cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Response-to-stimulus interval does not affect implicit motor sequence learning, but does affect performance.

Nissen and Bullemer (1987) reported that implicit motor sequence learning was disrupted by the addition of a secondary task. They suggested that this effect was due to the attentional load that the secondary task adds. Recently it has been suggested that the attentional load is not critical, but rather that the secondary task affects timing, either by lengthening or by making inconsistent the response-tostimulus interval (RSI)-that is, the delay between when a subject makes a response and when the next stimulus appears. In six experiments we manipulated the RSI and found no support for these two hypotheses. An inconsistent RSI did not adversely affect implicit motor sequence learning. A long RSI did not affect learning, although under some conditions subjects did not express learning if the RSI was long. These results are interpreted as reflecting the effects of attention.
Numerical simulations of the incremental responses of idealized granular materials

Abstract Herein we investigate the incremental structure of several constitutive theories-elasticity, single and multiple mechanisms elastoplasticity, and vertex plasticity—in the case of idealized granular materials. Based on numerical simulations, we determine the incremental strains that result from a series of stress increments with an identical amplitude but different directions. Idealized granular materials are found to exhibit an incrementally piecewise-linear behavior that is described by elastoplasticity with a single mechanisms, and a nonassociative flow rule. The numerical simulations revealed no evidence for the incremental nonlinearities of multiple mechanisms plasticity or vertex plasticity.
Relative retentions of C1-C15 alkyl- and alkenylpyridines over different columns and at various temperatures

Abstract The relative retentions of fifty 2- and 4-alkyl- and alkenylpyridines were determined over four different gas-liquid chromatography columns and at various temperatures. The relation between the structure of the pyridines and their relative retention times is discussed.
Argument representation for editorial text

This paper presents a theory of argument representation for computer comprehension of editorial text. The theory has been implemented in a prototype system called OpEd, which reads politico-economic editorials and answers questions about their contents. The theory characterizes five major classes of knowledge structures: beliefs, attack relationships, support relationships, argument units (AUs), and meta-argument units (meta-AUs). During editorial comprehension, OpEd represents explicitly the beliefs of the editorial writer and his/her implicit opponents. Beliefs involve predictions about goals, plans, events, and states. Three types of predications are distinguished: evaluations about plans, causal relationships, and beliefs about beliefs. Beliefs in an editorial are involved in support relationships or attack relationships. An attack is a relationship between two beliefs whose contents involve mutually-exclusive planning situations or opposite effects of a plan on interrelated goals. A support is a relationship that consists of a belief, the justification for the belief, and a warrant (itself a belief) that connects a belief to its justifications. Belief justifications are based on refinements of plan evaluations, refinements of plan-goal relationships, analogies, and examples. Beliefs, attack relationships and support relationships are organized by AUs, which encode language-free and domain-free knowledge about argument structure and content. With the aid of domain-specific knowledge, AUs can be instantiated to model arguments in which an arguer refutes his/her opponent's position that a given plan should/should not be used. Arguments about arguments are represented as meta-AUs, which specify argument errors that result from either inconsistencies between actions and beliefs, or support strategies involving plausibilities, circularities, self-contradictions, or shifts on the burden of proof. Meta-AUs are represented in OpEd as attacks on warrants and are used to model discussions about the nature of valid reasoning.
Structure and dynamics of an imidazoline nitroxide side chain with strongly hindered internal motion in proteins

Abstract A disulfide-linked imidazoline nitroxide side chain (V1) has a similar and highly constrained internal motion at diverse topological sites in a protein, unlike that for the disulfide-linked pyrroline nitroxide side chain (R1) widely used in site directed spin labeling EPR. Crystal structures of V1 at two positions in a helix of T4 Lysozyme and quantum mechanical calculations suggest the source of the constraints as intra-side chain interactions of the disulfide sulfur atoms with both the protein backbone and the 3-nitrogen in the imidazoline ring. These interactions apparently limit the conformation of the side chain to one of only three possible rotamers, two of which are observed in the crystal structure. An inter-spin distance measurement in frozen solution using double electron–electron resonance (DEER) gives a value essentially identical to that determined from the crystal structure of the protein containing two copies of V1, indicating that lattice forces do not dictate the rotamers observed. Collectively, the results suggest the possibility of predetermining a unique rotamer of V1 in helical structures. In general, the reduced rotameric space of V1 compared to R1 should simplify interpretation of inter-spin distance information in terms of protein structure, while the highly constrained internal motion is expected to extend the dynamic range for characterizing large amplitude nanosecond backbone fluctuations.
Environmental Factors Affecting Flavor of Channel Catfish from Production Ponds

Abstract Environmental variables and the flavor of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were monitored at 3-4-week intervals during 1982 and 1983 in 11 ponds at Browns, Alabama, and during 1983 in five production ponds near Auburn, Alabama. Off-flavor in fish flesh was most severe in late summer when algal and actinomycete activity in ponds was greatest in response to high water temperatures and large daily applications of fish feed. However, some fish from all ponds were not off-flavor. For example, in August 1982, flavor scores for fish from 11 ponds at Browns ranged from 1.6 to 9.5 (a score above 9 indicates no off-flavor). The earthy-musty flavor of geosmin was the most common and intense off-flavor in fish. Regression analyses between environmental variables and flavor scores failed to yield strong or consistent correlations. Blue-green algae and actinomycetes, which are known to produce geosmin and other odorous compounds, were abundant in ponds with off-flavor fish; however, these microorganisms a...
Sustainability as Process: Community Education and Expansive Collaborative Activity.

