cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The measurement of situational influences of smoking

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to examine procedures for assessing the relationships between various environmental stimuli and smoking. Fourteen students not desiring to quit smoking, who smoked more than 10 cigarettes per day, were recruited in Experiment I to participate in a study to monitor smoking and were instructed to smoke normally during the measurement period. Situations in which smoking occured were rated on a smoking questionnaire and continuously monitored by self-monitoring techniques. Correlational procedures indicated a high test-retest reliability over a two week period for repeated presentation of the smoking questionnaire, with low to moderate relationships between the scale and the self-monitored smoking behavior. Analysis of the self-monitoring records indicated consistent relationships between smoking and temporal variables, and moderate relationships with environmental events. No significant changes in smoking rates were found as a function of self-monitoring. In Experiment II, the self-monitoring procedures used in Experiment I were evaluated in terms of possible controlling effects and measurement reliability. Nine students were recruited and instructed not to change their smoking behavior. No significant changes in smoking rates were found as a function of self-monitoring. Percent agreement reliability between the smoker and a participant observer in the natural environment indicated smoking could be self-monitored reliably.
A dc transformer

Although conventional transformers are ac, a device that may be termed a dc transformer has been constructed by using superconductors. To provide an understanding of how such a transformer would operate, some of the properties of type I and type II superconductors are reviewed. Since the dc transformer under discussion is constructed from thin superconducting films, the main emphasis is on these structures; the concept of flux motion is also explained. The result of the work described is a device in which a direct current or voltage can be transformed, and in which it is possible to extract power from the secondary circuit.
Vision research 1961-2011: retrospects and prospects on the 50th anniversary of vision research.

Abstract Viewing the trajectory of the discipline through the first half-century of VISION RESEARCH it is of interest to sketch what it is was like to conduct vision research at the time of the founding of the journal and counterpoise that with the situation at present. The most notable change has been the increase in the number of researchers, in the volume of publication and in the incorporation of computers into the research enterprise at every level. A few topics that were cutting-edge at the earlier time turned out to have led into culs-de-sac, others have been forgotten because their solution opened up new territories, others yet have remained unanswered, challenging researchers now as they did 50 years ago.
Categorical Abstract Algebraic Logic: Ordered Equational Logic and Algebraizable PoVarieties

A syntactic apparatus is introduced for the study of the algebraic properties of classes of partially ordered algebraic systems (a.k.a. partially ordered functors (pofunctors)). A Birkhoff-style order HSP theorem and a Mal’cev-style order SLP theorem are proved for partially ordered varieties and partially ordered quasivarieties, respectively, of partially ordered algebraic systems based on this syntactic apparatus. Finally, the notion of a finitely algebraizable partially-ordered quasi-variety, in the spirit of Palasinska and Pigozzi, is introduced and some of the properties of these quasi-povarieties are explored in the categorical framework.
Presynaptic bodies in outer hair cells of the chinchilla organ of Corti.

Abstract Some, but not all synapses of chinchilla outer hair cells with terminals of the spiral afferent nerve fibers have presynaptic bodies which are often surrounded by a halo of synaptic vesicles. The variety of appearance of presynaptic bodies and vesicles may result from the conditions of fixation or may represent differences in functional state.
Licorice flavonoids suppress abdominal fat accumulation and increase in blood glucose level in obese diabetic KK-A(y) mice.

Licorice, the root of the Glycyrrhiza species, is one of the most frequently employed botanicals in traditional medicines. In this study, we investigated the effects of hydrophobic flavonoids from Glycyrrhiza glabra LINNE on abdominal fat accumulation and blood glucose level in obese diabetic KK-Ay mice. In order to enrich a fraction of hydrophobic flavonoids, licorice flavonoid oil (LFO) was prepared by further extracting licorice ethanolic extract with medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), and adjusting the concentration of glabridin, the major flavonoid of licorice, to 1.2% in oil. KK-Ay mice aged 6 weeks were assigned to 5 groups (n=6 each), and fed a high-fat diet containing 0 (control), 0.5%, 1%, or 2% LFO, or 0.5% conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) for 4 weeks. Compared with the control, body weight gain and weights of abdominal adipose tissues were suppressed (p<0.05) by feeding the diet containing 2% LFO, and blood glucose levels after 2 and 4 weeks were suppressed by all of the diets containing LFO. Although CLA feeding suppressed (p<0.05) body weight gain, it increased (p<0.05) blood glucose level after 2 weeks compared with the control level. Furthermore, LFO and licorice ethanolic extract stimulated human adipocyte differentiation in vitro. These results indicate that licorice hydrophobic flavonoids have abdominal fat-lowering and hypoglycemic effects, possibly mediated via activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ).
Public Support for Faith-Based Correctional Programs: Should Sacred Places Serve Civic Purposes?

