cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Apoptosis induced by a cytopathic hepatitis A virus is dependent on caspase activation following ribosomal RNA degradation but occurs in the absence of 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthetase.

Abstract We have presented previously evidence that the cytopathogenic 18f strain of hepatitis A virus (HAV) induced degradation of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) in infected cells [Arch. Virol. 148 (2003) 1275–1300]. In contrast, the non-cytopathogenic parent virus HM175 clone 1 had no effect on rRNA integrity. We present here data showing that rRNA degradation is followed by apoptosis accompanied by characteristic DNA laddering in the cytoplasm of 18f infected cells. The DNA laddering coincided with the detection of caspase 3 and PARP-1 cleavage and was dependent upon activation of the caspase pathway, since treatment with Z-VAD-FMK, a pan-caspase inhibitor, inhibited both events. RNase L mRNA was present in both virus-infected and uninfected cells. Messenger RNA for the interferon inducible enzyme 2′–5′ oligoadenylate synthetase (2′–5′ OAS), which polymerizes ATP into 2′–5′ oligo adenylate (2–5A, the activator of RNase L) in the presence of double-stranded RNA, was not detected following virus infection. 2′–5′ OAS mRNA was induced by treatment of the cells with interferon-β (IFN-β). IFN-β mRNA was marginally induced following infection. However, phosphorylated STAT 1, a key regulator of interferon-stimulated gene transcription was not detected in virus infected cells. STAT 1 phosphorylation in response to IFN treatment was lower in virus-infected cells, compared to uninfected cells treated with interferon, suggesting that 18f virus infection interferes with interferon signaling. The results suggest that 18f infection causes the induction of a 2–5A independent RNase L like activity.
Production of β-Lactamase by Non-Streptomyces Actinomycetales

Supernatants and whole cells from fermentation broths of Micromonospora, Nocardia, Oerskovia, and other genera of the Actinomycetales were examined for the presence of beta-lactamase activity by using the chromogenic cephalosporin 87/312. Nearly 60% of the 250 isolates examined produced detectable levels of beta-lactamase. All enzyme preparations were active over a range of pH values from 6.5 to 8.2, with maximum activity occurring between 7.0 and 7.8. The preparations varied in their stability at 60 degrees C. An examination of selected enzyme preparations revealed a similarity between substrate specificities of the non-Streptomyces Actinomycetales and gram-negative-bacterial beta-lactamases.
Non-pharmacological experimental treatments for spinal cord injury: a review

Introduction Spinal cord injury is a complex result of primary mechanical damage and the secondary vascular compromise and inflammatory reactions. Depending on timing, different treatment modalities may have various effects.
First Report of Phytophthora ramorum Infecting California Red Fir in California.

In May 2005, branches originating from five separate whorls below the terminal on a single California red fir (Abies magnifica) in a mixed grand fir (Abies grandis) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) Christmas tree plantation near Los Gatos, CA displayed wilting and dieback of new shoot growth. Brown dieback, delineated by needle loss, extended 6 to 8 cm into 1-year-old and sometimes 2-year-old growth. The ~7-year-old, 1-m tall tree was located near the edge of the plantation, beneath an overstory of California bay laurel (Umbellularia californica) trees that were infected with Phytophthora ramorum. Isolations from dieback margins onto corn meal agar amended with ampicillin, rifamycin, and pimaricin (CARP) yielded hyphae and large, dark brown chlamydospores that were morphologically consistent with P. ramorum (1). Microsatellite analysis confirmed that isolates were of the NA1 lineage of P. ramorum. Isolates were deposited in the Washington State University Puyallup Phytophthora Master Collection. Do...
Optimal Delay Bound for Maximum Weight Scheduling Policy in Wireless Networks

We provide an improved bound for the expectation of the stationary delay under the maximum weight scheduling (MWS) policy in one-hop wireless networks. In the model, the interference of the links is characterized by an interference graph G =( V,E) .F or av ectorµ ! R |V | (! ) ), where B is a constant depending on the arrival process. We show that the new bound is the tightest single-parameter bound obtainable with an often-used analytical framework. Generalizing the above, we also provide the tightest bounds for all MWS-w policies. Index Terms—wireless link scheduling; delay; maximum weight schedule; stability; queue size
Lower Bounds on the Mean-Squared Error of Low-Rank Matrix Reconstruction

We investigate the behavior of the mean-square error (MSE) of low-rank matrix reconstruction and its special case, matrix completion. We first derive the constrained Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) on the MSE matrix of any locally unbiased estimator, and then analyze the behavior of the constrained CRB when a subset of entries of the underlying matrix is randomly observed. We design an alternating minimization procedure to compute the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) for the low-rank matrix, and demonstrate through numerical simulations that the performance of the MLE approaches the constrained CRB when the signal-to-noise ratio is high. Applying a Chapman-Robbins type Barankin bound allows us to derive lower bounds on the worst-case scalar MSE. We demonstrate that the worst-case scalar MSE is infinite even if the model is identifiable. However, the infinite scalar MSE is achieved only on a set of low-rank matrices with measure zero. We discuss the implications of these bounds and compare them with the empirical performance of the matrix LASSO estimator and the existing bounds in the literature.
Imaging of a linear diode bar for an optical cell stretcher

