cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonstationary time-series analysis of many-body dynamics

Abstract : A method for the analysis of computer simulations of ultrafast dynamical processes in many-body systems is presented, based on a joint time- frequency Wigner-Ville distribution calculated from the evolving particle velocities. This quantity has the interpretation of a time and frequency- dependent effective temperature, and the evolution of the distribution allows dynamical information about energy flow between modes and relaxation mechanisms of many-body systems to be obtained. This approach is illustrated for the example of vibrational relaxation of an I(2) impurity in an argon cluster.
Linguistic reconstruction and the construction of nationalist-era Chinese linguistics

Abstract This article examines the introduction of the Stammbaum model of language relatedness in China. In it, I focus on the (self-proclaimed) earliest “scientific” studies of the Chinese dialects by Chinese linguists, which were conducted in the 1920s and 30s by scholars returned from graduate study in Europe and the US. I argue that with the introduction of the genetic model of linguistic relatedness, the objects and methods of traditional Chinese philology were not so much rejected as refigured. The historical Tang dynasty standard that had traditionally been the object of conservative and often prescriptive philological study was reconstructed and re-imagined as a “mother language” for the Chinese dialects. This linguistic imagining was part of a broader interaction with Wilsonian discourses of national political authority, through which the Chinese government and many Chinese people were trying to negotiate their post-Imperial political authority and identity. This paper proposes that the earliest scientific studies of the Chinese dialects reflect a hybrid dialectology, in which “modern” linguistic-scientific understandings of language provide a new conceptual framework for practices and categories inherited from traditional philology. This hybrid dialectology, by marking the boundaries of Chinese linguistics within the field of linguistics, helped to mark the boundaries of the Chinese languages.
Quantifying effects of soil conditions on plant growth and crop production

Soil management decisions often are aimed at improving or maintaining the soil in a productive condition. Several indicators have been used to denote changes in the soil by various management practices, but changes in bulk density is the most commonly reported factor. Bulk density, in and of itself, gives little insight on the underlying soil environment that affects plant growth. We investigated using the Least Limiting Water Range (LLWR) to evaluate changes in the soil caused by soil management. The LLWR combines limitations to root growth caused by water holding capacity, soil strength and soil aeration into a single number that can be used to determine soil physical improvement or degradation. The LLWR appeared to be a good indicator of plant productivity when the full potential of water holding capacity on available water can be realized, such as with wheat (Triticum aestivum, L.) grown in a no-till system when the wheat followed a fallow period. A regression of wheat yield to LLWR gave an r 2 of 0.76. The LLWR was a poorer indicator of plant productivity when conditions such as low total water availability limited the expression of the potential soil status on crop production. Dryland corn (Zea mays, L.) yields were more poorly correlated with LLWR (r 2 =0.18), indicating that, under dryland conditions, in-season factors relating to water infiltration may be more important to corn production than water holding capacity. An improved method to evaluate in-season soil environmental dynamics was made by using Water Stress Day (WSD). The WSD was calculated by summing the differences of actual water contents in the field from the limits identified by the LLWR during the growing season. A regression of irrigated corn yield with LLWR as the soil indicator of the soil environment resulted in an r 2 of 0.002. A regression of the same yield data with WSD as the indicator of the soil environment resulted in an r 2 of 0.60. We concluded that the LLWR can be a useful measure of management effects on soil potential productivity. Soil management practices that maximize the LLWR can maximize the potential of a soil for crop production. Knowledge of the LLWR for a soil can help the farm manager optimize growing conditions by helping schedule irrigation and for making tillage decisions. The WSD, calculated from the LLWR and in-season water dynamics, allows us to evaluate changes in the
SU-GG-T-17: Optimal Dose Grid and Sampling Resolution for HDR Interstitial Brachytherapy Planning

Purpose: Investigating the influence of dose grid resolution on the accuracy and speed of a High Dose Rate (HDR) interstitial brachytherapy isodose plan optimization algorithm. Method and Materials: Using an adaptive simulated annealing algorithm we have developed a method to optimize dwell times for HDR interstitial brachytherapy planning. The cost function uses a logistic function based on generalized Equivalent Uniform Dose (gEUD) to maximize the target and minimize organs‐at‐risk (OAR) doses. Simulations for a cervix cancer case were run using up to 75000 iterations. Once the cost function converges towards its minimum value, an upper limit was selected for the iteration number used for subsequent optimizations. The time required for optimization also depends on the dose grid resolution. Optimizations were run using dose point densities ranging from 1–130/cm3. From optimized plans gEUD values were calculated for target and OARs. The sensitivity of the gEUD values relative to the dose point density was tested using two approaches: i) optimize once and re‐sample the space using different grid sizes, ii) re‐sample and re‐optimize using different grid sizes. Results: The cost function of the gEUD‐based optimization model converges toward its minimum for all grid sizes tested. For 25000 iterations the time required for optimization can reach 4600 seconds for 130 points/cm3. In general, the uncertainty of gEUD values decreases as the dose point density increases, however the resample‐reoptimization scheme results in smaller uncertainties in gEUD calculations. For the dose point density of 40 points/cm3, corresponding to a grid size of 2.5×2.5×4 mm3, the optimized gEUD values have uncertainties within 1%. Conclusion:Dose point density has strong influence on the optimization results and computing speed. Our results show that fewer dose points could speed up the optimization but at least 40 points/cm3 are needed to ensure optimized gEUD values within 1% uncertainties.
The Heritability of Shell Morphometrics in the Freshwater Pulmonate Gastropod Physa

