cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A large cervical spinal cord lesion in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1: Multiple sclerosis plaque or hamartoma. (P3.161)

Objective: Presentation of a case of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Background: Multiple sclerosis may disproportionately affect patients with NF1, although it remains an uncommon diagnosis in this population. The gene that encodes oligodendrocyte-myelin glycoprotein (OMG) is located in an intron of the NF1 gene, though how this affects MS risk with NF1 is not established. While hamartomas and gliomas are common findings in the central nervous system of NF1 patients, these entities are rare in the spinal cord. Design/Methods: Case report. Results: A 31 year old woman with NF1 presented 6 years ago with right upper extremity pain and weakness. She was found to have a large T2 hyperintense lesion in the central cord at the level of C4–C5, with no expansion of the cord or enhancement. This lesion along with multiple periventricular and juxtacortical T2 hyperintense lesions in the brain were initially presumed to be hamartomas. Then 2 years ago she developed a progressive gait disorder with bilateral lower extremity weakness and frequent falls. In addition, she developed right sided sensory symptoms and bowel/bladder dysfunction. She sought a second opinion and was found to have several new juxtacortical white matter lesions. Cervical spine MRI was stable, but a newly obtained thoracic spine MRI revealed patchy T2 hyperintensities within the thoracic spinal cord. Cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal bands were negative, but IgG index and IgG synthesis rate were elevated. She was diagnosed with secondary progressive MS and disease modifying therapy was initiated. Conclusions: The incidence of MS among NF1 patients may be increased as much as two-fold according to a study of health insurance claims. A diagnosis of MS should be considered in the setting of atypical spinal cord lesions or atypical clinical course in NF1 patients. Disclosure: Dr. Gillani has nothing to disclose. Dr. Klawiter has received personal compensation for activities with Atlas5d, Biogen Idec, EMD Serono, Genentech, and Shire as a consultant. Dr. Klawiter has received research support for clinical research projects and clinical trials from Atlas5d, Biogen, EMD Serono, and Roche.. Dr. Jordan has received personal compensation for activities with Guidepoint as a consultant.
Bee-Inspired Evaluation Algorithm Leads to Improved Decision Making in Groups

The emergence of technology as a fundamental centerpiece in everyday life has allowed for more connections and human groups than ever before. Each of these groups faces decisions that impact all members, ranging from the type of food to order for an event to relocating a company's headquarters. Traditionally, groups might make a decision by asking members to vote or by having a committee make an executive decision. However, these traditional means do not handle situations with many possible solutions well, nor leverage the experience of the group members. Humans are not the only, nor even the first creatures to make group decisions. We can look to social insects which make decisions for colonies of up to tens of thousands of individuals. Drawing inspiration from how honey bees, ( Apis mellifera ), find new nest sites, the bee-inspired evaluation (BIE) algorithm was developed. This mechanism was modeled and shown that simulated groups make decisions that average within 0.2% of the optimal choice. Simulated groups consistently made less error-prone decisions using the BIE algorithm when compared to a simple majority voting system.
On Compositionality in Neural Machine Translation.

We investigate two specific manifestations of compositionality in Neural Machine Translation (NMT) : (1) Productivity - the ability of the model to extend its predictions beyond the observed length in training data and (2) Systematicity - the ability of the model to systematically recombine known parts and rules. We evaluate a standard Sequence to Sequence model on tests designed to assess these two properties in NMT. We quantitatively demonstrate that inadequate temporal processing, in the form of poor encoder representations is a bottleneck for both Productivity and Systematicity. We propose a simple pre-training mechanism which alleviates model performance on the two properties and leads to a significant improvement in BLEU scores.
Oncology Resources for Students Enrolled in Pre-Licensure and Graduate Nursing Programs in the United States: A Scoping Review of the Literature.

Objectives This scoping review summarizes oncology resources for pre-licensure and graduate nursing programs in the United States. Data Sources PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus databases were searched to identify resources (2008–2019) published in peer-reviewed journals. While 1,503 papers were initially identified, 49 met inclusion criteria. Conclusion Thematic analysis revealed five themes with subthemes: (1) didactic courses; (2) clinical opportunities; (3) didactic and clinical resources; (4) simulation resources; and (5) other. Implications for Nursing Practice Academic educators are charged with preparing a nursing workforce capable of providing safe and quality evidence-based care across the cancer continuum. Findings offer examples that overcome curriculum barriers.
Traffic Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Statewide Analysis of Social Separation and Activity Restriction

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant social and economic impacts throughout the world. In addition to the health consequences, the impacts on travel behavior have also been sudden ...
Enhanced saltwater stability of CNT wires under electrical bias