We present a simplified approach for imaging a linear diode bar laser for application as an optical stretcher within a microfluidic geometry. We have recently shown that these linear sources can be used to measure cell mechanical properties; however, the source geometry creates imaging challenges. To minimize intensity losses and simplify implementation within microfluidic systems without the use of expensive objectives, we combine aspheric and cylindrical lenses to create a 1:1 image of the source at the stretcher focal plane and demonstrate effectiveness by measuring the deformation of human red blood cells and neutrophils.
Sexual Partner Typologies Among Single Young Men Who Have Sex with Men.

Using data from a sample of single young men who have sex with men (N = 1,359, ages 18–24, 65 % White, 93 % gay), we examined whether the number of unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) partners with differed across relationship typologies (e.g., friends with benefits, hookups, romantic interests). We then examined how safer sex self-efficacy, decisional balance to forego condoms, ideal relationship attributes (i.e., intimacy, passion and commitment), and limerence were associated with UAI. Different partner types were associated with greater UAI partners; single partner types were associated with fewer UAI partners, irrespective of how they were categorized. UAI partners was associated with decisional balance (OR = 1.89, p < 0.001), passion ideation (OR = 1.38, p < 0.001), and difficulty negotiating safer sex with romantic partners (OR = 1.16, p < 0.001). Odds of UAI partners decreased with higher scores of commitment ideation (OR = 0.91, p < 0.05) and difficulty negotiating safer sex with casual partners (OR = 0.96, p < 0.05). We discuss the importance of acknowledging how different sexual partnerships, alongside its motivational correlates, influence UAI risk in order to inform HIV-prevention interventions.
GPU-Accelerated Evaluation Platform for High Fidelity Network Modeling

High-fidelity simulations of mixed wired and wireless network systems are dependent on detailed simulation models, especially in the lower layers of the network stack. However, detailed modeling can result in prohibitive computation cost. In recent years, commercial graphics cards (GPUs) have drawn attention from the general computing community due to the superior computation capability. In this paper, we present our experience with using commercial graphics cards to speed up execution of network simulation models. First, we propose a general simulation framework supporting GPU-accelerated simulation models. Software abstraction is designed to facilitate the use and development of GPU-based models. Second, we implement and evaluate two simulation models using GPUs. We observed that using the GPUs can yield significant performance improvements for large configurations of the model, as compared with pure CPU-based computations, with no degradation in the accuracy of the results. This benefit is particularly impressive for models that include significant data parallel computations. However, we also observed that the overhead introduced by GPUs make them less effective in improving execution time of other network models. This study suggests that besides parallel computing and grid computing, network simulations can also be scaled by reaping computation capability of GPUs and, potentially, other external computational hardware.
The battle for iron between bacterial pathogens and their vertebrate hosts.

Iron is a vital nutrient for virtually all forms of life. The requirement for iron is based on its role in cellular processes ranging from energy generation and DNA replication to oxygen transport and protection against oxidative stress. Bacterial pathogens are not exempt from this iron requirement, as these organisms must acquire iron within their vertebrate hosts in order to replicate and cause disease.
TACTICAL BEHAVIOR AND NEGOTIATION OUTCOMES

This paper examined negotiator behavior in a variable‐sum two‐party negotiation task and its impact on individual and joint negotiator out‐come. Specifically, we examined the role of negotiator opening offer, reciprocity and complementarity of the use of tactics, systematic progression of offers, and information sharing in a negotiation with integrative potential. Results indicated that initial offers affect final outcome differently across buyers and sellers. The buyer's initial offer was curvilinearly related to his or her final outcome in the form of an inverted‐U. The seller's initial offer was positive‐linearly related to seller's outcome. Second, negotiators reciprocated and complemented both distributive and integrative tactics. In addition, highly integrative dyads differed from less efficient dyads in their reciprocation of integrative behaviors and complementarity of distributive behaviors. Third, approximately forty percent of offers made represented systematic concessions, but the proportion of offers reflecting systematic concessions was not related to the efficiency of the joint outcome. Finally, while information sharing did appear to have a positive effect on the efficiency of agreements, differences in the amount of information provided did not affect the proportion of outcome claimed by each party.
INFORMATION PROCESSING RATE AS A FUNCTION OF INTROVERSION-EXTRAVERSION

has proposed that the introversion-extraversion dimension of personality is related to some underlying differences in nervous system functioning. Eysenck (1973) reported that introverts condition more readily than extraverts, have lower sensory thresholds, and have higher levels of CNS arousal. These findings suggest the possibility that introverts might also be processing information faster than extraverts and that introverts might show some of the same patterns of cognitive slulls performance as Hunt's high-verbals. The purpose of the present experiment was to investigate the relationship between introversion-extraversion and rate of information processing. The Eysenck Personality Inventory was used to measure extraversion and a sentencecomprehension task was devised to measure processing rate. Sentence comprehension in speech is a complex cognitive task. Sounds must be encoded and held briefly in iconic store, long-term memory must be searched for word meanings, and short-term memory must hold information in store as the sentence progresses so that subject, verb, and related clauses can be integrated by the listener into a meaningful communication. Increasing the rate of speech will place great demands on the information-processing systems, and people who can process faster should show better comprehension of very rapid speech. Tech
Southern blight of Jerusalem artichoke caused by Sclerotium rolfsii in California.

