cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dispersive interactions in graphitic nanostructures

The Casimir interaction between graphitic nanostructures, such as carbon nanotubes and graphene sheets, is investigated at the quantum mechanical limit (T = 0 K) using a quantum electrodynamical approach for absorbing and dispersive media. It is found that the nanotube/nanotube interaction in a double wall carbon nanotube configuration is profoundly affected by the collective low frequency excitations of individual nanotubes. It is shown that pronounced, low frequency peaks in the nanotube electron energy loss spectra are a main factor contributing to the strength of the intertube attraction. The graphene/graphene force is also investigated. It is obtained that the graphene optical transparency is the main reason for the reduced attraction as compared to the one for perfect metals. This study presents a unified approach for electromagnetic interactions in graphitic nanostructures, which is able to account for their unique electronic and response properties and geometry configurations.
Pediatric neurodiagnostic tests: a modern perspective.

The past decade has witnessed unprecedented advances in our ability to study the pediatric nervous system by various imaging and electrophysiologic recording techniques. A profusion of imaging devices and "brain mapping" machines have been developed and aggressively marketed to neurologists. The pediatric practitioner now has a veritable "Chinese menu" of various neurodiagnostic tests from which to choose in evaluating a child who has a neurologic complaint. The quality of the images obtained from newer studies, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is truly astounding, and it is tempting to order such a study when evaluating almost any child with a neurologic problem. Deciding which test to order as a screening procedure, which one might be most useful as a secondary examination, or which study should be performed as the most definitive diagnostic procedure can be difficult. These questions may result in a "shotgun" approach or a "full diagnostic onslaught," 1 with all available tests being done when one or two might have been sufficient. The pediatrician9s dilemma during the modern era is clear: Despite the increased quality of images now available, the newer tests are expensive (Table 1), and their overuse in the pediatric population has contributed significantly to the higher costs of evaluating children who have neurologic disorders.
Lower esophageal sphincter responses to enteric hormones in two patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

The effect of exogenous glucagon and secretin on resting lower esophageal sphincter (LES) tone during endogenous hypergastrinemia was studied in 2 patients with proven Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome (ZES). Intravenous glucagon and in one patient secretin, in dosages which decrease LES pressure in normals only during LES stimulation by exogenous gastrin, caused a decrease in resting LES pressure in the ZES patients. This drop in LES tone occurred both during concomitant serum gastrin rise caused by secretin and serum gastrin decline caused by glucagon. This finding suggests that the action of secretin on LES pressure may be independent of endogenous gastrin, while the glucagon effect on LES tone may be mediated through gastrin.
Endothelium-dependent transfer of ethanol tolerance in the aorta.

Abstract Recent studies have suggested that the endothelium-dependent tolerance to the direct vasoconstrictor effect of ethanol in the rat aorta is mediated by endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). This hypothesis was tested directly by employing a sandwich technique which has been used to demonstrate the release and action of EDRF. These experiments measured the ethanol-induced contraction of a spirally-cut aortic strip without endothellum obtained from an ethanol naive control rat. The response of the spiral strip was measured before and after it was sandwiched with a longitudinally-cut aortic strip with or without endothelium obtained from either control or ethanol tolerant rats. There was no significant difference in the ethanol-induced contraction of the spiral strip after beginning sandwiched with a longitudinal strip with or without endothelium obtained from a control rat or with a longitudinal strip without endothelium from a tolerant rat. In contrast, when a longitudinal strip with endothelium from a tolerant rat was sandwiched with the spiral strip the ethanol-induced contraction was significantly reduced. This effect was inhibited by methylene blue but not by indomethacin. Further, the magnitude of the carbachol-induced relaxation of the sandwiched preparation was significantly greater when the longitudinal strip with endothelium was obtained from a tolerant rat than from control rat. These data demonstrate the involvement of EDRF in the endothelium-dependent tolerance to ethanol in the rat aorta.
Modulation spectroscopy studies of defects

We examine some relationships between defect characteristics and the modulated optical properties of solids. In particular, the effects of an electric field ℰ on the N absorption in GaP are presented. The crystallographic-orientation dependence is used to determine symmetry properties of the impurity electron states and their interaction with the host band structure. These data also yield an impurity concentration which is in agreement (to within a factor of 2) with results obtained using other techniques. The Franz-Keldysh mechanism responsible for the electro-absorption suggests that in indirect gap semiconductors, an electric field should double the luminescence. This enhancement will be greatest for ℰ along the orbital axis of the luminescent center. Generalizations of this work to other chemical and structural defects are discussed.
Systems Approach to Vaginak Delivery of Drugs III: Simulation Studies Interfacing Steroid Release from Silicone Matrix and Vaginal Absorption in Rabbits