Abstract Wires formed of densified as-received and purified commercially available Carbon Nanotube (CNT) sheet material as well as a laid CNT wire were tested for long-term stability in a saltwater environment under an applied electrical bias. Tafel electrochemical measurements showed increased chemical stability for the CNT samples over copper, with the corrosion resistance of CNT samples showing further improvement after purification. Under constant DC voltage biases of 2.50 V, CNT materials show improvements in failure time by as much as 108 times over comparable diameter copper wires, with further improvement over copper at lower applied voltages due to material stability and an absence of gas evolution. Shear forces resulting from gas formation was found to significantly contribute to the failure of CNT wires at elevated voltages compared to chemical corrosion typical in copper wires.
Solvent and Solvate Effects on the Cocrystallization of C60 with CoII(OEP) or ZnII(OEP) (OEP = Octaethylporphyrin)

Variations in crystallization conditions produce dramatic changes in the composition and geometry of solvated porphyrin-fullerene cocrystals. The products obtained by cocrystallization from a benze...
Mechanisms of Artemisia scoparia’s Anti‐Inflammatory Activity in Cultured Adipocytes, Macrophages, and Pancreatic β‐Cells

Objective An ethanolic extract of Artemisia scoparia (SCO) improves adipose tissue function and reduces negative metabolic consequences of high-fat feeding. A. scoparia has a long history of medicinal use across Asia and has anti-inflammatory effects in various cell types and disease models. The objective of the current study was to investigate SCO's effects on inflammation in cells relevant to metabolic health. Methods Inflammatory responses were assayed in cultured adipocytes, macrophages, and insulinoma cells by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting, and NF-κB reporter assays. Results In tumor necrosis factor α-treated adipocytes, SCO mitigated ERK and NF-κB signaling as well as transcriptional responses but had no effect on fatty acid-binding protein 4 secretion. SCO also reduced levels of deleted in breast cancer 1 protein in adipocytes and inhibited inflammatory gene expression in stimulated macrophages. Finally, in pancreatic β-cells, SCO decreased NF-κB-responsive promoter activity induced by IL-1β treatment. Conclusions SCO's ability to promote adipocyte development and function is thought to mediate its insulin-sensitizing actions in vivo. Our findings that SCO inhibits inflammatory responses through at least two distinct signaling pathways (ERK and NF-κB) in three cell types known to contribute to metabolic disease reveal that SCO may act more broadly than previously thought to improve metabolic health.
Resourcefully: Grey Matters

It won’t do to ignore it, though it’s hard to collect it. In this instalment of Resourcefully, a discussion of the rapidly expanding and increasingly important world of grey literature. Exploring t...
Muslim and Jewish Immigrants’ Adjustment: The Role of Religious-American Harmony, Religious-American Identity Centrality, and Discrimination:

Religious-minority immigrants must negotiate both their religious and host cultural (e.g., American) identities; however, the duality of these identities is rarely examined in relation to adjustmen...
Identifying High Risk Typhlitis Patients: SIPA and White Blood Cell Count Trends Associated with Surgical Management and Mortality

Background/Purpose: Typhlitis is uncommon but can be life-threatening in pediatric cancer patients. The cornerstone is medical management (MM), with surgical intervention reserved for clinical deterioration and/or bowel perforation. We hypothesized that trends in the Shock Index, Pediatric Age-Adjusted (SIPA) and white blood cell (WBC) count could alert practitioners to those patients at greatest risk for surgical intervention and mortality …
Role of peracetic acid on the disruption of lignin packing structure and its consequence on lignin depolymerisation

Peracetic acid (PAA) is an effective oxidant capable of solubilising lignin and efficiently depolymerising it to selective phenolic compounds; however, the specific role by which PAA initiates the depolymerisation is still elusive. Herein, interaction between PAA and the lignin macromolecule and the consequent structural changes of the latter were studied by characterising the lignin packing structure and its associated changes during the oxidation process. While the lignin packing structure and its changes associated with the PAA-mediated oxidation were probed by X-ray diffraction, the impact of the PAA on different chemical functionalities present in the lignin structure was established by 13C and 1H–13C heteronuclear single-quantum coherence nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Combining the NMR spectroscopy results, and the product distribution, we conclude that the predominant reaction pathway for the oxidative depolymerisation of lignin with PAA is the Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of the ketone formed by the oxidation of the benzylic hydroxyl group adjacent to the β-O-4 linkage. The experimental evidence provided herein corroborated that PAA instigates oxygen insertion to the lignin macromolecule resulting in disruption of its packing structures and facilitates depolymerisation. We also investigated various metal oxide and mixed metal oxide catalysts to identify effective catalysts that further enhance the efficiency of PAA-mediated depolymerisation of lignin and produce selective monomeric phenolic compounds. Techno-economic analysis was also conducted to identify the key parameters associated with this oxidative process that need to be considered for possible commercial application.
Bringing Norms In : The Role of Context in Experimental Dictator Games