The cosmopolitan freshwater pulmonate snail Physa acuta hybridizes readily with Physa carolinae in the laboratory, although their F1 progeny are sterile. The two species differ qualitatively in shell shape, the former bearing a more globose shell and the latter more fusiform. We performed a hybridization experiment, measuring a set of 14 traditional (linear) and landmark-based shell morphological variables on even-aged parents and their offspring from both hybrids and purebred control lines. Parent-offspring regression yielded a strikingly high heritability estimate for score on the first relative warp axis, h2 = 0.819 ± 0.073, a result that would seem to confirm the value of geometric morphometrics as a tool for retrieving evolutionary relationships from gastropod shell form. Score on the second relative warp axis was also significantly heritable (h2 = 0.312 ± 0.123), although more moderate, as were scores on second principal components extracted from traditional measurements (correlation h2 = 0.308 ± 0.069, covariance h2 = 0.314 ± 0.050). Although score on the first relative warp axis was significantly correlated with centroid size (p < 0.001), scores on none of the three second axes were so correlated. This result suggests that second axis score might prove especially useful for estimating genetic divergence among mixed-age populations of gastropods sampled from the field.
Light Induced Changes in the Conductivity of Thin Lipid Membranes in the Presence of Iodine and Iodide Ion

SINCE the announcement by Mueller et al.1 of a technique for forming thin (<100 A) lipid membranes separating two aqueous phases, there has been a growing interest in the permeability of these films to ions, neutral solutes and water. In the absence of any modifying agents, the membranes have resistances of approximately 108 Ω cm2 in 0.1 M salt solutions1. In the presence of both iodine and iodide ions, the membrane resistance falls to values of 104 Ω cm2 or lower2,3. In this state the membrane behaves as an ideal iodide ion electrode. The current carriers in the membrane appear to be polyiodides (for example, I5−), which, because of their large size and delocalized charge, have sufficient solubility in the low dielectric constant, hydrophobic interior of the membrane to enter this phase. We have now found that in this state the membrane responds to brief pulses of light in the near ultraviolet with a fast (rise time < 40 µs) decrease in conductance (1 per cent) followed by a recovery of the conductance to its original value with a time course measured in milliseconds.
Stand-off detection of mixed radiation fields

The goal of this study is to present unconventional detection and imaging principles which may lead to novel detection and characterization methodologies for standoff detection of radiation. While there currently are a number of effective technologies and methodologies for nuclear detection based on direct and indirect-ionization detector architectures operating on radiation counting techniques, the problem of detecting nuclear radiation at significant standoff distances remains one of the most difficult and most important challenges. The phenomenology of alternative signatures, a physical algorithm aimed to assess remotely biological hazards of nuclear radiation, and the design of efficient standoff detection architectures are presented.
Refusal Skill Ability: An Examination of Adolescent Perceptions of Effectiveness

This pilot study examined whether refusal assertion as defined by a proven drug prevention program was associated with adolescent perceptions of effectiveness by comparing two sets of coded responses to adolescent videotaped refusal role-plays (N = 63). The original set of codes was defined by programmatic standards of refusal assertion and the second by a group of high school interns. Consistency with programming criteria was found for interns’ ratings of several indicators of verbal and non-verbal assertiveness. However, a strategy previously defined by the program as effective was perceived as ineffective by adolescents while another deemed ineffective and problematic by intervention developers was viewed as effective. Interns endorsed presenting detailed and reasonable arguments as an effective refusal strategy while short, simple statements were deemed ineffective. This study suggests the importance of including adolescent perspectives in the design, delivery, and evaluation of drug prevention strategies.
A comparison of methods for modeling the effect of axial divergence in powder diffraction

The Edgeworth series model for the modification of diffraction peak shapes because of axial divergence is compared with the peak shapes computed by a numerical convolution method that is computationally slow. It is shown that if the width of an approximately Gaussian instrumental peak shape is comparable with the width of the modifying function, a condition that is generally satisfied in fixed-wavelength neutron diffraction and in many laboratory X-ray diffraction instruments, but not with synchrotron X-ray instruments, the Edgeworth model is nearly identical to the convolution model, while the computation is much simpler.
Surface-wave correlator with inclined transducer

The use of an inclined output transducer with a 127-tap fixed-code correlator is described. The advantages of this layout for long correlators are shown to be increased tapping levels and a reduction in cumulative 2nd-order distortional effects.
Generalized perturbation theory of coherent optical emission.

