cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recombinant silk-elastinlike protein polymer displays elasticity comparable to elastin

We evaluated the mechanical properties of the genetically engineered, recombinant silk-elastinlike protein copolymer, SELP-47K. In tensile stress-strain analysis, methanol-treated non-cross-linked SELP-47K films exceeded the properties of native aortic elastin, attaining an ultimate tensile strength of 2.5 +/- 0.4 MPa, an elastic modulus of 1.7 +/- 0.4 MPa, an extensibility of 190 +/- 60%, and a resilience of 86 +/- 4% after 10 cycles of mechanical preconditioning. Stress-relaxation and creep analysis showed that films substantially maintained their elastic properties under sustained deformation. Chemical cross-linking of SELP-47K films doubled the elastic modulus and ultimate tensile strength and enhanced the extensibility and resilience. The underlying conformational and microstructural features of the films were examined. Raman spectroscopy revealed that the silklike blocks of SELP-47K existed in antiparallel beta-sheet crystals in the films, likely responsible for the robust physical cross-links. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the various processing treatments and the mechanical deformation of the films induced changes in their surface microstructure consistent with the coagulation and alignment of polymer chains. These results demonstrate that films with excellent elasticity, comparable to native aortic elastin, are obtainable from SELP-47K, a protein copolymer combining both silk- and elastin-derived sequences in a single polymer chain.
Salivary gland transfer to prevent radiation-induced xerostomia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Salivary gland transfer (SGT) has the potential to prevent radiation-induced xerostomia. We attempt to analyze the efficacy of SGT in prevention of xerostomia and maintenance of salivary flow rates after radiation treatment (XRT). Systematic review and meta-analysis. Primary endpoint was efficacy of SGT in prevention of radiation-induced xerostomia. Secondary endpoint was change from baseline of unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates after XRT. Seven articles, accruing data from 12 institutions, met inclusion criteria. In a total of 177 patients at mean follow-up of 22.7months, SGT prevented radiation-induced xerostomia in 82.7% (95% CI, 76.6-87.7%) of patients. Twelve months after XRT, unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates rose to 88% and 76% of baseline values, respectively. In comparison to control subjects twelve months after XRT, SGT subjects' unstimulated (75% vs. 11%) and stimulated (86% vs. 8%) salivary flow rates were drastically higher in SGT patients. Salivary gland transfer appears to be highly effective in preventing the incidence of xerostomia in patients receiving definitive head and neck radiation therapy.
The development of genetics and population studies.

The contribution of genetics and population studies to physical anthropology as reflected in the pages of our Journal is traced since its establishment in 1918. Major trends include the use of more genetic polymorphisms, the search for natural selection and genetic drift, the unraveling of population structure in a wide variety of ecological niches, and the recognition of the role of culture in human biology. Nonhuman primates have also been explored from the viewpoint of population genetic. Emphasis has been increasingly on process rather than classification.
Supporting GPU sharing in cloud environments with a transparent runtime consolidation framework

Driven by the emergence of GPUs as a major player in high performance computing and the rapidly growing popularity of cloud environments, GPU instances are now being offered by cloud providers. The use of GPUs in a cloud environment, however, is still at initial stages, and the challenge of making GPU a true shared resource in the cloud has not yet been addressed.This paper presents a framework to enable applications executing within virtual machines to transparently share one or more GPUs. Our contributions are twofold: we extend an open source GPU virtualization software to include efficient GPU sharing, and we propose solutions to the conceptual problem of GPU kernel consolidation. In particular, we introduce a method for computing the affinity score between two or more kernels, which provides an indication of potential performance improvements upon kernel consolidation. In addition, we explore molding as a means to achieve efficient GPU sharing also in the case of kernels with high or conflicting resource requirements. We use these concepts to develop an algorithm to efficiently map a set of kernels on a pair of GPUs. We extensively evaluate our framework using eight popular GPU kernels and two Fermi GPUs. We find that even when contention is high our consolidation algorithm is effective in improving the throughput, and that the runtime overhead of our framework is low.
Development and validation of the Preschool Temperament Classification System for use with teachers

Abstract The purpose of the current study is to describe the development and validation of a new measure of temperament, the Preschool Temperament Classification System (PTCS). The PTCS was developed as a typological measure that identifies children's temperament styles as undercontrolled, resilient, or overcontrolled. The PTCS is a time efficient structured interview assessing children's temperament as it is observed in the classroom environment. During the 20 min interview, teachers classify all of the children in their class into one of the three temperament styles, rank order children within each temperament group, and assign an intensity rating to each child, indicating how well the child matches his/her assigned temperament group. Data were collected on 196 preschool-age children from 25 Head Start classrooms in an urban area. Teachers assessed children's temperament and peer play behaviors, and trained research assistants assessed children's school readiness. The PTCS classified children into temperament groups that showed expected relations to peer play competence and school readiness after controlling for age and gender, indicating good validity. Test–retest reliability was moderate to high. Overall the PTCS shows promise as a valid and reliable teacher measure of preschool children's temperament.
Ornithologycal impotrance of Gruža accumulation