Experimental economics aims to understand the foundations of human behaviors such as altruism, trust, and cooperation through controlled choice situations that enable comparison of behaviors across both individuals and societies. While games aim to elicit “pure” behavior by isolating it from social contexts, there is some evidence that participants bring their normative frameworks into game situations and that this might influence their behavior in games. To test this hypothesis, two versions of the dictator game, one uncontextualized and one closely resembling a local social norm, were conducted in a population of Kenyan livestock herders. Behaviors in the two versions were strikingly different; players in the contextualized game adhered closely to the social norm, while those playing the uncontextualized version exhibited a wider range of behaviors. In addition, individual demographic variables predicted behavior in the contextualized game (but not in the uncontextualized game), in contrast to the resul...
Film Thickness Determinations in Moving Saturated Superfluid 4He Films

Preliminary results of precision measurements of the velocity dependent saturated film thickness are presented. We find agreement within experimental errors with predictions based on the theory of Kontorovich. These measurements rule out a strong velocity dependence for ρs/ρ in saturated films. We also report the first observations of thickness changes due to third sound in saturated films by use of direct capacitance techniques. At 1.46K the attenuation of third sound at 1.2 Hz is found to be about 0.008 cm−1.
P38 MAPK inhibition enhancing ATO-induced cytotoxicity against multiple myeloma cells

The resistance to arsenic trioxide (ATO) treatment is relatively common (55-80%) in multiple myeloma patients. This study found that ATO at clinically achievable concentrations (2-7 mumol/l) activated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in both myeloma cell lines and primary myeloma cells, a finding not previously well-documented in myeloma cells. Inhibition of p38 MAPK activation by pharmacological inhibitors (SB203580) or downregulation of p38 MAPK by siRNA significantly increased the apoptosis and/or growth inhibition induced by ATO treatment in myeloma cells. Combination of ATO and p38 MAPK inhibition abolished the interleukin-6 enhanced protection of myeloma cells against ATO treatment. The ATO-resistant cell line developed in our laboratory showed an increase in p38 MAPK activation. The increase of apoptosis by the combination of ATO and SB203580 was accompanied by the activation of caspase-9 and caspase-8 suggesting that both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways are involved. Additionally, the p38 MAPK activation by ATO was associated with increased phosphorylation and upregulated expression of Heat shock protein 27. These results suggest that ATO-induced p38 MAPK activation plays an important role in the resistance to ATO in myeloma cells and that p38 MAPK inhibition may overcome resistance to ATO treatment in myeloma patients.
The First Electronic Computer: The Atanasoff Story

Tells of the design, construction, and subsequent controversy over the first special-purpose electronic computer
Deductive database systems: a trip to BERMUDA

Deductive database systems combine the inferencing capabilities of logic programming with the secondary storage capabilities of databases in a single system. BERMUDA is such a system. It interfaces C-Prolog to the Britton-Lee intelligent database machine (IDM). The author explores several architectural issues which influence the design of deductive database systems by presenting the solutions adopted in BERMUDA. He suggests that integrated hospital information systems are a natural environment in which to port BERMUDA. >
Deterministic vortex methods for the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations

The vorticity formulation of the Navier-Stokes equations is described in connection to a free-Lagrangian approach for the treatment of vorticity diffusion. The position of the vortices is updated according to the fluid velocity, suitably reconstructed from the vortex distribution. The strengths satisfy a diffusion equation discretized on the irregular grid of the vortices. Its implementation is based on the discretization of the Laplacian on the particle grid and is obtained with the use of a Voronoi diagram that is updated in O(N) operations at each time step. The scheme for the diffusion term is conservative and there is an energy estimate (total “energy” associated with vortices decreases). The comparison to the exact solution shows a second order spatial convergence. The problem of an elastic flag in a fluid is under investigation. Preliminary results are shown.
A comparison of quartic vs. binary neural network designs

A distributed neural network referred to as a neuromic array, which is restricted to binary alphabets, has been previously introduced (Porter, 1988). The present study loosens this restriction by demonstrating the design extension to the quartic case. A natural morphism between the quartic-valued and binary-valued vector spaces is used to establish a design equivalence between the two settings. The study compares the robustness and performance of equivalent binary and quartic designs. Extensive simulations indicated that the performance of binary design eroded only slightly when transported to the quartic case. The quartic design required fewer neurons, and a higher density was achieved. >
Creating new computer science curricula for the new millenium

Now that Computing Curricula 2001 [IEEE00] is in place, we have an opportunity to review our computing curricula in order to modernize them. This paper suggests that while we are altering our curricula to comply with Computing Curricula 2001, we should consider additional factors in determining our revised curricula. One significant consideration for departments offering traditional computer science bachelor's degrees is that we are competing with fresh and exciting information technology programs. Additionally, there is a long history of including too few women and minorities [NCES96], so we should consider making our courses and curricula more appealing to these audiences.
Quantum site percolation on amenable graphs

