotive assembly
The Fragility of Progress: An Interpretation of the Turn Toward Meaning in Eisenstadt's Later Work

In its earlier phases, S. N. Eisenstadt's work revised functionalist theory by focusing on institutions and group interests and on the contingent nature of historical change. In the last decade, as his work has moved from social system to civilizational analysis, Eisenstadt has focused increasingly on the independent role of cultural codes and intellectual carrier groups as instigators of broad social change. In place of institutional strains it is now tensions internal to the cultural maps of diverse civilizations that initially instigate resistance and social movements. There has been a corresponding shift in Eisenstadt's view of modernity, which he now describes as an inherently fragile social order whose very premises stipulate explosive and endemic efforts to supersede the institutional and cultural frameworks of contemporary social life.
Longitudinal Shearing of a Weakly Bonded Fiber Composite

The longitudinal shearing of a unidirectional fiber composite which sustains slippage at the fiber-matrix interface is studied theoretically. An expression for the effective shear modulus of the composite, assuming a dilute concentration of fibers, is derived. The necessary quantities are found from the solution to the problem of a single slipping fiber in an infinite matrix. A singular integral equation governing this problem is derived and solved numerically. Results for the progression of slip and for the effective shear modulus are presented.
Calcium plus vitamin D was associated with increased cardiovascular risk in women not taking personal calcium supplements

Source Citation Bolland MJ, Grey A, Avenell A, Gamble GD, Reid IR. Calcium supplements with or without vitamin D and risk of cardiovascular events: reanalysis of the Women’s Health Initiative limit...
Antegrade cerebral perfusion reduces apoptotic neuronal injury in a neonatal piglet model of cardiopulmonary bypass.

Objective Neonates with congenital heart disease might require surgical repair with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, a technique associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Antegrade cerebral perfusion is thought to minimize ischemic brain injury, although there are no supporting experimental data. We sought to evaluate and compare the extent of neurologic injury in a neonatal piglet model of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and antegrade cerebral perfusion. Methods Neonatal piglets undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass were randomized to deep hypothermic circulatory arrest or antegrade cerebral perfusion for 45 minutes. Animals were killed after 6 hours of recovery, and brain tissue was stained for evidence of cellular injury and for the apoptotic markers activated caspase 3 and cytochrome c translocation from mitochondria to cytosol. Results Piglets from the antegrade cerebral perfusion group exhibited less apoptotic or necrotic injury (4 ± 3 vs 29 ± 12 cells per field, P = .03). The piglets undergoing antegrade cerebral perfusion also had less evidence of apoptosis, with fewer cells staining for activated caspase 3 (57 ± 8 vs 93 ± 9 cells per field, P = .001) or showing cytochrome c translocation (6 ± 2 vs 15 ± 4 cells per field, P = .02). Conclusions The use of antegrade cerebral perfusion in place of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest reduces evidence of apoptosis and histologic injury in neonatal piglets. Neonates with congenital heart disease might benefit from antegrade cerebral perfusion during complex cardiac surgery to improve their overall neurologic outcome.
Some properties of the CEV-P1 protein from citrus exocortis viroid-infected Gynura aurantiaca DC

Abstract The CEV-P1 protein which appears in plants of Gynura aurantiaca DC following onset of symptoms of the citrus exocortis disease has been partially purified by ammonium sulphate fractionation, gel filtration and DEAF-cellulose chromatography. Only one other protein component was detected in the purified preparations. The CEV-P1 did not appear to be part of a larger aggregate since the mot. wt obtained by gel filtration chromatography fell in the same region (1 to 1·5 × 104 daltons) as the previously reported value derived from SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The CEV-P1 is a slightly acidic protein with an isoelectric point of 5·21. The ribonuclease activity found associated with some of the CEV-P1 purified preparations was not consistent. No affinity was detected in in vitro or in vivo conditions between CEV-P1 purified preparations and the phytohormones gibberellin A 1 A 3 and β-indolacetic acid.
Heterogeneity of growth hormone in the nocturnal serum of children.

ABSTRACT.: The nocturnal serum of 13 nongrowth hormone deficient, hyposomatomedinemic short children and of 12 normal children of average height was analyzed by both polyclonal and biclonal radioimmunoassays. The biclonal/polyclonal ratio for immunochemical grade human growth hormone was 1.0, but for the nocturnal sera in both groups, this ratio was significantly less than 1.0 (range 0.5-1.2, average 0.7-0.8). The ratio did not differ significantly between the two groups of children.
Abstract: A Comparison of the Factor Mixture Model and Taxometric Procedures.

