cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A trace framework for analyzing utility networks: a summary of results (industrial paper)

Given a utility network and one or more starting points that define where analysis should begin, the problem of analyzing utility networks entails assembling a subset of network elements that meet some specified criteria. Analyzing utility network data has several applications and provides tremendous business value to utilities. For example, analysis may answer questions about the current state of the network (e.g., what valves need to be closed to shut off water flow to a location of a pipe leak), help to design future facilities (e.g., how many houses are fed by a transformer and can the transformer supply another house without overloading its capacity?), and help to organize business practices (e.g., create circuit maps for work crews to facilitate damage assessment after an ice storm). Analyzing utility networks is a challenging problem due to 1) the size of the data, which could have many tens of millions of network elements per utility, and billions of elements at the nationwide or continental scale, 2) modeling and analyzing utility assets at high fidelity (level of detail), and 3) the different analysis requirements across utility domains (e.g., water, wastewater, sewer, district heating, gas, electric, fiber, and telecom). This paper describes the trace framework for utility network analysis that has been implemented in ArcGIS Pro 2.1/ArcGIS Enterprise 10.6. The trace framework features algorithms in a services-based architecture for addressing analysis tasks across a wide array of utility domains. Previous approaches have focused on solving specific problems in specific domains whereas the trace framework provides a more general, scalable solution. We present experiments that demonstrate the scalability of the trace framework and a case study that highlights its value in performing a wide variety of analytics on utility networks.
African American Boarding Schools

This chapter highlights the accomplishments and historical significance of the following four remaining African American boarding schools: the Laurinburg Institute (North Carolina), Pine Forge Academy (Pennsylvania), Piney Woods (Mississippi), and the Redemption Christian Academy (New York). The chapter also offers a critical analysis of the role boarding schools played in contributing to the growth and development of education in the African American community.
Resilience, condom use self-efficacy, internalized homophobia, and condomless anal sex among black men who have sex with men, New York City.

Background Black men who have sex with men, who account for less than 1% of the U.S. population, account for approximately 25% of new HIV infections annually. Condomless anal sex contributes to HIV infection among black men who have sex with men. The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties (resilience) may be protective against condomless anal sex, but has been understudied among black men who have sex with men. Psychosocial factors related to resilience, i.e., condom use self-efficacy and internalized homophobia, may also affect condomless anal sex. We assessed the association between resilience, condom use self-efficacy, internalized homophobia and condomless anal sex among black men who have sex with men. Methods Data are from a 2010-2011 study examining condomless anal sex (past 60 days) among black men who have sex with men in New York City. Validated scales assessed resilience (theoretical range = 0-100), condom use self-efficacy (theoretical range = 27-135), and internalized homophobia (theoretical range = 9-36). We described continuous variables using median and interquartile range (IQR). Univariable and multivariable Poisson regression models assuming a robust variance estimator were used to compute unadjusted and adjusted prevalence ratios, respectively, and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) examined the association of resilience, condom use self-efficacy, and internalized homophobia with condomless anal sex, while controlling for potential confounders (e.g., having >1 sex partner). Results The median resilience score within our sample (N = 228) was 75 (IQR = 66-83). Many black men who have sex with men reported condomless anal sex (55.7%) and >1 sex partner (58.8%). Decreased condomless anal sex was associated with increased levels of condom use self-efficacy (aPR: 0.94 per 10-point increase in condom use self-efficacy score; CI: 0.90-0.97; p-value: 0.001). Condomless anal sex was not associated with resilience or internalized homophobia. Conclusions Within this sample of black men who have sex with men, condomless anal sex was prevalent. Greater resilience was not protective against condomless anal sex. Interventions that support condom use are warranted for black men who have sex with men.
Galectin-3 Levels and Outcomes After Myocardial Infarction: A Population-Based Study.

Abstract Background Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is implicated in cardiac fibrosis, but its association with adverse outcomes after myocardial infarction (MI) is unknown. Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the prognostic value of Gal-3 in a community cohort of incident MI. Methods A population-based incidence MI cohort was prospectively assembled in Olmsted County, Minnesota, between 2002 and 2012. Gal-3 levels were measured at the time of MI. Patients were followed for heart failure (HF) and death. Results A total of 1,342 patients were enrolled (mean age 67.1 years; 61.3% male; 78.8% non–ST-segment elevation MI). Patients with elevated Gal-3 were older and had more comorbidities. Over a mean follow-up of 5.4 years, 484 patients (36.1%) died and 368 (27.4%) developed HF. After adjustment for age, sex, comorbidities, and troponin, patients with Gal-3 values in tertiles 2 and 3 had a 1.3-fold (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.9-fold to 1.7-fold) and a 2.4-fold (95% CI: 1.8-fold to 3.2-fold) increased risk of death, respectively (p trend trend Conclusions Gal-3 is an independent predictor of mortality and HF post-MI. These findings suggest a role for measuring Gal-3 levels for risk stratification post-MI.
Effect of lowering initiation thresholds in a primary care-based buprenorphine treatment program.