We consider the quantum site percolation model on graphs with a amenable group action. It consists of a random family of Hamiltonians. Basic spectral properties of these operators are derived: non-randomness of the spectrum and its components, existence of an self-averaging integrated density of states and an associated trace-formula.
Reliable low-power multimedia communication systems

Summary form only given. Next generation multimedia communications are characterized by increasing functionality, higher mobility and ubiquity of access. Advances in semiconductor technology has enabled the implementation of complex multimedia microsystems. However, this has also raised numerous challenges at the highest (system) and lowest (physical) levels of the design hierarchy for producing reliable and energy-efficient multimedia communication systems. Multimedia communication systems offer unique opportunities to address these problems due to the inherent redundancy in naturally occurring signals, the relaxed latency requirements, and the statistical nature of metrics, such as SNR, used commonly to quantify the functionality of such systems. Most importantly, in multimedia communication systems, algorithmic, architectural and circuit design issues are closely intertwined and better understood than in the case of general purpose computing. This raises the possibility of systematically optimizing energy and performance across the three domains. Two distinct design philosophies for implementing reliable and energy-efficient multimedia communication systems can be considered. The first approach, termed as noise-tolerance, is motivated from the communication and information-theoretic principle that energy-efficiency in the presence of noise is better achieved through error-control as opposed to noise control. The second approach relies on exploiting environmental dynamism, i.e., the inherent variability of environmental factors influencing the statistics of the multimedia signals being processed.
Brief Report: A Hypothetical Construct Based on Limited Data Visual System Recovery After Refractive Surgery

ABSTRACTLaser refractive surgery, involving the computer-controlled application of a 193-nm beam of excimer laser “light,” is utilized to resculpt the central cornea, thus reducing its apical thickness. On casual inspection, this simple matter of removing or excising a specific amount of central corneal avascular tissue is a smooth, seamless alteration with few apparent secondary issues or sequelae. Normal postoperative recovery is typically gauged by the recovery of high-contrast visual acuity to the same (or better) degree as was previously obtained with a spectacle correction. However, although this is an acceptable means of determining operative success, it is not indicative of the complex challenges imposed upon the neurosensory system. The secondarily imposed strain upon the visual system, regarding the return to its pre-existing visual line-of-sight organization occurs only by bringing multiple adaptations into subtle and seamless play. This process is initiated and completed in a relatively short ...
Fatty acid binding protein 4 expression in cerebral vascular malformations: implications for vascular remodelling.

Aim Arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and cavernous malformations (CM) are the most commonly encountered cerebral vascular malformations, which are dynamic lesions with de novo growth potentials. Postnatal angiogenesis and vasculogenesis have been postulated to play a role in the pathogenesis of these malformations. Fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) is an intracellular lipid chaperone, which is expressed in a subset of endothelial cells. FABP4 enhances the angiogenic responses of endothelial cells and is not expressed in normal cerebral vasculature. Herein, we investigated the hypothesis that FABP4 expression may be up-regulated in AVM and CM. Methods The abundance of FABP4 expression was analysed by immunohistochemistry on 35 paraffin-embedded AVM and CM sections. FABP4-expressing cells were further characterized by double immunofluorescence using antibodies against various cell-specific markers. Results Heterogenous FABP4 expression was detected in 100% AVM and 78% of CM samples. Endothelial cell FABP4 expression was present in 65% and 43% of AVM and CM, respectively. Interestingly, a population of FABP4-positive perivascular cells was detected in 100% of AVM and 86% of CM sections examined. These cells were negative for markers of macrophages and smooth muscle cells, but expressed vimentin, a marker of mesenchymal cells, including fibroblasts. Conclusion FABP4 expression is detected in AVM and CM in a subset of endothelial cells and some perivascular fibroblast-like vimentin-positive cells.
Spin acceleration effects on some full-scale rocket motors.

Ballistic propellant combustion alteration and thermal effects due to dynamic spinning observed on solid propellant sounding rockets
Affect intensity as an individual difference characteristic: A review

Abstract Affect intensity is a stable individual difference characteristic defined in terms of the typical strength of an individual's responsiveness. Evidence is reviewed suggesting that the intensity of an individual's affective responsiveness generalizes across specific emotion categories, implying a general temperament dimension of emotional reactivity and variability. Two methods of assessing affect intensity are evaluated and found to exhibit desirable psychometric properties. Substantive research on the validity of the affect intensity construct is reviewed. Affect intensity is related to a variety of specific personality characteristics, has identifiable antecedents in childhood behavior, and relates to a broad range of cognitive, affective, and health-related consequences. An arousal regulation theory is proposed to account for individual differences in affective response intensity. Other plausible theories are mentioned, and directions for future research are discussed.
Caspase-dependent cleavage of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) is involved in TNF-α-mediated bovine pulmonary endothelial cell apoptosis

