cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Apolipoprotein E•dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine particles are ellipsoidal in solution

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is a major protein component of cholesterol-transporting lipoprotein particles in the central nervous system and in plasma. Polymorphisms of apoE are associated with cardiovascular disease and with a predisposition to Alzheimer's disease and other forms of neurodegeneration. For full biological activity, apoE must be bound to a lipoprotein particle. Complexes of apoE and phospholipid mimic many of these activities. In contrast to a widely accepted discoidal model of apoA-I bound to dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine, which is based on solution studies, an X-ray diffraction study of apoE bound to dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) indicated that apoE*DPPC particles are quasi-spheroidal and that the packing of the phospholipid core is similar to a micelle. Using small-angle X-ray scattering, we show that apoE*DPPC particles in solution are ellipsoidal and that the shape of the phospholipid core is compatible with a twisted-bilayer model. The proposed model is consistent with the results of mass spectrometric analysis of products of limited proteolysis. These revealed that the nonlipid-bound regions of apoE in the particle are consistent with an alpha-helical hairpin.
Performance and Pay in the Public Sector: the Case of the Local Tax Assessor

Because it is unclear, theoretically, if the compensation of public employees is based on performance, this study empirically examines the various factors underlying tax assessor pay. As neoclassical theory suggests, performance, as measured by assessment uniformity, is found to positively affect tax assessor pay. In particular, a 10% increase in assessment uniformity is shown to result in a 1.7%-2.3% increase in tax assessor pay, ceteris paribus.
Application of track detectors to the measurement of sputtering yields

Observation of fission tracks in mica has been used to measure low sputtering yields from light-ion bombardment of uranium. The technique is very sensitive and could be applied to measurements of low sputtering yields from materials doped with ^(235)U. The technique is also suitable for the study of chunk emission.
Halothane does not decrease amiloride-sensitive alveolar fluid clearance in rabbits.

UNLABELLED Halothane decreases alveolar fluid clearance (AFC), a function required for efficient gas exchange in the rat. Further, halothane decreases amiloride-sensitive Na(+) transport in rat alveolar type II cells, a process responsible for a significant portion of AFC. We tested the hypothesis that halothane would decrease amiloride-sensitive AFC in rabbits. Rabbits anesthetized with 1.8% halothane had 5% albumin in 0.9% NaCl instilled into the right lung with (n = 11) or without (n = 11) 1 mM amiloride present in the instillate. Similarly, animals anesthetized with IV fentanyl and droperidol were administered 5% albumin solution with (n = 11) or without (n = 11) amiloride. At 90 min after instillation, alveolar fluid samples were obtained, and AFC was determined by changes in fluid protein concentration. Rabbits anesthetized with halothane or fentanyl and droperidol in the absence of amiloride had similar AFC values (35% +/- 12% and 35% +/- 7%, respectively, mean +/- SD). Rabbits anesthetized with halothane or fentanyl and droperidol in the presence of amiloride had similar AFC values (20% +/- 10% and 16% +/- 12%, respectively) that were significantly less than the groups not administered amiloride (P < 0.01). Unlike the rat, the ability of the rabbit to clear fluid from the alveolar space through amiloride-sensitive pathways is not decreased by halothane anesthesia. IMPLICATIONS Unlike the rat, the ability of the rabbit to clear fluid from the alveolar space through amiloride-sensitive pathways is not decreased by halothane anesthesia.
Lung boundary detection in pediatric chest x-rays

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem worldwide, and highly prevalent in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 95% of TB deaths occur in low- and middle- income countries that often have under-resourced health care systems. In an effort to aid population screening in such resource challenged settings, the U.S. National Library of Medicine has developed a chest X-ray (CXR) screening system that provides a pre-decision on pulmonary abnormalities. When the system is presented with a digital CXR image from the Picture Archive and Communication Systems (PACS) or an imaging source, it automatically identifies the lung regions in the image, extracts image features, and classifies the image as normal or abnormal using trained machine-learning algorithms. The system has been trained on adult CXR images, and this article presents enhancements toward including pediatric CXR images. Our adult lung boundary detection algorithm is model-based. We note the lung shape differences during pediatric developmental stages, and adulthood, and propose building new lung models suitable for pediatric developmental stages. In this study, we quantify changes in lung shape from infancy to adulthood toward enhancing our lung segmentation algorithm. Our initial findings suggest pediatric age groupings of 0 - 23 months, 2 - 10 years, and 11 - 18 years. We present justification for our groupings. We report on the quality of boundary detection algorithm with the pediatric lung models.
Sources of Political Distortions in Performance Appraisals Appraisal Purpose and Rater Accountability

Although performance appraisal research has been ongoing for more than 50 years, the focus has largely been on the rater and the rating instruments. This study seeks to answer a more recent call by researchers to focus on contextual variables surrounding the performance appraisal process by analyzing two such variables: appraisal purpose and rater accountability. Results indicate that holding raters accountable for the accuracy of their ratings, especially when ratings are for administrative purposes, may be an effective strategy for reducing leniency error
Charcoal column separation of chlordane and toxaphene.

