cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
4.418 – Engineering Interfaces for Infection Immunity

Nosocomial (hospital acquired) infections are the fifth leading cause of death in the United States with 2 million cases annually (or ∼10% of American hospital patients) leading to more than $5 billion in added medical cost per annum (Wenzel, R. P. Clin. Infect. Dis. 2007, 45 (Suppl. 1), S85–S88). About 60–70% of nosocomial infections are associated with some type of implanted medical device. This chapter describes the extent of the biomaterials infection pandemic and reviews the existing anti-infection strategies that have proved mostly ineffectual. New approaches to prevent biomaterials infections that engineer innate and adaptive immune responses are presented.
(Almost) Fence-less Persist Ordering

The semantics and implementation of a memory persistency model can significantly impact the performance achieved on persistent memory systems. The only commercially available and widely used x86 persistency model causes significant performance losses by requiring redundant, expensive fence operations for commonly used undo logging programming patterns. In this work, we propose light-weight extensions to the x86 persistency model to provide some ordering guarantees without an intervening fence operation. Our extension, Themis, eliminates over 91.7% of the fence operations in undo-logging PM programs and improves average performance by 45.8% while incurring only 1.2% increase in data cache size.
On sets of maximally commuting and anticommuting Pauli operators

In this work, we study the structure and cardinality of maximal sets of commuting and anticommuting Paulis in the setting of the abelian Pauli group. We provide necessary and sufficient conditions for anticommuting sets to be maximal and present an efficient algorithm for generating anticommuting sets of maximum size. As a theoretical tool, we introduce commutativity maps and study properties of maps associated with elements in the cosets with respect to anticommuting minimal generating sets. We also derive expressions for the number of distinct sets of commuting and anticommuting abelian Paulis of a given size.
Social Work With Criminalized Women: Governance or Resistance in the Carceral State?:

Drawing on findings from a Foucauldian-inspired critical discourse analysis, this article examines the hegemonic ways in which social work engages with criminalized women. Utilizing the analytic of...
Measurement of local magnetic fields in actinide tetrafluorides.

Fluorine-19 magnetic shielding tensors have been measured in a series of actinide tetrafluorides (AnF4) by solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Tetravalent actinide centers with 0–8 valence electrons can form tetrafluorides with the same monoclinic structure type, making these compounds an attractive choice for a systematic study of the variation in the electronic structure across the 5f row of the Periodic Table. Pronounced deviations from predictions based on localized valence electron models have been detected by these experiments, which suggests that this approach may be used as a quantitative probe of electronic correlations.
Concerted Differential Changes of Helical Dynamics and Packing upon Ligand Occupancy in a Bacterial Chemoreceptor.

Transmembrane receptors are central components of the chemosensory systems by which motile bacteria detect and respond to chemical gradients. An attractant bound to the receptor periplasmic domain generates conformational signals that regulate a histidine kinase interacting with its cytoplasmic domain. Ligand-induced signaling through the periplasmic and transmembrane domains of the receptor involves a piston-like helical displacement, but the nature of this signaling through the >200 A four-helix coiled coil of the cytoplasmic domain had not yet been identified. We performed single-molecule Forster resonance energy transfer measurements on Escherichia coli aspartate receptor homodimers inserted into native phospholipid bilayers enclosed in nanodiscs. The receptors were labeled with fluorophores at diagnostic positions near the middle of the cytoplasmic coiled coil. At these positions, we found that the two N-helices of the homodimer were more distant, that is, less tightly packed and more dynamic than the companion C-helix pair, consistent with previous deductions that the C-helices form a stable scaffold and the N-helices are dynamic. Upon ligand binding, the scaffold pair compacted further, while separation and dynamics of the dynamic pair increased. Thus, ligand binding had asymmetric effects on the two helical pairs, shifting mean distances in opposite directions and increasing the dynamics of one pair. We suggest that this reflects a conformational change in which differential alterations to the packing and dynamics of the two helical pairs are coupled. These coupled changes could represent a previously unappreciated mode of conformational signaling that may well occur in other coiled-coil signaling proteins.
Data mining: an experimental undergraduate course

Data mining is the extraction of implicit, previously unknown, and potentially useful information from data. Advances in information technology and data collection methods have led to the availability of large data sets in commercial enterprises and in a wide variety of scientific and engineering disciplines. We have an unprecedented opportunity to analyze this data and extract intelligent and useful information. Traditionally, machine learning is a part of the Artificial Intelligence course. Up to now, not many colleges are offering specialized courses in data mining. In this paper, we present our experience at teaching our first experimental course in data mining.
Consults for conflict: the history of ethics consultation.