Cytoskeletal proteins are key participants in the cellular progression to apoptosis. Our previous work demonstrated the critical dependence of actomyosin rearrangement and MLC phosphorylation in TNF-α-induced endothelial cell apoptosis. As these events reflect the activation of the multifunctional endothelial cell (EC) MLCK isoform, we assessed the direct role of EC MLCK in the regulation of TNF-α-induced apoptosis. Bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells expressing either an adenovirus encoding antisense MLCK cDNA (Ad.GFP-AS MLCK) or a dominant/negative EC MLCK construct (EC MLCK-ATPdel) resulted in marked reductions in MLCK activity and TNF-α-mediated apoptosis. In contrast, a constitutively active EC MLCK lacking the carboxyl-terminal autoinhibitory domains (EC MLCK-1745) markedly enhanced the apoptotic response to TNF-α. Immunostaining in GFP-EC MLCK-expressing cells revealed colocalization of caspase 8 and EC MLCK along actin stress fibers after TNF-α. TNF-α induced the caspase-dependent cleavage o...
Oxidation of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde by NAD+-dependent dehydrogenases in rat nasal mucosal homogenates

Homogenates of respiratory and olfactory tissue from the rat nasal cavity were examined for their capacity to catalyze the NAD+-dependent oxidation of formaldehyde (in the presence and absence of glutathione) and of acetaldehyde. Both aldehydes were oxidized efficiently by nasal mucosal homogenates, and formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FDH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (AldDH) were tentatively identified in both tissue samples. At least two isozymes of AldDH, differing with respect to their apparent Km and Vmax values with acetaldehyde as substrate, were found in the nasal mucosa, one of which may catalyze the oxidation of both formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. The specific activity of FDH in the olfactory mucosa was twice that in the respiratory mucosa, whereas the specific activity of the higher Km isozyme of AldDH was five to eight times greater in respiratory than in olfactory tissue. The specific activity of the lower Km isozyme of AldDH was similar in respiratory and olfactory homogenates. Repeated exposures of rats to formaldehyde (15 ppm, 6 hr/day, 10 days) or to acetaldehyde (1500 ppm, 6hr/day, 5 days) did not substantially affect the specific activities of FDH and AldDH in nasal mucosal homogenates. Glutathione is a cofactor for FDH; the concentration of nonprotein sulfhydryls in respiratory mucosal homogenates was approximately 2.8 mumoles/g and was not changed significantly by repeated exposures to formaldehyde (15 ppm, 6hr/day, 9 days). These data indicate that the rat nasal mucosa, which is the major target site for both aldehydes in inhalation toxicity studies, can metabolize both formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, and that the specific activities of formaldehyde and aldehyde dehydrogenase in homogenates of the nasal mucosa are essentially unchanged following repeated exposures to toxic concentrations of either compound.
Dynamic Rheological Measurement of Structure Development in High-methoxyl Pectin/Fructose Gels

Incipient structure development (SD) in 65% fructose-0.5, 0.75, and 1% high-methoxyl (HM) pectin gels (pH 2.7) being cooled (5010 o C) were measured in terms of dynamic viscosity (η * ) at 1 Hz. SD rates (poise/min) were higher at lower temperatures, higher pectin concentrations, and when pectin was hydrated for 16 hr. Below the gel temperature, SD rates in 1% gel followed the Flory-Weaver model. SD in stored 0.5% gels during 22 days was strongly affected by storage temperature (2-38 o C) and pH. SD rates in pH 2.7 gels were positive above, but negative below 18 o C
Collection and Chemical Composition of Phloem Sap from Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck (Sweet Orange)

Through utilizing the nutrient-rich phloem sap, sap feeding insects such as psyllids, leafhoppers, and aphids can transmit many phloem-restricted pathogens. On the other hand, multiplication of phloem-limited, uncultivated bacteria such as Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas) inside the phloem of citrus indicates that the sap contains all the essential nutrients needed for the pathogen growth. The phloem sap composition of many plants has been studied; however, to our knowledge, there is no available data about citrus phloem sap. In this study, we identified and quantified the chemical components of phloem sap from pineapple sweet orange. Two approaches (EDTA enhanced exudation and centrifugation) were used to collect phloem sap. The collected sap was derivatized with methyl chloroformate (MCF), N-methyl-N- [tert-butyl dimethylsilyl]-trifluroacetamide (MTBSTFA), or trimethylsilyl (TMS) and analyzed with GC-MS revealing 20 amino acids and 8 sugars. Proline, the most abundant amino acid, composed more than 60% of the total amino acids. Tryptophan, tyrosine, leucine, isoleucine, and valine, which are considered essential for phloem sap-sucking insects, were also detected. Sucrose, glucose, fructose, and inositol were the most predominant sugars. In addition, seven organic acids including succinic, fumaric, malic, maleic, threonic, citric, and quinic were detected. All compounds detected in the EDTA-enhanced exudate were also detected in the pure phloem sap using centrifugation. The centrifugation technique allowed estimating the concentration of metabolites. This information expands our knowledge about the nutrition requirement for citrus phloem-limited bacterial pathogen and their vectors, and can help define suitable artificial media to culture them.
Examiner Comments During Intelligence Testing: an Attributional Analysis