Jerusalem artichoke or sunchoke (Helianthus tuberosus) is a specialty vegetable that is grown commercially in California. The fleshy tubers are harvested and used as a fresh salad ingredient or cooked vegetable. During 2003, field plantings of Jerusalem artichoke in coastal California (Santa Cruz County) showed symptoms of an unfamiliar disease. Initial symptoms consisted of wilting of new shoots and leaves followed by browning and collapse of all foliage. Crown and lower stem tissues turned tan to brown. In advanced stages of the disease, crown and stem tissues were colonized internally and externally by white, cottony mycelium. Tan, spherical sclerotia that measured approximately 1 mm in diameter formed on the surfaces of the affected crowns and stems. Mycelia and sclerotia also grew on the soil adjacent to infected plants. Isolations from symptomatic crowns, mycelia, and sclerotia produced colonies that were identified as Sclerotium rolfsii. Pathogenicity was tested using two methods that included sclerotial inocula collected from five isolates grown on potato dextrose agar plates. With the first method, sclerotia of each isolate were applied to sets of tubers (10 tubers per isolate) prior to planting tubers into a soilless, peat moss-based medium in pots. With the second method, 3-week-old potted plants were inoculated by placing sclerotia of each isolate adjacent to stem tissue that was 3 cm below the surface of the soilless medium. Noninoculated controls were included for both methods. All plants were incubated in a greenhouse at 21 to 24°C. For the first method, by the third week after planting, 10 to 40% of plants did not emerge because the tubers were rotted and decayed. For the plants that did emerge, wilting of foliage and browning of crown and stem tissue occurred approximately 6 weeks after planting and by 10 weeks, all plants were diseased. S. rolfsii was reisolated from all necrotic tuber, crown, and stem tissues. For the second method, disease symptoms and signs of the pathogen occurred 5 weeks after inoculation and by week 10, 75% of test plants were symptomatic. S. rolfsii was again reisolated from all necrotic tuber, crown, and stem tissues. Symptoms were not observed on any of the noninoculated plants. To my knowledge, this is the first report of southern blight of Jerusalem artichoke in California. This disease has been reported on Jerusalem artichoke in several southern U.S. states (1,2). The two inoculation methods demonstrated that the pathogen could infect propagation organs (tubers) and also emergent stems of this host. References: (1) D. F. Farr et al. Fungi on Plants and Plant Products in the United States. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1989. (2) S. M. McCarter and S. J. Kays. Plant Dis. 68:299, 1984.
Canonical Ordering Trees and Their Applications in Graph Drawing

We study the properties of Schnyder’s realizers and canonical ordering trees of plane graphs. Based on these newly discovered properties, we obtain compact drawings of two styles for any plane graph G with n vertices. First, we show that G has a visibility representation with height at most ⌈ 15n/16 ⌉. This improves the previous best bound of (n - 1). Second, we show that every plane graph G has a straight-line grid embedding on an (n - δ0 - 1) × (n - δ0 - 1) grid, where δ0 is the number of cyclic faces of G with respect to its minimum realizer. This improves the previous best bound of (n - 1) × (n - 1). We also study the properties of the regular edge labeling of 4-connected plane triangulation. Based on these properties, we show that every such a graph has a canonical ordering tree with at most ⌈ (n + 1)/2 ⌉ leaves. This improves the previously known bound of ⌊ (2n + 1)/3 ⌋. We show that every 4-connected plane graph has a visibility representation with height at most ⌈ 3n/4 ⌉. All drawings discussed in this paper can be obtained in linear time.
Sulfation of N-desulfoheparin and heparan sulfate by a purified enzyme from mastocytoma

Abstract 3′-Phosphoadenylylsulfate:N-desulfoheparin sulfotransferase from a postmicrosomal particulate fraction of Furth mouse mast cell tumor was solubilized by snake venom phospholipase and purified further by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The purified enzyme was free of endogenous sulfate acceptor and 3′-phosphoadenylylsulfate sulfohydrolase activity. The sulfotransferase catalyzed sulfate transfer from 3′-phosphoadenylylsulfate-35S not only to N-desulfoheparin, but also to heparan sulfate, dermatan sulfate, and a glycosaminoglycan prepared from mast cell tumor. Heparin, chondroitin-4-sulfate, and mixed isomers of chondroitin sulfate from cartilage were practically inactive. The reaction products of N-desulfoheparin and heparan sulfate were found to be primarily N-sulfated. Sulfation of heparan sulfate was more rapid and more extensive than that of N-desulfoheparin, although the former contained fewer free amino groups. Synthetic N-acetylheparin and N-succinylheparin exhibited only very low sulfate-accepting ability. Apparently free amino groups are required for the enzymatic N-sulfation of glycosaminoglycans and some special structural features facilitate sulfate transfer to the amino groups of heparan sulfate.
Top management team process, shared leadership, and new venture performance: A theoretical model and research agenda