The very existence of ethics consultation reflects both the increasing complexity of modern medicine's ethical questions and our discomfort with the prospect of answering them alone. Two developments in the past century were instrumental in driving the development of ethics consultation—organ replacement therapy and intensive care. With the proliferation of extreme life-prolonging measures came the thorny difficulties in the withdrawal of such services or rationing when resources were poor. Insofar as “someone must,” lamented Dr. Karen Teel (a pioneer of ethics consultation), the physician “is charged with the responsibility of making ethical judgments which we are sometimes ill-equipped to make.” More than anything, ethics consultation has come to best satisfy a central desire of American health care—sharing the responsibility for tough decisions.
THE COURT AFFIRMS THE SOCIAL CONTRACT

Throughout American history federal courts have legitimated state-building by the political branches, setting new ground rules for what exercises of governmental power are permissible and impermissible. This is the best way to understand the role of the federal courts during the constitutional struggle over the New Deal and the Civil Rights revolution. Because the Affordable Care Act also involved a major change in the country's social contract, it was entirely predictable that the Supreme Court would be called upon to confirm the Act’s legitimacy and to ratify the changes to the social contract.Judicial legitimation, however, is Janus-faced: The Court establishes what the government may do under the Constitution by simultaneously explaining what it may not do. In the Health Care Case, the Supreme Court upheld most of the Affordable Care Act, but in the process it also created new ground rules about federal power going forward. The precise scope of these rules will depend on the result of the next several presidential elections.
Harmonic structure of generic Kerr orbits

Generic Kerr orbits exhibit intricate three-dimensional motion. We offer a classification scheme for these intricate orbits in terms of periodic orbits. The crucial insight is that for a given effective angular momentum $L$ and angle of inclination $\ensuremath{\iota}$, there exists a discrete set of orbits that are geometrically $n$-leaf clovers in a precessing orbital plane. When viewed in the full three dimensions, these orbits are periodic in $r\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\theta}$. Each $n$-leaf clover is associated with a rational number, $1+{q}_{r\ensuremath{\theta}}={\ensuremath{\omega}}_{\ensuremath{\theta}}/{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{r}$, that measures the degree of perihelion precession in the precessing orbital plane. The rational number ${q}_{r\ensuremath{\theta}}$ varies monotonically with the orbital energy and with the orbital eccentricity. Since any bound orbit can be approximated as near one of these periodic $n$-leaf clovers, this special set offers a skeleton that illuminates the structure of all bound Kerr orbits, in or out of the equatorial plane.
Mars Viking 1975 Lander Interactive Computerized Video Stereophotogrammetry

AbstractAn interactive computerized video stereophotogrammetry system has been developed toquantify the topography recorded by the Mars Viking 1975 lander cameras. The system hassupported all surface sample acquisitions and enabled the mapping of the two landing sitesout to the remote limits of ranging capability. Returned imaging data is loaded into atime - shared computer system, driven to a pair of high resolution video monitors, and viewedthrough a scanning stereoscope. A three -space mark, characterized by a pair of coupled dotcursors on the video monitors is moved under trackball control via the computer. The markmay be landed on features of interest and the three -space coordinates established. Themark may be constrained in any desired manner, e.g., to a vertical or horizontal plane inthe lander /Martian three -space. The photogrammetrist moves the mark along his perceptionof the intersection of the surface of constraint with the Martian relief. As the mark ismoved, its track may be recorded on the video displays. The three space path is stored inthe computer. Data products include vertical profile plots, contour maps, stereo maprepresentations, and photoproducts of the scene with overlayed profiles and contours. Themonitors are slaved for parallel viewing. The system is fast, accurate, and versatile.(The content of this presentation is the subject of a comprehensive paper in press:Liebes, Sidney, Jr. and Arnold A. Schwartz, "Viking 1975 Mars Lander Interactive Com -puterized Video Stereophotogrammetry, "J. Geophys. Res., Vol. 82, No. 28, 30 Sept. 1977).
The CSNET name server

Abstract CSNET is a project designed to facilitate electronic data communication among academic computer science departments and other groups doing computer-science research in the United States. CSNET will provide communications facilities for electronic mail and file transfer between users of computers connected to a variety of networks. For the system to be simple and easy to use, users must be able to identify each other to the system in a way that is natural to them and which does not require them to understand the details of network organization or to memorize cryptic names. To this end CSNET is implementing a name server service, composed of programs and data residing on a central Service Host computer and on individual member hosts of CSNET. This paper describes the architecture of the name server and discusses the considerations that lead to its design.
Safety margins in zircaloy oxidation and embrittlement criteria for emergency core cooling system acceptance