Damming the middle part of Gruža River, in order to supply drinking and technical water for Kragujevac District caused appearance of Gružanska accumulation. This lake fills the depression of Knicko Polje between the Gledicke Mts and Kotlenik. As the ornithofauna of accumulation lakes, both in this country and abroad, is poorly studied, this paper presents the data on the state of ornithofauna of Gružansko Lake. The lake has an important role in migration of both native and foreign bird populations, but also as a wintering area for certain species of ducks and geese, as it is situated on the assumed Morava -Vardar migration route. During the research, 78 bird species were recorded and for 25 species it was proven that they breed in the area. Most species were recorded in the zone of strong anthropogenic influence, which is understandable as before the building of the dam and the artificial lake the Knicko Polje was dominated by agricultural land, mowed meadows and orchards.
The reproductive life history and blood meal sources of Chrysops hirsuticallus (Diptera: Tabanidae).

The reproductive life history and blood meal sources of the deer fly Chrysops hirsuticallus from Mendocino Co., California, were determined during 1971–1974. Nulliparous specimens predominated in late April and most of May, whereas uniparous and biparous flies constituted the majority of the late May–June collections. Two triparous flies observed in 1973 are the first recorded for wild-caught deer flies in North America. Egg retention increased with advancing gonotrophic age. Sweeping of vegetation yielded comparable proportions of females with their terminal follicles in developmental stages N to II (55%) and III to V (45%), with 85% of flies in stages II or V. More than 80% of flies hand-captured while attacking man were in stage II, whereas only 2% were in stages III to V. C. hirsuticallus is anautogenous at this site, since females reared from pupae and held alive for up to 8 days entered ovarian diapause in stage II by day 4. Mating preceded blood feeding, as spermathecae of all 17 host-seeking nullipars examined contained spermatozoa. Serologic analyses (capillary precipitin and passive hemagglutination inhibition tests) of 19 engorged specimens revealed that cattle and Columbian Black-tailed Deer were frequent hosts. Limited feeding also occurred on Blacktailed Jack Rabbit, Virginia Opossum, and Raccoon.
Application of conjugate‐gradient‐like methods to a hyperbolic problem in porous‐media flow

This paper presents the application of a preconditioned conjugate-gradient-like method to a non-self-adjoint problem of interest in underground flow simulation. The method furnishes a reliable iterative solution scheme for the non-symmetric matrices arising at each iteration of the non-linear time-stepping scheme. The method employs a generalized conjugate residual scheme with nested factorization as a preconditioner. Model runs demonstrate significant computational savings over direct sparse matrix solvers.
INELASTIC SCATTERING OF ELECTRONS BY PROTONS.

The inelastic scattering of electrons by protons has been measured at incident electron energies up to 5 $\frac{\mathrm{BeV}}{c}$ and momentum transfers ${q}^{2}=4{(\frac{\mathrm{BeV}}{c})}^{2}$. Excitation of known nucleon resonances at $M=1238,1512,1688,\mathrm{and}\mathrm{possibly} 1920$ MeV have been observed. The calculations for the resonance at $M=1238$ MeV have been compared with calculations by Adler based on the dispersion theory of Chew, Goldberger, Low, and Nambu. The agreement is good. Qualitative models are discussed for the other resonances.
Denationalized digerati in the virtual near abroad: The internet's paradoxical impact on national identity among minority Russians

This article focuses on internet use as a mediating factor in identity formulation and maintenance among the minority Russian community living within post-Soviet space, but outside of the Russian F...
The socio-economic gap

Abstract A prototype model is presented, to illustrate how quantified, longitudinal social indicators might be statistically combined into an overall Index of Social Health for the United States. It is recommended that such a model be adopted by some private or Federal agency, as a tool for systematically charting over time the quality of life, for social forecasting and planning purposes. Such a model would be analogous to the Gross National Project, and would have similar uses. Thirty time series, representing various aspects of the quality of life grouped into five areas, were chosen from the “Statistical Abstract of the United States.” In combination, they portray an overall decline in the American quality of life since 1966; the decline is attributable mainly to crime, delinquency and other measures of national morale. It is proposed that similar models be developed for metropolitan areas, states, regions, and other nations, for comparison purposes.
The effect of the sulfur induced reconstruction of the Pt(S)−[6(111) × (100)] surface on CO adsorption

Abstract The effect of the sulfur induced reconstruction of the Pt(S)−[6(111) × (100)] surface on CO adsorption was investigated using thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). On the unreconstructed surface, desorption states are observed from the (111) terraces and from the high coordinate step edge site. Following the sulfur induced reconstruction of the surface, a new desorption state, ascribed to the upper (100) plane of the two atom high step is observed. Lateral repulsive interactions between S and CO are found to affect the desorption energy on the (111) terrace and the upper face of the (100) step edge. SuIfurCO or COCO interactions do not affect the CO desorption energy from the high coordinate step edge site. Suppression of each CO desorption state appears to be due to sulfur site blocking, as sulfur coverage is increased.
Freeze-fracture study of malaria sporozoites: antibody-induced changes of the pellicular membrane.