Abstract In light of President Bush's enthusiastic support and numerous initiatives, there is a growing call to fund “faith-based” social service programs, including those focused on juvenile and adult offenders. These programs are controversial because they seek to reconfigure the line separating church and state. Based on a national 2001 survey of 327 respondents, we assessed public support for this policy initiative. The major findings were: (1) the respondents were divided evenly on whether the government should fund faith-based correctional programs; (2) a clear majority opposed having a religious content to the programs; (3) most opposed discrimination on religious grounds in the hiring of program staff; (4) a clear majority favored funding all religious groups as opposed to only “Christian churches”; and (5) the respondents did not view faith-based programs as more, or less, effective than traditional correctional rehabilitation programs. The study also explored the policy implications of these fin...
Predictive, structure-based model of amino acid recognition by nonribosomal peptide synthetase adenylation domains.

Abstract Background: Nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) are large modular proteins that selectively bind, activate and condense amino acids in an ordered manner. Substrate recognition and activation occurs by reaction with ATP within the adenylation (A) domain of each module. Recently, the crystal structure of the A domain from the gramicidin synthetase (GrsA) with l-phenylalanine and adenosine monophosphate bound has been determined. Results: Critical residues in all known NRPS A domains have been identified that align with eight binding-pocket residues in the GrsA A domain and define sets of remarkably conserved recognition templates. Phylogenetic relationships among these sets and the likely specificity determinants for polar and nonpolar amino acids were determined in light of extensive published biochemical data for these enzymes. The binding specificity of greater than 80% of the known NRPS A domains has been correlated with more than 30 amino acid substrates. Conclusions: The analysis presented allows the specificity of A domains of unknown function (e.g. from polymerase chain reaction amplification or genome sequencing) to be predicted. Furthermore, it provides a rational framework for altering of A domain specificity by site-directed mutagenesis, which has significant potential for engineering the biosynthesis of novel natural products.
A semi-parametric mixture model in fertility studies

We describe a semiparametric mixture model for human fertility studies. The probability of conception is a product of two components. The mixing distribution, the component that introduces the heterogeneity among the menstrual cycles that come from different couples, is characterized nonparametrically by a finite number of moments. The second component, the intercourse-related probability is modeled parametrically to assess the possible exposure effects. We discuss an EM algorithm-based estimating procedure that incorporates the natural order in the moments.
Improved method for calibrating filter vector magnetographs

We have developed a method to improve present techniques for calibrating linear and circular polarization signals in terms of the vector magnetic field from observations with a filter vector magnetograph. The method substantially reduces inaccuracies in deriving the inclination of the field from theoretical calibrations for inclination angles in the range 30°–60°. We outline the method and demonstrate its improved accuracy in applications to a model magnetic field and to actual magnetograph observations. We also demonstrate how the method affects the calculation of derived parameters using the example of the vertical electric current density.
STM images of guanine on graphite surface and the role of tip–sample interaction

A combined experimental and theoretical study is conducted on guanine molecules adsorbed on graphite substrate. The main effort is to understand the scanning tunneling microscopic images and the effect of scanning tip force on guanine molecules and their images. The force on guanine molecule is determined from the tip‐induced deformation in the substrate and is found to be a few nano‐Newtons per guanine molecule. A jellium substrate is used to model the graphite substrate in ab initio calculations of electronic density of states. Both the equilibrium height of guanine and tip force on guanine are determined using pseudopotential density functional calculations of system’s total energy. The calculated height of guanine molecule above the substrate is in good agreement with measurements. Electronic states are calculated and it is shown that features in surface density of states are mostly due to admixture with the guanine LUMO and the admixture increases with increasing scanning tip force.
Observed Southern Ocean Cloud Properties and Shortwave Reflection. Part II: Phase Changes and Low Cloud Feedback*

AbstractClimate models produce an increase in cloud optical depth in midlatitudes associated with climate warming, but the magnitude of this increase and its impact on reflected solar radiation vary from model to model. Transition from ice to liquid in midlatitude clouds is thought to be one mechanism for producing increased cloud optical depth. Here observations of cloud properties are used from a suite of remote sensing instruments to estimate the effect of conversion of ice to liquid associated with warming on reflected solar radiation in the latitude band from 40° to 60°S. The calculated increase in upwelling shortwave radiation (SW↑) is found to be important and of comparable magnitude to the increase in SW↑ associated with warming-induced increases of optical depth in climate models. The region where the authors' estimate increases SW↑ extends farther equatorward than the region where optical depth increases with warming in models. This difference is likely caused by other mechanisms at work in the ...
Cathelicidin signaling via the Toll-like receptor protects against colitis in mice.