Apparatus: I . Chromaflex column ( I0 mm ID) s ize 213 #K420550 Kontes I 24/40 inner j o i n t , This column is equipped to handle a 500 mL K-D Concen t ra to r , which acts as a r e s e r v o i r f o r the e l u t i n g so l ven t , 2. 500-mL Kuderna Danish (K-D) concen t ra to r Kontes 24/40 inner j o i n t and a ~ 19/22 outer j o i n t . 3. Snyder Condenser-Kontes { 24/40 j o i n t . 4. 500-mL K-D Concent ra tor ~ 24/40 inner j o i n t and a 24/25 outer j o i n t . 5. 5 mL t i p Kontes I 19/22 inner j o i n t . 6, Tracor 222 gas chromatograph or e q u i v a l e n t w i t h an e]ectron capture detector.
Group height calculations in the presence of the earth's magnetic field

Abstract A method is given for the computation of an h - ƒ curve for an ionosphere of arbitrary shape. The effects of the earth's magnetic field may be included. The method is based on integral formulae involving the derivative of height with electron density, dz/dN , and misbehaviour of this derivative curve leads to inaccuracies in the results. The two integral formulae used are obtained as special cases of the Gauss-Christoffel quadrature formula. The procedure is applied to: (1) a linear layer; (2) a parabolic layer; (3) a cosine layer; and (4) an are-cosine layer. The first three cases are studied with and without the earth's magnetic field, and the results of the first two are compared with exact calculations by other workers. The cosine layer results are compared with those for a Chapman layer. The arc-cosine layer shows a maximum in the h - ƒ curve which does not correspond to any prominent feature of the electron density curve, showing a need for care in the study of h - ƒ curves. A different method is given for the calculation of an h - ƒ curve in the case of penetration of a layer of arbitrary shape.
ASSESSING FACULTY WORKLOAD: A REVIEW OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM PROCESS AND OUTCOMES

The work of faculty members has always been difficult to describe and judge. However, legislatures, governing boards, parents, and alumni are increasingly asking those in academe to describe and defend the work of faculty. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the process utilized by the 14 institutions in the University of Kentucky Community College System to capture and to report the faculty workload and contact hour data. These data are also presented by rank and faculty activity and discussed in terms of how they are used for internal decision making.
Expression of renal aquaporins 1, 2, and 3 in a rat model of cisplatin-induced polyuria

Expression of renal aquaporins 1, 2, and 3 in a rat model of cisplatin-induced polyuria. Background Cisplatin (CP)-induced polyuria in rats is attributed to decreased medullary hypertonicity and/or an end-organ resistance to vasopressin. However, the roles of renal aquaporins (AQPs) have not yet been explored. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats (230 to 245 g) received either a single injection of CP (5 mg/kg, N = 4) or saline ( N = 4) intraperitoneally five days before sacrifice. Urine, blood, and kidney samples were analyzed. Results Platinum accumulated in the cortex and outer medulla of CP-treated rats (39.05 ± 7.50 and 36.48 ± 12.44 μg/g vs. 2.52 ± 0.43 and 1.87 ± 0.84 μg/g dry tissue in controls, respectively). Histologically, tubular damage and decreased AQP1 immunolabeling were detected in the S3 segment of proximal tubules. CP treatment caused 4.4- and 4.8-fold increases, respectively, in blood urea nitrogen and urine volume, and a 4.4-fold decrease in urine osmolality. Immunoblots showed that AQP2 and AQP3 were significantly reduced to 33 ± 10% ( P P P P = 0.057) and significantly (53 ± 13%, P Conclusions CP-induced polyuria in rats is associated with a significant decrease in the expression of collecting duct (AQP2 and AQP3) and proximal nephron and microvascular (AQP1) water channels in the inner medulla.
Reversible biotinylation phosphoramidite for 5'-end-labeling, phosphorylation, and affinity purification of synthetic oligonucleotides.

A fluoride/amine-cleavable phosphoramidite designed for biotinylation, phosphorylation, and affinity purification of synthetic oligonucleotides was synthesized and coupled efficiently to the 5‘-end of DNA on a solid-phase automatic synthesizer. The two hydroxyl groups of diethyl bis(hydroxymethyl)malonate were used to link biotin and the 5‘-end of DNA together through a diisopropylsilyl acetal functionality and a phosphate ester group, respectively. The DNA was cleaved from solid support and fully deprotected by treating with a mixture of MeNH2 (∼40%) and NH4OH (∼29%) (1:1, v/v, 65 °C, 30 min), and the linkage between biotin and DNA was found completely stable under these conditions. The biotinylated full-length DNA was efficiently attached to NeutrAvidin coated microspheres and failure sequences and other impurities were simply removed by washing with buffer and water. The microspheres were then treated with HF/pyridine/THF (rt, 1 h) and MeNH2 (∼40%, rt, 15 min) sequentially to yield high quality full-le...
Teleconnections in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean

Geostrophic water transport by the equatorial countercurrent is compared with the observed sea level difference between two pairs of islands situlated north and south of the current. The high correlation between the transport and the sea level difference makes it possible to construct a time series for the countercurrent transport over a 21-year period. The countercurrent carries warm water into the eastern tropical Pacific, and fluctuations in its strength give rise to temperature anomalies off Central America. Periods of exceptionally high transport by the countercurrent in the western Pacific coincide with the occurrence of El Nino several thousand kilometers downstream and demonstrate the existence of teleconnections between events in the Pacific Ocean.
Sum Rules for Inelastic Electron Scattering

Sum rules are constructed for the analysis of inelastic electron scattering at high energy (\ensuremath{\sim}150 Mev) from light nuclei. Effects taken into account are: nucleon charge, recoil, and magnetic-moment currents; exchange currents; finite nucleon size; nuclear center-of-mass motion; and the kinematical factors describing the correct relation between initial and final electron energies, the scattering angle, and the nuclear excitation energy. It appears that a sensitive test of the role of exchange currents in the nuclear ground state is provided by a sum rule for the energy-weighted cross section for fixed-momentum transfer: ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{E}=\ensuremath{\int}\stackrel{}{|\mathrm{q}|=\mathrm{const}}\ensuremath{\epsilon}\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\epsilon}, q)d\ensuremath{\epsilon}.$
Central-Upwind Scheme for Savage–Hutter Type Model of Submarine Landslides and Generated Tsunami Waves

We develop a new central-upwind scheme for a one-dimensional Savage-Hutter type model of submarine landslides and generated tsunami waves. Our scheme exactly preserves physically relevant steady-states, preserves positivity of water depth, is insensitive to choice of discretization of nonconservative products, and properly incorporates friction inherent in the model. We apply our scheme to a variety of test problems and the numerical results clearly demonstrate a high accuracy and robustness of the proposed method.
Oxidative coupling of methane over alkali-doped antimony oxide

Abstract The oxidative dimerization of methane was studied over alkali-doped antimony oxide catalysts. Selectivities for C 2 hydrocarbons as high as 68% were achieved over 5% lithium-doped antimony oxide supported on SiO 2 . The addition of small amounts of alkali to supported antimony oxide was found to improve the selectivity for coupled products. However, the nature of the alkali (Li, K, or Cs) made little difference in the final catalytic properties. This increased selectivity is attributed to the scavenging, by the alkali species, of acidic sites on the support, which are believed to be total oxidation sites.
Factors predicting success or failure associated with common types of transplants.

: The ability to predict clinical outcomes is essential to accurate medical decision analysis. Many accepted bone marrow transplant related prognostic variables are derived from data that is over 20-years old and may or may not be applicable to current medical practice. This report reviews both older data concerning bone marrow transplantation prognostic factors as well as more current reports. In addition to pretransplant variables, this review examines easily measured post-transplant variables that may affect prognosis, as well as data concerning the cellular component of the infused graft in both allogeneic and autologous transplantation.
Characterization of a Human 12/15-Lipoxygenase Promoter Variant Associated with Atherosclerosis Identifies Vimentin as a Promoter Binding Protein

Background Sequence variation in the human 12/15 lipoxygenase (ALOX15) has been associated with atherosclerotic disease. We functionally characterized an ALOX15 promoter polymorphism, rs2255888, previously associated with carotid plaque burden.
Synthesis of microporous faujasitic-like zincophosphates from reverse micelles

Synthesis of an open pore microporous zincophosphate X (ZnPO-X) with the faujasite topology using reverse micelles as nanoreactors is reported here for the first time. Previous attempts with Aerosol OT (AOT), the most commonly used surfactant to make reverse micelles, led only to the formation of zincophosphate sodalite. Success in synthesizing ZnPO-X was realized using reverse micelles made with cationic surfactant dioctyldimethylammonium chloride (DODMAC). Infra-red studies show that the water structure in DODMAC reverse micelles resembles bulk water more so than AOT reverse micelles. Dynamic light scattering provides information on the crystal growth dynamics, which suggests that nucleation occurs in a small fraction of the reverse micelles followed by growth by incorporation of nutrients from non-nucleated micelles.
Distribution and immunophenotype of the inflammatory cell population in the benign lymphoepithelial lesion (Mikulicz's disease)