SYNOPSIS Plasmodium cynomolgi, Plasmodium knowlesi, and Plasmodium berghei sporozoites, before and after incubation with immune serum, were studied after freeze-fracture by electron microscopy. There were evenly distributed numerous intramembranous particles (IMP) on the P face of the outer membrane. The E face of the plasma membrane had fewer IMP than its P face. The E face of the intermediate membrane had few IMP and also linear arrays of slightly raised ridges running the length of the parasite. The P face of the intermediate membrane had many IMP aligned along the long axis of the sporozoite. On the P face of the inner membrane. IMP were arranged in very distinct rows conforming to the long axis of the parasite; the E face of this membrane had a few randomly distributed IMP. A prominent change in the sporozoite incubated in immune serum was the appearance of a layer of aggregated particles around the parasite. The P face of the plasma membrane had several clear areas devoid of IMP and IMP aggregates. No changes were seen in the other fractured faces of the pellicle. These observations suggest that immune serum acts only on the P face of the plasma membrane.
Sphenoid Sinusitis Caused by Clostridium Perfringens

Anaerobic bacterial infections in chronic sinusitis are well described in literature. We present what is believed to be the first reported case of Clostridium perfringens presenting as the causative pathogen in paranasal sinusitis. This patient presented with severe headaches and, with CT and MRI findings of unilateral sphenoid sinus opacification, with bone demineralization and intrasinus calcification. This patient responded to endoscopic debridement and long-term antibiotics without sequelae.
Growth hormone levels in premature and full-term infants

to alter its antigenic and biologic properties, a new labeling method was devised. Purified human growth hormone was acetylated with acetic-l-C 14 anhydride, resulting in addition of 1.2 to 4.0 acetyl groups per molecule. Acetylated human growth hormone was demonstrated to be biologically (rat growth response) and antigenically (agar gel diffusion) identical to unlabeled hormone. This new labeling procedure permits studies of the chemical and biologic properties of growth hormone which is unaltered by the labeling procedure. The demonstration of the transport mechanism in human plasma represents the initial application of this new labeled hormone preparation.
Caution in the use of the apolipoprotein E e4 allele as a predictor of healthcare costs.

Healthcare payers of all types are interested in accurately predicting future costs. The e4 allele of the gene coding for apolipoprotein E on chromosome 19 (e4 allele) is a potentially attractive genetic marker. This could be used to set insurance premiums or determine whether an insurance policy is actually underwritten because it is a susceptibility marker for Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease and stroke. There is some evidence that the apolipoprotein E e4 allele is associated with healthcare costs. However, caution is warranted given the limited number of studies that associate the e4 allele and cost, and concerns regarding selection bias in studies that show an association between the e4 allele and occurrence of costly diseases. Until more is known, the e4 allele should not be used to approve or deny issuance of insurance or to set premium rates for either acute or long-term care insurance.
Terminal and four-coordinate vanadium(IV) phosphinidene complexes. A pseudo Jahn-Teller effect of second order stabilizing the V-P multiple bond.

Treatment of the four-coordinate vanadium neopentylidene (Nacnac)VCHtBu(I) (Nacnac- = [Ar]NC(Me)CHC(Me)N[Ar], Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3) with a bulky primary lithium phosphide LiPHR (R = 2,4,6-iPr3C6H2, 2,...
Differential recruitment of nuclear receptor coregulators in ligand-dependent transcriptional repression by estrogen receptor-α

Estrogen receptors (ERs) are normally expressed in breast tissues and mediate hormonal functions during development and in female reproductive physiology. In the majority of breast cancers, ERs are involved in regulating tumor cell proliferation and serve as prognostic markers and therapeutic targets in the management of hormone-dependent tumors. At the molecular level, ERs function as ligand-dependent transcription factors and activate target-gene expression following hormone stimulation. Recent transcriptomic and whole-genome-binding studies suggest, however, that ligand-activated ERs can also repress the expression of a significant subset of target genes. To characterize the molecular mechanisms of transcriptional repression by ERs, we examined recruitment of nuclear receptor coregulators, histone modifications and RNA polymerase II docking at ER-binding sites and cis-regulatory regions adjacent to repressed target genes. Moreover, we utilized gene expression data from patient samples to determine potential roles of repressed target genes in breast cancer biology. Results from these studies indicate that nuclear receptor corepressor recruitment is a key feature of ligand-dependent transcriptional repression by Ers, and some repressed target genes are associated with disease progression and response to endocrine therapy. These findings provide preliminary insights into a novel aspect of the molecular mechanisms of ER functions and their potential roles in hormonal carcinogenesis and breast cancer biology.
The brain first or the heart: the approach to revascularizing severe co-existing carotid and coronary artery disease