A generalized perturbation theory is developed for an inhomogeneously broadened two-level quantum system interacting with an optical field of arbitrary temporal shape. Solutions of the Liouville equation carried out to nth order in the optical field strength exhibit a rephasing behavior and therefore are interpreted as an n-pulse echo where each pulse corresponds to one power of the field strength. We conclude that at low fields any coherence effect can be interpreted as a generalized stimulated echo phenomenon. Several well-understood coherence effects are explained and a few new ones are predicted, including one example where the light source is incoherent.
Metabolic studies in isolated rat liver cells: I. Lipid synthesis

Rat liver cells, isolated by chelate perfusion and extrusion through a tissue press, incorporated labeled acetate into cellular lipids and into lipids released into the suspending medium. Optimal rates of incorporation required supplementation of tris-KCl medium with Mg++, Mn++, succinate, citrate, nicotinamide, Coenzyme A, NADP and glucose-6-phosphate. The rate of acetate incorporation was markedly altered by changes in incubation media; tris-KCl was the most effective buffer. All the major classes of cellular lipids were labeled. ATP, BSA, inorganic phosphate, Ca++, 2,4-dinitrophenol and sodium clofibrate were potent inhibitors of acetate incorporation. When added to the incubation mixture, several hormones altered the rate of acetate incorporation into lipids.
Global optimization of nonconvex NLPs and MINLPs with applications in process design

Abstract This paper presents an algorithm for finding global solutions of nonconvex nonlinear programs (NLPs) and mixed-integer nonlinear programs (MINLPs). The approach is based on the solution of a sequence of convex underestimating subproblems generated by evolutionary subdivision of the search region. The key components of the algorithm are new optimality-based and feasibility-based range reduction tests. The former use known feasible solutions and perturbation results to exclude inferior parts of the search region from consideration, while the latter analyze constraints to obtain valid inequalities. Furthermore, the algorithm integrates these devices with an efficient local search heuristic. Computational results demonstrate that the algorithm compares very favorably to several other current approaches when applied to a large collection of global optimization and process design problems. It is typically faster, requires less storage and it produces more accurate results.
Pattern Recognition as Guide for Establishing Minimum Sampling Requirements in Regional Stratigraphic Studies: ABSTRACT

The recognition of spatial order for facies defined within a sedimentary depositional framework has been accomplished traditionally by descriptive methods. This approach has limited the progress made at attempts to establish minimum sampling requirements necessary to delimit the major depositional patterns in regional stratigraphic studies. A more quantitative approach can be taken if one considers the spatial arrangement of facies as a problem in multivariate pattern recognition. This has led to the development of a statistical method for analyzing multiphase mosaics expressed in map form. Nearest-neighbor theory has been combined with cross-association analysis to provide estimates of geometric parameters defined for different classes of depositional environments. On th basis of areally sampled data, a derived pattern can be judged either as being random, in which more detailed sampling is indicated, or as being nonrandom, in which the observed pattern is compared with one of several reference patterns whose geometric parameters are specified. The sample size required to attain any desired level of correspondence for any given reference pattern can be established. The Mississippi deltaic plain was chosen as a test example of the method. Based on areal sampling, a 10% random sample is sufficient to delineate the major depositional framework, and a followup 30% systematic sample is sufficient to delineate the major facies trends. Considering the increasing cost of data storage End_Page 859------------------------------ and retrieval, this approach has potential value for future planning of regional subsurface stratigraphic studies. End_of_Article - Last_Page 860------------
Collaboration and social interaction in Physical Education classes: Experience with the use of exergames

Gaming is already a widespread activity in the world nowadays. With the novelty of Exergames, an alternative form of entertainment and exercise, new educational resources emerged especially for Physical Education classes. Within this perspective, in this study we present an experiment with the use of exergames in Physical Education classes in which we observed how organized practices with small groups of students can generate collaboration and companionship. The study considered mainly students who were not keen in taking part of the regular Physical Education classes, children and adolescents from eight to fourteen years old. Our research methodology followed a non-participant and participant observation approach. Students were observed for a period of five months in an Exergames Lab at the Brazilian-Israeli School located in Porto Alegre, Brazil. A total of 24 students, of both genders, participated in the experiment. Results showed that students were collaborative and helpful in the group work as well as more confident to practice sports and other physical activities with the exergames in small groups.
Fast Estimation of the Modal Position for Unimodally Distributed Data