Benign lymphoepithelial lesion (BLL) is an autoimmune process characterized by swelling and diffuse inflammation of the major salivary glands. Autoantibodies have been isolated from lymphocyte cultures obtained from affected salivary glands, but the pathogenesis is still unknown. Previous studies have shown that the predominant population of inflammatory cells is represented by helper T cells, with only brief mention of the B cell population. Twenty-five surgical specimens from patients with BLL were studied immunohistochemically. Antisera used included monoclonal antibodies LN-1 and LN-2 for B cells, LN-3 for cells expressing human leukocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR) antigens, UCHL-1 for T cells, Leu-7 for natural killer (NK) cells, and T suppressor lymphocytes and the polyclonal antibody to S100 protein for dendritic cells. A peculiar distribution of the inflammatory infiltrate was observed in all cases, characterized by the presence of very irregular "germinal centers" with pseudopod-like extensions surrounding epimyoepithelial islands. Lymphoid cells in this location were reactive with LN-1 and LN-2 antibodies. These structures were surrounded by a "mantle" of mixed small B and T lymphocytes. A well-defined "interfollicular" zone was composed of cells strongly reactive with UCHL-1 and LN-3 antibodies, indicating the presence and activation of T cells. Dendritic cells defined by S100 and LN-2 reactivity were intermixed with epimyoepithelial cells, and were identified in 18 cases. Epithelial expression of HLA-DR antigens was restricted to inflamed areas. In contrast to previous reports denying the presence of Leu-7-positive cells in these lesions, cells reactive for this antibody were identified in 13 of 20 cases, predominantly within germinal centers. The presence of dendritic cells, complex organization of the inflammatory infiltrate into well-defined B cell proliferation centers and activated interfollicular T areas, and the abnormal expression of HLA-DR antigens in epithelial cells support an antibody-mediated destruction of the epithelial cells in this disease.
Photosynthetic System II: Racial Differentiation in Typha latifolia

The rate of reduction of 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol by illuminated chloroplasts isolated from ecological races of Typha latifolia was negatively correlated with length of growing season at the site of origin. Efficiency of the photochemical apparatus for this reaction was twice as high in a high-altitude population from Wyoming as in a maritime population from California.
Domestic currency appreciation and foreign capital inflows: What comes first? (Chile, 1977–1982)

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to find (Granger) causality relations between the real exchange rate, the inflow of foreign capital, interest rate arbitrage, and the terms of trade, in a representative indebted, developing country Chile. This is done for a time period in which Chile went from an unprecedented expansion (1977–1981) to a severe recession (1982). The paper confronts two competing hypotheses that purport to explain such behavior. Hypothesis one claims that causality went from the real exchange rate (affected by nominal exchange rate policy) to capital inflows, in what could be termed a current-account–deficit-induced demand for foreign funds. Hypothesis two posits a causality that ran the other way—from capital inflows to the real exchange rate—in which case the ‘exogenous’ inflows of foreign money implied a current account deficit. Special attention is paid to the role played by two other related factors, interest rate arbitrage and terms of trade variations. By applying innovation accounting techniques based on estimated vector autoregressions, support is found for the second of these hypotheses. Thus, the real issue—in Chile and in many other currently indebted Latin American countries—should be the timing and extent of the capital account liberalization process carried out during the period.
Noninvasive and venographic diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis.

Methods currently used to diagnose deep vein thrombosis (DVT) include contrast phlebography, the125I-fibrinogen uptake test, Doppler ultrasound, and impedance plethysmography. Contrast phlebography, considered the “gold standard” for the diagnosis of DVT, provides excellent visualization of the entire deep, muscular, and superficial venous systems.
Accuracy of multivalue methods during change of time-step size: Adams-Moulton

Multivalue methods are a class of time-stepping procedures for numerical solution of differential equations that progress to a new time level using the approximate solution for the function of interest and its derivatives at a single time level. The methods differ from multistep procedures, which make use of solutions to the differential equation at multiple time levels to advance to the new time level. Multistep methods are difficult to employ when a change in time-step is desired, because the standard formulas (e.g., Adams-Moulton or Gear) must be modified to accommodate the change. Multivalue methods seem to possess the desirable feature that the time-step may be changed arbitrarily as one proceeds, since the solution proceeds from a single time level. However, in practice, changes in the time-step introduce lower order errors or alter the coefficient in the truncation error term. Here, the multivalue Adams-Moulton method is presented based on a general interpolation procedure. Modifications required to retain the high-order accuracy of these methods during a change in time-step are developed. Additionally, a formula for the unknown initial derivatives is presented. Finally, two examples are provided to illustrate the potential merit of the modification to the standard multivalue methods. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Numer Methods Partials Differential Eq 16: 312–326, 2000
SU‐FF‐T‐120: Comparison of Detectors for Electron Depth‐Dose Measurements and Investigation of Parallel‐Plate Chamber Perturbation Factors

Purpose: In all international protocols for electron beamdosimetry the primary detector of choice for measuring depth‐dose distributions is the plane‐parallel ionization chamber. Diode detectors are permitted but their performance must be checked against a ‘gold‐standard’ ion chamber before use. Recent publications have indicated that parallel‐plate ion chambers can have a significant non‐zero perturbation correction, which varies with depth. If this is not corrected for then the chamber is not a ‘gold standard’ and any comparison with a diode will be biased. This also has implications for benchmarking of Monte‐Carlo simulations. Method and Materials: A precision 1‐D scanning phantom was developed with an absolute positioning accuracy of 0.15 mm and a dose uncertainty of 0.1%. Measurements were made with two types of plane‐parallel ion chamber (NACP and Roos) and two electron diodes (Scanditronix EFD and PTW 60012) at a range of electron energies (4–22 MeV) for 4 different linac types. Results: There was very good agreement between the plane‐parallel ion chambers (R50 values generally within 0.1 mm for all beams). i) There was a significant and consistent difference between the electron diode detectors, with a 0.7 mm difference in R50 (independent of energy) and small differences in the build‐up and bremsstrahlung regions. ii) The ion chamber plots (converted from ionization to dose using TG‐51 and corrected for chamber perturbation using published data) showed very good agreement with the EFD diode, except for in the build‐up region where a difference of ∼1–2% persists. The corrected ion chamber and EFD diode showed good agreement with a Monte‐Carlo simulation but neither matched perfectly. Conclusion: For the highest accuracy depth‐dose measurements (e.g. TG‐51 beam calibration,MC commissioning) perturbation corrections are required for plane‐parallel ion chambers. Further work is required to determine which detector (diode or ion chamber) is a true ‘gold standard’.
Impression formation in social work-sharing sites