Abstract Background Office-based buprenorphine treatment is effective for opioid use disorder. Scant research has examined programmatic factors impacting successful initiation of treatment. To increase initiation of eligible patients, our buprenorphine program implemented changes to lower treatment thresholds. Most notable among these was elimination of a requirement that patients demonstrate abstinence from stimulants prior to initiating buprenorphine. Methods This observational, retrospective study included patients screened for primary care-based buprenorphine treatment under high- and low-threshold conditions from 2015 to 2017. Background characteristics and treatment data were extracted from the electronic medical record and clinical registry. Chi-squared tests were used to compare proportions of patients initiated within 90 days of screening and retained to 60 days after initiation, under both conditions. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to compare relative odds of buprenorphine initiation after adjustment for several covariates. All analyses were stratified by recent stimulant use. Results The sample of 168 patients included 96 in the high-threshold group and 72 in the low-threshold group. Among patients with recent stimulant use, low-threshold conditions were associated with a higher proportion of patients initiated (69% versus 35%, p = 0.002) and higher relative odds of initiation (aOR = 7.01, 95% CI = 2.26–21.80) but also with a lower proportion of patients retained (63% versus 100%, p = 0.004). Among patients without recent stimulant use, low-threshold conditions did not change these measures by a statistically significant margin. Conclusions Lower-threshold policies may increase buprenorphine treatment initiation for patients with co-occurring stimulant use. However, patients using stimulants may require additional supports to remain engaged.
Kramer-Smyth, J. (Ed.) (2019). Partners for Preservation: Advancing Digital Preservation through Cross-Community Collaboration

While many of the concepts in this book, including link rot, preservation of data, and open source software, are not new to information professionals, Partners for preservation: Advancing digital p...
Differential deficits in spatial and temporal interlimb coordination during walking in persons with incomplete spinal cord injury

Abstract Background Returning to community walking remains a major challenge for persons with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) due, in part, to impaired interlimb coordination. Here, we examined spatial and temporal features of interlimb coordination during walking and their associations to gait deficits in persons with chronic iSCI. Research Question Do deficits in spatial and temporal interlimb coordination correspond differentially to clinical indicators of walking performance in persons with iSCI? Methods Sixteen persons with chronic iSCI and eleven able-bodied individuals participated in this study. Participants walked at self-selected gait speeds along an instrumented walkway that recorded left and right step lengths and times. We quantified interlimb coordination in terms of normalized differences between left and right step lengths (spatial asymmetry index) and step times (temporal asymmetry index), as well as, gap and phase coordination indices. We then assessed the extent to which these indices independently associated with clinical measures of walking performance. Results Participants with iSCI demonstrated greater spatial and temporal asymmetry, as well as, reduced gap and phase interlimb coordination as compared to age-matched controls (p 0.05) or between gap and phase coordination indices (p > 0.05). Spatial and temporal asymmetry indices weakly correlated with SCI-FAI composite scores (r2 = 0.26; p = 0.04). However, only spatial asymmetry indices strongly correlated with slower walking speed (r2 = 0.51; p Significance Differential impairments in spatial and temporal interlimb coordination correspond to overground walking deficits in persons with chronic iSCI. Spatial asymmetry associated with decreased walking speed and increased reliance on hand-held assistive devices. Gait training methods that target well-defined space and time domains of interlimb coordination may enhance overground gait training in persons with iSCI.
Guideline-concordant treatment is associated with improved survival among women with non-endometrioid endometrial cancer

Abstract Background Among women diagnosed with non-endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (EC), we investigated associations between race/ethnicity and receipt of guideline-concordant treatment (GCT), as well as relationships between GCT and survival. Methods We used the National Cancer Database and identified 21,177 non-Hispanic White (NHW), 6657 non-Hispanic Black (NHB), 1689 Hispanic, and 903 Asian/Pacific Islander (AS/PI) women diagnosed with non-endometrioid EC between 2004 and 2014. Year-specific National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines were used to classify GCT. We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between race/ethnicity and GCT receipt. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazards ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for relationships between GCT and overall survival in the total study population and stratified by race/ethnicity. Results Overall, 43.8% of women with non-endometrioid EC received GCT. Compared to NHW women, NHB (OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.95–1.07), Hispanic (OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.91–1.12) and AS/PI women (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.96–1.26) did not have significantly different odds of receiving GCT. GCT was significantly associated with improved survival among NHW (HR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.80–0.87), NHB (HR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.80–0.91), and Hispanic women (HR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.72–0.98) but not among AS/PI women (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.78–1.19). Conclusions While more than half of women with non-endometrioid EC did not receive GCT, no difference in GCT receipt by race/ethnicity was observed. When received, GCT was associated with improved survival in almost all racial groups. Interventions to improve GCT adherence may improve survival for most women with non-endometrioid EC.
1.12 – Learning and Representation