Combined symptomatic severe cerebralvascular disease and significant obstructive coronary artery disease frequently exist. For the past few decades, clinicians have debated the various treatment strategies for these high-risk patients including staged procedures and hybrid revascularization. While some recommend addressing the more unstable vascular territory first, others prefer to intervene on the carotids prior to performing coronary revascularization. Both surgical and percutaneous options have been explored in various clinical settings, but there are no treatment guidelines to date. Given the frequency and magnitude of this problem, we performed an extensive review of the literature in an attempt to add some much needed clarity. An illustrative case and recommendations are provided.
Lymphocyte alloantigens of the horse. III. ELY-2.1: a lymphocyte alloantigen not coded for by the MHC

A new polymorphic locus of the horse which has several unusual properties is described. The suggested name for the locus is ELY-2. The gene product of one allele at this locus, designated ELY-2.1, has been identified with antisera raised as a result of pregnancy. Antibody to ELY-2.1 was first detected on day 55 after conception in the serum of a mare in first pregnancy. This early onset of antibody is similar to that seen for antibody to ELA antigens, and suggests that the source of the antigenic stimulus may be the tissue of the equine endometrial cups. The antisera identifying ELY-2.1 are cytotoxic and kill all peripheral blood lymphocytes from horses carrying the antigen. ELY-2.1 is a cell surface molecule expressed on lymphocytes, erythrocytes, and platelets. Other cell types have not been investigated. The overall phenotypic frequency of ELY-2.1 in several horse breeds was 16%. The ELY-2.1 antigen is controlled by an autosomal, dominant gene which is not coded by the ELA region (the major histocompatibility complex of the horse), nor is it identical to the ELY-1 locus, which codes for another cell surface alloantigen of equine lymphocytes. Stimulator cells carrying ELY-2.1 did not induce proliferation of ELY-2.1 negative responder cells in mixed cultures of horse lymphocytes. Attempts to raise alloantisera to other alleles of the ELY-2 locus through immunization with lymphocytes were unsuccessful. It is possible that the alternate allele(s) does not code for a gene product which is expressed. The function and biochemical nature of the ELY-2.1 molecule are unknown.
Numerical solution for propagation of longitudinal waves along the geomagnetic field using a three-fluid ionosphere model

The propagation of ionospheric longitudinal oscillations along the geomagnetic field is investigated using a three-fluid model. The complete solution for the phase velocity and damping characteristics of the three longitudinal wave modes is obtained without approximating the dispersion relation.
Participative Democracy and the Transformation of the Citizen: Some Intersections of Feminist, Postmodernist, and Critical Thought

When understood as a public act of participation rather than solely as a private act of voting, political activity may be regarded either as an instrumental process in the pursuit of public ends or as a transformative process that fosters citizen development. In seeking to develop a discursive theory of governance, Fox and Miller have built especially on the notions of participative political process developed by Jurgen Habermas but, although they reject Habermas’s grounding in foundational moral principles, they have largely retained his emphases on both rational procedure and instrumental pursuit. Drawing on intersections of feminist, postmodernist, and critical ideas around the nature of the moral experience, this article seeks to envision an alternative notion of public sphere discourse, one grounded less in the rationality of argumentation and more in the nonrationality of human relationship.
Cholecystokinin-octapeptide suppresses stress-induced eating by inducing hyperglycemia

Abstract Intracerebroventricular administration of cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8) in unanesthetized, unrestrained rats suppressed stress-induced eating and produced hyperglycemia. Prior adrenalectomy markedly reduced the hyperglycemic effect of intraventricular CCK-8 and also decreased the suppressive effect of CCK-8 on stress-induced eating. Our data are compatible with the anorectic effect of CCK-8 being secondary to the hyperglycemia it produces.
Are US adults with arthritis meeting public health recommendations for physical activity

Objective To estimate the prevalence of US adults with self-reported, doctor-diagnosed arthritis (without specifying the type of rheumatic disease) who are meeting the US Surgeon General's recommendations for physical activity. Methods Using population-based survey data from the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, we classified respondents according to their arthritis status and their level of physical activity (i.e., physically inactive, insufficiently active, or meeting recommendations). Prevalence data were weighted to take account of the complex sampling design, and were broken down by a variety of demographic characteristics such as race, education, and body weight. Results Nearly one-quarter (23%) of US adults reported having doctor-diagnosed arthritis. Among adults with arthritis, 23.8% were physically inactive, 38% reported insufficient levels of physical activity, and 38.3% reported meeting the recommendations for physical activity. The highest prevalence of inactivity in adults with arthritis was found among those subjects with fewer than 8 years of formal education (47.6%), those with 9–11 years of education (35.5%), those who were African American (35.4%), those whose age was ≥65 years (31.1%), and those who were Hispanic (30.4%). Conclusion Despite the benefits of physical activity, more than 60% of adults with arthritis do not meet the physical activity recommendations. Efforts should be made to ensure that adults with arthritis are made aware of the benefits of physical activity, and that interventions are prescribed to assist these individuals in becoming more physically active.
Enzyme activity in human scars, hypertrophic scars and keloids.