Current emergency core cooling system acceptance criteria for light water reactors specify that, under loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) conditions, the Baker-Just (BJ) correlation must be used to calculate Zircaloy-steam oxidation, calculated peak cladding temperatures (PCT) must not exceed 1204/sup 0/C, and calculated oxidation must not exceed 17% equivalent cladding reacted (ECR). An appropriately defined minimum margin of safety was estimated for each of these criteria. The currently required BJ oxidation correlation provides margins only over the 1100 to 1500/sup 0/C temperature range at the 95% confidence level. The PCT margins for thermal shock and handling failures are adequate at oxidation temperatures above 1204/sup 0/C for up to 210 and 160 s, respectively, at the 95% confidence level. The ECR thermal shock and handling margins at the 50 and 95% confidence levels, respectively, range between 2 and 7% ECR for the BJ correlation, but vanish at temperatures above 1100 to 1160/sup 0/C for the best-estimate Cathcart-Pawel correlation. However, use of the Cathcart Pawel correlation for ''design basis'' LOCA calculations can be justified at the 85 to 88% confidence level if cooling rate effects can be neglected.
Economic incentives for coordinated management of forest land: a case study of southern New England

Abstract Coordinated management among many private forest land owners will often be required to achieve ecosystem management at the landscape scale. A case study of landowners in southern New England shows that although most hold favorable attitudes towards coordinated management, economic incentives may be needed to actually implement coordinated management programs. Yet the conjoint analyses used in this study suggests that economic incentives, such as property tax reductions, are not likely to substantially increase the probability that coordinated management programs will actually be undertaken. For example, an increase in property tax savings from $706 per year to $2000 per year only increased the probability of program adoption from 1.4 to 5.6%. Alternative ways in which coordinated management programs might be marketed are discussed.
Abstract 2552: Loss of MiTF sensitizes melanoma cells to chemotherapy due in part to reduced LAMP1 accumulation

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC MiTF (microphthalmia-associated transcription factor) was reported to be amplified in about 20% of melanoma samples and has an oncogenic property. However it is also known that in a subset of melanoma cell lines and tissues MiTF accumulation level is much reduced as compared to normal human melanocytes. Here we confirmed this observation in both melanoma cell lines and tissues. We found that MiTF accumulation level was independent of BRAF mutations status. Loss of MiTF was found at both mRNA and protein levels in melanoma cell lines. Interestingly, melanoma cell lines with MiTF accumulation showed higher resistance to multiple drug treatment. Further investigation revealed that lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1) levels are tightly associated with MiTF accumulation and is a direct downstream transcription target for MiTF. Over-expression of LAMP1 in melanoma cells conferred drug resistance while knock-down LAMP1 by shRNA sensitized melanoma cells to chemotherapy drugs. Our studies revealed a novel transcription target for MiTF and a novel drug resistance mechanism that is mediated by MiTF, which may be associated with their intrinsic exocytosis function of melanoma cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2552.
Improving deaf accessibility in remote usability testing

For studies involving Deaf participants in United States, remote usability testing has several potential advantages over face-to-face testing, including convenience, lower cost and the ability to recruit participants from diverse geographic regions. However, current technologies force Deaf participants to use English instead of their preferred language, which is American Sign Language (ASL). A new remote testing technology allows researchers to conduct studies exclusively in ASL at a lower cost than face-to-face testing. The technology design facilitates open-ended questions and is reconfigurable for use in a variety of studies. Results from usability tests of the tool are encouraging and a fullscale study is underway to compare this approach to face-to-face testing.
Solvent extraction method for simultaneous determination of norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in a single mouse brain.

Abstract A method is described for simultaneously determining norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in a single small piece of brain tissue. Up to 40–60 pieces of tissue can be conveniently processed at the same time. As many as 120 pieces of brain tissue as small as the telencephalon of a single mouse can be analyzed within a normal work week for NE, DA, and 5-HT, or these three amines plus 5-HIAA can be determined in about 80 individual whole brains. Recovery of 5-HIAA was 83%, and recovery of the three amines was 72–88%. A high degree of reproducibility was obtained for all four compounds and the method could be used routinely for the quantitative determination of small differences in tissue levels. It was not necessary to deproteinize with ZnSO4, as in other procedures for 5-HIAA, or to add a reducing agent to protect the compounds during homogenization and solvent extraction. Blanks for NE and DA were somewhat lower and more stable than those obtained by most other available methods, allowing increased sensitivity in their determination.
Monoclonal antibody combinations in CLL: evolving strategies

Monoclonal antibodies have led to a profound shift in the therapeutic landscape of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Alemtuzumab and rituximab remain the most active antibodies, and their single-agent activity has been established in previously untreated and relapsed patients with CLL. Higher response rates and a better quality of response through eradication of minimal residual disease have been reported with monoclonal antibody combinations. Chemoimmunotherapy regimens are being actively explored in frontline CLL therapy, and numerous combination regimens have been investigated in relapse. New and more effective therapies are shifting the focus from palliation to treatment algorithms with curative attempt. Challenges for monoclonal antibody combinations in the future include: (1) defining appropriate patient populations for combination therapies; (2) assessing the impact of pretreatment biologic prognostic factors; (3) enhancing eradication of minimal residual disease; and (4) reassessing response criteria in CLL.
A Controlled Evaluation and Description of Individual-Cognitive Problem Solving and Family-Behavior Therapies in Dually-Diagnosed Conduct-Disordered and Substance-Dependent Youth