Abstract In this paper, we take a behavioral integration perspective [Strategy Leadersh. 25 (1997) 24] in articulating the process through which new venture performance may be explained. In so doing, we integrate concepts from entrepreneurship, top management teams (TMT), group process, and leadership research and propose an input–process–output model for examining new venture TMT (NVTMT) and new venture performance. More specifically, shared leadership is conceptualized as an important antecedent of our process variables—cohesion and collective vision—which in turn are conceptualized as being positively and reciprocally related and important antecedents of new venture performance. Our model also proposes several moderators that may change the relationships in the model.
A radioligand assay of tomatine

Abstract A novel method for the assay of tomatine in plant extracts is described. It is based on precipitation of tomatine with cholesterols-4- 14 C and determination of the radioactivity remaining in solution by scintillation counting. Pigments that cause quenching are removed by chromatography on Sephadex LH20.
REACTION FRONT PROPAGATION CHARACTERISTICS IN NON-CATALYTIC EXOTHERMIC GAS-SOLID SYSTEMS

Abstract Synthesis of transition metal nitrides and hydrides can be accomplished in the self propagating high temperature regime. A one dimensional model is proposed to study the effects of various operating parameters on the stability of the combustion front, to which gaseous oxidizer is fed by a process of filtration through the permeable solid. Different propagation phenomena can exist depending on the pressure of the gaseous reactant. The stability criteria derived for solid-solid systems can be extended for gas-solid systems at high pressures. At very low pressures filtration combustion is always stable. Systems which show unstable front propagation under adiabatic conditions have been observed to become more unstable due to heat losses.
Complete cloning of the chloroplast genome of safflower in lambda EMBL3 and mapping of 23S and 16S rRNA genes.

A recombinant DNA library was constructed from partial BamHI or MboI digests of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) chloroplast DNA, in the BamHI site of λ EMBL3. Seventeen λ recombinants, selected by chromosome walking, were found to contain overlapping fragments of the entire chloroplast genome. These clones were mapped using single and double digests of BamHI, EcoRI and HindIII. cDNAs synthesized from isolated 16S and 23S chloroplast rRNAs were used to map the ribosomal RNA genes relative to physical maps of the above restriction enzymes. The mapped positions of the rRNA genes for the safflower chloroplast DNA are in good agreement with previously published data for tobacco, spinach and several other higher plants.
Self-enhanced transmission and interaction of light beams in soft-matter systems with tunable nonlinearities

We synthesize colloidal nanosuspensions with negative polarizabilities and observe self-enhanced transmission and interaction of self-trapped light over a long distance. Our results may open up new opportunities in developing soft-matter systems with tunable nonlinearities.
Lessons in academic freedom as lived experience

What is academic freedom, what guarantees it, and what would you do if your university violated yours? Few of us academics entertain these questions or ponder possible answers. This leaves us individually and collectively vulnerable to encroachments on our right to free and open inquiry. I use a case study from 1989–1994 to illustrate how violations of academic freedom develop, the typical pretexts used to justify them, and what is required to halt and reverse them. My aim is to help scholars recognize when academic freedom is at risk and how better to safeguard it in daily academic life. To this end, I describe the general social mechanisms that operate both inside and outside academe to selectively burden and suppress unpopular research. The case study provides concrete examples to illustrate six specific lessons. Like free speech in general, academic freedom (1) has maintenance costs, (2) is not self-enforcing, (3) is invoked today to stifle unwelcome speech, (4) is often violated by academic institutions, (5) is not often defended by academics themselves, and (6) yet, requires no heroic efforts for collective enjoyment if scholars consistently contribute small acts of support to prevent incursions.
Calcium-switch technique and junctional permeability in native rabbit esophageal epithelium

The Ca2+-switch technique was used to investigate the nature of the barrier governing (paracellular) permeability across the junctions of “native” rabbit esophageal epithelium. This was done by mou...
Effects of CO2 on stomatal conductance: do stomata open at very high CO2 concentrations?