A composite physical model involving the simultaneous receding boundary release of drug from a drug suspension-silicone polymer matrix system, diffusion across the aqueous layer, and passive transport across the vaginal membrane consisting of parallel lipoidal and aqueous pore pathways is described. Simulation studies with progesterone and hydrocortisone illustrate matrix release-limiting, membrane absorption, and aqueous diffusion layer-limiting cases when the cylindrical silicone delivery device is interfaced with the vaginal membrane of the rabbit.
Selenium preserves mitochondrial function, stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis, and reduces infarct volume after focal cerebral ischemia.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the major events responsible for activation of neuronal cell death pathways during cerebral ischemia. Trace element selenium has been shown to protect neurons in various diseases conditions. Present study is conducted to demonstrate that selenium preserves mitochondrial functional performance, activates mitochondrial biogenesis and prevents hypoxic/ischemic cell damage. The study conducted on HT22 cells exposed to glutamate or hypoxia and mice subjected to 60-min focal cerebral ischemia revealed that selenium (100 nM) pretreatment (24 h) significantly attenuated cell death induced by either glutamate toxicity or hypoxia. The protective effects were associated with reduction of glutamate and hypoxia-induced ROS production and alleviation of hypoxia-induced suppression of mitochondrial respiratory complex activities. The animal studies demonstrated that selenite pretreatment (0.2 mg/kg i.p. once a day for 7 days) ameliorated cerebral infarct volume and reduced DNA oxidation. Furthermore, selenite increased protein levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1alpha (PGC-1α) and nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1), two key nuclear factors that regulate mitochondrial biogenesis. Finally, selenite normalized the ischemia-induced activation of Beclin 1 and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II (LC3-II), markers for autophagy. These results suggest that selenium protects neurons against hypoxic/ischemic damage by reducing oxidative stress, restoring mitochondrial functional activities and stimulating mitochondrial biogenesis.
Design of aquifer remediation systems: (2) estimating site-specific performance and benefits of partial source removal.

Abstract A Lagrangian stochastic model is proposed as a tool that can be utilized in forecasting remedial performance and estimating the benefits (in terms of flux and mass reduction) derived from a source zone remedial effort. The stochastic functional relationships that describe the hydraulic “structure” and non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) “architecture” have been described in a companion paper (Enfield, C.G., Wood, A.L., Espinoza, F.P., Brooks, M.C., Annable, M., Rao, P.S.C., this issue. Design of aquifer remediation systems: (1) describing hydraulic structure and NAPL architecture using tracers. J. Contam. Hydrol.). The previously defined functions were used along with the properties of the remedial fluids to describe remedial performance. There are two objectives for this paper. First, is to show that a simple analytic element model can be used to give a reasonable estimate of system performance. This is accomplished by comparing forecast performance to observed performance. The second objective is to display the model output in terms of change in mass flux and mass removal as a function of pore volumes of remedial fluid injected. The modelling results suggest that short term benefits are obtained and related to mass reduction at the sites where the model was tested.
Products of Aniline and Triglycerides in Oil Samples Associated with the Toxic Oil Syndrome

The toxic oil syndrome (TOS) was a devastating disease that occurred in Spain in 1981. The disease was associated with the consumption of aniline-denatured and refined rapeseed oil that had been illegally sold as olive oil. Many aniline-derived oil components have been identified in the oils; however, no etiological agent has ever been identified for this disease. We have continued the study of the TOS problem by applying new technology in the form of liquid chromatography interfaced via atmospheric pressure ionization with tandem mass spectrometry. Using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, we studied diluted TOS-associated oils by direct analysis without prior sample treatment. Using this technology, we found new classes of compounds that are associated with disease-related oils. The compounds that have been identified are esters and ester amides of 3-(N-phenylamino)-1,2-propanediol and are products of aniline and triglycerides. Because of the varied fatty acid (oleic acid, etc.) content of the oils, many variations of the above compounds are possible. We now report the identities of more than 20 compounds not previously identified. These compounds are strongly associated with oils that caused the toxic oil syndrome. We believe these compounds should be considered for future animal studies.
Cytochrome P450 1A1 in rat peripheral blood lymphocytes: inducibility in vivo and bioactivation of benzo[a]pyrene in the Salmonella typhimurium mutagenicity assay in vitro.

Abstract The presence and inducibility of CYP1A1 in freshly isolated peripheral blood lymphocytes was examined in untreated rats and in rats pretreated with agents known to induce the enzyme in other tissues, as well as dexamethasone [CAS #50-02-2], which is not commonly associated with CYP1A1 induction. CYP1A1 but not CYP1A2 was detected by Western blot analysis of lymphocytes from untreated rats and was induced in lymphocytes from rats treated with the known CYP1A inducers β-naphthoflavone [CAS #6051-87-2] or 3-methylcholanthrene [CAS #56-49-5] (7.3-fold), cigarette smoke (2.8-fold), and pyridine [CAS #108-86-1] (2.6-fold). CYP1A1 was also induced in lymphocytes from rats treated with the nonprototypic inducer dexamethasone (17.7-fold) or bromobenzene [CAS #108-86-1] (3.9-fold). Lymphocyte homogenate from rats treated with the inducers also catalyzed NADPH-dependent bioactivation of benzo[ a ]pyrene [CAS #50-32-8] to mutagens. The benzo( a )pyrene mutagenicity was detected using Salmonella typhimurium TA100 in the Ames test, and correlated positively with lymphocyte CYP1A1 content. The data show that CYP1A1 is present in rat peripheral blood lymphocytes in vivo, and is inducible by prototypic, as well as nonprototypic, inducers of the enzyme.
Impact of intraventricular hemorrhage on cognitive and behavioral outcomes at 18 years of age in low birth weight preterm infants