Most previous studies that have considered the effects of examiner comments during the ad ministration of intelligence tests were conducted within the framework of reinforcement theory. This study is a descriptive analysis of examiner comments from the perspective of attributional theory of achievement motivation. Transcripts of examiners' administrations of intelligence tests to children referred because of learning difficulties showed that comments that fell into the attribu tional categories of Task Difficulty, Effort, Ability, Practice, and Fatigue were distributed unevenly across subtests. A wide range of individual variability among examiners also was found.
Measurement of cortisol-stimulated gluconeogenesis in the rat.

The rate of formation of free glucose in fasted, adrenalectomized rats treated with cortisol was measured by an isotope dilution technique during the period 2–4 hr after hormone administration. No significant increase in the rate of dilution of labeled blood glucose was found in hormone-treated animals. However, the liver carbohydrate that was stored in response to cortisol was formed from newly synthesized glucoseglucose and not from blood glucose; therefore, this accumulation of carbohydrate represented gluconeogenesis. The data indicate that, over all, gluconeogenesis is about doubled at this time after cortisol administration even though the rate of formation of free glucose is not significantly increased. In these rats cortisol treatment decreased the apparent space in which glucose was distributed. (Endocrinology 85: 811, 1969)
Conference summary: 6th International conference on hyperons, charm, and beauty hadrons (BEACH04)

The 6th International Conference on Hyperons, Charm, and Beauty Hadrons (BEACH04) treated us to a wonderful array of new results. Here the author attempts to summarize the talks and discuss the conference highlights.
High-dose oxygen implantation of multilayered thin films for the formation of high-temperature superconductors: A feasibility study

A high-dose ion implantation technique for the formation of high-temperature superconducting thin films on silicon substrates is investigated. This technique consists of three steps: (1) deposition of a multilayer sample of the appropriate composition, (2) implantation of oxygen to mix the layers and oxidize the resulting film simultaneously, (3) annealing in oxygen to form the superconductor (and to supplement the oxygen content, if necessary). Potential advantages of the technique are discussed. Thin films have been fabricated and implanted. Moderately homogeneous film of the composition Y1Ba2Cu3O6 were achieved. Initial annealing studies suggest that a mixture formed by this method does not crystallize below a temperature of 700°C for a 1 min rapid thermal anneal.
On the asymptotics of discrete order statistics

Let X1 ;X 2 ;:::;X n be a sequence of independent, identically distributed positive integer random variables. We study the asymptotics of the likelihoodthat the sample maximum is achieved k times andin its spacing relative to the second highest value. Earlier andother results are d context. Also, some investigation is mad e when the sample is Markovian. Di1erent results emerge in this case. c 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved MSC: primary 62G32; secondary 47F30
Depression in children and adolescents with cardiovascular symptomatology: the significance of chest pain.

The study reports on 100 children and adolescents evaluated in a pediatric cardiology department. The results state that 13% of the population met the criteria for Major Depressive Disorder based on DSM III. There were four patients who were referred because of chest pain. All of them were found to be free from cardiovascular disorders, but all were found to be in the depressed group. The authors emphasize the importance of chest pain in differential diagnosis of childhood depression. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry , 21, 2:187–189, 1982.
Brittle deformation of disordered solids

Abstract The presented study summarizes the current state-of-art in the modeling of brittle deformation of solids containing a large number of microcracks. The discussion emphasizes micromechanical considerations and their limitations. It is further argued that the statistical methods may be used in a complementary manner to model the response near the critical point. Finally, it is suggested that an appropriate phenomenological model can be derived from micromechanical considerations.
Can Increased Understanding of the Role of Lung Development and Aging Drive New Advances in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

To advance our ability to effect earlier diagnosis, prevent, and possibly restore healthy lung function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may require novel thinking. One avenue to explore is the concept of COPD as a trans-generational disease. Early development and COPD may be related first by failure of normal growth development leading to an increased risk of disease, and second by recapitulation of some developmental pathways that may be key to lung repair after injury. While we should be mindful that "aging" may not be only thought of as "late" development in a COPD context, the aging process in the lung is probably fundamentally different from emphysema. However, injury of the aging lung may result in emphysema. Finally, taking a more holistic view of COPD, aging and development in extrapulmonary contexts (e.g., musculoskeletal or immune systems) may also impact on COPD initiation and progression. Addressing the impact of development and the aging process on the natural history of the disease, both in men and in women, may open up research avenues that will drive new advances in disease classification, diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy for this chronic debilitating lung disease.
The LAMPF Polarized Ion Facility: Status Report