Behavioral evidence implies that even insect brains compute representations of behaviorally relevant aspects of the world. For example, they compute the animal’s position in the word by integrating its velocity with respect to time. Other examples are the learning of the solar ephemeris, the construction of a cognitive map, and episodic memory in food caching. Representations require a symbolic read-write memory that carries information extracted from experience forward in time in a computationally accessible form. The close analogy between the architecture required to access memory in a computer and the architecture of the molecular machinery that accesses genetic information suggests the sort of memory structure to be looked for in the nervous system.
Level Structure of Li 6

A theoretical level structure for ${\mathrm{Li}}^{6}$ is calculated for the Hu-Massey Gaussian-shape tensor potential and for the Pease-Feshbach Yukawa interaction. The central force splittings are assumed equal to the first-order Majorana separation. The additional splittings produced by the tensor force of the $S$ and of the $D$ states of ${\mathrm{Li}}^{6}$ are computed by using a variational method which includes the effect of configuration interaction. An $S$-state splitting of approximately 2 Mev is found, when the Pease-Feshbach potential is used, with 9% admixture of excited states introduced into the zero-order wave functions. It is shown that the tensor force has little effect on the separation of the $^{1}S_{0}$ and $^{1}D_{2}$ states. For the Hu-Massey potential, the triplet $D$ states are split in essentially the same way as would result in first order from a vector-type spin-orbit force. In the case of the Pease-Feshbach potential, the effective first-order potential also includes a tensor term, smaller than and opposite sign to the original tensor force. With both potentials, a total multiplet splitting of about 1 Mev is obtained, with the $^{3}D_{3}$ state lowest.
Queer Violence: Confronting Diverse Forms of Violence Against LGBTQ+ Persons and Communities

This chapter introduces the topics of systemic and interpersonal violence against LGBTQ+ persons, a complex and multifaceted area that is marked by a variety of distinct but co-existing types of victimization. We describe this broad range of victimization, which spans from childhood to adulthood, covert to overt, and interpersonal to systematic, and discuss the cumulative effects of both acute and chronic victimization on the health and well-being of sexual and gender minority persons. We also highlight the importance of truly intersectional and culturally responsive care in working with LGBTQ+ clients who have experienced violence.
Fundamentalist and Evangelical Perspectives in Education

THIS PAPER LOOKS historically at the beliefs of fundamentalists and evangelicals, noting some similarities and differences. It then examines how they have expressed those beliefs in four specific areas of education: posture toward state education, creation and support of independent schools, production of theory, and production of instructional materials. The study is set in the North American theological and educational contexts.
Chapter 9 Encounters with Monoclonal Antibodies to Na+, K+-ATPase

Publisher Summary This chapter introduces monoclonal antibody technology, which is ideally suited for the preparation of specific antibodies from a nonpurified antigen and this provides a stimulation to pursue the development of such antibodies to Na + , K + -ATPase so that they may be utilized as specific morphologic markers. The development of monoclonal antibodies begins with the initial immunization procedure. The method of immunization has been found to be of importance in determining the success of the hybridization procedure. Further, screening procedures are necessary initially to identify the presence of antibody and specificity of its reactivity during the immunization and hybridization protocols, and later to characterize the antibody in relation to the antigenic determinant at which it is directed and how it may be related to the structure of the protein under investigation. After monoclonal antibodies have been developed, characterized, and purified, they can be used as probes in a wide variety of cell biology studies. A wide variety of markers linked to antibody as a ligand is used as labels for electron microscopic immunocytochemistry.
Arthur H. Sherry-In Memoriam

Arthur was a native of Berkeley and his entire educational and professional career was centered in the San Francisco Bay Area. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Mary's College at Moraga in 1929 and his Juris Doctor degree from Boalt Hall in 1932. Upon admission to the California Bar, Arthur joined the staff of Alameda County District Attorney Earl Warren. There he showed exceptional talents in criminal investigation and trial practice, and he became known as an especially able prosecutor, firm but fair-minded. Except for his period of service during World War II as Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Transport Command of the Army Air Corps (1942-1945), Arthur was a member of the District Attorney's Office through 1950. In 1951, he became Chief Assistant Attorney General of California under then Attorney General Edmund G. Brown.
Unsupervised learning in constrained linear networks

Constrained linear architectures which learn in unsupervised mode according to Hebb's rule to minimize the output energy are analyzed. Under which conditions such networks act as decorrelating (square-root) filters is investigated. An algorithm is proposed which is almost optimum since the inputs of each filter (which are also the outputs of the net) become more and more decorrelated as the algorithm progresses. The search essentially approaches Newton's algorithm. The results of a simulation are shown. >
Site-directed mutagenesis of the region around Cys-241 of complement component C2 : evidence for a C4b binding site