ABSTRACT There is a strong comorbid relationship between conduct and substance disorders in youth. However, there is an absence of controlled studies that have explicitly examined treatment efficacy in this dually-diagnosed population. In the present study, 56 such youth were randomly assigned to receive either individual-cognitive therapy or family-behavioral therapy. Subjects in both intervention groups demonstrated significant improvements in their conduct and reductions in their use of illicit drugs from pretreatment to post-treatment, and these results were maintained at follow-up. Measures of youth satisfaction with parents, parent satisfaction with youth, and overall mood of these youth demonstrated similar improvements and closely corresponded with improvements in standardized measures of conduct and drug use. No significant differences were found in conduct or reductions of illicit drug use between subjects in the two intervention conditions at post-treatment, or at 6-month follow-up. Study impli...
Interpretation of the asymptotic S matrix for massless particles.

We discuss the existence and properties of the asymptotic $S$ matrix in field theories with massless particles. We show for the classic case of the scattering of an electron in an external electromagnetic field that the $S$-matrix method yields the same results as the traditional cross-section method involving properly formed sums over physically degenerate initial as well as final states. In that case, we show that observables are independent of the particular choice of asymptotic Hamiltonian. We argue that the massless theory is unique and discuss its relation to the massless limit of the massive theory. Although the results do not depend on it, a novel aspect of our formalism is the interpretation of physical states involving massless particles as Fock states and the occurrence of physical transitions in Fock space.
Assessment of conversation co-mentions as a resource for software module recommendation

Conversation double pivots recommend target items related to a source item, based on co-mentions of source and target items in online forums. We deployed several variants on the drupal.org site that supports the Drupal open source community, and assessed them through clickthrough rates. A similarity metric based on correlation of mentions rather than mere co-occurrence reduced the problem of over-recommending the most popular modules, but additional corrections for recency and uniqueness of mentions were not helpful. Detection of more module mentions in conversations dramatically improved the quality of recommendations, even though the detection algorithm then had more false positives. Recommendations based on conversation co-mention were more effective than those based on co-installation, because co-installation data only led to recommendations of complementary modules and not substitutes. Recommendations based on co-mention were more effective than those based on text similarity matching for navigating from the most popular modules, but less effective than text matching for less popular modules.
Agent-based project scheduling: Computational study of large problems

We present in this paper the results of a computational study for project scheduling based on new ideas for project representation taken from digital circuit technology (Knotts et al. , 1998a) and a solution approach based on the artificial intelligence notion of agent technology. We experimented with projects with up to 10 000 stochastic duration activities which can be executed in a number of modes requiring renewable, nonrenewable, and periodically renewable resources. This study is about agent implementation in a project scheduling domain. It compares agent types and priority rules with respect to their impact on project schedule duration and computational performance. This work demonstrates: (i) that artificial intelligence concepts of agent technology can be successfully implemented for project scheduling; and (ii) in conducting project scheduling studies we can experiment successfully with large project networks. Both points made in this research are new.
Utilizing Women’s Feminist Identities in Family Therapy: A Phenomenological Exploration of the Meaning Women Assign to their Feminist Identities

This study sought to explore the meaning that women assign to their feminist identities and the relevancy of such identities to family therapy. In particular, this study utilized interviews from women who were active in the women’s movement in the 1970s. The data were organized into four categories: (1) working towards justice, (2) valuing self and other women, (3) women with diverse perspectives, and (4) relevancy to personal lives. The study findings provide important implications for family therapists and highlight the need to explore gender-based oppression as well as the important resource a feminist identity can be in the therapy process.
Claves del Éxito en la Gestiön de Megaproyectos en México y los Estados Unidos: Un Estudio de Casos

ResumenLa industria de transportes esta continuamente desarrollando proyectos complejos de mayor envergadura en un esfuerzo por mantener la circulacion tanto de las personas como de los bienes. La investigacion de exitosos proyectos ayuda a los profesionistas a administrar y perfeccionar practicas exitosas con el objeto de gestionar futuros proyectos de manera mas eficiente. Este articulo estudia el proyecto de expansion del transporte de Denver (T-REX) en los Estados Unidos y el proyecto de la Autopista Durango-Mazatlan en Mexico, a fin de descubrir las practicas que sustentaron el exito de estos dos grandes y complejos proyectos. Ambos tienen una importancia historica: el T-REX fue el primer proyecto integrado de diseno y construccion realizado en los Estados Unidos, el cual incluyo una autopista de envergadura y elementos de transito; el proyecto de la Autopista Durango-Mazatlan es el proyecto de construccion mas grande de la historia de Mexico. El proyecto de la Autopista-Mazatlan fue elegido por el p...
Mechanism and Energetics of Silane and THF Displacement from the (η6-C6H6)Cr(CO)2(HSiEt3) and (η6-C6H6)Cr(CO)2(THF) Complexes