The current status of the LAMPF Lamb-shift polarized ion facility will be described. The 750-kV Cockcroft-Walton injector is now installed and work is proceeding on the ion source system. Engineering details will be described along with an estimated operation date. Improvements in two polarized ion sources now operating at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory are being incorporated into this source and include recent modifications to the argon charge-changing region. The status of rapid spin-reversal techniques will be reviewed.
Differential Effects of Acute and Regular Physical Exercise on Cognition and Affect

The effects of regular exercise versus a single bout of exercise on cognition, anxiety, and mood were systematically examined in healthy, sedentary young adults who were genotyped to determine brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) allelic status (i.e., Val-Val or Val66Met polymorphism). Participants were evaluated on novel object recognition (NOR) memory and a battery of mental health surveys before and after engaging in either (a) a 4-week exercise program, with exercise on the final test day, (b) a 4-week exercise program, without exercise on the final test day, (c) a single bout of exercise on the final test day, or (d) remaining sedentary between test days. Exercise enhanced object recognition memory and produced a beneficial decrease in perceived stress, but only in participants who exercised for 4 weeks including the final day of testing. In contrast, a single bout of exercise did not affect recognition memory and resulted in increased perceived stress levels. An additional novel finding was that the improvements on the NOR task were observed exclusively in participants who were homozygous for the BDNF Val allele, indicating that altered activity-dependent release of BDNF in Met allele carriers may attenuate the cognitive benefits of exercise. Importantly, exercise-induced changes in cognition were not correlated with changes in mood/anxiety, suggesting that separate neural systems mediate these effects. These data in humans mirror recent data from our group in rodents. Taken together, these current findings provide new insights into the behavioral and neural mechanisms that mediate the effects of physical exercise on memory and mental health in humans.
Favorable Outcomes in Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy in a Child Treated With Hypothermia

Acute necrotizing encephalopathy predominately affects young children in Japan, Taiwan, and Korea. It manifests with fever, altered mental status, and seizures 2-5 days after the onset of upper respiratory infection. It is commonly associated with influenzas A, B, and H1N1. The hallmark of the encephalopathy involves multifocal, symmetric brain lesions affecting the bilateral thalami, brainstem tegmentum, cerebral periventricular white matter, cerebellum, and medulla, as visualized by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Prognoses were uniformly dismal before 1980, with high mortality rates and severe neurologic sequelae in survivors. We describe a previously healthy 4-year-old Caucasian girl who presented with fever, alterations of consciousness, and convulsions. Nasal swab revealed her to be influenza A-positive, and her magnetic resonance imaging was diagnostic of the disease. Prompt recognition of the disease and treatment with hypothermia and anti-inflammatory agents led to a favorable outcome.
Permuted derivative and importance-sampling estimators for regenerative simulations

Abstract In a previous paper we introduced a new variance-reduction technique for regenerative simulations based on permuting regeneration cycles. In this paper we apply this idea to new classes of estimators. In particular, we derive permuted versions of likelihood-ratio derivative estimators for steady-state performance measures, importance-sampling estimators of the mean cumulative reward until hitting a set of states, and Tin estimators for steady-state ratio formulas. Empirical results are presented showing that modest to significant variance reductions can be obtained.
Microfluidic electrophoresis chip coupled to microdialysis for in vivo monitoring of amino acid neurotransmitters.

Microfluidic electrophoresis devices were coupled on-line to microdialysis for in vivo monitoring of primary amine neurotransmitters in rat brain. The devices contained a sample introduction channel for dialysate, a precolumn reactor for derivatization with o-phthaldialdehyde, a flow-gated injector, and a separation channel. Detection was performed using confocal laser-induced fluorescence. In vitro testing revealed that the initial device design had detection limits for amino acids of ∼200 nM, relative standard deviation of peak heights of 2%, and separations within 95 s with up to 30 200 theoretical plates when applying an electric field of 370 V/cm. A second device design that allowed electric fields of 1320 V/cm to be applied while preserving the reaction time allowed separations within 20 s with up to 156 000 theoretical plates. Flow splitting into the electrokinetic network from hydrodynamic flow in the sample introduction channel was made negligible for sampling flow rates from 0.3 to 1.2 μL/min by...
Method for Optimally Controlling Unsteady Shock Strength in One Dimension

This paper presents a new formulation and computational solution of an optimal control problem concerning unsteady shock wave attenuation. The adjoint system of equations for the unsteady Euler system in one dimension is derived and used in an adjoint-based solution procedure for the optimal control. A novel algorithm is used to satisfy all necessary first-order optimality conditions while locally minimizing an appropriate cost functional. Distributed control solutions with certain physical constraints are calculated for attenuating blast waves similar to those generated by ignition overpressure from the shuttle’s solid rocket booster during launch. Results are presented for attenuating shocks traveling at Mach 1.5 and 3.5 down to 85%, 80%, and 75% of the uncontrolled wave’s driving pressure. The control solutions give insight into the magnitude and location of energy dissipation necessary to decrease a given blast wave’s overpressure to a set target level over a given spatial domain while using only as m...
UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG GRADUATING Ph.D.'s: Do Economic Conditions Matter?