My dissertation work focuses on understanding how and why professionals use activity traces generated by social work-sharing sites online to form impressions of fellow professionals' expertise and inform personal interactions around work artifacts. I have conducted interviews with professionals in different domains who post and share their work online. These findings will then inform a model of factors contributing to impression formation in this specific context, as well as experiments testing and providing design recommendations for improving members' ability to interact and effectively learn about each other.
A perturbation technique to model InGaAs/InP and GaAs FETs for millimeter-wave integrated circuits

A perturbation method is described to analytically model the electrical behavior of submicron FETs for millimeter-wave circuit applications. The approach includes the determination of the two-dimensional potential distribution in a non-rectangular depletion region. The result is used to derive analytical expressions for the threshold voltage and transconductance of FETs.
Novel ultrafast varistor materials for the suppression of fast rise-time transients

Novel varistor materials based on ALD surface modified metal particles embedded in a polymeric binder were found to display exceptional non-ohmic electrical properties. Sub- nanosecond transient response times with negligible overshoot and low capacitance, leakage current, and insertion loss were repeatedly observed. These properties enable these novel devices capable of suppressing fast rise-time transients induced by electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and high-power magnetic weapons (HPM).
Fit for consumption: zebrafish as a model for tuberculosis

Despite efforts to generate new vaccines and antibiotics for tuberculosis, the disease remains a public health problem worldwide. The zebrafish Danio rerio has emerged as a useful model to investigate mycobacterial pathogenesis and treatment. Infection of zebrafish with Mycobacterium marinum, the closest relative of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, recapitulates many aspects of human tuberculosis. The zebrafish model affords optical transparency, abundant genetic tools and in vivo imaging of the progression of infection. Here, we review how the zebrafish–M. marinum system has been deployed to make novel observations about the role of innate immunity, the tuberculous granuloma, and crucial host and bacterial genes. Finally, we assess how these findings relate to human disease and provide a framework for novel strategies to treat tuberculosis.
Hereditary Factors in Endometrial Cancer

Over 40,000 cases of endometrial cancer (EC) accounting for more than 7000 deaths occur in the United States each year (1). About 10–15% of these cases are found in family clusters, of which approx 7% will have a clear-cut hereditary etiology. The majority of hereditary EC cases are found in families with the Lynch syndrome, also called hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) syndrome (2, 3). Other extracolonic cancers of the Lynch syndrome include carcinomas of the ovary, stomach, small bowel, hepatobiliary tract, pancreas, breast, brain, and transitional cell carcinoma of the ureter and renal pelvis (4). Figure 1 shows two pedigrees that depict typical Lynch syndrome families with EC in the direct genetic lineage. The purpose of this chapter is to describe hereditary EC, its phenotypical features, molecular genetics, pathology, diagnosis, and management strategies.
The Biological Half-Life of Human Growth Hormone and a Biologically Active 20,000-Dalton Variant in Mouse Blood

We compared the disappearance rate of hGH and hGH20K injected into groups of mice. Radioactivity measurements and RIA were used to determine the amount of hormone in blood collected at various times after injection. The results indicate that the T1/2 value for hGH and hGH20K are equal. We conclude that there is no apparent relationship between the equal rates of disappearance, the dissimilar binding characteristics that have been shown for the hormones and their equipotent growth promoting activities.
Intraspecific variation in space use, group size, and mating systems of caviomorph rodents

Intraspecific variation in social systems is widely recognized across many taxa, and specific models, including polygamy potential, resource defense, and resource dispersion, have been developed to explain the relationship between ecological variation and social organization. Although mammals from temperate North America and Eurasia have provided many insights into this relationship, rodents from the Neotropics and temperate South America have largely been ignored. In this review we focus on reports documenting intraspecific variation in spacing systems, group size, and mating systems of caviomorphs. This large group of New World hystricognath rodents occupies a diverse array of habitats; thus, members of the same species potentially exhibit different social systems in response to different ecological conditions. Spatial patterns vary in response to a diverse array of factors, including predation, food availability, population density, and soil characteristics. Changes in group size typically correlate with changes in resource availability, particularly food. Mating systems generally reflect the ability of males to control access to females, which may depend on population density or food distribution. In general, social organization in caviomorphs fits predictions of resource-based models; however, most studies have been purely observational, involving small numbers of animals over short time periods and reporting qualitative rather than quantitative levels of ecological correlates. In future studies the use of molecular techniques and controlled, experimental manipulations can increase our understanding of intraspecific variation in caviomorph social systems. This understudied group of rodents offers excellent opportunities to provide insights into the influence of ecological conditions on behavior such as social systems.
Synthesis of Gaussian beams in the near-field of linear arrays