Background & Aims Cathelicidin (encoded by Camp ) is an antimicrobial peptide in the innate immune system. We examined whether macrophages express cathelicidin in colons of mice with experimental colitis and patients with inflammatory bowel disease, and we investigated its signaling mechanisms. Methods Quantitative, real-time, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR), bacterial 16S PCR, immunofluorescence, and small interfering RNA (siRNA) analyses were performed. Colitis was induced in mice using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS); levels of cathelicidin were measured in human primary monocytes. Results Expression of cathelicidin increased in the inflamed colonic mucosa of mice with DSS-induced colitis compared with controls. Cathelicidin expression localized to mucosal macrophages in inflamed colon tissues of patients and mice. Exposure of human primary monocytes to Escherichia coli DNA induced expression of Camp messenger RNA, which required signaling by extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK); expression was reduced by siRNAs against Toll-like receptor (TLR)9 and MyD88. Intracolonic administration of bacterial DNA to wild-type mice induced expression of cathelicidin in colons of control mice and mice with DSS-induced colitis. Colon expression of cathelicidin was significantly reduced in TLR9 −/− mice with DSS-induced colitis. Compared with wild-type mice, Camp −/− mice developed a more severe form of DSS-induced colitis, particularly after intracolonic administration of E coli DNA. Expression of cathelicidin from bone marrow–derived immune cells regulated DSS induction of colitis in transplantation studies in mice. Conclusions Cathelicidin protects against induction of colitis in mice. Increased expression of cathelicidin in monocytes and experimental models of colitis involves activation of TLR9-ERK signaling by bacterial DNA. This pathway might be involved in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis.
Treatment and Prevention of Urinary Tract Infection with Orally Active FimH Inhibitors

Chronic and recurrent urinary tract infections pose a serious medical problem because there are few effective treatment options. Patients with chronic urinary tract infections are commonly treated with long-term prophylactic antibiotics that promote the development of antibiotic-resistant forms of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), further complicating treatment. We developed small–molecular weight compounds termed mannosides that specifically inhibit the FimH type 1 pilus lectin of UPEC, which mediates bacterial colonization, invasion, and formation of recalcitrant intracellular bacterial communities in the bladder epithelium. Here, we optimized these compounds for oral bioavailability and demonstrated their fast-acting efficacy in treating chronic urinary tract infections in a preclinical murine model. These compounds also prevented infection in vivo when given prophylactically and strongly potentiated the activity of the current standard of care therapy, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, against clinically resistant PBC-1 UPEC bacteria. These compounds have therapeutic efficacy after oral administration for the treatment of established urinary tract infections in vivo. Their unique mechanism of action—targeting the pilus tip adhesin FimH—circumvents the conventional requirement for drug penetration of the outer membrane, minimizing the potential for the development of resistance. The small–molecular weight compounds described herein promise to provide substantial benefit to women suffering from chronic and recurrent urinary tract infections.
How to Improve Teaching Quality

The applicability of TQM (total quality management) to teaching is investigated, as opposed to investigating academic or research programs and administration. When higher education adopted TQM in the 1980s, changes were made primarily in business and s..
Mycoplasma antibody in guillain‐barré syndrome and other neurological disorders

Counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) was used to determine precipitating antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae retrospectively in sera from 100 patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), 125 medical and neurological controls, and 40 normal individuals. Sera from 7 patients produced precipitin lines. These positive cases included 5 patients with GBS, 1 with acute cerebellar ataxia, and 1 with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. A complement-fixation test performed with the same antigen showed titers to M. pneumoniae of 1:512 or greater in these 7 sera. In contrast, sera from other patient controls and normal individuals were negative by CIEP and had only low mycoplasma complement-fixation antibody titers. No distinguishing clinical features separated the 5 seropositive GBS patients from the whole group except for their young age, which parallels that for human mycoplasma infection in general. Additional laboratory findings consistent with acute mycoplasma infection were demonstrated in 6 of the 7 seropositive patients.
Blind equalization of fading channels

Two blind equalization schemes using an antenna array are proposed for multipath fading channels. The methods exploit second-order statistics and spatial diversity to provide fast convergence rate and better performance in low SNRs. A special orthogonalization technique is used in conjunction with the Viterbi algorithm to achieve optimal sequence detection without channel identification. The proposed approach also has a special structure particularly suitable for time varying channels. >
Distribution Patterns of Tropical Plant Foods as an Evolutionary Stimulus to Primate Mental Development

Primates are noted for their mental abilities but the selective basis for such traits has remained obscure. It is hypothesized that the element of predictability associated with the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of plant foods in tropical forests has served to stimulate mental development in primates taking much of their food from the first trophic level. Primates able to remember the locations and phenological patterns of a wide variety of plant foods could move directly to such foods when and where available without wasting time and energy in random search. This would enhance overall foraging success by lowering procurement costs associated with a varied and patchily distributed plant diet. Membership in a cohesive social unit, that utilized the same supplying area over many consecutive generations, would also enhance foraging success by serving to transmit important information about diet to close kin. Data on the foraging behavior of howler and spider monkeys are presented to test certain implications of this hypothesis. Similar selective pressures, but applied to foods from the second trophic level, may have been of critical importance in the mental development of hominids. [primates, evolution, intelligence, plant foods, Aleles, Alouatta]
Skyline Query Processing for Incomplete Data