For most of their history, two separate, but related, after-school education programs operated independently, coordinated by separate teams of university and community partners. When the existence of the programs was threatened, a community-university coalition formed in an effort to sustain them. This coincided with the university-community teams ' joint response to a reorientation of the statewide university system's policies on affirmative action. This article uses Cuban's framework of sustainability and cultural-historical activity theory to analyze a process of communication, collaboration, creativity, and continuing that resulted in sustaining the two programs as well as the expansion and development of multiple new programs (Cuban, as cited in O'Neil, 2000; Cuban, 2001; Tyack & Cuban, 1995).
Modifying Pugh’s Design Concept Evaluation Methods

The conceptual design phase poses a large degree of uncertainty on how the final design will perform and how much the product will cost. When engineers select a design concept, they rely heavily on their own perceptions. Under these circumstances, engineers evaluate concepts by comparing them to others (pairwise comparison), by using perceptual ratings, or by quantifying their beliefs about uncertainties. Pugh’s concept evaluation methods, the concept comparison and evaluation matrix, and the rating/weighting method are popular perception-based methods. This paper discusses potential pitfalls of Pugh’s methods and proposes modifications that use a perceptual rating to reference the target values or degrees of belief about uncertainties. Among these modifications, the preliminary comparative study suggests that evaluating concepts by probability of satisfying targets and performing the sensitivity analysis to test for the robustness of the evaluation seem to be the most promising approach. Hypothetical and illustrative examples serve in comparative study of these methods.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Perceived Benefits and Challenges of an Oncology Nurse Support Group

This study explores the perceived benefits and barriers of participating in a monthly oncology nurse support group. Ten oncology nurses participated in an average of seven support group meetings over a one-year period. Interviews were conducted, transcribed, analyzed, and thematized using qualitative descriptive methods. Clear benefits for oncology nurses are indicated; participants described a reduction in end-of-life care stress, an increase in self-care, and improved patient and team care. Barriers include scheduling and compensation, as well as group leadership labors. This study provides further confirmation that oncology nurses receive multiple benefits from the support group structure. Peer support groups for oncology nurses seem a promising and economical communication intervention for mitigating burnout, professional dissatisfaction, patient care distress, and interprofessional communication deficits.
Long Range Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Diagnosis of Friedreich Ataxia in the Clinical Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory.

Background: Friedreich ataxia, an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease, is one of the recently identified trinucleotide repeat disorders. Approximately 94% of affected individuals are homozygous for an intronic GAA repeat within the frataxin gene. The identification of this trinucleotide expansion as the causative mutation in the majority of affected individuals has resulted in the availability of molecular testing for Friedreich ataxia in the clinical molecular diagnostics laboratory. Methods and Results: A Friedreich ataxia protocol has been implemented using two long-range polymerase chain reaction-based assays primed with the GAA-F/GAA-R and Bam/2500F primer sets [1]. The amplified products are analyzed on precast minigels and visualized by Sybr Green staining. The GAA primer set, which produces a normal product of approximately 500 bp and an expanded product of greater than 800 bp, is used to approximate the size range of expanded repeats. Because the GAA primer set occasionally demonstrates preferential amplification of the normal allele in heterozygotes, the Bam/2500F primer set is used to verify results. Conclusions: This protocol has been used to analyze 42 specimens from patients about whom we had detailed clinical information. Concordant results obtained from the GAA and Bam/2500F primer sets, as well as correlations between clinical information and molecular results, indicate that, for the majority of patient specimens, this protocol allows rapid analysis and sizing of GAA repeats in normal and expanded alleles.
Wood as inspiration for new stimuli-responsive structures and materials

Nature has often provided inspiration for new smart structures and materials. Recently, we showed a bundle of a few wood cells are moisture-activated torsional actuators that can reversibly twist multiple revolutions per centimeter of length. The bundles produce specific torque higher than that produced by electric motors and possess shape memory twist capabilities. Here we also report that ion diffusion through wood cell walls is a stimuli-responsive phenomenon. Using the high spatial resolution and sensitivity of synchrotron-based x-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM), metal ions deposited into individual wood cell walls were mapped. Then, using a custom-built relative humidity (RH) chamber, diffusion of the metal ions was observed in situ first at low RH and then at increasingly higher RH. We found that ions did not diffuse through wood cell walls at low RH, but diffusion occurred at high RH. We propose that both the shape memory twist effect and the moisture content threshold for ionic diffusion are controlled by the hemicelluloses passing through a moisture-dependent glass transition in the 60-80% RH range at room temperature. An advantage of wood over other stimuli-responsive polymers is that wood lacks bulk mechanical softening at the transition that controls the stimuliresponsive behavior. We demonstrate using a custom-built torque sensor that the torque generation in wood cell bundles actually continues to increase over the RH range that hemicelluloses soften. The hierarchical structure of wood provides the inspiration to engineer stimuli-responsive polymers and actuators with increased mechanical strength and higher recovery stresses.
Regulation of Akt/FOXO3a/GSK-3β/AR Signaling Network by Isoflavone in Prostate Cancer Cells