Taxometric procedures and the Factor Mixture Model (FMM) have a complimentary set of strengths and weaknesses. Both approaches purport to detect evidence of a latent class structure. Taxometric procedures, popular in psychiatric and psychopathology literature, make no assumptions beyond those needed to compute means and covariances. However, Taxometric procedures assume that observed items are uncorrelated within a class or taxon. This assumption is violated when there are individual differences in the trait underlying the items (i.e., severity differences within class). FMMs can model within-class covariance structures ranging from local independence to multidimensional within-class factor models and permits the specification of more than two classes. FMMs typically rely on normality assumptions for within-class factors and error terms. FMMs are highly parameterized and susceptible to misspecifications of the within-class covariance structure. The current study compared the Taxometric procedures MAXEIG a...
Discussion of “Fluid resistance of composite roughness”

This paper presents a very interesting approach to the subject of composite roughness, but the writer cannot believe that the answer is quite so simple. For any given roughness, it is well known that Chezy's C is a function of hydraulic radius. Therefore, the authors' T V2 , which is w/C2, will also be a function of the hydraulic radius. Tables 1 and 2 do not give the values of R, but they were obviously not all the same, and it would seem that variations in R would be an important cause of scatter of points in Figure 2. For this same reason it would seem that a set of points giving parallel straight lines is in Figure 2, might be obtained by chance.
Kainate-induced elevations of intracellular Ca2+ and extracellular glutamate are partially decreased by NMDA receptor antagonists in cultured cerebellar granule neurons

Several lines of evidence indicate that physiological activity of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor was blocked by physiological concentration of Mg2+ (1.2 mM). However, the activity of NMDA receptor may not be blocked totally with this concentration of Mg2+ under elevated membrane potential by kainate. Here, we described the effect of Mg2+ on NMDA receptor and how much of NMDA receptor functions could be activated by kainate. Effects of NMDA receptor antagonist on kainate-induced elevation of intracellular Ca2+ levels ([Ca2+]i) and extracellular glutamate level were examined in cultured rat cerebellar granule neurons. Kainate-induced elevation of [Ca2+]i was not affected by physiological concentration of Mg2+ though NMDA-induced elevation was blocked by the same concentration of Mg2+. Kainate-induced elevation of [Ca2+]i was decreased by 32% in the presence of NMDA antagonists, MK-801 and CPP (3-[2-carboxypiperazine-4-yl]propyl-1-phosphonic acid), in Mg2+ free buffer. Kainate receptor-activated glutamate release was also decreased (30%) by MK-801 or CPP. These results show that certain extent of elevations of intracellular Ca2+ and extracellular glutamate by kainate is due to coactivation of NMDA receptors.
Renal endarterectomy through the transected aorta: a new technique for combined aortorenal atherosclerosis--a preliminary report.

Abstract The optimal surgical management of combined aortic and renal atherosclerosis has not been defined. A modified technique of renal endarterectomy performed through the transected aorta before anastomosis of the aortic prosthesis is presented. The surgical course and early follow-up results of the first 44 consecutive patients treated by this technique are reported. Twenty-three patients (25%) had symptomatic coronary artery disease, 36 patients (82%) had arterial hypertension, and 28 patients (64%) had elevated serum creatinine levels (mean 2.10 mg/dl). Primary indications for operation related to aortic disease in 39 patients (89%) and to poorly controlled hypertension in five patients (11%). Seventy-five renal arteries were revascularized; 11% of these arteries were occluded. Revascularizations were bilateral in 27 patients (61%), involved a solitary kidney in three patients (6%), and were unilateral in 14 patients (32%). Aortobifemoral bypass grafting was performed in 16 patients (36%), aortoiliac bypass was performed in 15 patients (34%), and infrarenal aortic replacement was performed in 11 patients (25%). Postoperative complications developed in 14 patients (32%). There were two postoperative deaths (4%). Nineteen patients had transient increases in serum creatinine levels >0.5 mg/dl. Two patients required postoperative dialysis, neither related to failure of their renal revascularization. There were five late deaths, all as a result of myocardial infarction. Renal function improved in four patients and remained stable in 22 patients. Blood pressure was improved in 64% of patients previously hypertensive. These preliminary results indicate that renal endarterectomy through the transected aorta along with aortic reconstruction is a safe, efficient, and effective means of treating these complex lesions. (J Vasc Surg 1989;9:224–33.)
Chronic nerve compression injury induces a phenotypic switch of neurons within the dorsal root ganglia