The displacement of Et3SiH and THF from the (η6-C6H6)Cr(CO)2(HSiEt3) and (η6-C6H6)Cr(CO)2(THF) complexes has been studied. Both solvents are displaced from the metal center by a dissociative mechan...
Kinetic Monte Carlo Study of Ambipolar Lithium Ion and Electron–Polaron Diffusion into Nanostructured TiO2

Nanostructured titania (TiO2) polymorphs have proved to be promising electrode materials for next-generation lithium ion batteries. However, there is still a lack of understanding of the fundamental microscopic processes that control charge transport in these materials. Here, we present microscopic simulations of the collective dynamics of lithium ion (Li+) and charge-compensating electron–polarons (e–) in rutile TiO2 nanoparticles in contact with an idealized conductive matrix and electrolyte. Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations are used, parametrized by molecular-dynamics-based predictions of activation energy barriers for Li+ and e– diffusion. Simulations reveal the central role of electrostatic coupling between Li+ and e– on their collective drift diffusion at the nanoscale. They also demonstrate that a high contact area between the conductive matrix and rutile nanoparticles leads to undesirable coupling-induced surface saturation effects during Li+ insertion, which limits the overall capacity and conduct...
Comparisons of zein profiles from inbred, F1, and F2 generations of maize as revealed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Chi-square analyses were performed on zein Chromatographic profiles of inbred lines, F1, F2, and reciprocal F1 seed for 10 hybrids of maize (Zea mays L.). The objective was to test the goodness of fit of observed profiles with those expected on the basis that the F1 and F2 generations represent a 2∶1 and 1∶1 addition of Female∶male parents of the F1, respectively. From 40 available comparisons, 39 showed no difference between the observed chromatograms and those that were expected on the basis of four models that were tested. The one exception was due to closely eluting peaks that were revealed as shoulders and not recorded as separate entities. chromatographic profiles of inbreds, F1, and bulk F2 seed sources can be accurately simulated. Even though the chromatographic profile of the F1 closely resembled that of the female parent, profiles of hybrids with common female but different male parents were distinguishable. The lack of novel peaks in both F1 and F2 generations compared with the inbred line thereby revealed no unpredictable interaction among zein loci. Zein protein data can be useful in registration, certification, and in the checking of hybrid pedigree especially when used in concert with isozymic data.
Production of ectopic gastric intrinsic factor in gastric mucosa of humans with chronic gastritis.

Background Ectopic expression of gastric intrinsic factor (IF) has been described in rodent models of chronic gastritis.
On GABA function and physiology in the pineal gland

Abstract Pineal gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content and glutamic acid decar☐ylase (GAD) activity were found not to be influenced by environmental light, catecholamines, sympathetic innervation, or input via the pineal stalk. The observation that GAD activity did not disappear after pineal stalk section, ganglionectomy, or 48 h of organ culture leads us to suggest that GAD activity is not located in nerve processes entering the pineal gland. Treatment in organ culture with an inhibitor of protein synthesis did not greatly influence the slow rate of decrease of GAD activity. This finding is consistent with the conclusion that GAD turnover is slow. Treatment of denervated glands or glands containing functional sympathetic nerve structures with GABA, amino-oxyacetic acid (AOAA) or bicuculline in organ culture did not alter unstimulated levels, or significantly block the adrenergic stimulation of the activity of pineal serotonin N-acetyl transferase (NAT). It is clear from our studies that GABA does not influence or modulate the adrenergic regulation of pineal NAT activity, and that GABA content and synthesis are not regulated by an adrenergic mechanism. The role of GABA in the pineal gland remains to be discovered.
Caffeine metabolism, genetics, and perinatal outcomes: a review of exposure assessment considerations during pregnancy.

Purpose To review the methodologic issues complicating caffeine exposure assessment during pregnancy; to discuss maternal and fetal caffeine metabolism, including genetic polymorphisms affecting caffeine metabolism; and to discuss the endogenous and exogenous risk factors known to influence caffeine metabolism. Methods A review of the relevant literature. Results There is wide inter-individual variation in caffeine metabolism, primarily due to variations in CYP1A2 enzyme activity. Some variability in CYP1A2 activity is due to genetic polymorphisms in the CYP1A2 gene which can cause increased or decreased inducibility of the enzyme. Considerable evidence exists that maternal caffeine metabolism is influenced by a variety of endogenous and exogenous factors and studying the genetic polymorphisms may improve understanding of the potential effects of caffeine and its metabolites on perinatal outcomes. There is substantial evidence that measurement of maternal, fetal, and neonatal caffeine metabolites may allow for a more precise measure of fetal caffeine exposure. Conclusions Research on the genetic polymorphisms affecting caffeine metabolism may further explain the potential effects of caffeine and its metabolites on perinatal outcomes.
A Direct Approach for Quantifying Stream Shading