Recently, there has been much interest in processing skyline queries for various applications that include decision making, personalized services, and search pruning. Skyline queries aim to prune a search space of large numbers of multi dimensional data items to a small set of interesting items by eliminating items that are dominated by others. Existing skyline algorithms assume that all dimensions are available for all data items. This paper goes beyond this restrictive assumption as we address the more practical case of involving incomplete data items (i.e., data items missing values in some of their dimensions). In contrast to the case of complete data where the dominance relation is transitive, incomplete data suffer from non-transitive dominance relation which may lead to a cyclic dominance behavior. We first propose two algorithms, namely, "Replacement" and "Bucket" that use traditional skyline algorithms for incomplete data. Then, we propose the "ISkyline" algorithm that is designed specifically for the case of incomplete data. The "ISkyline" algorithm employs two optimization techniques, namely, virtual points and shadow skylines to tolerate cyclic dominance relations. Experimental evidence shows that the "ISkyline" algorithm significantly outperforms variations of traditional skyline algorithms.
Measurement Efficiency of Innovative Item Formats in Computer-Based Testing

The psychometric literature provides little empirical evaluation of examinee test data to assess essential psychometric properties of innovative items. In this study, examinee responses to conventional (e.g., multiple choice) and innovative item formats in a computer-based testing program were analyzed for IRT information with the three-parameter and graded response models. The innovative item types considered in this study provided more information across all levels of ability than multiple-choice items. In addition, accurate timing data captured via computer administration were analyzed to consider the relative efficiency of the multiple choice and innovative item types. As with previous research, multiple-choice items provide more information per unit time. Implications for balancing policy, psychometric, and pragmatic factors in selecting item formats are also discussed. Measurement and evaluation are on the verge of significant change as a result of the union of two compelling and complementary movements: performance assessment and computer-based testing. Although perhaps more marked in the last two decades, the call for increased implementation of performance-based or authentic assessments has, in part, focused on the limitations inherent in the widespread use of multiple-choice testing. For example, Traxler (1953) stated, In all fairness, it should probably be conceded that the influence of the test scoring machine upon the kinds of examinations set for young people and the kind of responses required may not have been entirely fortunate. The use of the kind of answer sheet required by the fixed response-position and the fixed fields of the scoring machine has tended to force objective testing into a kind of straight jacket-in truth, a somewhat loose fitting and benign strait jacket, but a straight jacket nonetheless. (p. 140) Inherent in such criticisms is the belief that multiple choice and other selected response items either cannot or do not reflect the breadth and depth of the knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with a construct of interest. Nevertheless, the use of multiple-choice testing has many practical advantages compared to performance-based testing. Examinations based on multiple-choice items may have the capability to sample a domain of interest more completely than performance tasks alone because selected response items typically require less time for examinees to respond and therefore more items can be completed in a given period of time. Of course, the opposite may be true as well. To the extent that multiple-choice items do not assess higher order tasks, the construct as measured may be misaligned with the construct as intended. In addition, multiple-choice
Adaptive Actuator Fault Compensation for Nonlinear Time-Delay Systems

This paper deals with the problem of adaptive fault-tolerant control against unknown actuator faults for a class of disturbance driven nonlinear time-delay systems. The actuator faults are types of loss of effectiveness. The aim is to find an adaptive fault tolerant controller, such that the system is not only stabilized, but also the state vectors of normal and fault cases with disturbance track that of the normal case without disturbance, which has the designed performance. A new delay-dependent adaptive law is proposed to design the adaptive reconfigurable controller, which is excited to offset the effect of faults and disturbance automatically without the need for an FDI mechanism. Numerical and simulation results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive controller.
On the quadratic effect of random gravity waves on a vertical boundary

Etude de l'effet quadratique de vagues gravitaires aleatoires au voisinage d'une limite reflechissante. Dans un environnement de vague stochastique, les effets de surface des vagues proportionnels au carre de l'amplitude de la vague dependent de la perturbation du troisieme ordre de la surface libre. Des expressions sont derivees pour le spectre de frequence quadratique de la pression hydrodynamique dans le domaine fluide pour des vagues unidirectionnelles et stationnaires reflechies par une paroi verticale
Social Dislocations and the Search for Genealogical Roots