We have previously shown that genistein could inhibit Akt activation and down-regulate AR (androgen receptor) and PSA (prostate-specific antigen) expression in prostate cancer (PCa) cells. However, pure genistein showed increased lymph node metastasis in an animal model, but such an adverse effect was not seen with isoflavone, suggesting that further mechanistic studies are needed for elucidating the role of isoflavone in PCa. It is known that FOXO3a and GSK-3β, targets of Akt, regulate cell proliferation and apoptosis. Moreover, FOXO3a, GSK-3β, and Src are AR regulators and regulate transactivation of AR, mediating the development and progression of PCa. Therefore, we investigated the molecular effects of isoflavone on the Akt/FOXO3a/GSK-3β/AR signaling network in hormone-sensitive LNCaP and hormone-insensitive C4-2B PCa cells. We found that isoflavone inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt and FOXO3a, regulated the phosphorylation of Src, and increased the expression of GSK-3β, leading to the down-regulation of AR and its target gene PSA. We also found that isoflavone inhibited AR nuclear translocation and promoted FOXO3a translocation to the nucleus. By electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, we found that isoflavone inhibited FOXO3a binding to the promoter of AR and increased FOXO3a binding to the p27KIP1 promoter, resulting in the alteration of AR and p27KIP1 expression, the inhibition of cell proliferation, and the induction of apoptosis in both androgen-sensitive and -insensitive PCa cells. These results suggest that isoflavone-induced inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis are partly mediated through the regulation of the Akt/FOXO3a/GSK-3β/AR signaling network. In conclusion, our data suggest that isoflavone could be useful for the prevention and/or treatment of PCa.
A point mutation produced a class 3 aldehyde dehydrogenase with increased protective ability against the killing effect of cyclophosphamide

Cyclophosphamides are pro-drugs whose killing agent is produced from an aldehyde that is formed by the action of a P450 oxidation step. The mustard from the aldehyde can destroy bone marrow cells as well as the tumor. Aldehyde dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.3) can oxidize the aldehyde and hence inactivate the cytotoxic intermediate but bone marrow has little, if any, of the enzyme. Others have shown that over-expression of the enzyme can afford protection of the marrow. A T186S mutant of the human stomach enzyme (ALDH3) that we developed has increased activity against the aldehyde compared to the native enzyme and HeLa cells transformed with the point mutant are better protected against the killing effect of the drug. It took threefold more drug to kill 90% of the cells transformed with the mutant compared to the native enzyme (15.8 compared to 5.1 mM of a precursor of the toxic aldehyde). Analysis of molecular models makes it appear that removing the methyl group of threonine in the T186S mutant allows the bulky aldehyde to bind better. The mutant was found to be a poorer enzyme when small substrates such as benzaldehyde derivatives were investigated. Thus, the enzyme appears to be better only with large substrates such as the one produced by cyclophosphamide.
Evaluation of various nitrogen sources and rates on nitrogen movement, pensacola bahiagrass production, and water quality

Abstract Movement of N through the soil profile under various N sources and rates was investigated in order to provide information that can be used to protect groundwater quality in Florida. The objective of this greenhouse experiment was to determine the distribution and leaching potential of various rates (0, 84 and 168 kg N ha−1) and sources ((NH4)2SO4 and NH4NO3) of N applied to Pensacola bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge). Bahiagrass sod was planted in PVC soil columns which were packed using each horizon (Ap, A22, Bh) of a virgin Myakka fine sand soil (sandy, siliceous, hyperthermic Aeric Haplaquods). Water was added to the soil columns once every 4 d and the effluent was collected from each soil column twice a week for a period of 3 months. Water and soil samples from each horizon (collected at the end of the experiment) were analyzed for NO3‐N, NH4‐N, pH, and electrical conductivity. Yield and tissue N were determined on grass samples harvested every 30 d. There was no significant differences in...
Middleware support for many-task computing