We probed the functional significance of the region around Cys-241 in human C2 by testing the hemolytic activity of a series of mutant rC2. Mutant C2 cDNA were constructed by oligonucleotide-directed site-specific mutagenesis and expressed transiently in COS cells. Wild-type rC2 had threefold higher specific hemolytic activity than native serum C2. Substitution of Gly, Ala, or Ser for Cys-241 resulted in a slightly, but significantly, increased activity. In addition, I2 had no effect on the activity of these mutant C2. Substitution of Lys for Gln-243 increased the hemolytic activity by more than two-fold. Increased activity in all cases was due to slower decay rates of the C3 convertase. Finally, substitution of Leu or Ala for Asp-240 or Ser-244, respectively, resulted in more than 100-fold decrease of hemolytic activity. The results suggest that residues 240 to 244 of human C2 represent an important structural determinant of the C4b binding site of C2a. They also confirm that Cys-241 is the residue responsible for the increased activity of C2 reacted with I2.
Changing Awareness of the Health Insurance Marketplace.

The Health Insurance Marketplace was designed to increase the affordability of health insurance. The success of the marketplace depends on people’s awareness and use of it. In a statewide mail survey of West Virginians, we found that respondents’ awareness of the West Virginia Health Insurance Marketplace increased from 2013 to 2014. However, large percentages of respondents continued to be unaware of the availability of federal subsidies and were unsure of their personal eligibility for these subsidies. It is essential that awareness and enrollment efforts continue and that they be expanded in novel ways to continue growth in access to health insurance through the marketplace.
Storm time observations of plasmasphere erosion flux in the magnetosphere and ionosphere

Plasmasphere erosion carries cold dense plasma of ionospheric origin in a storm-enhanced density plume extending from dusk toward and through the noontime cusp and dayside magnetopause and back across polar latitudes in a polar tongue of ionization. We examine dusk sector (20 MLT) plasmasphere erosion during the 17 March 2013 storm (Dst ~ −130 nT) using simultaneous, magnetically aligned direct sunward ion flux observations at high altitude by Van Allen Probes RBSP-A (at ~3.0 Re) and at ionospheric heights (~840 km) by DMSP F-18. Plasma erosion occurs at both high and low altitudes where the subauroral polarization stream flow overlaps the outer plasmasphere. At ~20 UT, RBSP-A observed ~1.2E12 m−2 s−1 erosion flux, while DMSP F-18 observed ~2E13 m−2 s−1 sunward flux. We find close similarities at high and low altitudes between the erosion plume in both invariant latitude spatial extent and plasma characteristics.
Simulated transanal NOTES sigmoidectomy training improves the responsiveness of surgical endoscopists.

Background There is no evidence demonstrating the feasibility of colorectal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) resection with currently available endoscopic instrumentation. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the responsiveness of surgical endoscopists to simulated transanal NOTES sigmoidectomy training. Design Participants were trained in simulated NOTES sigmoidectomy by using disposable abdominal trays with tattooed sigmoid cancer in a hybrid simulator. Setting Endoscopy simulation laboratory in a university hospital. Interventions NOTES sigmoidectomy included 8 steps performed transanally with 2 colonoscopes, endoscopic scissors, and clip applier: (1) colonoscopic viscerotomy with a balloon; (2) retroperitoneal dissection; (3) left ureter identification, inferior mesenteric vessels division; (4) colonoscopy; (5) splenic flexure mobilization; (6) left side of the colon/rectal mobilization; (7) transanal specimen transection; (8) extracorporeal colorectal anastomosis. Main Outcome Measurements Responsiveness was defined as a change in performance over time and assessed comparing baseline testing with unmentored final testing. Content-valid measures included the length of the specimen, the distance of the anastomosis from the anal verge, and the proximal and distal resection margins and operating time (minutes). Results Four participants performed 21 resections. Tumor distance from the anal verge was 29.2 cm (range 26-2.5 cm). Operating time overall (127.5 vs 74 minutes, P = .068), viscerotomy (17.5 vs 9 minutes, P = .197), colonoscopy (4.5 vs 3.5 minutes, P = .655), flexure mobilization (19.5 vs 10 minutes, P = .144), colon mobilization (20 vs 14.5 minutes, P = .461), specimen extraction (9.5 vs 8.5 minutes, P = .465), and anastomosis (14 vs 11 minutes, P = .715) times improved. Limitations Ceiling effects because of fixed anatomy. Conclusions Simulated NOTES sigmoidectomy training affected responsiveness of surgical endoscopists with a 42% reduction in operating time.
Physical and mental health status of female adolescent/young adult survivors of breast and gynecological cancer: a national, population-based, case-control study.