Popular and professional wisdom argues that rapid social change results in a search for genealogical roots. Indeed, interest in genealogy followed the industrial revolution of the nineteeth century, World War I, and World War I. The same notion can be applied to the individual level. Individuals who experience social dislocation such as geographical or social class mobility, it is posited, would be more interested in genealogy than those who do not experience such changes. Family size or changes in family size from one generation to another and birth order may also be related to interest in the study of one's genealogical roots. Finally, ethnicity may be related to genealogical interest. To test these hypotheses, a sample of genealogists and a sample of other hobbyists were compared. Information about their geographical and social backgrounds and a variety of other topics was obtained in a survey. In general, the social dislocation hypotheses are not supported. Stayers rather than movers, and older immigr...
Hand-Drawn Symbol Spotting Using Semi-definite Programming Based Sub-graph Matching

In this paper we address the problem of hand-drawn symbol spotting in document images. We use stochastic graphical models (SGMs) to represent the structure and variations of hand-drawn symbols. We use a framework which first carries out segmentation and graph formation of the input image, followed by sub-graph matching for spotting of hand-drawn symbols. We used SGMs in place of sub-graphs in a semi-definite programming based sub-graph matching to do the spotting. The experimental results validate our framework. We were able to spot hand-drawn symbols from 10 classes with 78.89% accuracy in a database of 76 document images and also were able to deal with confusingly similar symbol classes.
“Notice How You Feel”: An Alternative to Detached Concern Among Hospice Volunteers

Medical schools teach physicians to practice “detached concern,” a simultaneous emotional distance from and sensitivity toward their patients. Medical students learn detachment to protect themselves from emotion-laden experiences, including death and dying, by employing mechanisms of defense and adjustment, such as suppression and repression of emotions. In this study, the author inquires whether hospice volunteers are trained for and practice detached concern and finds that hospice volunteers are trained for concern. They are concerned for the well-being of patients and their families. The author argues that concern is a social product that can be trained; hospice volunteers are not trained to suppress and repress their emotions, and the hospice as an institution produces and transmits cultural norms, values, and practices surrounding death and dying, thus maintaining a pool of concerned volunteers.
Trophoblast-specific transcription from the mouse placental lactogen-I gene promoter.

We have isolated the gene encoding mouse placental lactogen-I and characterized the promoter region of this gene by transient and stable transfection. Promoter sequences extending 274 basepairs (bp) up-stream from the start site of transcription contain all of the elements necessary for maximal expression upon transient transfection into the rat choriocarcinoma Rcho-1 cell line; these Rcho-1 cultures contain both proliferative trophoblast stem cells and terminally differentiated trophoblast giant cells. In stably transfected cell lines, expression from this promoter increases as the percentage of differentiated cells in the culture increases. In contrast to these results in trophoblast cells, the 274-bp promoter as well as a promoter region extending 2700 bp up-stream of the transcriptional start site are unable to drive transcription in a variety of other cell types. Mutational and protein binding analyses indicate that two AP-1 sites are required for maximal expression in Rcho-1 cells, and that the comp...
Taurine protection of PC12 cells against endoplasmic reticulum stress induced by oxidative stress

Taurine is a free amino acid present in high concentrations in a variety of organs of mammalians. As an antioxidant, taurine has been found to protect cells against oxidative stress, but the underlying mechanism is still unclear. In this report, we present evidence to support the conclusion that taurine exerts a protective function against endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induced by H2O2 in PC 12 cells. Oxidative stress was introduced by exposure of PC 12 cells to 250 uM H2O2 for 4 hours. It was found that the cell viability of PC 12 cells decreased with an increase of H2O2 concentration ranging from approximately 76% cell viability at 100 uM H2O2 down to 18% at 500 uM H2O2. At 250 uM H2O2, cell viability was restored to 80% by taurine at 25 mM. Furthermore, H2O2 treatment also caused a marked reduction in the expression of Bcl-2 while no significant change of Bax was observed. Treatment with taurine restored the reduced expression of Bcl-2 close to the control level without any obvious effect on Bax. Furthermore, taurine was also found to suppress up-regulation of GRP78, GADD153/CHOP and Bim induced by H2O2, suggesting that taurine may also exert a protective function against oxidative stress by reducing the ER stress. In summary, taurine was shown to protect PC12 cells against oxidative stress induced by H2O2. ER stress was induced by oxidative stress and can be suppressed by taurine.
Radio teaming: Establishing communication when communication is not possible

This paper introduces an alternative communication scheme that can work as an overlay for existing commodity wireless devices and support communication when conventional communication is not possible. The methodology we propose provides a reliable communication link when presented with an unreliable environment (such as an urban canyon), or even when dealing with an adversary attempting to jam the receiver. The protocol we explore is a form of cooperative communication, where a team of radio teaming transmitters work together to relay messages by leveraging their multipaths in order to induce beam-pattern distortion at the intended receiver. This new form of cooperative communication differs from traditional approaches in that the typical stringent synchronization constraints of conventional beamforming and MIMO applications are relaxed, thereby making the protocol amenable to a team of heterogeneous wireless devices. We outline our communication scheme, and then validate it through simulations and an implementation using a current, real-world software defined radio (SDR) architecture - GNU radio and the universal software radio peripheral (USRP).
Why Do (Some) Birds Flock? Causality and the Structure of Characteristic Adaptations:

Characteristic adaptations often cluster in mutually reinforcing networks. Evidence of stability and heritability suggests that the development of such networks is due in part to the causal influen...
Nasal and retrobulbar mass in a cat caused by Pythium insidiosum.