Chronic nerve compression (CNC) injury initiates a series of pathological changes within the peripheral nerve at the site of injury. However, to date, little work has been performed to explore neuronal cell body responses to CNC injury. Here we show a preferential upregulation of growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) and enhanced Fluoro Ruby uptake by the small-diameter calcitonin gene-related protein (CGRP) and isolectin B4 (IB4)-positive neurons in the L4 and L5 ipsilateral dorsal root ganglion (DRG) 2 weeks and 1 month post injury. Furthermore, L4 and L5 DRGs ipsilateral to CNC injury also demonstrated a marked reduction in neurofilament 200 (NF-200) neurons and an increase in CGRP and IB4 neurons at early time points. All numbers normalized to values comparable to those of control when the DRG was evaluated 6 months post injury. Quantification of glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) protein revealed an upregulation in L4 and L5 DRG followed by a return to baseline values at later stages following injury. Upregulation of GDNF expression by Schwann cells was also readily apparent with both immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis of 1 month compressed sciatic nerve specimens. Thus, CNC induces a phenotypic change in the DRG that appears to be temporally associated with increases in GDNF protein expression at and near the site of the compression injury in the nerve.
Chronic effect of fatty acids on insulin release is not through the alteration of glucose metabolism in a pancreatic beta-cell line (βHC9)

Hyperinsulinaemia in the fasting state and a blunted insulin secretory response to acute glucose stimulation are commonly observed in obesity associated non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Hyperlipidaemia is a hallmark of obesity and may play a role in the pathogenesis of this beta-cell dysfunction because glucose metabolism in pancreatic beta cells may be altered by the increased lipid load. We tested this hypothesis by assessing the chronic effect of oleic acid on glucose metabolism and its relationship with glucose-induced insulin release in beta HC9 cells in tissue culture. Our results show: (1) A 4-day treatment with oleic acid caused an enhancement of insulin release at 0-5 mmol/l glucose concentrations while a significant decrease in insulin release occurred when the glucose level was greater than 15 nmol/l; (2) Hexokinase activity was increased and a corresponding left shift of the dose-dependency curve of glucose usage was observed associated with inhibition of glucose oxidation in oleic acid treated beta HC9 cells, yet the presumed glucose-related ATP generation did not parallel the change in insulin release due to glucose; (3) The rate of cellular respiration was markedly increased in oleic acid treated beta HC9 cells both in the absence of glucose and at all glucose concentrations tested. This enhanced oxidative metabolism may explain the increased insulin release at a low glucose level but is clearly dissociated from the blunted insulin secretion at high glucose concentrations. We conclude that a reduction of oxidative metabolism in pancreatic beta cells is unlikely to be the cause of the dramatic effect that high levels of non-esterified fatty acids have on glucose-induced insulin release.
Do the Numbers Add Up to Different Views? Perceptions of Ethical Faculty Behavior Among Faculty in Quantitative Versus Qualitative Disciplines

Faculty across a wide range of academic disciplines at 89 AASCB-accredited U.S. business schools were surveyed regarding their perceptions of the ethical nature of faculty behaviors related to undergraduate course content, student evaluation, educational environment, research issues, financial and material transactions, and social and sexual relationships. We analyzed responses based on whether instruction in the academic discipline focused mainly on quantitative topics or largely on qualitative issues. Faculty who represented quantitative disciplines such as accounting and finance (n = 383) were more likely to view behaviors such as selling complimentary textbooks and grading on a strict curve as more ethical than faculty representing more qualitative disciplines such as management and marketing (n = 447). In contrast, faculty in quantitative disciplines were more likely to view behaviors such as showing controversial media and bringing up sexual or racial charged matters as less ethical than their counterparts. Whereas these differences may be attributed to the respondents’ academic backgrounds, the large level of agreement on ethical behaviors raises questions about the growing influence of business disciplines that operate within more unified research and teaching paradigms.
Parametric Analysis of Resilient Modulus Modeling for Recycled Asphalt Pavement in Base Layer

The resilient modulus (MR) has been found to be the most important parameter in the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) for the base layer. A literature review showed that the use of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) in the base layer had many economic and structural benefits. The prediction of MR with the specific MEPDG model for the base layer mixed with RAP was found to be reliable for several field conditions. However, further studies of the MEPDG model are needed for an understanding of the physical meaning of each parameter in the model. The most important factor affecting MR for the base layer is the state of stresses, especially the confining pressure. This type of state of stresses was found in previous research to be more effective than deviator stresses. The present study focuses on the parametric analysis of each constant in the model versus various confining pressure states under various field conditions and at various RAP concentrations. This parametric analysis is compared wit...
Crop Diversification and Export Growth: Dynamics of Change in the Sri Lankan Peasant Sector