Many-task computing aims to bridge the gap between two computing paradigms, high throughput computing and high performance computing. Many-task computing denotes high-performance computations comprising multiple distinct activities, coupled via file system operations. The aggregate number of tasks, quantity of computing, and volumes of data may be extremely large. Traditional techniques found in production systems in the scientific community to support many-task computing do not scale to today's largest systems, due to issues in local resource manager scalability and granularity, efficient utilization of the raw hardware, long wait queue times, and shared/parallel file system contention and scalability. To address these limitations, we adopted a "top-down" approach to building a middleware called Falkon, to support the most demanding many-task computing applications at the largest scales. Falkon (Fast and Light-weight tasK executiON framework) integrates (1) multi-level scheduling to enable dynamic resource provisioning and minimize wait queue times, (2) a streamlined task dispatcher able to achieve orders-of-magnitude higher task dispatch rates than conventional schedulers, and (3) data diffusion which performs data caching and uses a data-aware scheduler to co-locate computational and storage resources. Micro-benchmarks have shown Falkon to achieve over 15K+ tasks/s throughputs, scale to hundreds of thousands of processors and to millions of queued tasks, and execute billions of tasks per day. Data diffusion has also shown to improve applications scalability and performance, with its ability to achieve hundreds of Gb/s I/O rates on modest sized clusters, with Tb/s I/O rates on the horizon. Falkon has shown orders of magnitude improvements in performance and scalability than traditional approaches to resource management across many diverse workloads and applications at scales of billions of tasks on hundreds of thousands of processors across clusters, specialized systems, Grids, and supercomputers. Falkon's performance and scalability have enabled a new class of applications called Many-Task Computing to operate at previously so-believed impossible scales with high efficiency.
Poorly differentiated follicular thyroid carcinoma with rhabdoid phenotype : a clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic study of two cases

Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas with follicular cell phenotype are not well defined. Different diagnostic criteria have been employed for these tumors, including solid growth, nodular, trabecular, and insular patterns. Cytologic features, such as a predominance of tall and columnar cells, have been considered to be diagnostic of poorly differentiated carcinoma. However, there is no agreement among surgical pathologists regarding morphologic criteria for poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma. We report two unique thyroid neoplasms that we interpreted as poorly differentiated follicular carcinomas. Nodular, trabecular, and sheetlike patterns predominated in both tumors. They were composed of cells that were focally immunoreactive for thyroglobulin and had large vesicular nuclei with prominent nucleoli. A variable number of cells showed rhabdoid phenotype. The rhabdoid inclusions did not stain for thyroglobulin but contained whorls of intermediate filaments that were vimentin positive. There were foci of necrosis and numerous mitotic figures. Both patients were adults and died with multiple pulmonary metastases. The presence of rhabdoid cells in poorly differentiated follicular carcinomas broadens the spectrum of tumors with rhabdoid phenotype. More cases are needed to determine whether the rhabdoid phenotype is a marker for poorly differentiated follicular carcinoma as well as an independent adverse prognostic factor.
Balloon dilation of postoperative right ventricular outflow obstructions.

Abstract Balloon dilation was attempted in 16 patients, aged 5 months to 19.5 years, with right ventricular outflow obstruction after repair of congenital heart defects. Stenosis of a valved conduit between the pulmonary ventricle and pulmonary artery was present in nine patients with a mean transvalvular peak systolic ejection gradient of 61.6 ± 21.0 mm Hg and a mean right ventricle to aorta pressure ratio of 0.9 ± 0.2. Supravalvular pulmonary stenosis was present in seven patients; in five, stenosis was at the anastomotic site after the arterial switch operation with a mean peak systolic ejection gradient of 72.2 ± 10.6 mm Hg and mean right ventricle to aorta pressure ratio of 0.93 ± 0.05. The other two patients had stenosis at a previous pulmonary artery band site with a peak systolic ejection gradient of 60 and 65 mm Hg and right ventricle to aorta pressure ratio of 0.75 and 0.72, respectively. Balloon dilation was successful in three of nine patients with a valved conduit; two of them had additional successful balloon dilation of the right pulmonary artery. In five of the nine patients (including one with successful dilation) the conduit was replaced 5.7 ± 4.5 months after balloon dilation. Balloon dilation was successful in only one of the five patients with supravalvular pulmonary stenosis after the arterial switch operation and partially successful in the two patients with supravalvular pulmonary stenosis at a previous band site. The success rate of balloon dilation of postoperative right ventricular outflow obstruction is much lower than that for other right heart obstructions.
Valence Band Electronic Structure of Cleaved Iron Oxide Single Crystals Studied by Resonant Photoemission

Synchrotron radiation has been used to perform resonant photoemission measurements across the 3p→3d photoabsorption threshold from cleaved Fe x O (x ≃0.945), Fe 3 O 4 , and α-Fe 2 O 3 single crystal surfaces. The resonant enhancement of the Fe 3d photoelectrons allows the Fe 3d-derived final states in the valence band to be distinguished from the overlapping O 2p states. Using well-characterized single crystals, the distributions of Fe 3d-derived states associated with the ferrous (Fe 2+ ) and ferric (Fe 3+ ) cations have been identified. The Fe 3d-derived states are found to extend about 18 eV below the Fermi level in each oxide, which can be attributed to a significant amount of hybridization between the Fe 3d and O 2p orbitals.
The class of operators of the form Σjλj φj ⊗ ψ̄j