Nasal and retrobulbar infection caused by the Oomycete Pythium insidiosum is described in a cat. The diagnosis was established on three criteria. The staining of broad, sparsely septate hyphal elements in biopsy tissue using a fluorescein-labelled antiglobulin specific for P. insidiosum, detection of antibodies to P. insidiosum by an immunodiffusion test, and isolation of the aetiological agent in pure culture from the biopsy tissue. Treatment with ketoconazole for 6 weeks resulted in clinical improvement, but proptosis of the left eye slowly appeared after the discontinuation of treatment. This case represents a new host for P. insidiosum, namely, a domestic, shorthaired cat, from North Carolina, U.S.A.
Poly(A)-Containing Messenger Ribonucleoprotein Complexes from Sea Urchin Eggs and Embryos: Polypeptides Associated with Native and UV-Crosslinked mRNPs

Abstract Fertilization of sea urchin eggs results in the rapid recruitment of stored messages into polyribosomes. Whether translational control in sea urchin eggs is mediated by macromolecules associated with the stored messages remains unknown, since preparations of messenger ribonucleoprotein complexes (mRNPs) were active in protein synthesis in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate. To facilitate the study of mRNPs, chromatography on oligo(dT)-cellulose was used to purify poly(A)-containing mRNPs from eggs and embryos of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Nonpolyribosomal mRNPs purified from eggs had a similar sedimentation in sucrose to unpurified mRNPs, a peak buoyant density in metrizamide of 1.22 g/cm3, and peak buoyant densities in Cs2SO4 in 1.42 g/cm3 after fixation with glutaraldehyde and 1.46 g/cm3 without fixation. Nonpolyribosomal mRNPs from eggs and zygotes contained 5–10 major proteins on sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gels, and numerous minor bands. UV-irradiation of living eggs of the sea urchin Arbacia punctulata produced cross-linked mRNPs which contained a similar pattern of polypeptides to noncross-linked mRNPs. The polypeptides associated with embyronic polyribosomal mRNPs were also qualitatively similar to those present in nonpolyribosomal mRNPs, although stoichiometric differences may exist.
The Gauss machine-a DSP processor with a high RNS content

To achieve the high numeric data processing speeds required of high-end DSP applications, the highly parallel arithmetic system called the residue number system (RNS) is considered. A machine with a high RNS content is being developed under the project name 'Gauss machine.' This system provides a foundation on which fast, reliable, and compact VLSI digital systems can be developed and tested. The Gauss machine consists of number of custom VLSI chips configured as a 3*3 array, interfaced to a host processor, and supported with a software applications library. >
Wave Heating In Magnetic Flux Tubes

The solar chromosphere is identified with the atmosphere inside magnetic flux tubes. In the quiet sun, the layers of the low and middle chromosphere are heated by compressive waves with periods mainly between 2 min and 4 min. These long-period waves probably supply all the energy required for the heating of the quiet solar chromosphere.
Environmental support: an integrative framework.

Objective: In this qualitative review, we develop an integrative framework to bring coherence to the concept of environmental support (ES) in the fields of human factors and cognitive aging. Background: The ES hypothesis, originally formulated to explain effects of retrieval support on age-related differences in memory by reducing need for self-initiated processing, has been applied to many domains, such that the concept now encompasses many manipulations and measures. We developed a framework in which different types of ES share a common function (external support of performance) but differ in how this function is accomplished. ES improves performance by reducing task demands on mental resources or promoting effective use of resources. Previous reviews show that ES can decrease age-related differences in performance (more benefit for older adults), provide equal benefit, or increase differences (more benefit for younger adults). We proposed that the outcome will depend on properties of the ES, task, and ...
A VAR Analysis Of US-China Economic Linkages

An increase in Chinese purchases of U.S. treasury securities in parallel with Chinas commitment to maintain the value of the Yuan have been blamed in recent years for the divergence of the U.S. long-term and short-term interest rates. Results of the VECM, variance decomposition and impulse response analyses provided support for the growing speculations that growing Chinese demand for U.S. securities played a significant role in keeping the 10-year Treasury bill rate low while keeping the Yuan weak relative to the U.S. dollar. As for the U.S. long-term and short-term interest rates, the causality was found to run from the 10-year Treasury bill yield to the s rate which helps to explain why rising short-term rate in the U.S. since mid-2004 had little or no impact on the long-term rate.
Psychopathy and Criminogenic Thinking in Adult Male Prisoners