This paper explores the effects of feminization of the new doctorate ranks on the unemployment rate of new Ph.D.'s. Data on percentage female and percentage unemployed by field are used to test several hypotheses. The first, that feminization has not had a negative effect on the male/female unemployment rate differential, is rejected. The second, that the female Ph.D. unemployment rate is not related to the overall U.S. rate, the third, that unemployment among female Ph.D.'s is not related to the U.S. women's rate, and the fourth, that the differential in male/female unemployment is unrelated to the U.S. rate, are all accepted. Our results suggest the need for additional research. They also imply that, despite increased opportunities, new female Ph.D.'s face higher unemployment rates than their male counterparts.
Interest and Attention in Facial Recognition

When applied to facial recognition, the levels of processing paradigm has yielded consistent results: faces processed in deep conditions are recognized better than faces processed under shallow conditions. However, there are multiple explanations for this occurrence. The own-race advantage in facial recognition, the tendency to recognize faces from one's own race better than faces from another race, is also consistently shown but not clearly explained. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that the levels of processing findings in facial recognition are a result of interest and attention, not differences in processing. This hypothesis was tested for both own and other faces with 105 Caucasian general psychology students. Levels of processing was manipulated as a between-subjects variable; students were asked to answer one of four types of study questions, e.g., "deep" or "shallow" processing questions, while viewing the study faces. Students' recognition of a subset of previously presented Caucasian and African-American faces from a test-set with an equal number of distractor faces was tested. They indicated their interest in and attention to the task. The typical levels of processing effect was observed with better recognition performance in the deep conditions than in the shallow conditions for both own- and other-race faces. The typical own-race advantage was also observed regardless of level of processing condition. For both own- and other-race faces, level of processing explained a significant portion of the recognition variance above and beyond what was explained by interest in and attention to the task.
Intrinsically motivated information foraging

We treat information gathering as a POMDP in which the goal is to maximize an accumulated intrinsic reward at each time step based on the negative entropy of the agent's beliefs about the world state. We show that such information foraging agents can discover intelligent exploration policies that take into account the long-term effects of sensor and motor actions, and can automatically adapt to variations in sensor noise, different amounts of prior information, and limited memory conditions.
Influence of metal ion and coordination geometry on the gas phase dissociation and stereochemical differentiation of N-glycosides

Abstract A series of metal cationized N-glycoside complexes is studied by tandem mass spectrometry. The complexes are of the form [M(dien)(hex)n − H]+, [M(dien)(hex)nCl]+, or [M(dien)(hex)2]2+,where M = Co2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, or Zn2+ and n = 1 or 2. The presence of a metal as the charge carrier promotes more extensive cleavage of the carbon backbone of the saccharide moiety compared to the protonated analogues, thus providing greater structural information. Results obtained for the four coordinate singly charged deprotonated complexes differentiate [M(dien)(Glc) − H]+ versus [M(dien)(Gal) − H]+ for a given metal. Such differentiation is not possible for the corresponding five coordinate complexes, indicating that the coordination number of the metal plays an important role. Tandem mass spectra for both of these four and five coordinate complexes indicate that the geometry around the metal dictates the observed dissociation patterns. Furthermore, the metals Zn and Cu promote unique modes of dissociation not observed for the Ni and Co complexes. Finally, the chlorinated and doubly charged complexes give rise to very few dissociation pathways by MS/MS. It is proposed that this lack of product ions is due to the absence of lone pair electrons on the metal alkoxide that drive the dissociation.
The Strategist in Context: Culture, the Development of Strategic Thought, and the Pursuit of Timeless Truth

Michael I. Handel, Masters of War: Classical Strategic Thought, 3rd rev. and expanded edition, London and Portland, OR: Frank Cass, 2001, 482+xxvii pages. Azar Gat, A History of Military Thought: From the Enlightenment to the Cold War, New York: Oxford University Press, 2001, 890+xvi pages.
"They Danced Around in My Head and I Learned Them": Children's Developing Conceptions of Learning

Two studies examined how 3–6-year-olds understand the process of learning. In study 1 examined how children spontaneously talk about learning via a CHILDES language analysis. Talk about the learning process increased between the ages of 3–5. Talk specifically about learning in terms of desire decreased during this period. This suggests the possibility that desire is important to children's initial understanding of learning, and children develop an understanding that various mental states including desire, attention, and intention, play a role in the learning process. In Study 2, we presented 4- and 6-year-olds with a set of stories designed to test their understanding of the role of these mental states. In both their judgments about whether someone learns and their justifications of their responses, younger children relied more on the character's desires whereas older children were more likely to integrate desire, attention, and intention together. These data suggest that children's understanding of the p...