SUMMARY Biopsies from non-hypertrophic and hypertrophic scars and from normal skin have been studied histochemically for activities of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide diaphorase, lactate dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, β-D glucuronidase and alkaline phosphatase. The activities of all enzymes studied except alkaline phosphatase were found to be increased in hypertrophic scars as compared with non-hypertrophic scars and normal skin.
A Neoclassical Model of the Balance of Payments

This paper analyses the transitory and long run effects of devaluation and tariffs, as well as the effects of alterations in the domestic money supply and the terms of trade, for a small country on fixed exchange rates. These issues are investigated in a self-contained dynamic optimization model of the sort popularized by Brock (1974, 1975). Familiar results in the trade literature are thereby explicated for the nonspecialist who is nonetheless familiar with Brock's work. There are some new results regarding the role played by income and substitution effects in determining the consequences of terms-of-trade shifts. This paper introduces a perfect foresight optimizing model of the monetary approach to the balance of payments for a small country on fixed exchange rates. The model is then used to analyse the effects on the balance of payments of devaluation, of a tariff, and of changes in the terms of trade. The effects of devaluation, tariffs, and changes in the terms of trade have been analysed previously within the framework of nonoptimizing models: Dornbusch (1973, 1980) and Anderson and Takayama (1977) have studied the effect of devaluation, Mussa (1974, 1976), Anderson and Takayama (1978, 1981) and Batra and Ramachandran (1980) have studied the effect of tariffs, and Rodriguez (1976), Batra and Ramachandran (1980), and Anderson and Takayama (1981) have studied the effect of changes in the terms of trade. Optimizing models in which real balances appear as an argument in the utility function are increasingly popular in international economics. The general approach was inspired by Sidrauski (1967) and Brock (1974, 1975). Recent contributions to the trade literature using this framework include Dornbusch and Mussa (1975), Calvo (1980, 1981), Liviatan (1981), and Obstfeld (1981 a, 1981 b, 1982). The purpose of this paper is to translate the conventional small country/fixed exchange rate model into this framework. The results are generally congruent with those in the nonoptimizing literature, which suggests that the money-in-the-utility-function approach works well here. Compared to the nonoptimizing literature, the real advance is that price adjustment and price expectations are endogenous and rational. Among the benefits are that one need not postulate the ad hoc price adjustment mechanism used by Anderson and Takayama, nor the backward-looking (and hence irrational) permanent income formulation used by Rodriguez.' Furthermore, there has been controversy over the balance of payments effects of a shift in the terms of trade. While the model's predictions on this issue are theoretically ambiguous, the model shows that the answer depends crucially on the magnitude of income effects. This clarifies the conditions required for a terms of trade shift to improve or worsen the balance of payments.
Beta-blocker treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure in children: a multi-institutional experience.

Abstract Background Dilated cardiomyopathy is the primary indication for heart transplantation in children beyond infancy. Although beta-blockers improve symptoms, ejection fraction, and survival in adults with congestive heart failure, little is known of their effects in children. Methods This study reviews our pediatric experience with the beta-blocker, metoprolol, at 3 institutions. We gave metoprolol to 15 children, age 8.6 ± 1.3 years (range 2.5 to 15 years), with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 9), anthracycline cardiomyopathy (n = 3), and Duchenne muscular dystrophy cardiomyopathy, post-myocarditis cardiomyopathy, and post-surgical cardiomyopathy (n = 1 each). All had been treated with conventional medications (digoxin, diuretics, and ACE inhibitors) for 22.5 ± 9 months before starting metoprolol. Metoprolol was started at 0.1 to 0.2 mg/kg/dose given twice daily and slowly increased over a period of weeks to a dose of 1.1 ± 0.1 mg/kg/day (range 0.5 to 2.3 mg/kg/day). Results Between the time point of stabilization on conventional medications and the initiation of metoprolol therapy, there was no significant change in fractional shortening (13.1 ± 1.2% vs 15.0 ± 1.2%) or ejection fraction (25.6 ± 2.1% vs 27.0 ± 3.4%). However, after metoprolol therapy for 23.2 ± 7 months, there was a significant increase in fractional shortening(23.3 ± 2.6%) and ejection fraction (41.1 ± 4.3%) ( p Conclusions Metoprolol improves ventricular function in some children with dilated cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. Further study is warranted to better define which children may benefit most from beta-blocker therapy and which beta-blockers are most efficacious.
Fast kernel conditional density estimation: A dual-tree Monte Carlo approach