This study proposes a new approach for fast estimation of the position of the modal concentration, and consequently, its value, drawn from a unimodally distributed and sorted set of data. In terms of only five specific percentile values, the proposed procedure estimates the position of the modal concentration of unimodal curves with a relatively high accuracy. These five percentile values in particular, 5th, 16th, 50th, 84th, and 95th can be easily accessed from any given sorted distribution, regardless of the number of records in the database. The whole approach is based on the formula for Inclusive Graphic Skewness. Besides being one of the essential statistical parameters, the mode and the information about its location may be useful in other domains, such as searching non-uniform distributions, qualitative description of data, etc.
Archaeological Amerindian and Eskimo cranioskeletal size variation along coastal western North America: relation to climate, the reconstructed diet high in marine animal foods, and demographic stress

A quantitative bioenvironmental study of cranioskeletal size has been made of a latitude-ordered sequence of 14 series of adult skeleton sets (N=305): the archaeological remains of aboriginal maritime peoples inhabiting the west coast of North America between southern California and the Arctic. Of eight osteometric parameters of cranioskeletal size developed, the most important are partial skeleton volume (PSK) and cranial capacity (CC); and the principal bone-affecting environmental factors are the northerly climate (CLIM2c), the reconstructed diet deficient in calcium and overabundant in animal foods and vitamin D (DIET3c), and demographic stress (DSg). Prior research has demonstrated that cranioskeletal size increases with geographical latitude and decreases under dietary calcioprivation and unphysiologically high birth rates. Upon linear multifactorial statistical analysis our main finding, limited to the Amerindian subsequence (n=11 series) from the Santa Barbara Channel, the San Francisco Bay Region and the Northwest Coast, is that PSK and CC vary in direct proportion to CLIM2c, and inversely with DIET3c and DSg. Controlling for the latter two osteoantitrophic factors, coastal Amerindian female PSK rises by 9% between 34 and 54°N latitude, CC by 5%; and the male incremental rates are somewhat higher, 13 and 10%, respectively. This newly discovered climate-dependent race cline, an example of Bergmann's Rule, is interpreted as factual evidence of a mid-Wisconsin or earlier arrival date for the first Palaeoindians. Cranioskeletal size of the very small (n=3 series) Western Eskimo subsequence approximates the northernmost values of the coastal Amerindian distribution. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Acute Aortic Syndrome and Acute Traumatic Aortic Injury

Acute aortic syndrome (AAS) describes the acute presentation of patients with characteristic “aortic pain” caused by one of several thoracic aortic pathologies. These include aortic dissection, intramural hematoma, and penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer. Each entity has specific imaging features, although overlap between entities does exist. Acute thoracic aortic injury (ATAI) is most often encountered in patients with multisystem trauma. Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) is the diagnostic study of choice in emergent settings for evaluation of aortic injury, which often carries a high morbidity and mortality if not rapidly diagnosed and treated. Recognition of direct and indirect signs of aortic injury is paramount, as patients with ATAI must be rapidly treated. Imaging plays a critical role in AAS and ATAI. Chest radiography is useful in initial evaluation of AAS and ATAI, but its sensitivity is limited, especially for evaluation of the ascending aorta. 1 Aortography, once the mainstay of thoracic aortic evaluation, has been nearly replaced by CTA and is now the most widely used and accepted imaging modality for aortic evaluation. 2,3 Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is also very useful in evaluation of aortic disease but has a less established role in the emergency setting.
Obesity-Hypoventilation in Childhood

Abstract Data obtained in the evaluation of seven children diagnosed with obesity-hypoventilation are examined. The classic features of this syndrome are reviewed and found to be indicative of late disease. Reliance upon these features may lead to underdiagnosis. New diagnostic criteria, allowing for earlier recognition, are proposed. Consideration is also given to the identification of exogenous and endogenous subtypes of the disorder, based on distinguishing clinical features. A comprehensive approach to management of this disorder is presented.
Identification and quantitation of acyl thioesters by thin-layer chromatography of hydroxamic acid derivatives.

Abstract The reaction between medium and long chain fatty acyl thioesters and neutral hydroxylamine results in the formation of acyl hydroxamic acids. Separation and identification of acyl hydroxamates is facilitated by conversion of these compounds to their acetyl derivatives. Thin-layer chromatoplate and solvent systems are described which permit the separation of the acetyl acyl hydroxamates on the basis of degree of unsaturation and on the basis of chain length (C6–C18).
Diffusion activities in college laboratory manuals

Many have called for reform of the science curriculum to incorporate the process of inquiry: this has been shown to improve student understanding of biological concepts. Laboratory activities provide excellent opportunities to incorporate inquiry in to the curriculum. This study used a modified version of the Laboratory Task Analysis Instrument (LAI) to analyse diffusion activities in 10 manuals available to two-year and four-year colleges in the United States. The analyses revealed that most manuals did not include much inquiry, similar to previous studies of high school laboratory manuals. Furthermore, they often failed to engage students in the planning and design of the activity, and they did not encourage students to apply what they learned in a broader context — two essential components of inquiry. This study showed the need for educators to review the materials that are available and implement changes that would promote the use of inquiry.
Minocycline, often forgotten but preferred to trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole or doxycycline for the treatment of community-acquired meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin and soft-tissue infections