Self-sufficiency in foodgrains has seen countries of South and East Asia diversifying their agricultural base and trying to move peasant producers from rice to higher-value crops. This article examines policies applied in Sri Lanka in the wake of structural adjustment. Contract farming and corporate sector involvement are analysed as a mechanism of change, and crop characteristics, the macro policy environment, infrastructural facilities and other state supports are identified as important contributing factors. The government commitment to developing horticultural exports as a major industry is seen as a central issue, given constraints that have emerged in the implementation of this policy and pressures to curtail expenditure and reduce the budget deficit. A better focused and more coordinated package of supports is considered to be necessary. The welfare impact of recent growth is also analysed and is found to give some cause for concern.
Toxic Shock Syndrome Complicating Influenza A in a Child: Case Report and Review

Despite extensive literature on toxic shock syndrome, reports of its manifestations in children remain relatively uncommon. Similarly, toxic shock syndrome in association with influenza B or influenza-like illness has been reported in 12 patients, but it has been reported to occur following influenza A in only two patients to date. We report a third case of toxic shock syndrome in a child with influenza A and review the association between epidemic influenza and toxic shock syndrome ("the Thucydides syndrome").
Experimental and simulated evaluation of long distance NLOS UV communication

In this paper, experimental measurements of path loss and pulse broadening in long-distance non-line-of-sight (N-LOS) ultraviolet (UV) communications are reported and analyzed, with measurements at distances up to 4 km. The comparison of these results with a multiple-scattering channel model based on the Monte Carlo simulation of photon propagation provides strong evidence of the validity of this modeling approach. Additionally, channel models incorporating the effects of turbulence are also considered, but mismatch between experimental results and predictions of the turbulence models suggest the potential for model refinement. Overall, the experimental and simulation results presented here serve to advance the study of NLOS UV channel modeling, an essential component of communication system design.
Subcellular localization of enzymes of anthocyanin biosynthesis in protoplasts

Abstract Flavanone synthase, chalcone-flavanone isomerase and UDP-glucose; anthocyanidin-3- O -glucosyltransferase activities of protoplasts and subcellular fractions of protoplasts of Hippeastrum and Tulipa were investigated. Subcellular fractions studied were intact vacuoles, cytosol and particulate components of protoplasts less the vacuole. The cytosol fraction had the highest activity of the three enzymes studied. Results similar to those found for Hippeastrum were obtained with fractions from leaves and petals of Tulipa . The increase in flavanone synthase activity in the cytosol fraction from petals of Hippeastrum during development paralleled the increase in anthocyanin content of the petals.
Whittaker newforms for archimedean representations of GL(2)

Abstract We present a unified characterization of Whittaker newforms for infinite-dimensional admissible representations π of GL ( 2 , R ) and GL ( 2 , C ) . We connect this problem with that of finding test vectors for toric linear forms on the representation space of π. This method allows us to treat in the same way the real and complex fields, thus identifying Whittaker newforms in all cases, including those previously unavailable in the literature.
MSG intake and preference in mice are influenced by prior testing experience.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG), the prototypical umami substance, is used as a flavor enhancer in many foods, but when presented alone is often only weakly attractive. Yet with experience mice will develop strong preferences for MSG solution over water. The present experiments explored the conditions that change indifference to preference for MSG. C57BL/6J mice were given a series of 2-day two-bottle tests with water vs. an ascending series of MSG concentrations (0.1-450 mM) to assess preference and intake. Naive mice were indifferent to all concentrations, but following forced one-bottle exposure to 300 mM MSG they preferred most concentrations and consumed more MSG. Exposure to 100mM MSG also increased subsequent MSG preference but not intake. Experience with other nutritive solutions (8% sucrose, 8% Polycose, 8% casein hydrolysate, and isocaloric 3.5% soybean oil emulsion) also enhanced subsequent MSG preference and intake. Polycose and sucrose experience were almost as effective as MSG experience. However, not all sapid solutions were effective; 0.8% sucralose and 10mM MSG exposure did not alter subsequent MSG preference. The generality of the preexposure effect was tested by offering an ascending series (0.1-100 mM) of inosine monophosphate (IMP), another umami substance; initial indifference was converted to preference after forced exposure to 300 mM MSG. Together these results suggest that a combination of oral and post-oral effects may be responsible for the experience effect, with MSG itself the most potent stimulus. A final experiment revealed that MSG preference in naive mice is enhanced by presenting the MSG and water drinking spouts far apart rather than side by side. Thus the preferences for umami solutions in mice are subject to influence from prior tastant experience as well spout position, which should be taken into account when studying acceptance of taste solutions in mice.
Pancreatic cancer cell proliferation is phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase dependent.