Potato and wheat plants were grown for 50 d at 400, 1000 and 10000 micromoles mol-1 carbon dioxide (CO2). and sweetpotato and soybean were grown at 1000 micromoles mol-1 CO2 in controlled environment chambers to study stomatal conductance and plant water use. Lighting was provided with fluorescent lamps as a 12 h photoperiod with 300 micromoles m-2 s-1 PAR. Mid-day stomatal conductances for potato were greatest at 400 and 10000 micromoles mol-1 and least at 1000 micromoles mol-1 CO2. Mid-day conductances for wheat were greatest at 400 micromoles mol-1 and least at 1000 and 10000 micromoles mol-1 CO2. Mid-dark period conductances for potato were significantly greater at 10000 micromoles mol-1 than at 400 or 1000 micromoles mol-1, whereas dark conductance for wheat was similar in all CO2 treatments. Temporarily changing the CO2 concentration from the native 1000 micromoles mol-1 to 400 micromoles mol-1 increased mid-day conductance for all species, while temporarily changing from 1000 to 10000 micromoles mol-1 also increased conductance for potato and sweetpotato. Temporarily changing the dark period CO2 from 1000 to 10000 micromoles mol-1 increased conductance for potato, soybean and sweetpotato. In all cases, the stomatal responses were reversible, i.e. conductances returned to original rates following temporary changes in CO2 concentration. Canopy water use for potato was greatest at 10000, intermediate at 400, and least at 1000 micromoles mol-1 CO2, whereas canopy water use for wheat was greatest at 400 and similar at 1000 and 10000 micromoles mol-1 CO2. Elevated CO2 treatments (i.e. 1000 and 10000 micromoles mol-1) resulted in increased plant biomass for both wheat and potato relative to 400 micromoles mol-1, and no injurious effects were apparent from the 10000 micromoles mol-1 treatment. Results indicate that super-elevated CO2 (i.e. 10000 micromoles mol-1) can increase stomatal conductance in some species, particularly during the dark period, resulting in increased water use and decreased water use efficiency.
Enigmatic Deep-Water Depositional Mechanisms, Upper Part of the Oquirrh Group, Utah

ABSTRACT Textures, body fossil assemblages, trace fossil assemblages, and lack of sedimentary structures formed by tractive currents indicate that Upper Pennsylvanian and Wolfcampian sandstones and limestones of the Oquirrh Group in northwestern Utah were deposited in deep water. However, the abundant thick bedded to massive sandstones are not classical turbidites. The depositional mechanisms of five deep-water lithofacies have been inferred: 1) massive and thickly bedded sands were transported by turbidity currents and deposited by grain flows; 2) rippled sands were deposited from turbidity currents; 3) bioclast packstones, similar to Walker's (1978) pebbly sandstones, formed from sediments emplaced by turbidity currents and grain flows; 4) non-channelized conglomerates were deposited by dense turbid flows, gram flows, and debris flows; and 5) thinly bedded siltstones are of hemipelagic origin. The lateral continuity of individual beds is generally not known, but it is well documented that 100-m-thick sets of beds are continuous over several kilometers of distance and that units dominated by a single lithofacies can be mapped from 10 to over 10 kilometers. Nevertheless, the lateral depositional geometry of the upper part of the Oquirrh Group remains enigmatic. Indications of an integrated submarine fan distribution system are vague at best.
RELATIONS OF COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONTAL LOBES AND LEARNING DISORDERS IN CHILDREN

Various cognitive processes associated with the frontal lobes and their influence upon learning and learning disorders in children were investigated. Subjects were 29 7- to 12-yr.-old boys and girls. Analysis of variance suggested that, as a group, the learning-disabled children scored lower on tasks with a high demand for selective attention, ability to inhibit interference, sequential reasoning, and integration and organization of new information--cognitive functions commonly attributed to the frontal lobes. The relationship of these cognitive functions to acquisition of basic academic skills is discussed.
Environmental resources moderate the relationship between social support and school sports participation among adolescents: a cross-sectional analysis

Most Americans are not active at recommended levels. Adolescence is a developmental period when physical activity (PA) decreases markedly. This study investigates whether access to environmental PA resources moderates the relationship between psychosocial resources (social support and perceived competence) and PA among 192 adolescents. Environmental access to PA resources (determined via GIS-based assessment of the number of gyms, schools, trails, parks and athletic fields within 0.5 miles of each participant's home) moderated the association between social support and PA; among adolescents with high levels of environmental resources, greater social support was associated with students participating in a greater number of sports in school, whereas no such relationship emerged among adolescents with low environmental resources. PA-promotion interventions should aim to enhance both social and environmental resources; targeting either one alone may be insufficient.
DigiNorthern, digital expression analysis of query genes based on ESTs.

Summary: DigiNorthern (DN) is a web-based tool for virtually displaying expression profiles of query genes based on EST sequences. Two utilities are available: DN1 takes one query gene and quantitatively display its expression levels in tissues/organs that express the gene with comparison between normal and neoplastic status of each tissue; DN2 takes two sequences as query genes and compares their expression profiles side by side. Availability: DN is currently available for analyses of human and mouse genes and is accessible at http:// falcon.roswellpark.org/DN. Options for other species may become available in future depending on user’s request and EST data availability. Contact: ping.liang@roswellpark.org Analysis of gene expression refers to the detection and quantification of a gene transcript in different tissues/cells including those under different developmental, physiological, and pathological conditions. The availability of comprehensive data generated by high-throughput functional genomics approaches, mainly expressed sequence tag (EST) and serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE), provides the feasibility to study gene expression
Phosphorylated tau/amyloid beta 1-42 ratio in ventricular cerebrospinal fluid reflects outcome in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus

Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a potentially reversible cause of dementia and gait disturbance that is typically treated by operative placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. The outcome from shunting is variable, and some evidence suggests that the presence of comorbid Alzheimer's disease (AD) may impact shunt outcome. Evidence also suggests that AD biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may predict the presence of AD. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the phosphorylated tau/amyloid beta 1-42 (ptau/Aβ1-42) ratio in ventricular CSF and shunt outcome in patients with iNPH. We conducted a prospective trial with a cohort of 39 patients with suspected iNPH. Patients were clinically and psychometrically assessed prior to and approximately 4 months after ventriculoperitoneal shunting. Lumbar and ventricular CSF obtained intraoperatively, and tissue from intraoperative cortical biopsies were analyzed for AD biomarkers. Outcome measures included performance on clinical symptom scales, supplementary gait measures, and standard psychometric tests. We investigated relationships between the ptau/Aβ1-42 ratio in ventricular CSF and cortical AD pathology, initial clinical features, shunt outcome, and lumbar CSF ptau/Aβ1-42 ratios in the patients in our cohort. We found that high ptau/Aβ1-42 ratios in ventricular CSF correlated with the presence of cortical AD pathology. At baseline, iNPH patients with ratio values most suggestive of AD presented with better gait performance but poorer cognitive performance. Patients with high ptau/Aβ1-42 ratios also showed a less robust response to shunting on both gait and cognitive measures. Finally, in a subset of 18 patients who also underwent lumbar puncture, ventricular CSF ratios were significantly correlated with lumbar CSF ratios. Levels of AD biomarkers in CSF correlate with the presence of cortical AD pathology and predict aspects of clinical presentation in iNPH. Moreover, preliminary evidence suggests that CSF biomarkers of AD may prove useful for stratifying shunt prognosis in patients being evaluated and treated for this condition.
Bulk density logging with high-energy gammas produced by fast neutron reactions with formation oxygen atoms

Borehole logging for formation density has been an important geophysical measurement for many years in the minerals, geotechnical, oil, and natural gas industries. The conventional gamma-gamma backscatter method has performed well in open, smooth boreholes. However, the method has limited depth of investigation and has not been quantitative in cased holes. A new method of logging earth formations for bulk density uses 14-MeV neutrons to produce high threshold energy reactions with formation nuclei, resulting in emission of high-energy gamma rays. The attenuation of the high-energy gammas as they transport back to the logging tool provides a measure of formation density. Computer modeling indicates the new density logging method penetrates deeply into the formation and can compensate for many interfering borehole and formation effects.
Loss of Inositol Polyphosphate 5-Phosphatase Is an Early Event in Development of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) occurs commonly and can metastasize. Identification of specific molecular aberrations and mechanisms underlying the development and progression of cutaneous SCC may lead to better prognostic and therapeutic approaches and more effective chemoprevention strategies. To identify genetic changes associated with early stages of cutaneous SCC development, we analyzed a series of 40 archived skin tissues ranging from normal skin to invasive SCC. Using high-resolution array-based comparative genomic hybridization, we identified deletions of a region on chromosome 10q harboring the INPP5A gene in 24% of examined SCC tumors. Subsequent validation by immunohistochemistry on an independent sample set of 71 SCC tissues showed reduced INPP5A protein levels in 72% of primary SCC tumors. Decrease in INPP5A protein levels seems to be an early event in SCC development, as it also is observed in 9 of 26 (35%) examined actinic keratoses, the earliest stage in SCC development. Importantly, further reduction of INPP5A levels is seen in a subset of SCC patients as the tumor progresses from primary to metastatic stage. The observed frequency and pattern of loss indicate that INPP5A, a negative regulator of inositol signaling, may play a role in development and progression of cutaneous SCC tumors.
Uncoupling different characteristics of the C. elegans E lineage from differentiation of intestinal markers

In the 4-cell C. elegans embryo, a signal from P2 to its anterior sister, EMS, specifies the posterior daughter of EMS, E, as the sole founder cell for intestine. The P2-to-EMS signal restricts high level zygotic expression of the redundant GATA transcription factors, END-1 and END-3, to only the E lineage. Expression of END-1 or END-3 in early blastomeres is sufficient to drive intestinal differentiation. We show here that a number of E lineage characteristics, which are also regulated through P2-EMS signaling, can be uncoupled from intestine development, and each with a different sensitivity to specific perturbations of the P2-EMS signal. For example, we show that the extended cell cycle in Ea and Ep depends on the P2-induced high level expression of the cell cycle regulator, WEE-1.1, in E. A mutation in wee-1.1 results in shortened Ea and Ep cell cycles, but has no effect upon intestinal differentiation or embryogenesis. Furthermore, it has been shown previously that the total number of E lineage cell divisions is regulated by a mechanism dependent upon E being specified as the intestinal founder cell. We now show, however, that cell division counting can be uncoupled from intestine differentiation in the E lineage. Many mutations in P2-EMS signal genes exhibit nonfully-penetrant defects in intestinal differentiation. When embryos with those mutations generate intestinal cells, they often make too many intestinal cells. In addition, at the level of individual embryos, expression of end-1 and end-3, and another very early E-specific zygotic gene, sdz-23, exhibit stochastic and discordant defects in P2-EMS signaling mutants. We show here that sdz-23 is expressed close to wildtype levels in embryos deleted of both end-1 and end-3. sdz-23 does not appear to function in intestine development, raising the intriguing possibility that the P2-EMS interaction has downstream molecular consequences within the E lineage independent of end-1/3 and intestinal development.
FROM BIOPHYSICS TO MODELS OF NETWORK FUNCTION