Each year, nearly 21,000 adolescents and young adults (AYA) ages 15 to 29 years are diagnosed with cancer. Breast and gynecological cancers account for 25 % of the cancers seen in AYA females. The purpose of this study was to compare the current physical and mental health status of female AYA cancer survivors with non-cancer female controls. Using data from the population-based 2009 National Health Interview Survey, 100 cases of female AYA survivors of breast and gynecological cancers were identified [female AYA cancer survivor (FCS) group]. FCS cases were matched with 300 female respondents without a history of cancer on age, education, marital status, and minority status [non-cancer control (NCC) group]. The FCS and NCC groups were compared on a range of physical and mental health status indices using analysis of covariance and binary logistic regression. FCS group reported significantly poorer physical and mental health status than the matched controls. Relative to the NCC group, FCS survivors had significantly poorer scores on 7 of 8 mental health outcomes and were more likely to meet criteria for serious psychological distress (odds ratio = 4.23, p ≤ 0.001). FCS group also reported greater lifetime and current prevalence of various medical conditions, more health-related disabilities, and greater functional limitations than the NCC group. Diagnosis of breast and gynecological cancer during adolescence and young adulthood is associated with clinically important deficits in physical and mental health status. Given the young age of this cancer survivor cohort, increased attention should be devoted to minimizing these deficits.
Direct myocardial revascularization with saphenous vein autograft. Clinical experience in 100 cases.

Clinical data for the first 100 operations utilizing saphenous vein graft are presented. Eighty-seven percent of the patients were between 41 and 60 years of age, the youngest being 26 and the oldest 69. A combined simultaneous single internal mammary artery implantation and saphenous vein graft was done in 41 patients with no increase in the operative risk. The operative mortality rate was 5 percent. There were three late deaths. The most common complications were atrial fibrillation in 12 patients and myocardial infarction in seven. Fifty patients underwent postoperative cardiac catheterization. In 40, the graft was patent and the obstruction was totally relieved. Six patients showed significant narrowing, and in four the graft was closed. The grafts remained in good condition without dilatation over a year postoperatively.
Physiographically sensitive mapping of climatological temperature and precipitation across the conterminous United States

Spatial climate data sets of 1971–2000 mean monthly precipitation and minimum and maximum temperature were developed for the conterminous United States. These 30-arcsec (∼800-m) grids are the official spatial climate data sets of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The PRISM (Parameter-elevation Relationships on Independent Slopes Model) interpolation method was used to develop data sets that reflected, as closely as possible, the current state of knowledge of spatial climate patterns in the United States. PRISM calculates a climate–elevation regression for each digital elevation model (DEM) grid cell, and stations entering the regression are assigned weights based primarily on the physiographic similarity of the station to the grid cell. Factors considered are location, elevation, coastal proximity, topographic facet orientation, vertical atmospheric layer, topographic position, and orographic effectiveness of the terrain. Surface stations used in the analysis numbered nearly 13 000 for precipitation and 10 000 for temperature. Station data were spatially quality controlled, and short-period-of-record averages adjusted to better reflect the 1971–2000 period. PRISM interpolation uncertainties were estimated with cross-validation (C-V) mean absolute error (MAE) and the 70% prediction interval of the climate–elevation regression function. The two measures were not well correlated at the point level, but were similar when averaged over large regions. The PRISM data set was compared with the WorldClim and Daymet spatial climate data sets. The comparison demonstrated that using a relatively dense station data set and the physiographically sensitive PRISM interpolation process resulted in substantially improved climate grids over those of WorldClim and Daymet. The improvement varied, however, depending on the complexity of the region. Mountainous and coastal areas of the western United States, characterized by sparse data coverage, large elevation gradients, rain shadows, inversions, cold air drainage, and coastal effects, showed the greatest improvement. The PRISM data set benefited from a peer review procedure that incorporated local knowledge and data into the development process. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
Conference scene: American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Meeting.

Immunotherapy was prominently featured at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), held on the 13–16 November 2010. Even though it has been 100 years since the first paper on immunotherapy appeared, the field is continuing to undergo dynamic and exciting advancements that make this therapy the most appealing and appropriate for allergic patients.
Effects of choleragen on hormonal responsiveness of adenylate cyclase in human fibroblasts and rat fat cells

Abstract Choleragen increases cyclic AMP content of confluent human fibroblasts. Maximally effective concentrations of isoproterenol and prostaglandin E1 also induce large increases in cyclic AMP content of human fibroblasts and in confluent cultures the effect of prostaglandin E1 is much greater than that of isoproterenol. After incubation with choleragen, the increment in cyclic AMP produced by 2 μM isoproterenol is increased and approaches that produced by 5.6 μM prostaglandin E1. Although the concentration of isoproterenol which produces a maximal increase in cyclic AMP is similar in both control and choleragen-treated cells, lower concentrations of isoproterenol are more effective in the choleragen-treated cells. In choleragen-treated cells, although the response to 5.6 μM prostaglandin E1 is reduced by as much as 50%, the concentration of prostaglandin E1 required to induce a maximal increase in cyclic AMP is 1 10 that required in control cells. Thus the capacities of intact human fibroblasts to respond to isoproterenol and prostaglandin E1 can be altered independently during incubation of intact cells with choleragen. Differences in responsiveness to the two agonists were not demonstrable in adenylate cyclase preparations from control or choleragen-treated cells. In rat fat cells, the effects of choleragen on cyclic AMP content were much smaller than those in fibroblasts. In contrast to its effect on intact fibroblasts, choleragen treatment of rat fat cells did not alter the accumulation of cyclic AMP in response to a maximally effective concentration of isoproterenol. The responsiveness of adenylate cyclase preparations to isoproterenol was also not altered by exposure of fat cells to choleragen.
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors and Sleep Architecture in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