Abstract Background. Genetic mutations found in pancreatic cancer (K- ras, p16, p53) lead to inappropriate cellular proliferation. Mitogens stimulate proliferation via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)- and/or the p44/42-mitogen-activated protein kinase [p44/42-MAPK or extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)] signaling pathways. We examined whether inhibition of either PI3K or ERK could limit proliferation in human pancreatic cancer. Methods. Proliferation was stimulated in quiescent human pancreatic cancer cell lines (BxPC3 and Panc-1) by 10% fetal calf serum (FCS). In certain samples, PD98059 (an ERK inhibitor) or LY294002 (a PI3K inhibitor) was also added. AKT phosphorylation (indicating PI3K activity) and ERK phosphorylation (ERK activation) were determined by Western blot. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Cell cycle progression and apoptosis were determined by flow cytometry. A two-tailed t test was used for statistical analysis of the data (significance P Results. LY294002 inhibited the PI3K pathway without affecting ERK activation in response to serum. PD98059 inhibited the ERK pathway specifically. In both BxPC-3 and Panc-1 cell lines, LY294002 inhibited serum-induced proliferation. This was associated with G 1 cell cycle arrest and with an increase in the rate of apoptosis. PD98059 inhibited proliferation only in BxPC3 cells, and to a lesser degree than did LY294002. Conclusions. PI3K signaling appears to be necessary for G 1 -to-S phase progression and proliferation in pancreatic cancer cells. ERK plays a lesser role in mitogen-induced proliferation. Pharmacological inhibition of PI3K may decrease proliferation, increase apoptosis, and potentially confer therapeutic benefit in pancreatic cancer.
Histocompatibility antigens and primary open-angle glaucoma. A reassessment.

• Histocompatibility (HLA) antigen typing was performed on 306 patients who had been studied and classified carefully. Black individuals with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) had no significant differences in HLA antigen prevalences from black control subjects. In one white population with POAG, a significant decrease in HLA-A1, a significant increase in HLA-Aw31, and a significant increase in the antigen combination HLAB7 and HLA-Bw22 were noted. However, these differences were not confirmed in a second white population with POAG. We concluded that associations between the A and B loci of the HLA antigen system and POAG were not as impressive as has been previously reported.
Effects of deregulation on failing thrift institutions

The purpose of this paper is to test the hypothesis that much of the decline in the net worth of the failing saving and loan institutions was a result of deregulation. Variables are developed to represent major actions to deregulate SLtime series analysis is developed to estimate the effects of financial deregulation on failing thrifts' net worth. The data are 1984-89 balance sheet adn income statement data for thrift institutions, prior to the enactment of the 1989 legislation to solve the crisis. The reuslts of the analysis indicate that deregulation of asset and deposit activities was not the cause of the financial distress of failing US thrift institutions. The primary cause appears to be the increase in the federal deposit insurance limit to $100 000 and how attractive this legislative action made brokering deposits that became insured up to $100 000.
Certification of Vascular Centers – A Project of the German Society for Vascular Surgery

Objectives Due to the progress vascular medicine has made in conventional vascular surgery, endovascular procedures, and conservative therapy close, interdisciplinary cooperation is required. In order to assure the contextual and structural quality of vascular centers, the German Society for Vascular Surgery established a list of criteria for certification of each interdisciplinary vascular center. Material and methods Between July 2002 and December 2005, 77 centers have submitted a written application and have been audited by the commission for quality assurance of the German Society for Vascular Surgery, 59 vascular centers were certified for a period of 3 years with one center in each in Austria and in Switzerland, 13 centers were not certified (16.8%), and the applications of 5 centers are still pending. This analysis is based on 57 German certified vascular centers. Results Each center treats a median of 1149 inpatients (11% of these are emergency admissions) and 2159 outpatients per year. Sixty percent of the patients treated have an arterial disease. All centers have vascular surgery and radiology departments. In 11 out of 57 centers, angiology services are offered in cooperation with affiliated physicians. Each vascular center has an average of 4.2 vascular surgeons, 3 radiologists and 1 angiologist. All centers offer radiological and ultrasound diagnostics (CT angiography in 100%, MRT in 95%, duplex sonography in 100%). Each clinic executes a median of 521 (233–1436) arterial operations and 263 (37–1055) arterial interventions. In addition, they execute varicose surgeries (n = 217), shunt applications/revisions (n = 58), minor amputations (n = 57) and major amputations (n = 42). They conduct 338 (92–3606) conservative therapies per year (POAD, diabetic foot, phlebothrombosis, chronic venous insufficiency). Conclusions The certification of interdisciplinary vascular centers is a new approach to assure the contextual and structural quality of interdisciplinary vascular centers.
Depletion of melamine and cyanuric acid in kidney of catfish Ictalurus punctatus and trout Oncorhynchus mykiss.