Treatment of uncomplicated skin and soft-tissue abscesses caused by meticillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus or meticillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is problematic. Incision and drainage aside, oral antibiotic therapy for uncomplicated community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) is limited and frequent choices include clindamycin, doxycycline or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX). The most common oral antibiotics used for CA-MRSA are doxycycline or TMP-SMX, which often fail to eradicate the infection. With MRSA, in vitro susceptibilities do not always predict in vivo effectiveness. In situations where doxycycline or TMP-SMX fails in the treatment of uncomplicated cutaneous abscesses due to CA-MRSA, minocycline is reliably effective.
Functional brain imaging with a supercontinuum time-domain NIRS system

We have developed the second generation of our time-domain near-infrared spectroscopy (TD-NIRS) system for baseline and functional brain imaging. The instrument uses a pulsed broadband supercontinuum laser emitting a large spectrum between 650 and 1700 nm, and a gated detection based on an intensified CCD camera. The source laser beam is split into two arms, below and above 776 nm. In each arm, a fast motorized filter wheel enables selection of a bandpass filter at the required wavelength. Each filtered laser beam is then launched into one array of source fibers. The multiplexing through the array of fibers is implemented through a very compact home-made design consisting of two galvanometer mirrors followed by an achromatic doublet. Source fibers are then recombined one-by-one from both arms into the source optodes to be positioned on the head. The detection fibers are all imaged in parallel through a relay lens on an intensified CCD camera. By using detection fibers of different lengths, we introduce optical delays that enable simultaneous recording in different delay windows of the temporal point spread functions. We present the instrumentation and show its preliminary functional imaging capabilities. We also introduce a new probe where we use different fiber lengths on the source and the detector sides in order to record simultaneously both wavelengths from one location through different sets of fibers.
In vitro differentiation of rabbit blastocyst cells.

Six- and seven-day post-coitus (p.c.) rabbit embryos have been cultured in an attempt to establish a trophectodermal cell line. Results indicate that cells with epithelial characteristics (i.e. positive staining for cytokeratin) will survive in culture until Passage 3. At that time a fibroblastlike cell becomes predominant. In addition, we have found that the presence of the inner cell mass is required for embryo explants often results in the development of cells that spontaneously contract. These cells stain positively for myosin, which indicates that they may be precardiac cells. Maximum diastolic potential was −59±1.2 mV and the threshold potential was −53±2.3 mV. Spontaneously contracting cells did not respond to atropine, acetylcholine, epinephrine, isoproterenol, or propranolol. Action potential seems to be a result of an inward calcium current, because the beating rate is decreased in a dose-related manner with the calcium channel blocker verapamil, whereas the voltage-sensitive sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin was without effect.
Nuclear association of a T-cell transcription factor blocked by FK-506 and cyclosporin A.

CYCLOSPORINA and FK506 inhibit T- and B-cell activation and other processes essential to an effective immune response1–3. In T lymphocytes these drugs disrupt an unknown step in the trans-mission of signals from the T-cell antigen receptor to cytokine genes that coordinate the immune response4–6. The putative intracellular receptors for FK506 and cyclosporin arecis-trans prolyl isomerases7–11. Binding of the drug inhibits isomerase activity8,10,11, but studies with other prolyl isomerase inhibitors12 and analysis of cyclosporin-resistant mutants in yeast suggest that the effects of the drug result from the formation of an inhibitory complex between the drug and isomerase13,14, and not from inhibi-tion of isomerase activity. A transcription factor, NF-AT, which is essential for early T-cell gene activation, seems to be a specific target of cyclosporin A and FK506 action because transcription directed by this protein is blocked in T cells treated with these drugs, with little or no effect on other transcription factors such as AP-1 and NF-κB (refs 15–17). Here we demonstrate that NF-AT is formed when a signal from the antigen receptor induces a pre-existing cytoplasmic subunit to translocate to the nucleus and combine with a newly synthesized nuclear subunit of NF-AT. FK506 and cyclosporin A block translocation of the cytoplasmic component without affecting synthesis of the nuclear subunit.
The Built Environment and Risk of Obesity in the United States: Racial-Ethnic Disparities

Using data from the 2003-2008 waves of the continuous National Health Nutrition Examination Survey merged with the 2000 census and GIS-based data, this study conducted genderspecific analyses to explore whether neighborhood built environment attributes are significant correlates of obesity risk and mediators of obesity disparities by race-ethnicity. Results indicate that the built environment is a significant correlate of obesity risk but is not much of a mediator of obesity disparities by race-ethnicity. Neighborhood walkability, density, and distance to parks are significant covariates of obesity risks net of individual and neighborhood controls. Gender differences are found for some of these associations.
In vivo activation of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-specific T cells in healthy control subjects.