Management and regulatory standards for stream shading have been established to mitigate excessive stream temperature. Existing shade assessment tools, however, are inadequate for monitoring extensive stream networks. Our objectives were to develop and evaluate an efficient, low-cost field technique for sampling stream-surface shading using digital images and to evaluate the efficiencies and effectiveness of eight different digital image analysis techniques for shade assessments. We developed a quadrat-based technique and associated field equipment to directly photograph stream-surface shading. Sampling at random points (pixels) within the resultant digital images was the most accurate, efficient, and robust image analysis technique. An approach pairing the photographic field technique and the random point-sampling image analysis technique should enable managers to conduct ground-based assessments of stream shading over extensive stream networks. This approach may also provide an efficient means of collecting ground truth samples for even broader scale, remote sensing–based stream-shade assessments.
Trends in operative vaginal delivery rates and associated maternal complication rates in an inner-city hospital

Abstract Objective: The aims of this study were to determine trends in operative vaginal delivery rates in a large inner-city hospital and to assess associated risks. Study Design: We performed a retrospective cohort study (1980-1996) of women with singleton term pregnancies who underwent operative vaginal delivery at Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta. Maternal complication rates were compared between forceps-assisted and vacuum-assisted methods. Results: There was a decline in forceps-assisted deliveries during the 1980s and an increase during the 1990s. The vacuum-assisted delivery rate was exceedingly low during the 1980s and increased during the 1990s. Women who underwent forceps-assisted delivery were more likely to be P Conclusion: There were upward trends in the rates of operative vaginal delivery at this inner-city hospital. Women who underwent forceps-assisted delivery had greater rates of maternal complications than did those who underwent vacuum-assisted delivery. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;184:1112-4.)
Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging Using a High Numerical Aperture Microscope Objective

We designed, constructed, and tested a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) microscope using a high numerical aperture objective from a commercially available inverted optical microscope. Such a configuration, combined with various methods to shorten the surface plasmon propagation length, achieves diffraction-limited spatial resolution in the transverse direction and near-diffraction-limited resolution in the longitudinal direction. A virtue of the objective-type SPR imaging is that we achieve distortion-free angle-resolved SPR imaging, allowing the angle-dependent reflectivity of the sample to be examined on a pixel-by-pixel basis, thus offering high-resolution information about surface properties
Regulation of a formin complex by the microtubule plus end protein tea1p.

The plus ends of microtubules have been speculated to regulate the actin cytoskeleton for the proper positioning of sites of cell polarization and cytokinesis. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, interphase microtubules and the kelch repeat protein tea1p regulate polarized cell growth. Here, we show that tea1p is directly deposited at cell tips by microtubule plus ends. Tea1p associates in large “polarisome” complexes with bud6p and for3p, a formin that assembles actin cables. Tea1p also interacts in a separate complex with the CLIP-170 protein tip1p, a microtubule plus end–binding protein that anchors tea1p to the microtubule plus end. Localization experiments suggest that tea1p and bud6p regulate formin distribution and actin cable assembly. Although single mutants still polarize, for3Δbud6Δtea1Δ triple-mutant cells lack polarity, indicating that these proteins contribute overlapping functions in cell polarization. Thus, these experiments begin to elucidate how microtubules contribute to the proper spatial regulation of actin assembly and polarized cell growth.
Genetic evidence that the multiple apolipoprotein A-1 isoforms are encoded by a common structural gene

We have used a genetic structural variation of apolipoprotein A-I in mice to examine the origin of the multiple charge isoforms of the plasma protein. Apolipoprotein A-I translated in vitro from hepatic or enteric mRNA revealed that the genetic variation simultaneously alters the charge of the protein produced by both tissues. The variation also shifted the charge of the entire family of isoforms found in plasma or translated in vitro. These results indicate that the protein produced by different tissues as well as the multiple isoforms are all derived from a common structural gene by processing.
Length of gestation in ewes carrying lambs of two different breeds.

Length of gestation was studied in pregnancies established by intrabreed, interbreed, and mixed-breed embryo transfers of Finnish Landrace (Finn; mean gestation: 144.9 days) and Targhee (mean gestation: 150.4 days) embryos to Finn cross and Targhee recipients. At least one lamb of each breed comprised mixed-breed pregnancies. There was a significant effect of the breed of lamb (Finn, Targhee, or Finn and Targhee) on the length of gestation (P<.01), but not of breed of recipient. Mixed-breed pregnancies had a mean gestation period intermediate between those for pregnancies which contained only one breed of lamb. The mean gestation period for mixed-breed pregnancies was 2.10+/-.70 (x+/-S.E.) days longer than for pregnancies with only Finn lambs (P<.01) and 2.99+/-.73 days shorter than for pregnancies with only Targhee lambs (P<.001). The delay in parturition in mixed-breed pregnancies beyond the normal gestation period for Finn lambs occurred even in litters with a majority of Finn lambs. These results demonstrate an interaction between fetuses in the processes leading to parturition. Possible mechanisms by which the Targhee lamb delayed parturition in mixed-breed pregnancies are discussed.
The autistic-spectrum disorders.