Impact of intraventricular hemorrhage on cognitive and behavioral outcomes at 18 years of age in low birth weight preterm infants
Abnormalities of pulmonary artery wedge pressures in sleep-induced apnea

Six patients with sleep apnea syndrome were studied with continuous hemodynamic monitoring during sleep. Sleep apnea had been previously documented with an average number of apneas per hour of sleep ranging from 23 to 93 ((mean 63). There was significant decrease in heart rate during sleep (82 +/- 5 to 69 +/- 6, P less than 0.01). There was a significant rise in systemic blood pressure (103 +/- 2 mn Hg to 116 +/- 6 mm Hg, P less than 0.05) and pulmonary artery pressure (20 +/- 1 mm Hg to 32 +/- 5 mm Hg) during sleep. In addition, pulmonary artery wedge pressure increased (12 +/- 2 mm Hg to 20 +/- 3 mm Hg, P less than 0.05) during sleep and 5 of the 6 patients developed an abnormal pulmonary wedge pressure. There was a significant decrease in PO2 during sleep (71 +/- 3 mm Hg to 49 +/- 2 mm Hg, P less than 0.005). These findings suggest that increases in pulmonary wedge pressures may be contributing to increase in pulmonary artery pressures in these patients during sleep.
Mites and Commercial Extracts of House Dust

North American and European house dust mites have been found in the dusts used in the manufacture of commercial extracts of house dust.
An overview of the nonequilibrium behavior of polymer glasses

It is pointed out that research efforts are at present being directed in two areas, one comprising experimental studies of this phenomenon in various glassy polymer systems and the other involving the development of a quantitative theory capable of satisfactorily predicting aging behavior for a variety of polymer materials under different conditions. Recent work in both these areas is surveyed. The basic principles of nonequilibrium behavior are outlined, with emphasis placed on changes in material properties with annealing below the glass transition temperature. Free volume theory and thermodynamic theory are discussed.
A cone-plate apparatus for the in vitro biochemical and molecular analysis of the effect of shear stress on adherent cells

Living cells are constantly exposed to a variety of complex mechanical stimuli which are though to be critical in the control of tissue structure and function. Endothelial and smooth muscle cells in the blood vessel are ideal candidates for the study of blood flow-induced cellular regulation. We describe here a cone-plate viscometer apparatus which is specially-designed for studying the effect of fluid shear stress on large populations of adherent cells in vitro. Using conventional polystyrene tissue culture plates, the apparatus is self-contained, fits inside a standard tissue culture incubator, and provides 75–150 cm2 of useful surface area for cell growth. This capability makes it ideal for studying gene regulation using Northern analysis, nuclear runoff transcription, transfection with reporter constructs, as well as immunochemical staining. The closed-volume design of the device is also well-suited for isotopic labelling, pharmacological studies, and for the detection of minute amounts of secreted cell products. The setup allows the use of either steady, time- and direction-varying laminar, or turbulent shear stress. We provide a detailed assembly procedure and review the method for computing shear stress magnitude and Reynolds number. Ink flow analysis, dynamic response characterization, and LDH measurements are presented to confirm the device's fluid mechanical properties and demonstrate the absence of cell injury.
Survival of Cottontail Rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) in Mississippi and an Examination of Latitudinal Variation

Abstract We estimated seasonal and annual survival and cause-specific mortality of 132 cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus) in east-central Mississippi during 2 y. Daily survival did not differ between years for genders, but differed significantly between breeding (99.22%) and nonbreeding seasons (99.76%). Mammalian (54.8%) and avian (26.1%) cause-specific mortalities were major mortality agents. Mammalian predation was similar between genders during the breeding season (male: 51.8%; female: 59.4%). Males experienced greater avian predation during the breeding season (male: 33.7%; female: 18.8%). Mammalian predation (male: 12.8%; female: 25.1%) and harvest (male: 25.6%; female: 12.5%) did not differ between genders for the nonbreeding season. Daily mammalian (breeding: 0.45%; nonbreeding: 0.10%) and avian (breeding: 0.22%; nonbreeding: 0.03%) predation differed between seasons. Cottontails preyed upon had greater movement rates the week before death than those that survived the same week. Cottontail...
The effect of silver thiosulphate preservative on the physiology of cut carnations I. Influence on longevity and carbohydrate status