Crime persists in plaguing society, with most crimes committed by repeat offenders. This causes an increase in the incarcerated population and strains correctional systems. Understanding why indivi...
Behavioral activation in infant rats: Pharmacological evidence for dopaminergic mediation

During the first postnatal week, rat pups exhibit diffuse, perseverative behaviors in response to many environmental stimuli, including intraoral milk infusions. This phenomenon has been referred to as behavioral activation (Hall, 1979a, 1979b). In this paper, several lines of evidence that implicate central dopaminergic systems as mediators of behavioral activation aire presented. First, stimulation of the dopamine system by L-dopa or apomorphine resulted in age-dependent behavioral activation similar to that elicited by milk infusions. Second, the magnitude of the activating effect elicited by L-dopa was influenced by the contextual variables of room temperature and deprivation in the same manner as is milk-induced activation. Finally, blocking the dopamine system with haloperidol prevented both milk infusions and L-dopa from evoking behavioral activation in young pups.
The Coming Déjà Vu: New Media, Advertising and the Normalization of Marijuana Use

In this essay, I consider the role that advertising may play in driving the social acceptability of the use of prohibited products such as marijuana, even as more states begin to contemplate its legalization. In particular, this essay highlights the manner in which the promotion of ideas has been transformed by the information and communication technology (ICT) explosion of the last two decades. I argue that despite the structural differences between the industry and supply chain make-up behind the sale of alcohol in post-prohibition 1930s America and that of marijuana in present day America, the DNA of internet based advertising provides a platform from which marijuana sale and use can rapidly gain social acceptability and become normal.
Situation selection across adulthood: the role of arousal

In this study, we investigated age differences in situation selection to understand the role stimulus arousal plays in motivating age differences in this type of emotion regulation. Participants freely selected from a set of affective videos using information about the valence and arousal of each stimulus. There were age differences both in the valence and arousal of selected stimuli. Older adults selected more neutral and low-arousal stimuli while younger adults selected more negative and high-arousal stimuli. We consider these results in light of recent theoretical models and conclude that studies of age differences in emotion regulation must consider both valence and arousal.
Septic endarteritis of the femoral artery following angioplasty.

A case of septic endarteritis that occurred in the femoral artery following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is reported, and nine previously reported cases of this complication are reviewed. In each case Staphylococcus aureus was identified as the pathogen. For all cases in which a complete clinical description was available, endarteritis occurred following repeated PTCA or repuncture PTCA (i.e., a second catheterization at the original site of insertion for diagnostic purposes). The characteristic manifestations of endarteritis in this setting included bacteremia (all 10 cases), the formation of a pseudoaneurysm (six), distal emboli (five), and regional septic arthritis or osteomyelitis (five of six cases that included the information needed to determine the presence of these conditions). In each case, treatment included 4-6 weeks of iv antibiotics and surgery, most frequently resection of the pseudoaneurysm and vascular bypass. We recommend surveillance for the signs of endarteritis, especially after repeated catheterization, and use of the contralateral site when repeated catheterization is indicated. When the ipsilateral site is used, the administration of prophylactic antibiotics should be considered.
Wachstumshormontherapie bei Patienten mit Meningomyelozele Eigene Beobachtungen und Erfahrungen aus der Literatur

Wir berichten uber 2 Patientinnen mit Meningomyelozele und Hydrocephalus internus, die ab dem Alter von 4,2 bzw. 8,7 Jahren nach biochemischem Nachweis eines Wachstumshormonmangels (bzw. einer neurosekretorischen Dysfunktion) mit rekombinantem Wachstumshormon (0,5–0,7 IE/kg und Woche) behandelt wurden. Hinweise auf einen Wachstumshormonmangel gaben neben Kleinwuchs, Knochenalterretardierung und verminderter Wachstumsgeschwindigkeit pathologische Serumspiegel von IGF1 und IGFBP-3 sowie eine verminderte Armspannweite. Im Verlauf der Wachstumshormontherapie (Therapiedauer 24–33 Monate) konnte eine Verbesserung der Wachstumsgeschwindigkeit, Korperlange sowie der Armspannweite erreicht werden. Eine Patientin mit vorbestehender Lahmungsskoliose entwickelte eine Progredienz der Wirbelsaulendeformitat auf dem Boden einer Syringomyelie und eines symptomatischen Tethered-cord-Syndroms. Diskussion: Eine individuelle Auswahl der Patienten fur eine Wachstumshormontherapie sowie eine interdisziplinare Langzeitbetreuung vorausgesetzt, scheint Wachstumshormon nach den derzeitigen Erfahrungen Wachstum, Mobilitat und soziale Integration der Patienten positiv zu beeinflussen. Prospektive Studien zur Beurteilung des Langzeittherapieerfolgs von Wachstumshormon bei Patienten mit Meningomyelozele sind erforderlich.
Targeting Her-2+ breast cancer cells with bleomycin immunoliposomes linked to LLO.