Any person, talented or handicapped, whose social skills have been severely deficient since very early childhood, who started to talk late or whose communicative use of language is inadequate, and ...
Test Methods for Hyperelastic Characterization of Rubber4

Abstract Optical methods using digital image correlation (DIC) are utilized in developing rubber constitutive tests. Two and three dimensional DIC systems are employed to measure strains on rubber ...
Estrogen treatment and gonadal function in the regulation of lipoprotein lipase

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity was measured in adipose tissue, heart and diaphragm in Sprague--Dawley rats after estrogen therapy or orchiectomy. Enzyme activity was measured by incubation of tissue fragments with a triolein emulsion in the presence of serum and heparin. In confirmation of other work, depression of adipose tissue LPL followed estradiol treatment in pharmacologic or near-physiologic doses. Cardiac and diaphragmatic muscle LPL were increased. Estrogen-treated male animals showed growth retardation. However, they gained weight steadily and did not show significant differences in serum insulin, glucose of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate. The effects of estradiol in male animals were reversed by sequential fasting and re-feeding. At times during growth and aging in normal female rats, adipose tissue activity was decreased while cardiac and skeletal muscle activities were increased relative to males of the same age or body weight. Castration of male rats failed to reproduce the effect of estrogens on tissue lipoprotein lipase. These in vitro data suggest that exogenous estrogens may shift the flux of triglyceride fatty acids from storage in the adipose organ toward incorporation by muscle. These, and other data, raise the possibility that physiological estrogen secretion exerts a tonic influence over the synthesis and ultimate destination of triglyceride fatty acids.
Individual-based modeling of flooding and salinity effects on a coastal swamp forest

Abstract Coastal swamps are among the rapidly vanishing wetland habitats in Louisiana. Increased flooding, nutrient and sediment deprivation, and salt-water intrusion have been implicated as probable causes of the decline of coastal swamps. We developed a two-species individual-based forest succession model to compare the growth and composition of a cypress-tupelo swamp under various combinations of flooding intensity and salinity levels, using historical time-series of stage and salinity data as inputs. Our model simulates forest succession over 500 years by representing the growth, mortality, and reproduction of individual Taxodium distichum (baldcypress) and Nyssa aquatica (water tupelo) trees in a 1-km2 spatial grid of 10 m × 10 m cells that vary in water levels and salinity through differences in elevation. We independently adjusted the elevations of each cell to obtain different grid-wide mean elevations and standard deviations of elevation; this affected the temporal and spatial pattern of flooding. We calibrated the model by adjusting selected parameters until averaged basal area, stem density and wood production rates under two different mean elevations (partially versus highly flooded) were qualitatively similar to comparable values reported for swamps in the literature. Corroboration involved comparing model predictions to four well-monitored contrasting habitat sites within the Maurepas Basin, Louisiana, USA. Model predictions of both species combined showed the same patterns among sites as the data, but the model overestimated wood production and the dominance of T. distichum. Exploratory simulations predicted that increased flooding leads to swamps with reduced basal areas and stem densities, while increased salinity resulted in lower basal areas at low salinity concentration (∼1–3 psu) and complete tree mortality at higher salinity concentrations (∼2–6 psu). Our model can provide insight into the succession dynamics of coastal swamps and information for the effective design of restoration actions.
Regulation of Neurexin 1β Tertiary Structure and Ligand Binding through Alternative Splicing

Summary Neurexins and neuroligins play an essential role in synapse function, and their alterations are linked to autistic spectrum disorder. Interactions between neurexins and neuroligins regulate inhibitory and excitatory synaptogenesis in vitro through a "splice-insert signaling code." In particular, neurexin 1β carrying an alternative splice insert at site SS#4 interacts with neuroligin 2 (found predominantly at inhibitory synapses) but much less so with other neuroligins (those carrying an insert at site B and prevalent at excitatory synapses). The structure of neurexin 1β+SS#4 reveals dramatic rearrangements to the "hypervariable surface," the binding site for neuroligins. The splice insert protrudes as a long helix into space, triggers conversion of loop β10-β11 into a helix rearranging the binding site for neuroligins, and rearranges the Ca 2+ -binding site required for ligand binding, increasing its affinity. Our structures reveal the mechanism by which neurexin 1β isoforms acquire neuroligin splice isoform selectivity.
SU-FF-J-95: Comparison of a Center-Of-Volume Contour-Based Alignment and a CT Image-Based Automatic Alignment of Prostate Target in CT-Guided Radiotherapy