Definition 1. Let φ and ψ be two given vectors in ℌ. The symbol $$ \varphi \otimes \overline \psi $$ represents then a transformation on ℌ, whose defining equation is given by $$ (\varphi \otimes \overline \psi )f = (f,\psi )\varphi $$ for f ϵ ℌ.
Formal methods and the theory of social choice

Social Choice Theory (SCT, see [2] for an introduction) studies social aggregation problems, i.e., the problem of aggregating individual choices, preferences, opinions, judgments, etc. into a group choice, preference, opinion or judgment. Examples of such aggregation problems include the following: aggregating the political opinions of a country’s population in order to choose a president or parliament, assigning college students to dormitories based on their preferences, dividing an inheritance among a number of people, and matching romance-seeking web users at an internet dating site. On the one hand, SCT analyzes existing aggregation mechanisms, e.g. the voting procedures of different countries or different matching algorithms. On the other hand, SCT explores different normative properties such as anonymity or neutrality, and the logical dependencies among them. The central results in SCT fall into the second category, the most well-known being Arrow’s impossibility theorem [1] and the Gibbard-Satterthwaite theorem [3,8].
Late onset asthma due to inhalation of Aspergillus niger.

Summary Clinical observations and immunological evidence are presented to support a diagnosis of late onset asthma due to exposureto Aspergillus niger in a 70-year-old man. Asthma occurred on only three occasions, each time approximately 6 hr after exposure to an area containing Aspergillus niger. His sputum culture contained the same organism. Immunological correlates using the Aspergillus niger extract included positive immediate and late skin tests, histamine release from leukocytes, and serum precipitins.
Youth activity versus youth fitness: let's redirect our efforts.

(1992). Youth Activity versus Youth Fitness: Let's Redirect Our Efforts. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport: Vol. 63, No. 2, pp. 133-136.
Synthetic MRI signal standardization: application to multi-atlas analysis

From the image analysis perspective, a disadvantage of MRI is the lack of image intensity standardization. Differences in coil sensitivity, pulse sequence and acquisition parameters lead to very different mappings from tissue properties to image intensity levels. This presents challenges for image analysis techniques because the distribution of image intensities for different brain regions can change substantially from scan to scan. Though intensity correction can sometimes alleviate this problem, it fails in more difficult scenarios in which different types of tissue are mapped to similar gray levels in one scan but different intensities in another. Here, we propose using multi-spectral data to create synthetic MRI scans matched to the intensity distribution of a given dataset using a physical model of acquisition. If the multi-spectral data are manually annotated, the labels can be transfered to the synthetic scans to build a dataset-tailored gold standard. The approach was tested on a multi-atlas based hippocampus segmentation framework using a publicly available database, significantly improving the results obtained with other intensity correction methods.
Facing Death: Buddhist and Western Hospice Approaches

This article draws on ethnographic data to examine how moral person-hood, emotions, and social relationships are constructed quite differently within two organizations with the similar goal of holistically caring for the dying. The analysis shows how the moral rhetoric and related practices at a mainstream hospice encourage volunteers to esteem a static conception of the self-as-character, whereas the Buddhist approach requires volunteers to engage in a process of transcending a self that is continually being worked on. The analysis points to paradoxes in the hospice conceptions of a “good death” and offers critical reflection on the assumption that Western and Buddhist approaches to hospice care are largely equivalent. Organizational, structural, and phenomenological strands of symbolic interactionist thought are drawn on to interpret these findings.
Characterization of a cis-acting regulatory element in the protein coding region of thymidylate synthase mRNA

Thymidylate synthase (TS) functions as an RNA-binding protein by interacting with two different sequences on its own mRNA. One site is located in the 5′-upstream region of human TS mRNA while the second site is located within the protein coding region corresponding to nt 434–634. In this paper, a 70 nt RNA sequence, corresponding to nt 480–550, was identified that binds TS protein with an affinity similar to that of full-length TS mRNA and TS434–634 RNA. In vitro translation studies confirmed that this sequence is critical for the translational autoregulatory effects of TS. To document in vivo biological significance, TS sequences contained within this region were cloned onto the 5′-end of a luciferase reporter plasmid and transient transfection experiments were performed using H630 human colon cancer cells. In cells transfected with p644/TS434–634 or p644/TS480–550, luciferase activity was decreased 2.5-fold when compared to cells transfected with p644 plasmid alone. Luciferase mRNA levels were identical for each of these conditions as determined by RNase protection and RT–PCR analysis. Immunoprecipitation of TS ribonucleoprotein complexes revealed a direct interaction between TS protein and TS480–550 RNA in transfected H630 cells. Treatment with 5-fluorouridine resulted in a nearly 2-fold increase in luciferase activity only in cells transfected with p644/TS434–634 and p644/TS480–550. This study identifies a 70 nt TS response element in the protein coding region of TS mRNA with in vitro and in vivo translational regulatory activity.
Government support for small- and medium-size business enterprises in Scotland and Wales since devolution