In this paper we optimized a ten element linear infinitesimal dipole array for the near-field generation of a Gaussian beam. The amplitude and phase weights on the linear dipole array are optimized via a genetic algorithm to provide the closest match to a Gaussian profile. A Gaussian profile is synthesized at a distance of 0.5 wavelengths to 50 wavelengths away from the broadside of the antenna system.
LABOR MARKETS, INDUSTRIAL MONOPOLIZATION, WELFARE, AND IMPRISONMENT:

Various theorists posit that the rate of unemployment is linked to the rates of both welfare and imprisonment. This assumes a competitive labor market tied to specific controls of surplus populations. This article argues that contemporary labor markets lie on a continuum between competitive (secondary) and relatively non-competitive (primary) structures which creates a pattern of labor market segmentation. Such segmentation is linked with specific policies of incarceration or welfare, depending on the competitiveness of the labor market. Data from a cross-section of urban, industrial U.S. counties test the relationship between labor market segmentation, monopolization of industries, and the rates of welfare and imprisonment, controlling for a variety of other relevant variables. Regression analyses results suggest that as labor market structures become less competitive (i.e., move from predominantly secondary toward predominantly primary labor market characteristics), rates of welfare recipients and welfare benefits rise and rates of imprisonment fall. They also suggest that increasing industrial monopolization raises rates of imprisonment and lowers rates of welfare benefits. These findings indicate that the two major dimensions of economic segmentation (industrial competition and labor market competition) oppositely affect levels of welfare benefits and rates of imprisonment.
The Utility of Vulnerability and Social Capital Theories in Studying the Impact of Hurricane Katrina on the Elderly

The definition of a disaster is followed by an explanation of vulnerability and social capital theories. The importance of using a sound theoretical framework and the utility and efficacy of vulnerability and social capital theories in studying the impact of natural disasters on the elderly population are emphasized and discussed. The conclusion is that an integrated vulnerability and social capital framework has much merit and potential in studying the impact of natural disasters on the elderly and other populations.
Classical fault analysis for MOS VLSI circuits

Due to the high cost associated with generating effective input vectors to test MOS circuits, finding ways to reduce this test vector generation cost is of considerable interest. Empirical results show that fault coverage obtained from MOS transistor-level fault simulation using randomly generated test inputs can be approximated by the fault coverage obtained using the test vectors generated from classical stuck-at-zero and stuck-at-one fault simulation on logic-gate-level circuits. Applying this result, an approach is presented to reduce the cost of test vector generation for MOS circuits. >
Nonlinear evolution equations as fast and exact solvers of estimation problems

We develop computationally efficient procedures for solving certain restoration problems in one dimension, including the one-dimensional (1-D) discrete versions of the total variation regularized problem introduced by Sauer and Bouman and the constrained total variation minimization problem introduced by Rudin et al. The procedures are exact and have time complexity O(NlogN) and space complexity O(N), where N is the number of data samples. They are based on a simple nonlinear diffusion equation proposed by Pollak et al. and related to the Perona-Malik equation. A probabilistic interpretation for this diffusion equation in 1-D is provided by showing that it produces optimal solutions to a sequence of estimation problems. We extend our methods to two dimensions, where they no longer have similar optimality properties; however, we experimentally demonstrate their effectiveness for image restoration.
Determination of an ultrasonic transducer's sensitivity and impedance in a pulse-echo setup

The role that an ultrasonic piezoelectric transducer plays in an ultrasonic measurement system can be described in terms of the transducer's input electrical impedance and its sensitivity. Here, a new model-based approach is proposed to determine both the transducer impedance and sensitivity in a pulse-echo setup. This new method is much simpler to apply than previous "self-reciprocity" calibration methods for determining sensitivity and generalizes those methods. It is demonstrated that sensitivities obtained with this new method agree well with the sensitivities obtained by a three-transducer method commonly used in calibration studies. It is demonstrated that at the megahertz frequencies at which ultrasonic transducers operate it is important to compensate for cabling effects in these measurements. The influence of the pulser/receiver settings on the results obtained were also discussed
Chromophore Distortions in the Bacteriorhodopsin Photocycle: Evolution of the H−C14−C15−H Dihedral Angle Measured by Solid-State NMR†

In recent years, structural information about bacteriorhodopsin has grown substantially with the publication of several crystal structures. However, precise measurements of the chromophore conformation in the various photocycle states are still lacking. This information is critical because twists about the chromophore backbone chain can influence the Schiff base nitrogen position, orientation, and proton affinity. Here, we focus on the C14−C15 bond, using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure the H−C14−C15−H dihedral angle. In the resting state (bR568), we obtain an angle of 164 ± 4°, indicating a 16° distortion from a planar all-trans chromophore. The dihedral angle is found to decrease to 147 ± 10° in the early M intermediate (Mo) and to 150 ± 4° in the late M intermediate (Mn). These results demonstrate changes in the chromophore conformation undetected by recent X-ray diffraction studies.
Pumping the Shunt Revisited