Studies suggest that some acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) increase rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and nightmares in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) but few have studied their effect on other sleep parameters. The objective of this study was to examine differences in sleep architecture in AD patients taking different AChEIs. 76 participants (51 men, 25 women) [mean age = 78.2 years; SD = 7.7] with mild to moderate AD underwent medication history screening as well as polysomnography to determine the percentage of each sleep stage. Participants were divided into groups based on AChEI used: donepezil (n = 41), galantamine (n = 15), rivastigmine (n = 8) or no AChEI (n = 12). General univariate linear model analyses were performed. AChEI therapy had a significant effect on the percentage of stage 1 (p = 0.01) and stage 2 (p = 0.03) sleep. Patients in the donepezil group had a significantly lower percentage of stage 1 sleep than patients in the galantamine group (mean = 17.3%, SD = 11.7 vs 29.2%, SD = 15.0, respectively; p = 0.01), but there was no significant difference between the donepezil group and the rivastigmine (mean = 25.0%, SD = 12.3) or no AChEI groups (mean = 27.6%, SD = 17.7) in this respect. No significant differences in percentage of stage 1 between other groups were seen. Patients in the donepezil group also had a significantly higher percentage of stage 2 sleep than patients in the no AChEI group (mean = 63.6%, SD = 14.4 vs 51.4%, SD = 16.9, respectively; p = 0.04), but there was no significant difference between the donepezil group and either the galantamine group (mean = 56.5%, SD = 8.7) or the rivastigmine group (mean = 59.9%, SD = 8.4). There were no significant differences between groups in terms of percentage REM sleep or other sleep parameters. Subgroups of AD patients (classified according to AChEI treatment) in this study differed with respect to the amount of stage 1 and stage 2 sleep experienced, with the donepezil-treated group having the lowest percentage of stage 1 sleep and the highest percentage of stage 2 sleep. There was no significant difference in the amount of REM sleep between the groups. Our data suggest that sleep architecture may be affected by the use of donepezil in patients with AD. Although not elicited in this study because of the small sample size, there may be a class effect of AChEIs on sleep architecture. Double-blind, placebo-controlled studies are needed to better understand causality and the effect of each AChEI on sleep architecture in patients with AD.
Predictors and incremental prognostic value of left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony response during stress-gated positron emission tomography in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy

The study sought to investigate whether there is stress-induced worsening of left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony (LVMD) in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM), determine the predictors of LVMD response (LVMDR) and its incremental prognostic value. The effect of stress physiology on LVMD in patients with ICM has not been adequately evaluated, and the prognostic value of abnormal LVMDR beyond traditional predictors of mortality remains uncertain. 489 consecutive patients with ICM, LV ejection fraction (EF) <35% undergoing rest/stress Rb-82 gated PET were evaluated. LVMD was determined by phase analysis (SD) from gated rest and peak stress images; LVMDR was defined as stress SD − rest SD, and stratified by tertiles. All-cause mortality was the primary outcome. Linear regression was performed to determine the predictors of LVMDR, and Cox proportional hazard modeling to assess its independent prognostic value. Integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) and net reclassification improvement (NRI) were performed to determine incremental value of abnormal LVMDR. Independent predictors of worse LVMD at peak stress were perfusion defect size (PDS) and resting heart rate; while higher resting LVEF, LVEF reserve and rest phase SD were associated with lower LVMDR. Over a mean follow-up of 2.0 ± 1.4 years, 123 patients (25%) died. After multivariate analysis, LVMDR was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality (HR 1.19[1.01;1.38], per 10° increase, P = .04) and reclassified 18% of patients with IDI 1.4% (P = .02) and NRI 9% (P = .057). In patients with ICM, an increase of LVMD during peak gating stress as compared to rest was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality, and had a modest incremental prognostic value. Future studies are needed to validate our findings.
Hydrogen dynamics and light-induced structural changes in hydrogenated amorphous silicon

We use accurate first-principles methods to study the network dynamics of hydrogenated amorphous silicon, including the motion of hydrogen. In addition to studies of atomic dynamics in the electronic ground state, we also adopt a simple procedure to track the H dynamics in light-excited states. Consistent with recent experiments and computer simulations, we find that dihydride structures are formed for dynamics in the light-excited states, and we give explicit examples of pathways to these states. Our simulations appear to be consistent with aspects of the Staebler-Wronski effect, such as the light-induced creation of well-separated dangling bonds.
Sub-diaphragmatic vagal afferent integration of meal-related gastrointestinal signals.