Abstract Autoreactive T cells are present in healthy subjects but are assumed not to induce overt disease due to lack of exposure to autoantigen or because of immune regulation. In EAE, activation of myelin protein-specific T cells is a crucial step in disease induction. In this study, we evaluated whether myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-reactive T cells had been activated in vivo using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from neurologically healthy subjects. In vitro assays used either memory, CD45RO+, or naive, CD45RA+ T-cell populations. MOG-reactive T cells were isolated from 7 of 10 subjects. Unexpectedly, a substantial number of MOG-reactive T cells were isolated from the CD45RO+, memory T-cell subset in 6 subjects. The majority of these T cells generated γ interferon in excess of IL-4, expressed VLA-4, and produced nerve growth factor. These findings demonstrate that a substantial proportion of MOG-reactive T cells from some subjects have been activated in vivo without resulting in clinical disease.
The relation of trade size and price contribution in a traditional foreign exchange brokered market

Abstract Using actual transaction data from the Taiwanese foreign exchange traditional brokered market, we show that the stealth-trading hypothesis does not hold in this market. Large-size trades contribute the most to price change. Examining the role of depth and late day trades, we conclude that this is most likely attributable to the high inventory-control cost in the foreign exchange market and that the survival of traditional brokers in the foreign exchange market may be related to their ability to facilitate large inventory related trades.
Newborn With Hypoxia, Respiratory Distress, and Unusual Chest Radiograph

A newborn presents with hypoxia, respiratory distress, and this chest radiograph (Figure 1). Figure 1. ### Prenatal and Birth Histories ### Case Presentation Five minutes after birth, the newborn girl presents with respiratory distress, heart rate of 100 beats per minute and O2 saturation 50% to 60% on room air. Resuscitation began with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) at 5 cm H2O and 0.5 fraction of inspired oxygen, with slight improvement in oxygen saturation to 75%. Her respiratory distress worsened, and she was intubated and placed on positive pressure ventilation (PPV). Umbilical catheters were placed and the chest radiograph demonstrated cardiomegaly (Figure 1). ### Vital Signs ### Physical Examination
Active and passive interaction mechanism of smart materials for health monitoring of engineering structures: a review

Smart materials when interact with engineering structures, should have the capability to sense, measure, process, and detect any change in the selected variables (stress, damage) at critical locations. These smart materials can be classified into active and passive depending on the type of the structure, variables to be monitored, and interaction mechanism due to surface bonding or embedment. Some of the prominent smart materials are piezoelectric materials, micro fiber composite, polymers, shape memory alloys, electrostrictive and magnetostrictive materials, electrorheological and magnetorheological fluids and fiber optics. In addition, host structures do have the properties to support or repel the usage of smart materials inside or on it. This paper presents some of the most widely used smart materials and their interaction mechanism for structural health monitoring of engineering structures.
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone metabolism and extraction by the perfused guinea pig placenta.

This report describes the extraction of synthetic TRH and its metabolic conversion in the perfused guinea pig placenta. These studies were performed to obtain an estimate of fractional fetal TRH losses through the placenta and to determine if some of these losses are due to TRH metabolism. The in situ guinea pig placenta was perfused through an umbilical artery for 90 min, and placental effluent fractions were collected at timed intervals from the umbilical vein. Experiments were performed in which the perfusion buffer contained 0.01, 1, and 10 μg/ml or no synthetic TRH. Synthetic TRH was always perfused in the presence of 3H2O. In experiments in which TRH was perfused, the perfusion reservoir contents and placental effluent fractions were counted for 3H, and TRH and deamido- TRH were determined by RIA. Similarly, cyclo(His-Pro) was measured when 10 μg/ml TRH were perfused. When no TRH was perfused, the perfusion reservoir and placental effluent contents were processed to determine their content of TRH im...
“I” is to continuance as “We” is to affective: the relevance of the self‐concept for organizational commitment

The goal of the present study was to examine the intersection of employees' self-concept, a pivotal self-regulatory mechanism, with their organizational commitment. We supported our hypothesis that unique associations exist between affective commitment and collective self-concept, due to their shared group-oriented focus and internalization of collective goals and norms. Furthermore, we observed unique associations between continuance commitment and individual self-concept, likely owing to a shared emphasis on preserving personal investments and avoiding adverse outcomes. We also show that self-concept moderates relationships between commitment and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs), such that affective (continuance) commitment–OCB relationships were stronger for employees with high collective (individual) self-concept levels. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Expression of cytokine genes in Marek's disease virus-infected chickens and chicken embryo fibroblast cultures.