Summary The post-harvest life of cut carnation flowers was increased dramatically when the cut stems were immersed in silver thiosulphate for ten miutes. In untreated naturally senescing cut carnations the gynaecia increased markedly in dry weight and accumulated carbohydrates in the process. It is suggested that these organs, the development of which is known to be stimulated by endogenous ethylene, act as preferential sinks which interrupt and/or redirect the normal flow of carbohydrates from the stems to the petals. This interference with carbohydrate transport was correlated with «sleepiness» and senescence of the petals. The preservative prevented gynaecium enlargement and apparently ensured a continuous transport towards and utilisation of nutrients in the petals.
Seizure-Free Outcome in Randomized Add-on Trials of the New Antiepileptic Drugs

Summary: Purpose: The goal of this study is to (1) provide clinically useful, previously unpublished comparative analyses of seizure-freedom rates for newer antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), and (2) recommend a standard for data presentation and analysis. Methods: Data were reviewed from placebo-controlled adjunctive trials in refractory patients of gabapentin (GPN), lamotrigine (LTG), topiramate (TOP), tiagabine (TGB), oxcarbazepine (OXC), levetiracetam (LEV), zonisamide (ZNS), and pregabalin (PGB). Seizure-freedom analyses in these publications, if included at all, consistently included both patients who completed the trial, and those who dropped out prior to completion (last observation carried forward, LOCF). This has the potential to increase reported seizure-free outcomes. Pharmaceutical companies were contacted for the provision of unpublished seizure-free data in the patients who completed the entire study. Results: In most cases, LOCF analysis produced a higher rate of seizure freedom compared to completer analysis. A total of 0%–1.1% of the LOCF population was seizure-free in the GPN trials (completer data not available). For the remaining AEDs, seizure-freedom results in the LOCF versus completer populations were: 0.7% versus 0.8% (LTG trial); 12% versus 2.6% (OXC trial); 3.6%–6.4% versus 3.9%–7.1% (LEV trial); 3.7%–7.9% versus 1.3%–1.4% (PGB trial); and 6.0% versus 3.0% (ZNS trial, minus titration period). Conclusions: By employing LOCF, a clinically unrealistic picture of seizure-free rates may be reported. Access to completer data is informative, as it includes only those patients who were able to tolerate the drug at doses that produced seizure freedom. Ideally, data from both ITT and completer analyses should be made available.
Amphipathic helixes and plasma lipoproteins: A computer study

A molecular model for the lipid-associating domains of the A and C plasma apolipoproteins was recently proposed. This model consists of helical regions with special properties termed amphipathic. In the present communication we present a computer analysis of the general occurrence of amphipathic helix patterns in proteins with known amino acid sequences.
Genetic Improvement of Metaseiulus occidentalis: Selection with Methomyl, Dimethoate, and Carbaryl and Genetic Analysis of Carbaryl Resistance

Metaseiulus occidentalis (Nesbitt), a spider mite predator, was selected for resistance to methomyl, dimethoate, and carbaryl in the laboratory. Two colonies were selected with each pesticide. All responded to selection, although the methomyl and dimethoate resistance levels achieved were low. The carbaryl resistance appears to be inherited as a single dominant gene. Reasons for the absence of carbaryl resistance in the field are discussed.
Bi-modal regulation of a formin by srGAP2

The maintenance of rapid and efficient actin dynamics in vivo requires coordination of filament assembly and disassembly. This regulation requires temporal and spatial integration of signaling pathways by protein complexes. However, it remains unclear how these complexes form and then regulate the actin cytoskeleton. Here, we identify a srGAP2 and formin-like 1 (FMNL1, also known as FRL1 or FRLα) complex whose assembly is regulated by Rac signaling. Our data suggest srGAP2 regulates FMNL1 in two ways; 1) Rac-mediated activation of FMNL1 leads to the recruitment of srGAP2, which contains a Rac-specific GAP domain; 2) the SH3 domain of srGAP2 binds the formin homology 1 domain of FMNL1 to inhibit FMNL1-mediated actin severing. Thus, srGAP2 can efficiently terminate the upstream activating Rac signal while also opposing an important functional output of FMNL1, namely actin severing. We also show that FMNL1 and srGAP2 localize to the actin-rich phagocytic cup of macrophage-derived cells, suggesting the complex may regulate this Rac- and actin-driven process in vivo. We propose that after Rac-dependent activation of FMNL1, srGAP2 mediates a potent mechanism to limit the duration of Rac action and inhibit formin activity during rapid actin dynamics.
Association analysis of the general environmental conditions and prokaryotes' gene distributions in various functional groups.