Abstract We have established a method to investigate the range of mechanical, nutrient chemical and peptidergic meal-related stimuli that may generate vagal afferent neurophysiological signals critical to the negative feedback control of food intake in the rat. We have identified populations of fibers that respond with increased neurophysiological discharge rates to gastric loads, duodenal loads, and close celiac arterial administration of a brain-gut peptide, cholecystokinin. Load-sensitive fibers with gastric and duodenal mechanoreceptive fields are able to integrate information arising from mechanical and peptidergic stimulation, where cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK) administration potentiates subsequent responses to distending loads, and synergizes with distending loads to produce greater excitation than either load stimulus alone or peptide stimulation alone. In addition, we have identified situations where the duodenal presence of nutrients modifies the vagal afferent activity of gastric load-sensitive fibers. Thus, our approach can mimic the temporal and spatial distribution of meal-related stimuli in the gut, and reveals the potential for nutrients in one gastrointestinal compartment to affect neural signals arising from another gut compartment.
Suppression of Anterior Pituitary in Rats Bearing a Transplantable Growth Hormone and Prolactin-Secreting Tumor (MtT-WlO)1

Involution occurred in somatotrophs and mammotrophs in the anterior pituitary of animals bearing a transplantable tumor secreting large amounts of growth hormone and prolactin. The weight of the pituitary was reduced significantly 5 weeks after tumor implantation. A quantitative study of pituitary cells was essential inasmuch as size of secretory granules, one of the most useful criteria for identification of cell types, became smaller. Involutionary changes in somatotrophs were observable at 4 weeks and consisted of smaller cells and fewer secretory granules. The size of granules decreased from 345 ± 5 mμ for controls to 257 ± 5 mμ for tumor—bearing animals at 5 weeks. In mammotrophs, no change in either the size of the cell or number of granules per cell was observed. The size of granules decreased from 550 ± 14 mμ for controls to 420 ± 12 mμ in tumor—bearing animals at 5 weeks. Immature granules in mammotrophs first decreased significantly at 3 weeks. A lysosomal mechanism does not seem to be the domin...
NMR structure of varkud satellite ribozyme stem-loop V in the presence of magnesium ions and localization of metal-binding sites.

In the Neurospora VS ribozyme, magnesium ions facilitate formation of a loop-loop interaction between stem-loops I and V, which is important for recognition and activation of the stem-loop I substrate. Here, we present the high-resolution NMR structure of stem-loop V (SL5) in the presence of Mg 2+ (SL5 Mg ) and demonstrate that Mg 2+ induces a conformational change in which the SL5 loop adopts a compact structure with most characteristics of canonical U-turn structures. Divalent cation-binding sites were probed with Mn 2+ -induced paramagnetic line broadening and intermolecular NOEs to Co(NH 3 ) 6 3+ . Structural modeling of Mn(H 2 O) 6 2+ in SL5 Mg revealed four divalent cation-binding sites in the loop. Sites 1, 3, and 4 are located in the major groove near multiple phosphate groups, whereas site 2 is adjacent to N7 of G697 and N7 of A698 in the minor groove. Cation-binding sites equivalent to sites 1-3 in SL5 are present in other U-turn motifs, and these metal-binding sites may represent a common feature of the U-turn fold. Although magnesium ions affect the loop conformation, they do not significantly change the conformation of residues 697-699 involved in the proposed Watson-Crick base pairs with stem-loop I. In both the presence and the absence of Mg 2+ , G697, A698, and C699 adopt an A-form structure that exposes their Watson-Crick faces, and this is compatible with their proposed interaction with stem-loop I. In SL5 Mg , however, U700 becomes exposed on the minor groove face of the loop in the proximity of the bases of G697, A698, and C699, suggesting that the Mg 2+ -bound conformation of stem-loop V allows additional contacts with stem-loop I. These studies improve our understanding of the role of Mg 2+ in U-turn structures and in substrate recognition by the VS ribozyme.
Search for correlation between asteroid families and classes

A correlation between membership in a dynamically defined asteroid family and membership in a given asteroid spectral class is sought. Examination of 10 families each with five or more classified members indicates a correlation for the 4 families whose existence is best established, and no correlation for the remaining 6 families. This conclusion supports the break-up hypothesis for the origin of some families, while not contradicting that hypothesis for any family.
Imbibition period as the critical temperature sensitive stage in germination of lima bean seeds.