A risk assessment conducted in 2007 identified significant knowledge gaps about tissue residues of melamine and related triazine analogs such as cyanuric acid in animals that had eaten contaminated food. The USFDA subsequently designed studies to determine residue levels in muscle, serum, and kidneys of catfish and trout given a single gavage dose of 20 mg/kg body weight (BW) of melamine, cyanuric acid, or 20 mg/kg BW of both compounds simultaneously. Renal triazines were determined by LC-MS/MS at postdose days 1, 3, 7, 14, 28 (and day 42 for trout). When dosed individually, melamine and cyanuric acid kidney residues depleted much faster than those in fish given both compounds together. Combined dose residue depletion was punctuated by extreme outliers due to the formation of persistent renal melamine cyanurate crystals.
Increase in tumor GADD153 mRNA level following treatment correlates with response to paclitaxel

Purpose: We investigated the relationship between the basal and treatment-induced change in the tumor expression of the drug resistance gene MDR1 and the cellular injury response gene GADD153, and clinical response to paclitaxel treatment. Methods: MDR1 and GADD153 mRNA levels were measured by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in tumor samples obtained by fine needle aspiration biopsy from 14 patients before and 24 h after paclitaxel infusion. Results: There was no difference between responders and non-responders with respect to either the basal MDR1 mRNA level or the change in MDR1 mRNA level at 24 h after treatment (P = 0.464). Likewise, there was no difference in basal GADD153 mRNA level between responders and non-responders. However, there was a significantly greater increase in GADD153 mRNA at 24 h in responders compared with non-responders (P = 0.005). An increase in GADD153 mRNA level of 1.5-fold or higher predicted response with a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 100%. Conclusions: An increase in GADD153 mRNA level reflects chemotherapy-induced damage sufficient to be manifest as a clinically detectable reduction in tumor volume. Measurement of the change in GADD153 mRNA level successfully identified patients destined to respond as early as 24 h post-treatment.
An Experimental Analysis of Seed Hoarding and Burrowing Behavior in Two Species of Costa Rican Heteromyid Rodents

This study compares the seed hoarding and burrowing behavior of two Costa Rican heteromyid rodents, Liomys salvini , an inhabitant of dry tropical forests, and Heteromys desmarestianus , an inhabitant of wet tropical forests. Because L. salvini lives in a more seasonal and physiologically stressful environment than H. desmarestianus , we initially predicted it would be the more intense seed hoarder and burrower. Results of two sets of five-day seed hoarding experiments indicated that both species cached seeds at a similar rate although H. desmarestianus initially reacted to a 300 gram pile of seeds faster than L. salvini. In both species females hoarded more seeds than males. L. salvini removed more seeds located in an “arboreal” beaker than H. desmarestianus. Both species probably hoard seeds to buffer seasonal fluctuations in food availability. In addition, physiological observations indicate that, unlike L. salvini , individuals of H. desmarestianus cannot tolerate weight losses of 20 percent and hence must hoard seeds to maintain a stable body weight. Results of two-day burrowing experiments in which rodents could choose between placing their nest in an artificial log or nest box or constructing a burrow system indicated that L. salvini is a more intense burrower than H. desma restianus. Eleven of 12 individuals of the former species constructed burrow systems, whereas all 12 individuals of the latter species nested in the log or nest box. Only when the length of the trial was extended to five days and the log and nest box were removed did 50 percent of the H. desmarestianus tested construct a burrow system. Field observations in Costa Rica indicate that live-trapped individuals of L. salvini are more likely to run to a burrow after being released, whereas individuals of H. desmarestianus are more likely to run into or under a log. Perhaps H. desmarestianus places its nests aboveground more often than L. salvini because the physiological disadvantages of burrow systems outweigh their advantages in wet tropical forests.
Mode selection and phase locking of sidelobe emitting semiconductor laser arrays using an external cavity with a narrow-bandwidth volume grating