Most cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts employed in the treatment of hydrocephalus include in their designs a pump mechanism that has been used in office practice as an indicator of whether the shunt is functioning properly; however, the pumping characteristics of shunts have been shown to correlate poorly with clinical status at a single point in time. A longitudinal study was performed to determine whether interval changes in the pumping characteristics of shunts correlate with changes in clinical status. 115 patients were examined on at least two occasions by a single pediatric neurosurgeon. At the time of the second examination, 10 patients were experiencing symptomatic shunt malfunction confirmed by neuroimaging investigations and operative findings; the remaining 105 patients were unchanged clinically at the time of the second examination. Considered as a test for CSF shunt malfunction, the interval shunt pumping test had a sensitivity of 0.50, a specificity of 0.64, and a likelihood ratio of 1.39. In the sample of patients studied, the negative predictive value was 0.93, and the positive predictive value was only 0.12. The interval shunt pumping test is not sensitive enough to rule out the possibility of shunt malfunction, nor can a positive interval shunt pumping test be considered an indication for an expensive diagnostic investigation in the asymptomatic patient.
METABOTROPIC GLUTAMATE RECEPTORS MODULATE N-METHYL-D-ASPARTATE RECEPTOR FUNCTION IN NEOSTRIATAL NEURONS

Almract--The functional roles played by metabotropic glutamate receptors in the neostriatum is just beginning to be examined. One possibility, raised by previous studies, is that metabotropic glutamate receptors act to modulate responses mediated by ionotropic glutamate receptors. In the present study, we examined this possibility in a neostriatal brain slice preparation using intracellular recording and iontophoretic techniques. We found that the iontophoretic application of the metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist 1-aminocyclopentane-l,3-dicarboxylic acid markedly attenuated both the amplitude and duration of excitatory responses induced by the iontophoretic application of N-methyl-D-aspartate. These inhibitory effects were stereo-selective and relatively long-lasting. The metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist 2-amino-3phosphonopropionic acid applied either iontophoretically or in the bath prevented the inhibitory effects of 1-amino-cyclopentane-l,3-dicarboxylic acid. The inhibitory action of 1-amino-cyclopentane-l,3-dicarboxylic acid was specific to N-methyl-D-aspartate, as 1-amino-cyclopentane-l,3-dicarboxylic acid had no consistent action on the responses evoked by the iontophoretic application of glutamate, amino-3hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoazolepropionic acid or quisqualate. Bath application of 1-amino-cyclopentane-l,3dicarboxylic acid inhibited the evoked depolarizing postsynaptic potentials recorded in neostriatal cells. Thus, activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors may play an important role in modulating N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor function in neostriatal neurons.
Activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 5 is essential for cystitis- and nerve growth factor-induced calcitonin gene-related peptide expression in sensory neurons

Background: Cystitis causes considerable neuronal plasticity in the primary afferent pathways. The molecular mechanism and signal transduction underlying cross talk between the inflamed urinary bladder and sensory sensitization has not been investigated. Results: In a rat cystitis model induced by cyclophosphamide (CYP) for 48 h, the mRNA and protein levels of the excitatory neurotransmitter calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) are increased in the L6 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in response to bladder inflammation. Cystitis-induced CGRP expression in L6 DRG is triggered by endogenous nerve growth factor (NGF) because neutralization of NGF with a specific NGF antibody reverses CGRP up-regulation during cystitis. CGRP expression in the L6 DRG neurons is also enhanced by retrograde NGF signaling when NGF is applied to the nerve terminals of the ganglion-nerve two-compartmented preparation. Characterization of the signaling pathways in cystitis- or NGF-induced CGRP expression reveals that the activation (phosphorylation) of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK)5 but not Akt is involved. In L6 DRG during cystitis, CGRP is co-localized with phospho-ERK5 but not phospho-Akt. NGF-evoked CGRP up-regulation is also blocked by inhibition of the MEK/ERK pathway with specific MEK inhibitors U0126 and PD98059, but not by inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway with inhibitor LY294002. Further examination shows that cystitis-induced cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) activity is expressed in CGRP bladder afferent neurons and is co-localized with phospho-ERK5 but not phospho-Akt. Blockade of NGF action in vivo reduces the number of DRG neurons co-expressing CGRP and phospho-CREB, and reverses cystitis-induced increases in micturition frequency. Conclusions: A specific pathway involving NGF-ERK5-CREB axis plays an essential role in cystitis-induced sensory activation.
DigiSwitch: design and evaluation of a device for older adults to preserve privacy while monitoring health at home