Bleomycin is a membrane impermeable chemotherapeutic agent that is relatively innocuous extracellularly but highly cytotoxic when delivered directly to the cytoplasm. We report on the development of a liposome delivery system that targets Her-2 overexpressing breast cancer cells and breaches the endosomal barrier, delivering bleomycin to the cytoplasm. The liposomes are conjugated to the antibody trastuzumab, which results in specific binding and internalization of liposomes into Her-2 overexpressing cells. In addition, the liposomes are disulfide bonded to a pore-forming protein listeriolysin O (LLO) which forms pores in the endosome and allows the liposomal cargo to pass into the cytoplasm. We demonstrate specific delivery to Her-2 positive MCF-7/Her18 cells relative to Her-2 negative MCF-7 cells using a fluorescent probe calcein within the immunoliposomes. When calcein is replaced by bleomycin, the liposomes effectively reduce viability of five different Her-2 overexpressing cell lines (BT-474, SKBR-3,...
Spintronic PUFs for Security, Trust, and Authentication

We propose spintronic physically unclonable functions (PUFs) to exploit security-specific properties of domain wall memory (DWM) for security, trust, and authentication. We note that the nonlinear dynamics of domain walls (DWs) in the physical magnetic system is an untapped source of entropy that can be leveraged for hardware security. The spatial and temporal randomness in the physical system is employed in conjunction with microscopic and macroscopic properties such as stochastic DW motion, stochastic pinning/depinning, and serial access to realize novel relay-PUF and memory-PUF designs. The proposed PUFs show promising results (∼50p interdie Hamming distance (HD) and 10p to 20p intradie HD) in terms of randomness, stability, and resistance to attacks. We have investigated noninvasive attacks, such as machine learning and magnetic field attack, and have assessed the PUFs resilience.
Beam Attenuators and the Risk of Unrecognized Large-Fraction Irradiation of Critical Tissues

The use of radiation beam attenuators led to radiation injury of the spinal cord in one patient and of the peripheral nerve in another due to unsuspected large-fraction irradiation. The anatomic distribution of radiation dose was reconstructed in the sagittal plane for the patient who developed radiation myelopathy and in the axial plane for the patient who developed peripheral neuropathy. The actual dose delivered to the injured structure in each patient was taken from the dose distribution and recorded along with the time, number of fractions, and dose per fraction. The patient who developed radiation myelopathy received a total of 46.5 Gy in twenty-three 2.1 Gy fractions in 31 days to the upper cervical spinal cord where the thickness of the neck was less than the central axis thickness due to cervical lordosis and absence of a posterior compensating filter. The patient who developed peripheral neuropathy received 55 Gy in twenty-five 2.2 Gy fractions in 50 days to the femoral nerve using bolus over the groins and an anterior one-half value layer Cerrobend pelvic block to bias the dose anteriorly. Compensating filters and other beam attenuators should be used with caution because they may result in unsuspected large-fraction irradiation and total doses of radiation that exceed the tolerance of critical structures.
Identification of Photosystem II Centers Inactive in Plastoquinone Reduction

The notion of functionally, and possibly structurally, distinct populations of photosystem II (PS II) centers within the thylakoid membranes of spinach chloroplasts is well established in the literature. Measurements of the ability of spinach chloroplasts to reduce plastoquinone indicate that there are about 1.7 mmol of active PS II centers per mol of chl (1). Measurement of the ability of these chloroplasts to oxidize water in the presence of dimethyl quinone yield similar results (2). However estimates of the reduction of the primary quinone electron acceptor QA (3,4) and estimates of the oxidation of the electron donor Z (5) suggest that PS II centers are considerably more numerous, about 3 mmol per mol chl. in this paper we provide a quantitative description of functional heterogeneity in PS II centers in spinach thylakoid membranes with respect to the fundamental property of the ability to transfer electrons to photosystem I. We demonstrate that the binding site titer for the PS II herbicide terbutryn is approximately 3.1 mmol·mol chl-1. Furthermore, we show that there is a 1 to 1 correspondence between the number of terbutryn binding sites and the number of PS II centers capable of water oxidation when halogenated benzoquinones are present as the electron acceptor.
Do electrolyte-containing beverages improve water imbalance in hyponatremic schizophrenics ?

Background: To determine if ready access to a sodium-containing beverage ameliorates life-threatening water imbalance, we compared Gatorade to water in an ABA design. Method: Four male chronic schizophrenic inpatients with symptomatic hyponatremia drank water for 1 week, Gatorade plus water for 3 weeks, and then water again for 1 week. Afternoon plasma osmolality and morning serum sodium levels were used to estimate hydration status, and morning and afternoon urine creatinine concentrations were used to estimate fluid intake. Results: During the baseline phase, subjects were mildly polydipsic and mildly overhydrated in the morning and severely overhydrated in the afternoon