Neurons and synapses display a rich range of time-dependent processes. Which of these are critical to understanding specific integrative functions in the brain? Computational methods of various kinds are used to understand how systems of neurons interact to produce behavior. However, these models often assume that neuronal dynamics and synaptic strengths are fixed. This review presents some recent models that illustrate that short-term synaptic plasticity mechanisms such as facilitation and depression can have important implications for network function. Other features of synaptic transmission such as multi-component synaptic potentials, cotransmission, and neuromodulation with obvious potential computational implications are presented. These examples illustrate that synaptic strength and intrinsic properties in networks are continuously varying on numerous time scales as a function of the temporal patterns of activity in the network. Thus, both firing frequency of the neurons in a circuit, and the modulatory environment determine the intrinsic and synaptic properties that produce behavior.
Non-Gaussian robust matched subspace detectors and signal design analysis for a class of separable subspaces

The paper introduces a new class of subspaces, denoted separable subspaces, that enables the derivation of computationally efficient expressions for robust matched filter detectors for the family of generalized Gaussian (GG) density functions. These generalized likelihood ratio detectors are robust to interference whose subspace may or may not be known or learned. The detectors are generalizations of the /spl chi//sup 2/ and t or F statistics used when the noise is assumed to have a Gaussian density, also a member of the GG family. The paper also describes how arbitrary subspaces can be approximated by the newly introduced separable ones should it be advantageous to do so; separable subspaces therefore make it possible to discretize the space. The computationally efficient expressions for the detectors enable the performance analysis for signal design when the basis for the separable subspaces consist solely of binary valued elements. This class, which includes the Haar basis functions, has been shown to be applicable to functional MRI detection problems.
Assessing Depression in Childhood and Adolescence: A Guide for Social Work Practice

Depression is relatively common in children and adolescents, and if left undetected and untreated, can have long-term negative consequences. Social workers providing services to families, children and adolescents need to understand the characteristics, and conduct developmentally appropriate assessments, of depressive symptoms. This paper provides a review of current literature related to the definition, prevalence, co-occurrence, and measurement of depression in childhood and adolescence. It also highlights relevant gender, race, and ethnic influences.
Simultaneous stabilization with almost disturbance decoupling Part I: Uniform rank systems

In this paper we study the problem of stabilization with almost disturbance decoupling for a family of linear time-invariant finite dimensional uniform-rank plants with a fixed controller. It is shown that, for a family of minimum-phase plants which have the same order of infinite zeros and have high frequency gain matrices satisfying a certain condition, such a fixed controller exists. This restriction on the high frequency gain matrices is equivalent to requiring that the sign of high frequency gain for SISO plants be known.
Micromachined patch antennas

This paper presents the use of selective lateral etching based on micromachining techniques to enhance the performance of rectangular microstrip patch antennas printed on high-index wafers such as silicon, GaAs, and InP. Micromachined patch antennas on Si substrates have shown superior performance over conventional designs where the bandwidth and the efficiency have increased by as much as 64% and 28%, respectively. In this work, the silicon material is removed laterally underneath the patch antenna to produce a cavity that consists of a mixture of air and substrate with equal or unequal thicknesses. Characterization of the micromachined patch antenna is presented herein and includes a discussion on the bandwidth improvements, radiation patterns, and efficiency of the patch. In addition, antenna placement on the reduced index cavity with respect to the high-index substrate is described to achieve efficiency improvements over conventional patch antennas.
Queueing Models for Computer Communications System Analysis

Modeling and performance prediction are becoming increasingly important issues in the design and operation of computer communications systems. Complexities in their configuration and sophistications in resource sharing found in today's computer communications demand our intensive effort to enhance the modeling capability. The present paper is intended to review the state of affairs of analytic methods, queueing analysis techniques in particular, which are essential to modeling of computer communication systems. First we review basic properties of exponential queueing systems, and then give an overview of recent progress made in the areas of queueing network models and discrete-time queueing systems. A unified treatment of buffer storage overflow problems will be discussed as an application example, in which we call attention to the analogy between buffer behavior and waiting time in the GI/G/1 queue. Another application deals with the analysis of various multiplexing techniques and network configuration. An extensive reference list of the subject fields is also provided.
Traditional public health injury control does not apply to violence.