The role of cytokines in the pathogenesis and immunity of Marek's disease (MD), a herpesvirus-induced T-cell lymphoma in chickens, is poorly understood. Two different experiments were used to examine the potential role of particular cytokines in the pathogenesis and immune responses of MD. First, chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and/or recombinant chicken interferon-gamma (rChIFN-gamma) and used to develop techniques for examining transcription of IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-2, IL-6 and IL-8 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Addition of LPS and/or rChIFN-gamma resulted in the up-regulation of mRNA for iNOS, IL-1beta and IL-6, while IFN-gamma was up-regulated by LPS alone. IL-2 was down-regulated by the treatments. Second, to determine the effects of Marek's disease herpesvirus (MDV) infection on cytokine transcription in vivo, chickens were infected with MDV at 21 days of age and examined at 7 days post-infection (p.i.) (exp. 1) or were infected with MDV at 1 day of age and examined from 3 to 15 days p.i. (exp. 2). In MDV-infected chickens, IFN-gamma transcription was up-regulated as early as 3 days p.i. until the termination of the experiment at 15 days p.i., while iNOS and IL-1beta were up-regulated between 6 and 15 days p.i. Infection of 1-day-old chicks increased levels of mRNA for IFN-gamma and iNOS between 16- and 64-fold at 9 days p.i. These results suggest that IFN-gamma and iNOS may play an important role in the pathogenesis of MD.
Numerical Simulation of Roughness-Induced Transient Growth in a Laminar Boundary Layer

Numerical simulations are used to examine the roughness-induced transient growth in a laminar boundary-layer flow. Based on the spectral element method, these simulations model the stationary disturbance field associated with a nonsmooth roughness geometry, such as the spanwise periodic array of circular disks used by White and co-workers during a series of wind tunnel experiments at Case Western Reserve University. Besides capturing the major trends from the recent measurements by White and Ergin, the simulations provide additional information concerning the relative accuracy of the experimental findings derived from two separate wall-finding procedures. The paper also explores the dependence of transient growth on geometric characteristics of the roughness distribution, including the height and planform shape of the roughness element and the ratio of roughness due to spacing between an adjacent pair of elements. Results are used for a preliminary assessment of the differences between recently reported theoretical results of Tumin and Reshotko and the measurements by White and Ergin.
RNA aptamers as pathway-specific MAP kinase inhibitors.

Abstract Background: In eukaryotic cells, many intracellular signaling pathways have closely related mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) paralogs as central components. Although MAPKs are therefore obvious targets to control the cellular responses resulting from the activation of these signaling pathways, the development of inhibitors which target specific cell signaling pathways involving MAPKs has proven difficult. Results: We used an RNA combinatorial approach to isolate RNAs that inhibit the in vitro phosphorylation activity of extracellular regulated kinase 2 (ERK2). These inhibitors block phosphorylation by ERK1 and ERK2, but do not inhibit Jun N-terminal kinase or p38 MAPKs. Kinetic analysis indicates these inhibitors function at high picomolar concentrations through the steric exclusion of substrate and ATP binding. In one case, we identified a compact RNA structural domain responsible for inhibition. Conclusions: RNA reagents can selectively recognize and inhibit MAPKs involved in a single signal transduction pathway. The methodology described here is readily generalizable, and can be used to develop inhibitors of MAPKs involved in other signal transduction pathways. Such reagents may be valuable tools to analyze and distinguish homologous effectors which regulate distinct signaling responses.
Triumphant transitions: socioeconomic achievements of the second generation in Canada.

"Articulated within the last decade, the revisionary perspective on second generation integration argues that the model of equal or above average success of the second generation in North America is historically specific, based on the postwar entry of a white second generation in boom economic times. One implication is that the past patterns of second generation success may not hold now and in the future for immigrant offspring. Using data from the 1994 Canadian General Social Survey for women and men, age 25-64, this article assesses the proposition of triumphant transitions in which the second generation experiences high levels of educational and labor market achievements. Multivariate analyses confirm second generation success with respect to educational levels and occupational status, thus contradicting verdicts of a new chapter to be written for the second generation in Canada."
Institutional Feedback and Support for the Welfare State: The Case of National Health Care

Researchers interested in the political consequences of the welfare state argue that cross-country variations in the design of social policy institutions produce distinct patterns of public support for the welfare state. This research proposes an institutional feedback effect in which welfare institutions, once created, transform political debate, generate new constituencies, and alter how individuals and interest groups interpret their preferences. Existing research has found mixed results for these proposed institutional feedback effects on public opinion. This project contributes to research on institutional feedback through an analysis of cross-national variation in public support for national health care. National health care provides a unique opportunity for studying institutional feedback by avoiding problems with the measurement of key variables common to previous work in this area. This research offers evidence in support of institutional feedback effects by demonstrating links between the struct...
The multikinase inhibitor sorafenib potentiates TRAIL lethality in human leukemia cells in association with Mcl-1 and cFLIPL down-regulation.