This paper summarises the findings of a recent review of government efforts to support Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Scotland and Wales since the devolution, in 1999, of some administrative powers from the UK central government in London to new national governments in Edinburgh and Cardiff, respectively. Although governed by London for many generations, the indigenous Scots and the Welsh have both maintained strong national identities. The Scots still celebrate St. Andrew's Day, when the national dish haggis is still served with ceremony at formal Scots functions. The Welsh, equally proudly, celebrate St. David's Day on March 1.
REACTIVE OXYGEN PRODUCTION AND DAMAGE IN INTERTIDAL FUCUS SPP. (PHAEOPHYCEAE)

The research described in this paper was designed to test the hypothesis that the differential stress tolerance associated with the vertical zonation of intertidal seaweeds is attributable to reactive oxygen metabolism. To do so, we measured the production of, and damage caused by, reactive oxygen in three species of intertidal brown seaweeds—Fucus spiralis L., F. evanescens C. Ag., and F. distichus L.— that differ in their ability to withstand freezing, desiccation, and high light stress. Fucus spiralis is the most stress-tolerant species and F. distichus the least. Reactive oxygen production was determined by measuring the production of H2O2 and the oxidation of dichlorohydrofluorescein diacetate to dichlorofluorescein. Damage caused by freezing, desiccation, and high-light stress was assessed by measuring variable fluorescence (Fv/Fm) and lipid peroxidation. Production of reactive oxygen increased following freezing, desiccation, or high-light stress. In general, the data were consistent with the hypothesis that reactive oxygen metabolism is involved in stress tolerance. The production of reactive oxygen was relatively low in unstressed seaweeds, and there was little difference between species. Fucus distichus showed the greatest increase in reactive oxygen production after desiccation and freezing stress. Fucus evanescens produced more reactive oxygen production after desiccation than F. spiralis. Although F. evanescens and F. spiralis produced similar amounts of reactive oxygen after freezing, this treatment resulted in an increase in lipid peroxidation only in F. evanescens (and F. distichus).
Monitoring the safety of quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine: findings from the Vaccine Safety Datalink.

Abstract Background In 7 large managed care organizations (MCOs), we performed a post-licensure safety assessment of quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV4) among 9–26 year-old female vaccine recipients between August 2006 and October 2009. Methods Sequential analyses were conducted weekly to detect associations between HPV4 exposure and pre-specified outcomes. The pre-specified outcomes identified by ICD-9 codes using computerized data at the participating MCOs included: Guillan–Barre Syndrome (GBS), stroke, venous thromboembolism (VTE), appendicitis, seizures, syncope, allergic reactions, and anaphylaxis. For rare outcomes, historical background rates were used as the comparison group. For more common outcomes, a concurrent unexposed comparison group was utilized. A standardized review of medical records was conducted for all cases of GBS, VTE, and anaphylaxis. Results A total of 600,558 HPV4 doses were administered during the study period. We found no statistically significant increased risk for the outcomes studied. However, a non-statistically significant relative risk (RR) for VTE ICD-9 codes following HPV4 vaccination of 1.98 was detected among females age 9–17 years. Medical record review of all 8 vaccinated potential VTE cases in this age group revealed that 5 met the standard case definition for VTE. All 5 confirmed cases had known risk factors for VTE (oral contraceptive use, coagulation disorders, smoking, obesity or prolonged hospitalization). Conclusions In a study of over 600,000 HPV4 vaccine doses administered, no statistically significant increased risk for any of the pre-specified adverse events after vaccination was detected. Further study of a possible association with VTE following HPV4 vaccination is warranted.
Safety of Improved Milbond-TX When Fed in Broiler Diets Limiting in Available Phosphorus or Containing Variable Levels of Metabolizable Energy

Improved Milbond-TX (IMTX), a hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate, was added to broiler diets at 0, 1, or 2% in 2 experiments. In experiment 1, three concentrations of available P, 0.22, 0.32, and 0.42%, were combined with the IMTX in isocaloric and isonitrogenous corn-soybean meal-based diets and fed to male broilers for 21 d. In experiment 2, the IMTX was added to isonitrogenous broiler diets calculated to contain 2,940, 3,020, or 3,100 kcal of ME/kg and also fed for 21 d. Deficient dietary P reduced feed intake and BW at 7, 14, and 21 d of age, but IMTX had no effect even when fed at 8 times the amount recommended by the manufacturer (0.25%) to ameliorate the toxic effects of feed mycotoxins. Similarly, increasing the energy level of the diet resulted in improved BW and feed conversion, but IMTX fed at 8 times the amount recommended by the manufacturer had no detrimental effect on chick performance. There was no interaction found between IMTX and energy or available P for any performance measure. Addition of IMTX to the diet above the recommended concentration of the manufacturer also had no detrimental effect on percentage of toe ash or excreta moisture.
Exact Euclidean distance function by chain propagations