A novel phase locked array design, based on direct reflection feedback among adjacent cavities using an external grating, is analyzed and proposed. As a result of both longitudinal and transverse wavenumber selection, caused respectively by the narrow grating reflection bandwidth and by the array geometry, only one among the free running cavity eigenmodes can couple into a phase-locked, collective array eigenmode. The coupled array mode is experiencing the high reflectivity of the grating and surpasses the low gain of the free running modes, experiencing only a much lower reflectivity from the cavity edge mirror (anti-reflective coating). Thus phase locking and single mode operation can be concurrently achieved.
C-22 ketals related to the sapogenins

Abstract Reduction of 5,6-dihydrokryptogenin diacetate with Raney nickel in ethanol reduced the 16-ketone group and gave a mixture of a 22-ethyl ketal with a hemiketal. Both undergo elimination reactions very readily to yield the Δ22-bond isomer of pseudotigogenin diacetate. The conversions are reversible and are catalyzed by acetic acid and in neutral solution by calcium sulfate and other surfaces. Alkaline hydrolysis followed by cyclization with acetic acid converted both the ketal and the Δ22-olefin to tigogenin. The relative stabilities of ketal epimers at C-22 are discussed and related to the stereo-chemistry of the sapogenins and the cyclopseudosapogenins.
The structure and allosteric regulation of glutamate dehydrogenase

Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) has been extensively studied for more than 50 years. Of particular interest is the fact that, while considered by most to be a ‘housekeeping’ enzyme, the animal form of GDH is heavily regulated by a wide array of allosteric effectors and exhibits extensive inter-subunit communication. While the chemical mechanism for GDH has remained unchanged through epochs of evolution, it was not clear how or why animals needed to evolve such a finely tuned form of this enzyme. As reviewed here, recent studies have begun to elucidate these issues. Allosteric regulation first appears in the Ciliates and may have arisen to accommodate evolutionary changes in organelle function. The occurrence of allosteric regulation appears to be coincident with the formation of an ‘antenna’ like feature rising off the tops of the subunits that may be necessary to facilitate regulation. In animals, this regulation further evolved as GDH became integrated into a number of other regulatory pathways. In particular, mutations in GDH that abrogate GTP inhibition result in dangerously high serum levels of insulin and ammonium. Therefore, allosteric regulation of GDH plays an important role in insulin homeostasis. Finally, several compounds have been identified that block GDH-mediated insulin secretion that may be to not only find use in treating these insulin disorders but to kill tumors that require glutamine metabolism for cellular energy.
Microwave-Induced Thermoacoustic Imaging Model for Potential Breast Cancer Detection

In this study, we develop a complete microwave-induced thermoacoustic imaging (TAI) model for potential breast cancer imaging application. Acoustic pressures generated by different breast tissue targets are investigated by finite-difference time-domain simulations of the entire TAI process including the feeding antenna, matching mechanism, fluidic environment, 3-D breast model, and acoustic transducer. Simulation results achieve quantitative relationships between the input microwave peak power and the resulting specific absorption rate as well as the output acoustic pressure. Microwave frequency dependence of the acoustic signals due to different breast tissues is established across a broadband frequency range (2.3-12 GHz), suggesting key advantages of spectroscopic TAI compare to TAI at a single frequency. Reconstructed thermoacoustic images are consistent with the modeling results. This model will contribute to design, optimization, and safety evaluation of microwave-induced TAI and spectroscopy.
Exploitation Competition in Mobile Grazers: Trade‐offs in Use of a Limited Resource

Mechanisms underlying competitive effects between two species of marine snails (Tegula aureotincta and Tegula eiseni) were examined; results indicated that the interaction involved exploitation of microalgae and not interference. A behavioral exper- iment demonstrated that an individual of either species was less likely to feed on a recently grazed patch when the prior forager was T. aureotincta. Both snails responded only to the amount of food available on a patch, and, except at very low food levels, the likelihood that a snail would remain to feed was identical for the two species across microalgal densities. Where food was scarce, T. eiseni was more likely than T. aureotincta to feed in that patch. Density-dependent effects on microalgal standing stock differed between the snails; at low grazer densities, T. aureotincta depressed food levels to a comparatively greater degree, whereas at high grazer densities, T. eiseni had a relatively greater effect. The relative growth performance of the snails differed as a function of available food: T. aureotincta had superior body growth at high resource densities, while T. eiseni grew comparatively better at low microalgal densities. Differences in effects on and growth responses to microalgae arose from dissimilar foraging characteristics of the snails. Compared with T. eiseni, T. aureotincta moved more rapidly while feeding, harvested twice as great an area per unit time, but was unable to crop microalgae as close to rock surfaces. While T. eiseni grazed a smaller area per unit time, it removed relatively more microalgae per area grazed. These differing suites of foraging attributes may represent a trade-off to harvest food at different densities: cropping closer to the substratum (area intensive grazing) yields more food when microalgae are scarce, but precludes grazing a larger area per unit time (area extensive grazing) through fast movement, which provides a greater food intake when microalgae are abundant. If an area extensive (moves faster)-intensive (digs deeper) trade-off is a common feature of benthic grazer systems, knowledge of this aspect could provide great predictive insight into the patterns and causes of density dependence arising from exploitation.
Effects of adenosine analogs and adenine nucleotides on adenosine 5′-diphosphate-induced rat platelet aggregation