Home monitoring represents an appealing alternative for older adults considering out-of-home long term care and an avenue for informal caregivers and health care providers to gain decision-critical information about an older adults' health and well-being. However, privacy concerns about having 24/7 monitoring, especially video monitoring, in the home environment have been cited as a major barrier in the design of home monitoring systems. In this paper we describe the design and evaluation of "DigiSwitch", a health informatics technology designed to allow older adults to view information as it is collected about them and temporarily cease transmission of data for privacy reasons. Results from a series of iterative user studies suggest that control over the transmission of monitoring data from the home is helpful for maintaining user privacy. The studies demonstrate that older adults are able to use DigiSwitch to monitor and direct the collection and transmission of health information in their homes, providing these participants with a way to simultaneously maintain privacy and benefit from home monitoring technology.
Flow Cytometric Analyses of the Lymphocyte Subsets in Peripheral Blood of Children with Untreated Active Juvenile Dermatomyositis

Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDMS) is a vasculopathy affecting primarily skin and muscle. Although the etiology is unknown, immunopathogenetic mechanisms appear to play a role in both the susceptibility to the disease and its progression. We measured the percentage and absolute numbers of B cells and T-cell subsets in the peripheral blood of untreated JDMS patients with active early disease and compared the results with those obtained from a study of peripheral blood obtained from a heatlhy age-related control group. The absolute number of total lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of the JDMS patients was significantly lower (P < 0.002) than that observed in the healthy control population, with an associated decrease in the absolute number of all T-cell subsets. No concomitant decrease in the absolute number of B lymphocytes was observed in the JDMS patients. In contrast, the percentage of B lymphocytes and the T-helper/T-suppressor cell ratio were significantly higher in the JDMS group than in the control group (P < 0.001 and P < 0.002, respectively). Retrospective analysis of JDMS patients' serum samples obtained within 1 month of the flow cytometric evaluation indicated that 79% of the sera contained an antinuclear antibody and 46% had immunoglobulin G values above age-adjusted reference ranges. The increased percentage of B cells, the increased T-helper/T-suppressor cell ratio, the positive antinuclear antibody results, and the increased concentration of serum immunoglobulin suggest that humoral immune dysregulation may contribute to the pathogenesis of JDMS.
Myosin V motor proteins: marching stepwise towards a mechanism

Mammalian myosin V motors transport cargo processively along actin filaments. Recent biophysical and structural studies have led to a detailed understanding of the mechanism of myosin V, making it perhaps the best understood cytoskeletal motor. In addition to describing the mechanism, this review will illustrate how "dynamic" single molecule measurements can synergize with "static" protein structural studies to produce amazingly clear information on the workings of a nanometer-scale machine.
We See in the Dark

Do we need light to see? I argue that the black experience of a man in a perfectly dark cave is a representation of an absence of light, not an absence of representation. There is certainly a difference between his perceptual knowledge and that of his blind companion. Only the sighted man can tell whether the cave is dark just by looking. But perhaps he is merely inferring darkness from his failure to see. To get an unambiguous answer, I switch the focus from perceptual knowledge to non-epistemic seeing. My conclusion is that we see even in the limiting case of absolute darkness – regardless of whether we believe we are seeing. We see little of pratical interest. But in terms of basic information, we see about as much as we do when the lights are on. Depending on what has gone before and after, we may even see ordinary objects. In 1969, Rod Serling followed his television series The Twilight Zone with The Night Gallery. The second episode, ‘‘Eyes’’, was Stephen Speilberg’s directorial debut. Joan Crawford stars as Claudia Menlo, a ruthless fiftyfour year old New York dowager—blind from birth. Claudia has learned of an optic nerve transplant that would enable her to see for eleven hours. She locates a desperate bookie who agrees to sell his sight for nine thousand dollars (to avoid being murdered the next day by his underworld creditor). Claudia’s eye doctor, Dr. Frank Heatherton, refuses to perform the transplant. She blackmails him. After performing the operation, Dr. Heatherton warns Claudia not to remove the bandages prematurely. Claudia Menlo has prepared for her precious eleven hours of sight by peopling her Fifth Avenue penthouse with artwork and scheduling a tour of the city’s finest sites. She dismisses her servants. Alone in her apartment, Claudia is impatient. She unwraps the bandages. Claudia catches a glimpse of a crystal chandelier. But then everything goes black. The enraged Claudia rampages through her suite throwing statuary, the telephone, and anything else in her path. She collapses in tears—unaware that the whole city has suffered a power outage. At dawn
Boosted carbon emissions from Amazon deforestation

[1] Standing biomass is a major, often poorly quantified determinate of carbon losses from land clearing. We analyzed maps from the 2001–2007 PRODES deforestation time series with recent regional pre-deforestation aboveground biomass estimates to calculate carbon emission trends for the Brazilian Amazon basin. Although the annual rate of deforestation has not changed significantly since the 1990s (ANOVA, p = 0.3), the aboveground biomass lost per unit of forest cleared increased from 2001 to 2007 (183 to 201 Mg C ha−1; slope of regression significant: p < 0.01). Remaining unprotected forests harbor significantly higher aboveground biomass still, averaging 231 Mg C ha−1. This difference is large enough that, even if the annual area deforested remains unchanged, future clearing will increase regional emissions by ∼0.04 Pg C yr−1 – a ∼25% increase over 2001–2007 annual carbon emissions. These results suggest increased climate risk from future deforestation, but highlight opportunities through reductions in deforestation and forest degradation (REDD).