Purpose: Due to organ deformation, the validity of using center-of-volume (COV) for prostate alignment has not been evaluated against other approaches and vice versa. The goal of this study was to compare two methods of prostate target alignment: one used manually delineated contours and the other used a combination of automatic and manual image registration method. Method and Materials: In an IRB-approved protocol for repeat CT imaging using a CT-on-rails system, 15 patients received 3 CT scans per week over a period about 8 weeks. For each of the 353 CT images, the prostate was manually contoured by two radiation oncologists and checked by one of them. The center of volume (COV) was computed based on the gravity center of the contour containing the prostate. A CT-Assisted Targeting (CAT) software was also developed in-house for on-line CT image-guided radiotherapy. The registration algorithm consisted of cost functions that were designed to provide accurate, robust and automatic detection of the prostate. The daily position of the prostate was calculated using both the COV method and the CAT software. For the later, the results were also reviewed in every CT images and adjusted when necessary. Results: The mean differences (±1SD) between COV and CAT alignments were −0.2±0.9 mm, −0.4±1.5 mm, and 0.7±2.4 mm in lateral(RL), anterior-posterior(AP), and superior-inferior(SI) directions, respectively. The results of alignments were highly correlated (p<0.0001) in all directions. Although large differences are few, an outlier analysis showed that large differences were due to (1) inter-observer variation in contouring the reference CT and the daily CT (61%), (2) large deformations of anatomy (65%), and (3) the combination of both (45%). Conclusion: We found that both the COV method and the CAT alignment agreed well to within 2mm in RL, 3mm in AP, and 5mm in SI for 95% of alignments.
Consumer attitude toward Recombinant Porcine Somatotropin

The study uses primary data collected from a survey conducted in Texas to analyze consumer attitude toward Recombinant Porcine Somatotropin (pST). The article measures consumer concern and awareness about pST and relates them to consumers' willingness to buy pork products produced with pST. Results suggest that a low level of awareness about somatotropin is responsible for higher levels of consumer concerns and unwillingness to accept products produced with pST. The study identifies impacts of various sociodemographic variables on consumer attitude toward pST. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Hollow shell hydration of cement particles in bulk cement paste

Abstract Investigations on bulk cement paste specimens made from different cements confirm the occurrence of hollow-shell or “Hadley grains”, similar to those previously established as occurring near interfaces with glass slides. The existence of such grains in previous microstructural investigations of cement pastes has apparently been overlooked. Since few grains in bulk cement pastes fracture to reveal details of their interiors, the relative frequency of occurrence of hollow-shell grains and grains showing inner hydration product in contact with the exterior shell can not be assessed unambiguously, but almost all fractured grains observed seem to be of the hollow-shell variety.
Replenishment and stocking policies for inventory systems with random deal offerings

This paper considers the replenishment and stocking decision for inventory systems in which price discounts, referred to as deals, are offered by the supplier or the market place at random points in time. Assuming that the demand is constant over time, the times between deal offerings are exponentially distributed and that the order leadtimes are negligible, we derive expressions for evaluating the operating characteristics of the model. Moreover, we derive expressions for determining the optimal policy parameters for such systems and present results on the behavior of the optimal policy parameters. Our results are easy to implement, intuitive and provide managerial insights and a better understanding on the effect of random deal offerings on replenishment and stocking decisions. In addition, we suggest a back of envelope heuristic solution for deriving the policy parameters.
Effect of doxorubicin-enhanced hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical formation on calcium sequestration by cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum

This study investigated the effect of doxorubicin-related oxygen radical formation on Ca2+ uptake by rat heart sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles. Enzymatic activation of doxorubicin by cardiac NADH dehydrogenase produced a dose-related inhibition of Ca2+ uptake that was enzyme- and cofactor-dependent and that was inhibited by catalase, various hydroxyl radical scavengers, and the iron chelator deferoxamine. Furthermore, inhibition of Ca2+ uptake paralleled the production of the hydroxyl radical by NADH dehydrogenase after doxorubicin treatment. These results suggest that doxorubicin-stimulated reactive oxygen metabolism can alter Ca2+ transport by cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum and may represent one pathway involved in the cardiac toxicity of this potent antineoplastic agent.
You gotta move: advancing the debate on the record of dispersal

This paper summarizes the social science research on the record of housing dispersal programs since 1995. The research shows a consistently disappointing record of benefits to low-income households. Households moved out of high-poverty neighborhoods, voluntarily and involuntarily, show few or no beneficial effects in terms of economic self-sufficiency, health benefits, or social integration. The benefits of dispersal are confined to feelings of greater safety and satisfaction with neighborhood environmental conditions. We offer a framework for understanding the disappointing record of dispersal, highlighting its translation from social science diagnosis to policy, problems in the policy's implementation, its underlying theory of poverty, and the political context within which dispersal has been applied.