Abstract Various adenosine analogs and adenine nucleotides have been tested as inhibitors of ADP-induced aggregation of rat platelets. The potent inhibitors of human platelet aggregation, adenosine, 2-fluoroadenosine, 2-chloroadenosine, carbocyclic adenosine and N 6 -phenyl adenosine, had little effect on rat platelet aggregation (0–30 per cent inhibition). The effects of adenosine or its analogs on ADP-induced aggregation of cross-species platelet-rich plasmas (PRPs) (human platelets suspended in rat plasma or rat platelets in human plasma) were similar to those with the native PRPs, indicating that these species differences were due to intrinsic factors in the platelets and not in the plasma. When these analogs were tested in the presence of the cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor papaverine, strong inhibiton of rat platelet ADP-induced aggregation was seen. 2′-Deoxyadenosine and 3′-deoxyadenosine were not inhibitory to ADP-induced aggregation of rat PRP even in the presence of papaverine. Adenosine 5′-tetraphosphate strongly inhibited both human and rat platelet aggregation. AMP, like adenosine, did not inhibit rat platelet aggregation but became strongly inhibitory in the presence of papaverine. This inhibitory effect was abolished by preincubating rat PRP with an adenylate cyclase inhibitor, 2′, 5′-dideoxyadenosine or adenosine deaminase. In the later case, however, if the adenosine deaminase inhibitor 2′-deoxycoformycin was included in the incubation mixture, the inhibition by AMP plus papaverine was similar to adenosine plus papaverine. About 50 per cent of [ 14 C]AMP was converted to [ 14 C]adenosine in rat platelet-free plasma or PRP after a 10-min incubation. α,β-Methylene-ADP and β,γ-methylene-ATP (200 μM) inhibited rat platelet aggregation by 50 and 64 per cent, respectively. Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase of rat and human platelets gave comparable K m , and V max values ( K m 0.53 and 0.21μM and V max 6.0 and 6.7 pmoles/min/10 7 platelets, respectively).
Urinary chemiluminescence in women receiving oral contraceptives.

Urinary tryptophan metabolites have been associated with the development of uroepithelial neoplasia. Tryptophan metabolites are increased in women receiving oral contraceptives (OC). Urinary chemiluminescence (CHL) may be related to the carcinogenesis of tryptophan metabolites and appear to be elevated in women receiving OC. This may theoretically impose an increased risk of developing uroepithelial neoplasia in women receiving OC.
Motor function assessment using wearable inertial sensors

We present an approach to wearable sensor-based assessment of motor function in individuals post stroke. We make use of one on-body inertial measurement unit (IMU) to automate the functional ability (FA) scoring of the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT). WMFT is an assessment instrument used to determine the functional motor capabilities of individuals post stroke. It is comprised of 17 tasks, 15 of which are rated according to performance time and quality of motion. We present signal processing and machine learning tools to estimate the WMFT FA scores of the 15 tasks using IMU data. We treat this as a classification problem in multidimensional feature space and use a supervised learning approach.
Developing and Analyzing a Local Gun-Case Database: The Process and Related Issues

To maintain public safety and improve system response, a strong need exists for understanding the characteristics of individuals involved in gun crimes, related police activities, and situational/contextual variables surrounding gun incidents. A serious knowledge gap exists, however, in understanding weapon-related offenses at the city level and in how to develop a local gun-case database. This paper, which is based on research experiences at an urban police department in USA, describes and analyzes the process and related issues in developing such a database. The study revealed a few critical lessons concerning this process, including those related to communication and cooperation between the police and researchers, quality of data, and importance of a refined dataset for improving local police policies and operations.