Up to now, all the known Euclidean distance function algorithms are either excessively slow or inaccurate, and even Danielsson's method (1980) produces errors in some configurations. The author shows that these problems are due to the local way distances are propagated in images by this algorithm. To remedy these drawbacks, an algorithm which encodes the objects boundaries as chains and propagates these structures in the image using rewriting rules is introduced. The chains convey Euclidean distances and can be written above one another, thus yielding exact results. In addition, the proposed algorithm is particularly efficient. Some of its applications to skeletons and neighborhood graphs are described. >
The Effect of Altitude Change on Anemia Treatment Response in Hemodialysis Patients

Hemodialysis patients who live at high altitude use less exogenous erythropoietin but achieve higher hematocrit levels than those living at a lower altitude. The authors hypothesized that the effect of altitude would be strongest in hemodialysis patients with poor anemia treatment response. To explore this hypothesis, they studied anemiarelated outcomes in US hemodialysis patients who move to higher altitudes. Using Medicare and US Geological Survey data, in 1992–2004 they identified instances in which a patient moved from a dialysis center at an altitude of <2,000 feet (600 m) to one at a higher elevation. Of these moves, 5,274 were � 3,000 feet (900 m; the altitude group) and 25,345 were 250–500 feet (75–150 m; the control group). Among patients with poor treatment response at baseline, large increases in hematocrit and decreases in erythropoietin dosing were observed in the altitude relative to the control group. At 6 months, hematocrit had increased more in the altitude group (5.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.1, 6.2 vs. 3.7%, 95% CI: 3.5, 3.9), and erythropoietin dosing decreased more (4,600 units/week, 95% CI: 500, 8,700 vs. 1,700 units/week, 95% CI: 1,000, 2,400). No effect of altitude was observed in patients with better treatment response at baseline. These results support the hypothesis that altitude-induced hypoxia reduces erythropoietin requirements in hemodialysis patients with treatment-refractory anemia.
Impact of weight loss on the metabolic syndrome.

To evaluate the effects of weight loss on the risk of having metabolic syndrome after 1 year of treatment with lifestyle modification alone, pharmacotherapy alone (sibutramine) or the combination of the two. Randomized, controlled, 1-year clinical trial. One hundred and eighty women and 44 men, 18–65 years of age, with a body mass index of 30–45 kg/m2, free of uncontrolled hypertension or type 1 or 2 diabetes. Fifteen milligrams of sibutramine per day alone, lifestyle modification counseling alone, sibutramine plus lifestyle modification counseling or sibutramine plus brief lifestyle modification counseling. The metabolic syndrome, as defined by the Adult Treatment Panel III. Before treatment, 34.8% of the participants had the metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome was more prevalent in Caucasians than African Americans (42.5 vs 20.3%; P 44 years) than younger (⩽44 years) participants (47.5 vs 20.8%; P<0.0001). After 1 year of treatment, a moderate decrease in weight (8.0±8.7 kg) resulted in significant reductions in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome from 34.8 to 27.2% of all participants (P<0.02). Logistic regression analyses indicated that for each 1 kg of weight lost, the odds of metabolic syndrome were reduced by 8% (CI=0.89–0.97; P<0.003). Lifestyle modification either alone (P<0.04), or in combination with sibutramine (P<0.05), significantly reduced the prevalence of metabolic syndrome compared with sibutramine alone. The group effect was removed after controlling for weight loss. The metabolic syndrome was prevalent in over one-third of obese individuals who sought weight loss treatment, and the prevalence differed by age, sex and ethnicity. Moderate weight loss markedly reduced the odds of metabolic syndrome in this sample.
Temporal gene expression patterns in G93A/SOD1 mouse.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a generally fatal degenerative disorder of motor neurons that has no known cure. Many pathological processes have been implicated. However, the early, initiating events in the disease are poorly understood. We performed multivariate analyses of gene expression of 21 selected genes from categories including glutamate neurotoxicity, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, aberrant metal ion regulation, apoptosis, and abnormal microglial function on G93A SOD1 mice. These animals develop symptoms of motor neuron dysfunction at about 12 weeks of age, and die at age 18 to 20 weeks. We analyzed animals at both presymptomatic and symptomatic stages. Differential regulation of several genes involved in neuroinflammation, including TNF‐α, IL‐ RA, CD86, CD200R and Groα, was observed in presymptomatic mice, aged 6–9 weeks, while expression of genes representative of other processes was not altered until the animals reached symptomatic stages. Analysis of expression of inflammatory ...
A numerical study of the turbulent Ekman layer

The three-dimensional time-dependent turbulent flow in a neutrally stratified Ekman layer over a smooth surface is computed numerically by directly solving the Navier–Stokes equations. All the relevant scales of motion are included in the simulation so that no turbulence model is needed. Results of the simulations indicate that the horizontal component of the rotation vector has a significant influence on the turbulence; thus the ‘f-plane’ approximation fails. Differences as large as 20% in the geostrophic drag coefficient, u*/G, and 70% in the angle between the freestream velocity and the surface shear stress are found, depending on the latitude and the direction of the geostrophic wind. At 45° latitude, differences of 6 and 30% are noted in the drag coefficient and the shear angle, respectively, owing to the variation of the wind direction alone. Asymptotic similarity theory and a higher-order correction are first tested for the range of low Reynolds numbers simulated, and then used to predict the friction velocity and stress direction at the surface for flows at arbitrary Reynolds number. A model for the variation of these quantities with latitude and wind angle is also proposed which gives an acceptable fit to the simulation results. No large-scale longitudinal vortices are found in the velocity fields, reinforcing the conjecture that unstable thermal stratification, in addition to inflectional instability, is required to produce and maintain the large-scale rolls observed in the Earth's boundary layer. Comparisons of the Ekman layer with a related three-dimensional boundary layer reveal similarities of the mean profiles, as well as qualitative differences.
Lipidomic analyses identify injury-specific phospholipid changes 3 mo after traumatic brain injury