Lima bean seeds (Phaseolus lunatus L.) and excised embryonic axes can be injured during imbibition at temperatures below 25°. The early imbibitional stage is critical; imbibition at 25° followed by low temperature exposure does not cause injury. Sensitivity to chilling injury is conditioned by the pre-harvest seed history. Low vigor (bleached) seeds are most sensitive to injury, the effects of which can be intensified by restricted oxygen supply during early axis growth. The seed coat, by preventing water uptake, can permit the seed to avoid injury. This protective mechanism is most effective at low temperature and high moisture stress. Immediately following low temperature imbibition, injured axes lose organic materials, probably nucleotides. This organic leachate is a potential influence on soil microorganisms and, together with the temperature sensitivity, vigor, and seed coat effect undoubtedly is important in controlling the potential variability in germination shown by a seed population.
Digital geometry may not be discrete

Abstract As is often done in set theory we identify sets with their characteristics functions. A consistent use of functional notations in digital geometry has a few distinct advantages over the conventional approach: digital geometry is truly imbedded into the customary topology, e.g., digital images, being sets in themselves, all have continuous analogs; images are digitally connected if they are connected; the same notion of connectedness applies to an image and its complementary image; color images are naturally included into the same general framework; and, digitization is a projection from the set of analog images onto the subset of digital images.
Spatially explicit mapping of hurricane risk in New England, USA using ArcGIS

Hurricanes are one of the major natural disturbances affecting human livelihoods in coastal zones worldwide. Assessing hurricane risk is an important step toward mitigating the impact of tropical storms on human life and property. This study uses NOAA’s historical tropical cyclone database (HURDAT or ‘best-track’), geographic information systems, and kernel smoothing techniques to generate spatially explicit hurricane risk maps for New England. Southern New England had the highest hurricane risk across the region for all storm intensities. Long Island, western Connecticut, western Massachusetts, and southern Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket had high storm probabilities and wind speeds. Results from this study suggest that these locations may be of central importance for focusing risk amelioration resources along the Long Island and New England coastlines. This paper presents a simple methodology for hurricane risk assessment that could be applied to other regions where long-term spatial storm track data exist.
Lessons learned from the environmental impact statement of the Magdalena Ridge Observatory

In the United States an Environmental Impact Statement can easily take two years and cost more than one million dollars. This paper summarizes the experience gained from carrying out the Environmental Impact Statement of the Magdalena Ridge Observatory. Methods are given to avoid difficulties and manage time, cost, and communication for a successful conclusion.
A Role for Protein Kinase CβI in the Regulation of Ca2+ Entry in Jurkat T Cells

Abstract T cell activation leading to cytokine production and cellular proliferation involves a regulated increase and subsequent decrease in the intracellular concentration of Ca2+([Ca2+]i). While much is understood about agonist-induced increases in [Ca2+]i, less is known about down-regulation of this pathway. Understanding the mechanism of this down-regulation is critical to the prevention of cell death that can be the consequence of a sustained elevation in [Ca2+]i. Protein kinase C (PKC), activated by the diacylglycerol produced as a consequence of T cell receptor engagement, has long been presumed to be involved in this down-regulation, although the precise mechanism is not wholly clear. In this report we demonstrate that activation of PKC by phorbol esters slightly decreases the rate of Ca2+ efflux from the cytosol of Jurkat T cells following stimulation through the T cell receptor or stimulation in a receptor-independent manner by thapsigargin. On the other hand, phorbol ester treatment dramatically reduces the rate of Ca2+influx following stimulation. Phorbol ester treatment is without an effect on Ca2+ influx in a different T cell line, HSB. Down-regulation of PKCβI expression by 18-h phorbol ester treatment is associated with a loss of the response to acute phorbol ester treatment in Jurkat cells, suggesting that PKCβI may be the isozyme responsible for the effects on Ca2+ influx. Electroporation of an anti-PKCβI antibody, but not antibodies against PKCα or PKCγ, led to an increase in the rate of Ca2+ influx following stimulation. Taken together, these data suggest that PKCβI may be a component of the down-regulation of increases in [Ca2+]i associated with Jurkat T cell activation.
The morphology and crystallography of directionally solidified pb-sn eutectic alloys

Directional solidification of Pb-Sn eutectic alloys at high temperature gradients has shown that two distinct eutectic morphologies occur, a regular lamellar structure and a wavy lamellar structure, termed degenerate. An electron channelling technique was used to characterize the crystallography of the two morphologies. The degenerate grains grow in advance of the regular grains and are the preferred growth morphologies in spite of the fact that coarsening experiments revealed that the degenerate grains possessed a higher lamellar interface energy. This result conflicts with the Zener model of eutectic growth. A possible rationalization of this conflict based on the anisotropy of thermal conductivity in Sn is presented.
The relation between family context and perceptions of parental efficacy

Factors related to perceptions of parental efficacy—i.e., beliefs concerning the degree to which parents can influence the development of their children—are examined with a national sample of 3000 parents. Results of the national data indicate that parents with little education and/or low incomes are less likely than better educated, financially advantaged parents to believe that parents have a great deal of control over developmental outcomes. Controlling for education and income, white parents are more likely than black parents to believe that parents exert considerable influence on the developing child. Also examined are parent's beliefs regarding effective parenting practices. Beliefs regarding effecting practices are related to parents’ perceptions of control over developmental outcomes.
Case report 557

A case report of an solitary intramuscular myxoma in a 33-year-old man with polyostotic fibrous dysplasia