Abstract The activities of prokaryotes are pivotal in shaping the environment, and at the same time are greatly influenced by the environment. By using the genomic data and environmental descriptions of the complete prokaryotic genomes in NCBI's Microbial Genome Project Database and applying statistical methods, we have identified in a systematic manner those gene groups whose presence/frequency patterns are different for organisms of different environmental conditions. Here environmental conditions are characterized in four dimensions – salinity, oxygen requirement, habitat and temperature, and are based on the controlled vocabularies that NCBI's Microbial Genome Project database uses to specify the organism information; and, gene groups are determined as Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG) and KEGG Orthology (KO) groups. These identified COG and KO groups are considered as potentially correlated with certain environmental conditions, and are then mapped to the COG general categories and KEGG pathways to determine which part of the functional machinery of prokaryotic cells are correlated with the environments. The observations derived from the analysis of the COG and KO groups that are potentially correlated with the oxygen requirement and habitat conditions are in general consistent with existing studies on properties of organisms living in different conditions of these two environmental factors. To further assess the identified correlation relationships, we have also examined whether the environmental conditions are predictable based on the gene distributions in the selected COG and KO groups. The misclassification rates of the prediction experiments are much smaller than that rendered by random guessing, indicating the existence of the correlation relationships between organisms’ environmental conditions and gene distributions in certain functional groups. However, the rather moderate misclassification rates (the 25- and 75-percentiles of the misclassification rates of all prediction experiments are 16.79% and 24.06%, respectively) also indicate that the correlation relationships between environmental conditions and gene distributions in certain functional groups are not strong enough for one to decisively define the other.
Comparison of support vector machine classification to partial least squares dimension reduction with logistic descrimination of hyperspectral data

Remote sensing technologies with high spatial and spectral resolution show a great deal of promise in addressing critical environmental monitoring issues, but the ability to analyze and interpret the data lags behind the technology. Robust analytical methods are required before the wealth of data available through remote sensing can be applied to a wide range of environmental problems for which remote detection is the best method. In this study we compare the classification effectiveness of two relatively new techniques on data consisting of leaf-level reflectance from plants that have been exposed to varying levels of heavy metal toxicity. If these methodologies work well on leaf-level data, then there is some hope that they will also work well on data from airborne and space-borne platforms. The classification methods compared were support vector machine classification of exposed and non-exposed plants based on the reflectance data, and partial east squares compression of the reflectance data followed by classification using logistic discrimination (PLS/LD). PLS/LD was performed in two ways. We used the continuous concentration data as the response during compression, and then used the binary response required during logistic discrimination. We also used a binary response during compression followed by logistic discrimination. The statistics we used to compare the effectiveness of the methodologies was the leave-one-out cross validation estimate of the prediction error.
Coupled‐cluster studies of HOONO+: Additional conformers of the 2A″ON+ ? OOH complex and a comparison of restricted and unrestricted open‐shell Hartree–Fock coupled‐cluster results

Coupled-cluster calculations using the CCSD(T) method (coupled-cluster singles and doubles with perturbative inclusion of triple excitations) and correlation-consistent basis sets have been used to address aspects of the lowest 2A′ and 2A″ potential energy surfaces of the peroxynitrous acid cation (HOONO+). First, searches were made for conformers of the 2A″ ON+OOH complex in addition to the cis–trans species previously located by the authors (J Chem Phys 2003, 118, 1721). Two conformers were located—namely, trans–cis and trans–trans species—and these were confirmed to be local minima. The trans–trans conformer was calculated to be less than 0.5 kcal mol−1 higher in energy than the cis–trans conformer, and the trans–cis conformer was calculated to be about 6.4 kcal mol−1 higher in energy than the cis–trans conformer. Second, comparisons were made between CCSD(T) results obtained with unrestricted Hartree–Fock (UHF) and restricted open-shell Hartree–Fock (ROHF) reference determinants. These comparisons were made on the 2A″ complexes and the planar 2A′ HOONO+ stationary points. In general, the energy differences between UHF-CCSD(T) and ROHF-CCSD(T) were very small, and well within the error bars of the methods. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004
Marine peloids; a product of bacterially induced precipitation of calcite

High-magnesian calcite peloids are a common constituent of cemented marine carbonate accumulations. They are abundant and well developed within both isolated microcavities and surface crusts. The nuclei of marine peloids are composed of fossil bacterial clumps encased within anhedral, submicron- to micron-sized, high-magnesian calcite crystals. The marine peloids are similar to silt-sized particles found in travertine deposits that also are composed of fossil bacterial clumps and their surrounding calcite coronas. These similarities include size (20-60 mu m), a cloudy brown nucleus, and rims of clear euhedral crystals. In addition, previous studies have established the presence of fatty acids of bacterial origin within peloidal deposits, and enriched stable isotopic signatures have been interpreted as recording organic fractionation concomitant with calcite precipitation. These characteristics all indicate that the nuclei of many peloids originate as calcite precipitates within and around clumps of bacteria and that this precipitation was induced by the vital activity of bacterial colonies.
Edge detection using heuristic search methods