We describe a fast, data-driven bandwidth selection procedure for kernel conditional density estimation (KCDE). Specifically, we give a Monte Carlo dual-tree algorithm for efficient, error-controlled approximation of a cross-validated likelihood objective. While exact evaluation of this objective has an unscalable O(n^2) computational cost, our method is practical and shows speedup factors as high as 286,000 when applied to real multivariate datasets containing up to one million points. In absolute terms, computation times are reduced from months to minutes. This enables applications at much greater scale than previously possible. The core idea in our method is to first derive a standard deterministic dual-tree approximation, whose loose deterministic bounds we then replace with tight, probabilistic Monte Carlo bounds. The resulting Monte Carlo dual-tree algorithm exhibits strong error control and high speedup across a broad range of datasets several orders of magnitude greater in size than those reported in previous work. The cost of this high acceleration is the loss of the formal error guarantee of the deterministic dual-tree framework; however, our experiments show that error is still amply controlled by our Monte Carlo algorithm, and the many-order-of-magnitude speedups are worth this sacrifice in the large-data case, where cross-validated bandwidth selection for KCDE would otherwise be impractical.
Bioavailability of Manganese from Feed Grade Manganese Oxides for Broiler Chicks

An experiment was conducted to study the relative biological availability of Mn from inorganic Mn sources using 288, 1-day-old male Cobb feather-sexed chicks. Chicks were fed a basal corn-soybean meal diet (82.5 ppm Mn, as-fed basis) ad libitum or the basal diet supplemented with 0, 1,000, 2,000, or 3,000 ppm Mn from reagent grade (RG) MnSO4.H2O, MnO RG, or feed grade (FG) Oxide A, B, or C for 21 days. Bone and kidney Mn concentrations were used to estimate bioavailability. Manganese source and level had no effect on chick performance. Uptake of dietary Mn by bone and kidney from all sources was highly linear (P less than .001). Based on multiple linear regression slopes from bone Mn concentrations, the relative bioavailability values of MnO RG and MnO FG A, B, and C were 81.9 +/- 6.0, 93.1 +/- 6.7, 75.0 +/- 3.6, and 70.3 +/- 5.7, respectively, compared with 100% for MnSO4; those based on kidney Mn were 85.7 +/- 7.9, 68.0 +/- 7.5, 52.2 +/- 4.2, and 53.0 +/- 7.3, respectively.
Oestrogen modulates progestin receptor concentrations in some rat brain regions but not in others

IT is now well established that progesterone can either facilitate or inhibit the effects of oestrogen on gonadotrophin release and behaviour1. Whether facilitation or inhibition is observed depends primarily on the time interval between exposure to oestrogen and progesterone, but the mechanism by which progesterone exerts these effects remains unknown. Attempts to demonstrate progesterone receptor sites within the brain and pituitary have given equivocal results2–10, leading to speculation that the central effects of progesterone may be mediated through a mechanism fundamentally different from that found in peripheral tissues1,2,6. More recently, however, several studies have suggested that oestrogen-inducible progestin receptor systems similar to those found in peripheral progesterone target tissues can be identified in the brain and pituitary if sufficiently sensitive and specific experimental procedures are used11–14. We summarise here work from our laboratory which indicates that, in the rat brain, there are in fact two anatomically distinct progestin receptor systems, one of which differs strikingly from the systems identified previously in neural and non-neural tissues in that it is apparently insensitive to oestrogen.
Impact of Fiber Volume Fraction and Resin Viscosity With Die-Detached Tapered Chamber in Resin Injection Pultrusion

Complete wetout of the dry fiber reinforcement by the liquid resin depends strongly on the fiber volume fraction and the resin viscosity of the part being manufactured by rein injection pultrusion. High fiber volume fractions and high resin viscosity values yield high pressures in the tapered resin injection chamber; this work investigates the use of a an injection chamber detached from the pultrusion die in order to lower the resin pressures inside the injection chamber caused by the injection chamber tapering. A 3D finite volume technique was developed to simulate the flow of resin through the glass rovings for a variety of resin viscosities and fiber volume fractions. The results illustrate the impact of the tapering of the injection chamber walls on the minimum injection pressure necessary to achieve complete fiber matrix wetout and the resin pressure induced inside the tapered injection chamber. The results provide important injection chamber design information.
Resolution of an excited-state reaction using frequency-domain fluorometry

Abstract We used the new technique of frequency-domain fluorometry to examine the excited-state deprotonation of 2-naphthol. The frequency response of the emission was recorded at various wavelengths. The phase and amplitude data allowed calculation of time-resolved emission spectra, centers of gravity and spectral widths. These time-dependent spectral parameters distinguished reversible and irreversible ionization of 2-naphthol. Frequency-domain fluorometry was shown to be generally useful for the analysis of excited-state processes.
Sensor Domain of Histidine Kinase KinB of Pseudomonas A HELIX-SWAPPED DIMER