Violence is ancient. It is much more complex than just injury control or public health practice. In Genesis, Cain's “grandchildren” found that Bronze Age weapons were a more efficient means of inflicting violent harm than their hands. Which injury control practices can really make a difference in reducing juvenile violence morbidity and mortality? When I first began working in this area in 1964, the field had just begun to transfer its preventive thrust to more safely designed childhood consumer products. The “human factors” approach, reminding everyone to be more “careful” had failed. Instead, my efforts focused on the products themselves (toys, flammable nightwear, playground equipment, car safety seats, household toxic substances, etc). At the time, I thought injury control had all the answers and concluded that its paradigm was suitable not only to non-intentional but also to intentional injury.1–3 However, by 1985, my ideas about the causes and possible control of adolescent suicides, many of which were related to firearms or to sexual experimentation with inhalants, had changed. They included some controversial applied biochemical research suggesting that levels of biomines found in the brain, such as serotonin, might increase aggression and the risk of violence. It seemed it might even be possible to determine high risk individuals by this …
Controlling for the effects of hospital attributes

Abstract PURPOSE: The assessment of risk often requires controlling for the potentially confounding effects of hospital attributes. This paper (1) describes the use of factor analysis as a means of quantifying hospitals' obstetrical care, and (2) compares within respective unconditional logistic regression models the performance of factor scores with that of the “obstetrical unit service level” (OBUSL) classification as defined by the American Hospital Association (AHA). METHODS: A principal components factor analysis was performed on fourteen variables from 116 hospitals in Upstate New York. These variables, descriptive of hospitals' obstetrical care, were obtained from the 1992 AHA's Annual Survey of Hospitals. Factor scores were correlated with the OBUSL. Factor scores were matched to 89,341 women with vaginal deliveries in the 1992 Live Birth Registry for Upstate New York. The performance of factor scores and the OBUSL variable was compared in separate unconditional logistic regression analysis designed to identify determinants of obstetrical anesthesia care. RESULTS: Principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation identified three factors which were strongly correlated with hospital OBUSL. In a model which included the OBUSL variable, the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) or receiving an epidural for vaginal delivery were lower among mothers with Medicaid, HMO, or no insurance coverage (i.e., 0.45 [95% CI, 0.43–0.48], 0.68 [0.64–0.71], and 0.44 [0.38–0.52], respectively) than among those with private coverage. In a model in which factor scores were substituted for the OBUSL variable, respective AORs were 0.48 (0.45–0.52), 0.63 (0.60–0.66), and 0.45 (0.39–0.53). CONCLUSIONS: Factor analysis provided a parsimonious description of 14 hospital variables, was useful as a control within the regression model, and may prove similarly useful in other areas of clinical care.
Two Cheers for Universalism: Nortel's Nifty Novelty

Those in the cross-border bankruptcy community hiding under rocks may not have heard about the monumental decisions in the co-trials in the Canadian-US Nortel bankruptcy proceedings. The decisions are thoughtful, innovative, practical, and important. They warrant a detailed case comment or two in their own right. This brief article, however, will not provide such worthy treatment. Those hungering for in-depth reports of the cases and their holdings may stop reading now and devote their labours elsewhere. What this article will be is an appreciation of Nortel, explaining both why it is such an important opinion (or pair of opinions) for the cross-border bankruptcy world and why it should be seen as a triumph, albeit an incremental one, for the universalist school of transnational insolvency.
Abstract T P182: Peripheral Immune Protein Profiles Can Differentiate Ischemic Stroke from Transient Ischemic Attack and are Correlated with Stroke Severity

Introduction: Inflammatory signals released from ischemic brain tissue recruits peripheral immune cells to the brain following ischemic stroke (IS). The mechanisms behind this crosstalk between the brain and periphery are not well understood. Studies suggest that excessive T-cell activation and migration into the brain may contribute to a greater infarct volume and increased stroke severity. The goal of the project was to evaluate the protein expression of a variety of T cell related cytokines in the peripheral blood to determine their differential expression in ischemic stroke (IS) and transient ischemic attack (TIA). Methods: Blood was drawn from IS and TIA patients within 24 hours of last known normal. Serum was processed from whole blood centrifuged within one hour of collection then frozen at -80C until analysis. Serum cytokine concentrations of 35 analytes were quantified using a Multi-Analyte Profiling Kit (R&D Systems®) on the Luminex® 100 platform. Random forest methodology and logistic regression were used to identify cytokines and demographic characteristics that distinguish stroke from TIA. Univariate analyses were performed to describe relationships between cytokine levels and NIHSS. Results: We analyzed data from n=17 IS and n=12 TIA patients, with an average age of 69 years and a median NIHSS of 3. Age, NIHSS, dyslipidemia, CD40, and CD27 were identified as important predictors of stroke versus TIA (Error rate = 0.233, sensitivity =0.765, specificity = 0.769). In IS patients CD27 and CD40 were significantly correlated with NIHSS (r=0.823, p=0.006; r=0.66; p=0.03 respectively). Conclusion: The peripheral blood protein expression of CD27 and CD40 correlates with stroke severity, and in combination with demographic data may be used to differentiate IS from TIA in the acute care setting. Future studies are needed to assess the functional role of CD27 and CD40 following stroke for potential therapeutic applications.