This paper presents a method for detecting edges in a digitized picture. The problem of edge detection is reduced to the problem of finding an optimal path in a weighted graph. The properties of the edge are embedded in the structure of the graph. Graph searching techniques are then used to find the optimal solution. Usually, the optimality of the solution is not important, and several heuristics can be introduced to reduce the search. Because of the global approach, this method, has great flexibility. Some experimental results are given, which show the performance of this method with noisy pictures.
67 INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT USD PHYSICAL GROWTH

The possible existence of a relationship between growth and intellectual development has long fascinated investigators. We recently reported a significant association between height (normalized for age and sex, NH) and IQ scores (both WISC, a measure of intellectual development, and WRAT, a measure of academic achievement) in 6768 adolescents (age 12-17 yr) studied in Cycle III (1966-1970) of the National Health Examination Survey (NHES). In this study, we analyze the association between NH and IQ scores among 7119 children, aged 6-11 yr, from Cycle II (1963-1965) of the NHES. We also examine the association between changes in NH and changes in IQ scores in a longitudinal group of 2117 subjects (aged 8-11 yr) studied first in Cycle II and 2-5 yr later in Cycle III. In Cycle II, as in Cycle III, we found a modest but highly significant correlation between NH and IQ scores (r=0.18, WISC; 0.17, WRAT; p 0.15). Grouping the subjects by sex, SES, or NH in Cycle II did not alter these results. Although we have shown a significant correlation between NH and IQ scores in both Cycles II and III, the data from the longitudinal group revealed no association between changes in NH and changes in IQ scores. These data imply that the factors contributing to the association between NH and IQ scores are active in early childhood and are complete by age 8 yr, suggesting that therapies to increase height are unlikely to affect IQ scores in normal children.
Specific VEGF sequestering and release using peptide-functionalized hydrogel microspheres

Growth factor signaling plays an essential role in regulating processes such as tissue development, maintenance, and repair. Gene expression levels, diffusion, degradation, and sequestration by extracellular matrix components all play a role in regulating the concentration of growth factors within the cellular microenvironment. Herein, we describe the synthesis and characterization of hydrogel microspheres that mimic the ability of the native extracellular matrix to reversibly bind vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) out of solution. A peptide ligand derived from the VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) was covalently incorporated into the hydrogel microspheres in order to achieve binding affinity and specificity. In addition to being able to both bind and release VEGF in a controllable manner, the microspheres were also shown to affect human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation. The resulting microspheres may enable new strategies to specifically upregulate or downregulate growth factor signaling in the cellular microenvironment.
Conditional properties of likelihood-based significance tests

SUMMARY This paper considers the conditional properties of the unconditional significance tests based on standardized versions of the maximum likelihood estimate and the score statistic for the case of a simple null hypothesis and a one-parameter model. The properties of the tests are assessed by considering the conditional level of the test given the observed value of a statistic that is locally ancillary near the null model. It is shown that for the test based on the maximum likelihood estimate the conditional level is equal to the nominal level of the test, ignoring terms of order O(n-1) and higher, provided that the inverse of the observed Fisher information is used as the variance estimate. If the inverse of the expected Fisher information is used, the extent to which the conditional level of the test depends on the observed value of the locally ancillary statistic is shown to depend on the 'statistical curvature' of the model as defined by Efron (1975). Hence, a new interpretation of statistical curvature is given in terms of conditional inference. Similar results are established for the test based on the score statistic.
Holographic Optical Elements Which Diffract Efficiently In The Near-Infrared For Operation With Laser Diodes For Spacecraft Communications

The use of holographic optical elements with laser diodes and/or diode arrays for spacecraft communications is considered. Laser diodes are uniquely suited to spacecraft communications due to their low mass, compact size and high efficiencies compared to other candidate optical transmitters. However, the beamfront from these devices suffer aberrations and astigmatism (Fig. 1). Corrections to the beamfront for satellite communications typically require conventional optical solutions which employ multielement configurations. These solutions are quite massive and bulky and in some instances, can contribute significantly to the overall satellite payload.
Investigating technology for children with selective mutism

This study explores the lifestyles of children with Selective Mutism (SM) to identify how to help children with SM communicate with those around them. Parents of Selectively Mute (SM2) children were interviewed to understand the challenges faced regarding SM and to examine why their children use technology. Children with and without SM were also interviewed through drawings to recognize their technology preferences. It was found that children frequently use technology like tablets for entertainment purposes and sometimes for interacting with others. Parents reported that their children become calm when they use technology and believed that technology could be used to promote speech. The findings from our study can act as a guide for speech-promoting technology. These findings indicate that an ideal technology is one that is inclusive and mobile and encourages stimulus fading and play therapy.
Streptomycin Dependence in Escherichia coli: Effects of Antibiotic Deprivation on Ribosomes