Phospholipid (PL) abnormalities are observed in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), suggesting their role in TBI pathology. Therefore, PL levels were examined in a TBI mouse model that received 1.8 mm deep controlled cortical impact injury or craniectomy only (control). The rotarod and Barnes maze acquisition and probe tests were performed within 2 wk after injury, with another probe test performed 3 mo postinjury. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analyses were performed on lipid extracts from several brain regions and plasma from injured and control mice collected at 3 mo postinjury. Compared to controls, injured mice with sensorimotor and learning deficits had decreased levels of cortical and cerebellar phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) levels, while hippocampal PC, sphingomyelin and PE levels were elevated. Ether PE levels were lower in the cortices and plasma of injured animals. Polyunsaturated fatty acid-containing PC and PE species, particularly ratios of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to arachidonic acid, were lower in the hippocampi and cortices and plasma of injured mice. Given the importance of DHA in maintaining neuronal function and resolving inflammation and of peroxisomes in synthesis of ether PLs, normalizing these PLs may be a useful strategy for treating the chronic pathology of TBI.
Clinical psychology in the twenty-first century: the wheel remains round.

The authors C.R. Snyder and T.R. Elliott in their article, “Twenty-First Century Graduate Education in Clinical Psychology: A Four Level Matrix Model” (this issue), reflect on the nature of training needed for optimal clinical psychologists, and offer suggestions for such training within a matrix model. Their position is largely consistent with current American Psychological Association preferences and general training guidelines, and has historical precedence. Indeed, the ideas, though not new or radical, are very sound. Amen, the wheel remains round. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol.
Escapability of singular configuration for redundant manipulators via self-motion

The goal of this paper is to study the behavior of general redundant manipulators near singular configurations, and investigate the escapability of redundant manipulators at a singularity. Escapability means that the manipulator can actually reconfigure itself from a singular posture to a nonsingular posture via self-motion. Criteria for the classifications of escapable and inescapable singularities are established. Examples are given to demonstrate the use of these criteria.
Ytterbium(II) Iodide

[19357-86-9] I2Yb (MW 426.84) InChI = 1S/2HI.Yb/h2*1H;/q;;+2/p-2 InChIKey = SJLISRWUWZVXNZ-UHFFFAOYSA-L (promotes the reduction of conjugated alkenes, leaving isolated alkenes unaffected;1a,2 effects the reductive cyclization of halo ketones with good diastereoselectivities3) Physical Data: light yellow powder; mp 780 °C; bp 1300 °C; structure determined by X-ray diffraction. Solubility: sol dilute acid, H2O. Preparative Methods: typically prepared in situ via oxidation of Ytterbium(0) metal with various organic dihalides such as 1,1-Diiodoethane or Diiodomethane;1a may also be prepared from reaction of ytterbium metal with excess HgI2 or from the reaction of excess ytterbium metal with NH4I and NH3.1b–d Handling, Storage, and Precautions: should be kept in an inert atmosphere; subject to hydrate formation.1
Burden of Norovirus and Rotavirus in Children After Rotavirus Vaccine Introduction, Cochabamba, Bolivia

The effectiveness of rotavirus vaccine in the field may set the stage for a changing landscape of diarrheal illness affecting children worldwide. Norovirus and rotavirus are the two major viral enteropathogens of childhood. This study describes the prevalence of norovirus and rotavirus 2 years after widespread rotavirus vaccination in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Stool samples from hospitalized children with acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and outpatients aged 5-24 months without AGE were recruited from an urban hospital serving Bolivia's third largest city. Both viruses were genotyped, and norovirus GII.4 was further sequenced. Norovirus was found much more frequently than rotavirus. Norovirus was detected in 69/201 (34.3%) of specimens from children with AGE and 13/71 (18.3%) of those without diarrhea. Rotavirus was detected in 38/201 (18.9%) of diarrheal specimens and 3/71 (4.2%) of non-diarrheal specimens. Norovirus GII was identified in 97.8% of norovirus-positive samples; GII.4 was the most common genotype (71.4% of typed specimens). Rotavirus G3P[8] was the most prevalent rotavirus genotype (44.0% of typed specimens) and G2P[4] was second most prevalent (16.0% of typed specimens). This community is likely part of a trend toward norovirus predominance over rotavirus in children after widespread vaccination against rotavirus.