The overproduction of polysaccharide alginate is responsible for the formation of mucus in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients. Histidine kinase KinB of the KinB-AlgB two-component system in Pseudomonas aeruginosa acts as a negative regulator of alginate biosynthesis. The modular architecture of KinB is similar to other histidine kinases. However, its periplasmic signal sensor domain is unique and is found only in the Pseudomonas genus. Here, we present the first crystal structures of the KinB sensor domain. The domain is a dimer in solution, and in the crystal it shows an atypical dimer of a helix-swapped four-helix bundle. A positively charged cavity is formed on the dimer interface and involves several strictly conserved residues, including Arg-60. A phosphate anion is bound asymmetrically in one of the structures. In silico docking identified several monophosphorylated sugars, including β-d-fructose 6-phosphate and β-d-mannose 6-phosphate, a precursor and an intermediate of alginate synthesis, respectively, as potential KinB ligands. Ligand binding was confirmed experimentally. Conformational transition from a symmetric to an asymmetric structure and decreasing dimer stability caused by ligand binding may be a part of the signal transduction mechanism of the KinB-AlgB two-component system.
Faith and Understanding: Specifying the Impact of Higher Education on Religious Belief

This study examines the impact of educational enrollment and attainment on several measures of religious belief using nationally representative panel data. Although college does not appear to substantially alter the religious beliefs of most emerging adults, findings do reveal a modest increase in skepticism toward super-empirical religious beliefs among college students and graduates compared to those who have never attended any form of postsecondary education. This effect is dependent on college type, with students attending elite universities exhibiting the greatest increase in skepticism. Apart from changes in super-empirical belief, graduating from college modestly increases preferences for institutionalized religion while simultaneously reducing adherence to exclusivist religious belief. Faculty commitment to secularism, the degree of student academic engagement, and developing social identities may play a role in religious belief change, particularly at elite universities.
Application of a computable model of human spatial vision to phase discrimination

A computable model of human spatial vision is used to make predictions for phase-discrimination experiments. This model is being developed to deal with a broad range of problems in vision and was not specifically formulated to deal with phase discrimination. In the model, cross-correlation of the stimuli with an array of sensors produces feature vectors that are operated on by a position-uncertain ideal observer to simulate detection and discrimination experiments. In this report, the stimuli are compound sinusoidal gratings composed of a fundamental and a higher-frequency component added in various phases. Model predictions are compared with three key results from the literature: (1) the effect of the contrast of the fundamental on phase discrimination, (2) threshold phase difference as a function of the fundamental frequency, and (3) the contrast required for phase discrimination as a function of the frequency ratio of the two grating components. In the first two cases, the predictions capture the main features of the data, although quantitative discrepancies remain. In the third case, the model fails, and this failure suggests additional restrictions on the combination of information across sensors.
An integrative approach for treating postherpetic neuralgia--a case report.

: This report describes the successful treatment of a patient with postherpetic neuralgia using traditional pharmacology in combination with acupuncture. Case Report: A 13-year-old girl developed postherpetic neuralgia following a severe attack of varicella zoster. Despite a 1-week course of intravenous acyclovir initiated at the onset of symptoms, the patient developed persistent left facial pain and constant nausea after lesions were healed. A comprehensive pain treatment regimen, consisting of a stellate ganglia block, medications, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and hypnosis, was administered, but the patient did not gain any incremental pain relief. The acupuncture service was consulted to provide assistance with this patient's pain management. A combination of body and auricular acupuncture as well as related techniques, including acupressure and transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation, was added to the pain treatment regimen. After 10 complementary acupuncture treatments over a 2-month period, the patient's nausea disappeared. Her left facial pain continued to decline from a maximum of 10 to 0 as assessed by a visual analog scale over a period of 4 months following self-administered treatments of acupressure and transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation. The patient was then gradually weaned off all her medications and the complementary acupuncture treatment. She was discharged from the pediatric pain clinic after 5 months of the combined therapy. Conclusions: Acupuncture and its related techniques may be an effective adjunctive treatment for symptoms associated with postherpetic neuralgia and deserve further study.
Techniques for Optimizing Results in Carotid Stenting

Carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) has emerged as a feasible and safe alternative for the management of extracranial carotid occlusive disease. The appropriate clinical setting, indications and techniques to maximize the benefit of this new approach are in constant evolution. The success of CAS relies not only on technique, device selection and management of complications but, maybe more importantly, on patient selection, peri-operative medical management and pre-procedural imaging and planning. The purpose of this review is to describe the peri-procedural and technical steps that can optimize the results of CAS.
CHOLESTATIC EFFECTS OF ALUMINUM IN RATS