Abstract The inhibition of cell division and the ultimate loss of viability after removal of streptomycin from growing cultures of streptomycin-dependent bacteria are not the result of “unbalanced growth” or of the breakdown of ribosomes. The streptomycin-dependent strain of Escherichia coli K-12 studied continued to synthesize ribonucleic acid (RNA) and protein during streptomycin starvation. There was no evidence of a gross imbalance in the ratio of RNA to protein synthesized or of selective degradation of either protein or RNA. Using the sedimentation of subunits in sucrose as the criterion, normal ribosomes were synthesized even after 18 h of streptomycin deprivation, although the rates of appearance of mature 30S and 50S subunits decreased with time of deprivation. Once formed, these ribosomes appeared stable, as did those synthesized before the onset of starvation. Ribosomes isolated from starved dependent cells were as “functional” as ribosomes from cells grown with streptomycin in their capacity to bind aminoacyl-transfer RNA in response to polyuridylic acid or natural messenger RNA to interconvert between active and inactive transfer RNA binding states, and to synthesize proteins in cell-free systems. The effects are consistent with an impaired rate of synthesis of ribosomal components or assembly of ribosomes resulting in a continually diminishing rate of protein synthesis. The effect on cell division may be the result of a decreased rate of protein synthesis in general and the requirement for a specific protein(s) in particular.
The demographic characteristics of children with chronic kidney disease stages 3–5 in South East England over a 5-year period

Objective To analyse the demographics of children with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3–5 over a 5-year period for the population of South East England. Methods Retrospective study of all children 2 managed at Evelina Children9s Hospital, London from 2005 to 2009. eGFR was estimated using the Schwartz formula, and stages of CKD were defined using Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative criteria. We excluded all patients with a functioning kidney transplant. Results There were 293 children (58% male) with a median (IQR) age of 6.7 (2.3, 12.1) years; 288 were aged Conclusions We observed a steady increase in the incidence and prevalence of children with CKD stage 3–5. As a result of improved management, the majority of children with CKD will proceed to kidney transplantation, transition to adult nephrology services, and continue to require lifelong medical care.
Ethnic and American Identity as Predictors of Self-Esteem Among African American, Latino, and White Adolescents

In order to examine ethnic and American identity as predictors of self-esteem among adolescents, we surveyed 669 American-born high school students (372 Latinos, 232 African Americans, and 65 Whites). Participants completed measures of self-esteem, ethnic identity, American identity, attitudes toward other groups, and demographic variables. Multiple regression analyses of self-esteem were carried out separately for each ethnic group, using ethnic and American identity, other-group attitudes, gender, age, socioeconomic status, and grade point average as predictors. Results indicated that for all groups ethnic identity was a significant predictor of self-esteem. For the White students only, American identity was a strong predictor of self-esteem and was highly correlated with ethnic identity. Other predictors varied across ethnic groups. Although ethnic identity was a significant predictor of self-esteem, it accounted for a relatively small proportion of the variance, suggesting the importance of other influences on self-esteem.
Where Information Searches for You: The Visible Past Ubiquitous Knowledge Environment for Digital Humanities

Visible Past proposes a new class of interdisciplinary learning, documenting, knowledge production, and discovery experiences that are anchored in space and time indicators. The project is supported by a ubiquitous computing platform with wiki, implicit social networking, and location aware capabilities. The environment can be used as an integrated framework for enhancing learning and research in social sciences and humanities. Its main benefit would be involving the student, the researcher, and/or the museum visitor in mobile interactive experiences which rely on social networking around common topics or spaces.
Transient grating spectroscopy of exciton sound waves in dense exciton fluids

Abstract A dynamic description is developed for the motion of an exciton fluid at high exciton density. Coherent oscillatory modes of the exciton density are predicted provided the exciton—phonon coupling is dufficiently small. The physical mechanism is similar to that of sound waves in an ordinary gas. A method to probe these motions using transient grating with strong pump fields is proposed. The grating recurrence time is estimated to be about 100 ps for typical molecular crystals. Exciton Bose condensation could also be probed using the same technique.
Visual routines for eye location using learning and evolution

Eye location is used as a test bed for developing navigation routines implemented as visual routines within the framework of adaptive behavior-based AI. The adaptive eye location approach seeks first where salient objects are, and then what their identity is. Specifically, eye location involves: 1) the derivation of the saliency attention map, and 2) the possible classification of salient locations as eve regions. The saliency ("where") map is derived using a consensus between navigation routines encoded as finite-state automata exploring the facial landscape and evolved using genetic algorithms (GAs). The classification ("what") stage is concerned with the optimal selection of features, and the derivation of decision trees, using GAs, to possibly classify salient locations as eyes. The experimental results, using facial image data, show the feasibility of our method, and suggest a novel approach for the adaptive development of task-driven active perception and navigational mechanisms.
Self‐regulatory deficits associated with unpracticed mindfulness strategies for coping with acute pain