Interactions between the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib and tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) were examined in malignant hematopoietic cells. Pretreatment (24 h) of U937 leukemia cells with 7.5 μmol/L sorafenib dramatically increased apoptosis induced by sublethal concentrations of TRAIL/Apo2L (75 ng/mL). Similar interactions were observed in Raji, Jurkat, Karpas, K562, U266 cells, primary acute myelogenous leukemia blasts, but not in normal CD34 + bone marrow cells. Sorafenib/TRAIL–induced cell death was accompanied by mitochondrial injury and release of cytochrome c , Smac, and AIF into the cytosol and caspase-9, caspase-3, caspase-7, and caspase-8 activation. Sorafenib pretreatment down-regulated Bcl-xL and abrogated Mcl-1 expression, whereas addition of TRAIL sharply increased Bid activation, conformational change of Bak (ccBak) and Bax (ccBax), and Bax translocation. Ectopic Mcl-1 expression significantly attenuated sorafenib/TRAIL–mediated lethality and dramatically reduced ccBak while minimally affecting levels of ccBax. Similarly, inhibition of the receptor-mediated apoptotic cascade with a caspase-8 dominant-negative mutant significantly blocked sorafenib/TRAIL–induced lethality but not Mcl-1 down-regulation or Bak/Bax conformational change, indicating that TRAIL-mediated receptor pathway activation is required for maximal lethality. Sorafenib/TRAIL did not increase expression of DR4/DR5, or recruitment of procaspase-8 or FADD to the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC), but strikingly increased DISC-associated procaspase-8 activation. Sorafenib also down-regulated cFLIP L , most likely through a translational mechanism, in association with diminished eIF4E phosphorylation, whereas ectopic expression of cFLIP L significantly reduced sorafenib/TRAIL lethality. Together, these results suggest that in human leukemia cells, sorafenib potentiates TRAIL-induced lethality by down-regulating Mcl-1 and cFLIP L , events that cooperate to engage the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic cascades, culminating in pronounced mitochondrial injury and apoptosis. [Cancer Res 2007;67(19):9490–500]
Test of symmetry of a one-dimensional distribution against positive biasedness

Definitions of different strengths are given to the notion of ‘a positively biased random variable’. This notion is related to that of ‘a stochastically larger component of a two-dimensional random vector’, which was introduced previously by the authors. Properties of common rank tests of symmetry about zero against our specification of alternatives are studied in detail. The positive biasedness is extended to ‘positively more biased’. Test of symmetry of a two-dimensional random vector is also referred to.
Decision Making in Traffic Stop Encounters: A Multivariate Analysis of Police Behavior:

In recent years, there has been a growth in public concern over police decision-making practices during traffic enforcement. Catch phrases such as “racial profiling,” “driving while Black,” and “driving while brown” typify the public’s concern that race and ethnicity have undue influence on police discretion. This study analyzes traffic stop data from a medium-sized midwestern community to better understand this facet of police behavior. Although the authors contend that “proving” racial profiling may be outside of current empirical capabilities, useful insights can still be obtained by examining broader aspects of traffic enforcement behaviors. The analysis indicated that race was powerful in shaping police decision-making patterns, but so were gender, age, and situational considerations. A number of implications for research and policy emerging from the analysis are discussed.
Order‐restricted dose‐related trend tests

Methods of isotonic regression are proposed to increase the power of common trend tests in situations where a monotonicity constraint is imposed upon the dose-response function. Isotonic versions of Cochran-Armitage type trend tests for binary response data are developed, and the bootstrap method is used in finding the empirical distributions of the test statistics and their critical values. The isotonic likelihood ratio test with a survival adjustment is also proposed. This survival adjustment can be applied to the likelihood ratio test for either the order-restricted or unrestricted parameter cases. To achieve the isotonic modifications, an amalgamation algorithm is applied when the observed dose-response is non-monotonic. A Monte Carlo simulation study comparing these trend tests shows the advantages of the isotonic modifications and survival adjustment. By applying the proposed methods to data from a toxicology and carcinogenesis study conducted as part of the National Toxicology Program, the effect of CI Pigment Red 23 is investigated.
μ-, δ- and κ-opioid receptor agonists do not alter the discriminative stimulus effects of cocaine or d-amphetamine in rats

Abstract Opioid receptor agonists can modulate the activity of dopamine neurons and could therefore, modify the behavioral effects of drugs that act through the dopamine systems, such as d -amphetamine and cocaine. We tested the ability of agonists selective for the μ - (morphine, methadone, buprenorphine, nalbuphine and heroin), δ - (DPDPE and SCH32615), and κ - (U69593 and bremazocine) opioid receptors to alter the discriminative stimulus effects of d -amphetamine and cocaine in rats. Separate groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to discriminate between 1.0 mg/kg d -amphetamine or 10 mg/kg cocaine from saline. Rats were pretreated with vehicle or an agonist, then dose-response curves for d -amphetamine or cocaine were generated. None of the opioid agonists changed significantly the ED 50 values of cocaine and d -amphetamine. As a positive control, we tested for antagonism of these effects by the D1 and D2 dopamine receptor antagonists, SCH23390 and eticlopride, respectively. Both antagonists at least partially attenuated the stimulus effects of both training drugs. Our results suggest that any modulation of dopaminergic neurotransmission by the agonists tested in the present study is not sufficient to affect the stimulus effects of d -amphetamine and cocaine in rats.