Aluminum (Al) is found in parenteral nutrition (PN) solutions, accumulating in bone and liver of patients receiving PN therapy. Al is associated with low-turnover osteomalacia PN patients may also develop cholestasis (CS). We studied whether Al could intravenously(IV) 5 mg/kg/d for 14d (Group 1) (n=7) and 7d (Group II) (n=8) and 1 mg/kg/d for 14d (Group III) (n=6). Each group was pair-fed with littermate controls(C) given saline IV. Serum(S) total bile acids(BA), bile flow(BF), and A1 in bile(B) and urine(U) were determined. Results:
Size does matter: the effect of organizational size on customer satisfaction

Abstract Drawing from literature in both organizational behavior and service marketing and management, we develop a conceptual model for explaining the effect of organizational size on customer satisfaction. We propose that organizational size affects customer satisfaction directly and through the intervening variable of employee job satisfaction. We focus on the second effect since it has not been previously identified in the literature. We then use the model to provide an explanation as to why a large company/small company hybrid can produce higher levels of customer satisfaction than either the small or large organizations in isolation — an explanation that also has not been previously discussed in the literature. We conclude by exploring the theoretical and practical significance of our model for future work.
(When) Are Rights Wrong? Rights Discourses and Indeterminacy in Gay and Lesbian Parents' Custody Cases

This paper examines the paradoxical and problematic position of rights discourses in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) parents' custody and adoption cases. In it, I analyze the ways in which different types of rights are framed by the litigants and, alternatively, by the judges, as well as how the same constitutional rights (e.g., the right to privacy) are often deployed both in defense of and in opposition to gay /lesbian parents. An in-depth analysis of judicial decisions over a 50-year period and interviews with key family law players reveal the indeterminacy and therefore complexity of rights as a strategy and a discourse in the family law context. Consistent throughout this analysis are the problematic intersection of the collective and the individual in rights-based claims, and evidence of the distinct nature of LGBT rights claims as revolutionary in both their bases and their implications. The analysis confirms in some ways, but also contradicts and complicates many assertions of the “rights critique” of the past two decades. It also suggests a more complex and less dichotomous relationship between rights, status, and contract.
Extraction and Temporal Segmentation of Multiple Motion Trajectories in Human Motion

We propose a new method for extraction and temporal segmentation of multiple motion trajectories in human motion. Motion trajectories are very compact and representative features for activity recognition. Our method extracts motion trajectories generated by body parts without any initialization or any assumption on color distribution. Tracking human body parts (hands and feet) are difficult because body parts which generate most of motion trajectories are relatively small in relation to the human body. We overcome this problem using our new motion segmentation method. We detect candidate motion locations in every frame and set these locations as Significant Motion Points (SMPs). We obtain motion trajectories by combining SMPs and the color-optical flow based tracker results. These motion trajectories are used as features for temporal segmentation of specific activities from continuous video sequences. The characteristics of motions trajectories as features make the separate activity recognition for different body parts possible. We tested our approach on actual ballet steps. Experimental results show that the proposed method can successfully extract and temporally segment multiple motion trajectories in human motion.
Restoration of Fragmented Landscapes for the Conservation of Birds: A General Framework and Specific Recommendations for Urbanizing Landscapes

Humans fragment landscapes to the detriment of wildlife. We review why fragmentation is detrimental to wildlife (especially birds), review the effects of urbanization on birds inhabiting nearby native habitats, suggest how restoration ecologists can minimize these effects, and discuss future research needs. We emphasize the importance of individual fitness to determining community composition. This means that reproduction, survivorship, and dispersal (not simply community composition) must be maintained, restored, and monitored. We suggest that the severity of the effects of fragmentation are determined by (1) the natural disturbance regime, (2) the similarity of the anthropogenic matrix to the natural matrix, and (3) the persistence of the anthropogenic change. As a result, urbanization is likely to produce greater effects of fragmentation than either agriculture or timber harvest. Restoration ecologists, land managers, and urban planners can help maintain native birds in fragmented landscapes by a combination of short- and long-term actions designed to restore ecological function (not just shape and structure) to fragments, including: (1) maintaining native vegetation, deadwood, and other nesting structures in the fragment, (2) managing the landscape surrounding the fragment (matrix), not just the fragment, (3) making the matrix more like the native habitat fragments, (4) increasing the foliage height diversity within fragments, (5) designing buffers that reduce penetration of undesirable agents from the matrix, (6) recognizing that human activity is not compatible with interior conditions, (7) actively managing mammal populations in fragments, (8) discouraging open lawn on public and private property, (9) providing statutory recognition of the value of complexes of small wetlands, (10) integrating urban parks into the native habitat system, (11) anticipating urbanization and seeking creative ways to increase native habitat and manage it collectively, (12) reducing the growing effects of urbanization on once remote natural areas, (13) realizing that fragments may be best suited to conserve only a few species, (14) developing monitoring programs that measure fitness, and (15) developing a new educational paradigm.