Training in mindfulness is a well-supported therapeutic strategy for pain conditions, though short-term mindfulness training for acute pain is not always effective. To explore the possibility that initial attempts at mindfulness in people without previous training may drain self-regulatory resources, the current study used a student sample (N=63) to test the hypothesis that brief instruction in mindfulness would lead to reduced pain tolerance on a cold pressor task (CPT), compared to more familiar strategies for coping with acute pain. We also investigated whether high heart rate variability (HRV), a physiological indicator of self-regulatory capacity, would predict pain tolerance. Higher HRV predicted greater pain tolerance only in the control group, suggesting that applying unfamiliar mindfulness strategies while attempting to tolerate pain more rapidly sapped self-regulatory strength.
The expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p15, p16, p21, and p27 during ovarian follicle growth initiation in the mouse

Background Cyclins regulate the cell cycle in association with cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs). CDKs are under inhibitory control of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKIs).
Window signalling systems: control strategies and occupant behaviour

Signalling systems that tell building occupants when to open and close windows have become a popular strategy for balancing the comfort benefits of manual windows with the efficiency benefits of automation in mixed-mode buildings. Data from surveys, interviews and site observations in 16 US buildings reveal a diversity of design objectives, control sequences and circumstances to anticipate when designing buildings with window signalling systems. The signals had the strongest influence on occupants' use of windows when they were visible, the logic behind the controls algorithms was clearly understood, and they were seen as an informational device linked to an explicit internal policy that has to do with efficient and comfortable building operation. Lower levels of participation occurred when occupants tend not to pay attention to their windows, or the signals, unless they are uncomfortable, at which point it matters little what the signals indicate. However, occupants who do discover value in the signals a...
Canine degenerative myelopathy: Biochemical characterization of superoxide dismutase 1 in the first naturally occurring non-human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis model

Mutations in canine superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) have recently been shown to cause canine degenerative myelopathy, a disabling neurodegenerative disorder affecting specific breeds of dogs characterized by progressive motor neuron loss and paralysis until death, or more common, euthanasia. This discovery makes canine degenerative myelopathy the first and only naturally occurring non-human model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), closely paralleling the clinical, pathological, and genetic presentation of its human counterpart, SOD1-mediated familial ALS. To further understand the biochemical role that canine SOD1 plays in this disease and how it may be similar to human SOD1, we characterized the only two SOD1 mutations described in affected dogs to date, E40K and T18S. We show that a detergent-insoluble species of mutant SOD1 is present in spinal cords of affected dogs that increases with disease progression. Our in vitro results indicate that both canine SOD1 mutants form enzymatically active dimers, arguing against a loss of function in affected homozygous animals. Further studies show that these mutants, like most human SOD1 mutants, have an increased propensity to form aggregates in cell culture, with 10-20% of cells possessing visible aggregates. Creation of the E40K mutation in human SOD1 recapitulates the normal enzymatic activity but not the aggregation propensity seen with the canine mutant. Our findings lend strong biochemical support to the toxic role of SOD1 in canine degenerative myelopathy and establish close parallels for the role mutant SOD1 plays in both canine and human disorders.
Design of hybrid system regulators

In this paper, a new approach for modeling and controlling hybrid systems is presented. Discrete abstractions are used to approximate the continuous dynamics and emphasis is placed on the nondeterministic nature of the abstracting models. The regulator problem for hybrid systems is formulated and an example of a robotic manufacturing system is used to illustrate the approach.
Defining biomechanical endpoints for tissue engineered heart valve leaflets from native leaflet properties

The design and development of functional engineered tissues is dependent on multiple considerations, with biomechanics paramount for load-bearing constructs such as tissue engineered heart valves. As the cryopreserved allograft is the current standard for valve replacement in pediatric patients, identifying and quantifying essential structural–mechanical properties of the native valve leaflet is a crucial step in the engineered valve leaflet design process. Native valve leaflet properties provide an intuitive basis for assessing engineered valvular tissue performance, and can potentially be used as biomechanical endpoints for qualifying engineered leaflets prior to clinical applications. In this short review, we present three analysis techniques that have been used by our lab and others for characterizing heart valve leaflet biomechanical response and discuss the relevance of these properties as candidate endpoints for engineered leaflet tissues. The studies presented herein focused primarily on the aortic valve, which most frequently warrants repair or replacement in the general population and has been useful in our understanding of bioprosthetic heart valve mechanics. However, these analysis techniques are directly applicable for pulmonary and most engineered valve leaflets. Where data is available, initial studies applying these techniques for in vitro assessment of scaffolds and engineered valve leaflets are presented. The development of a tissue engineered heart valve for the pediatric population is conceptually appealing, since few options currently exist due to the lack of growth potential in non-viable prosthetics and size limitations. While significant challenges remain, we believe that a derivative of the current tissue engineered heart valve paradigm will ultimately yield a design suitable for clinical evaluation. The role of biomechanics in this process will be to identify and quantify the structural–mechanical endpoints essential for appropriate heart valve leaflet function, while guiding investigators prior to and during clinical evaluation. D 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.