cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tryptophan catabolism by Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus helveticus cheese flavor adjuncts

Microbial degradation of Trp is thought to promote the formation of aromatic compounds that impart putrid, fecal, or unclean flavors in cheese, but pathways for their production have not been established. This study investigated Trp catabolism by Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus helveticus cheese flavor adjuncts under carbohydrate starvation (pH 6.5, 30 or 37°C, no sugar) and near cheese-ripening (pH 5.2, 4% NaCl, 15°C, no sugar) conditions. Enzyme assays of cell-free extracts indicated that both species of Lactobacillus catabolized Trp to indole-3-lactic acid, and micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography of culture supernatants showed this reaction occurred via successive transamination and dehydrogenation reactions. Tryptophan decarboxylase activity was also detected in all Lactobacillus cell-free extracts, but tryptamine was not detected in culture supernatants. Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography showed that Trp metabolism in Lactobacillus casei LC301 and LC202 was similar under both incubation conditions and that those catabolic reactions were reversible (i.e., conversion of indole-3-lactic acid to Trp). In contrast, Trp catabolism by Lactobacillus helveticus LH212 was only detected under near cheese ripening conditions. Cells of Lactobacillus helveticus CNRZ32 did not catabolize Trp in either condition but did convert indole-3-pyruvic acid to Trp in carbohydrate starvation medium and to Trp and indole-3-lactic acid under near cheese ripening conditions.
Analysis of Self-Associating Proteins by Singular Value Decomposition of Solution Scattering Data

We describe a method by which a single experiment can reveal both association model (pathway and constants) and low-resolution structures of a self-associating system. Small-angle scattering data are collected from solutions at a range of concentrations. These scattering data curves are mass-weighted linear combinations of the scattering from each oligomer. Singular value decomposition of the data yields a set of basis vectors from which the scattering curve for each oligomer is reconstructed using coefficients that depend on the association model. A search identifies the association pathway and constants that provide the best agreement between reconstructed and observed data. Using simulated data with realistic noise, our method finds the correct pathway and association constants. Depending on the simulation parameters, reconstructed curves for each oligomer differ from the ideal by 0.05–0.99% in median absolute relative deviation. The reconstructed scattering curves are fundamental to further analysis, including interatomic distance distribution calculation and low-resolution ab initio shape reconstruction of each oligomer in solution. This method can be applied to x-ray or neutron scattering data from small angles to moderate (or higher) resolution. Data can be taken under physiological conditions, or particular conditions (e.g., temperature) can be varied to extract fundamental association parameters (ΔHass, ΔSass).
Comparative studies on the mechanisms of paraquat and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine (MPP+) cytotoxicity.

1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine (MPP+) is the putative toxic metabolite of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and is structurally similar to the herbicide paraquat (PQ++). We have therefore compared the effects of MPP+ and PQ++ on a well characterized experimental model, namely isolated rat hepatocytes. PQ++ generates reactive oxygen species within cells by redox cycling and its toxicity to hepatocytes was potentiated by pretreatment with 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU), an inhibitor of glutathione reductase. In BCNU-treated cells, PQ++ caused GSH depletion, lipid peroxidation and cell death. These cytotoxic effects were prevented by the antioxidant N,N′-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPPD) and the iron-chelating agent desferrioxamine. MPP+ also caused GSH depletion in BCNU-treated hepatocytes but its cytotoxicity was not markedly affected by BCNU, nor was it accompanied by significant lipid peroxidation. DPPD and desferrioxamine also failed to prevent MPP+-induced cell death. We conclude that the production of active oxygen species is likely to play a major role in PQ++ cytotoxicity, while MPP+-induced cell damage may involve additional, more important toxic mechanisms.
Thiol-functionalized mesostructured silica vesicles

The direct supramolecular assembly of organofunctional mesostructures with a vesicular hierarchical morphology is reported for the first time for (SiO2)1−x(LSiO1.5)x compositions, where L is a mercaptopropyl group and x = 0.10–0.30.
PROVITAMIN A (ALPHA-CAROTENE, BETA-CAROTENE AND BETA-CRYPTOXANTHIN) AND ASCORBIC ACID CONTENT OF JAPANESE AND AMERICAN PERSIMMONS

Provitamin A (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin) and ascorbic acid were determined in 14 cultivars of Japanese persimmons (Diospyros kaki) and one American persimmon (D. virginiana). The study included 14 varieties grown at the USDA Persimmon test plot at the Southeastern Fruit and Nut Tree Laboratory, Byron, GA and one commercial variety, Hachiya, produced in California and purchased locally. After saponification, carotenoids were extracted with hexane and quantitated by a reverse-phase HPLC system using a Zorbax ODS column and an isocratic solvent system of acetonitrile, methylene chloride and methanol (350:150:1). The total and reduced ascorbic acid were determined using AOAC methods. Variation in carotenoid content and carotenoid profiles was noted among the cultivars. The provitamin A activity ranged from 17 RE/100 g in Aizumi Shiraza to 120 RE/100 g in Hana Gosho. Beta-carotene was the predominate provitamin A isomer in 11 of the 15 cultivars with beta-cryptoxanthin predominate in the rest. Total ascorbic acid ranged from 35 mg/100 g in Hachiya to 218 mg/100 g in Fuyu. Mean provitamin A (RE/100 g) and ascorbic acid (mg/100 g) levels were higher in nonastringent persimmons compared to astringent persimmons (p < 0.0001). The data indicate that the Japanese persimmon is a good source of provitamin A activity and an excellent source of ascorbic acid.
Risk, Ambiguity, and Information Use in an Ethical Decision Dilemma:

We used the situational context of purported unethical organizational behavior to examine the impact of risk to self, risk to society, and cue ambiguity on information search strategies and ultimate decision. Participants completed eight experimental scenarios using a web-based interface. They read each scenario stem and accessed information until they could make a decision about whether or not to ‘blow the whistle’ on the organization. Significant effects on number of same-type cue boxes accessed were found for ambiguity and risk to society levels. Risk to self and risk to society impacted participants' likelihood of reporting the scenario incident. A significant risk to self by risk to society interaction suggested that low risk to self enhanced willingness to report incidents especially when risk to society was high. Results suggest that individuals will respond to this type of risky situation by a) trying to be more sure of the situation, and b) focusing more on risks to others than to themselves. Imp...
Morita equivalence of almost-primal clones☆

Abstract Two algebraic structures A and B are called categorically equivalent if there is a functor from the variety generated by A to the variety generated by B, carrying A to B, that is an equivalence of the varieties when viewed as categories. We characterize those algebras categorically equivalent to A when A is an algebra whose set of term operations is as large as possible subject to constraints placed on it by the subalgebra or congruence lattice of A, or the automorphism group of A.
Effects of Individual and Contextual Characteristics on Preadjudication Detention of Juvenile Delinquents

This study examined individual and contextual factors affecting preadjudication detention of juvenile delinquents in 65 counties of a northeastern state. Results demonstrated that while individual characteristics of the juvenile delinquents were important predictors, much of the variation in decisions was explained when contextual factors of the counties were included in a two‐level hierarchical linear model. In addition to the statistically significant legal and extralegal juvenile characteristics, our study found that counties with a higher percentage of non‐White population were more likely to detain juvenile delinquents prior to adjudication. These findings demonstrate the importance of considering both individual and contextual factors of jurisdictions when examining the adjudication process.
Potentially implantable miniature batteries

All presently used batteries contain reactive, corrosive or toxic components and require strong cases, usually made of steel. As a battery is miniaturized, the required case dominates its size. Hence, the smallest manufactured batteries are about 50 mm3 in size, much larger then the integrated circuits or sensors of functional analytical packages, as exemplified by implantable glucose sensors for diabetes management. The status of the miniaturization of the power sources of such implantable packages is reviewed. Three microcells, consisting only of potentially harmless subcutaneously implantable anodes and cathodes, are considered. Because their electrolyte would be the subcutaneous interstitial fluid, the cells do not have a case. One potentially implantable cell has a miniature Nafion-coated Zn anode and a biocompatible hydrogel-shielded Ag/AgCl cathode. The core innovation on which the cell is based is the growth of a hopeite-phase Zn2+ conducting solid electrolyte film on the discharging anode. The film blocks the transport of O2 to the Zn, preventing its corrosion, while allowing the necessary transport of Zn2+. The second cell, with the same anode, would have a bioinert hydrogel-shielded wired bilirubin oxidase-coated carbon cathode, on which O2 dissolved in the subcutaneous fluid would be electroreduced to water. In the third cell, the glucose of the subcutaneous interstitial would be electrooxidized to gluconolactone at an implanted wired glucose anode, similar to that tested now for continuous glucose monitoring in diabetic people, and O2 in the subcutaneous fluid would be electroreduced to water on its wired bilirubin oxidase cathode.
A phrase-based unigram model for statistical machine translation

In this paper, we describe a phrase-based unigram model for statistical machine translation that uses a much simpler set of model parameters than similar phrase-based models. The units of translation are blocks - pairs of phrases. During decoding, we use a block unigram model and a word-based trigram language model. During training, the blocks are learned from source interval projections using an underlying word alignment. We show experimental results on block selection criteria based on unigram counts and phrase length.
Lumbar and thoracic epidural analgesia via the caudal approach for postoperative pain relief in infants and children.

Thirty infants scheduled for a variety of gastrointestinal, genitourinary and thoracic surgical procedures were selected for insertion of lumbar or thoracic epidural catheters via the caudal approach using either an Intracath® or a Burron® continuous brachial plexus kit. The catheters were inserted with ease by residents in training and no catheter-related complications were encountered. Lidocaine 0.5 per cent with 1:200,000 epinephrine was then injected to assure proper placement of the catheter before narcotics were administered. Postoperative analgesia was adequate in all patients using preservative-free morphine 0.05 mg · kg− 1. The mean dosing interval was 15 hr and no episodes of nausea, vomiting, hypotension or histamine release were noted. Urinary retention occurred in two infants and one infant became apnoeic three hours after epidural morphine administration but responded to naloxone and pulmonary ventilation with bag and mask. In conclusion, epidural catheters placed via the caudal approach are a safe and effective means of providing postoperative pain control in infants using preservative-free morphine. However, the use of epidural narcotics in infants less than two years of age is restricted to those who will receive intensive care unit monitoring postoperatively so that if apnoea occurs, rapid intervention can be taken by-skilled nursing personnel.
A new state estimation method for high-mix semiconductor manufacturing processes

Abstract In semiconductor manufacturing upstream processes may affect the wafer substrate in a manner that alters performance in downstream operations, and the context within which a process is run may fundamentally change the way the process behaves. Incorporating these influences into a control method ultimately leads to better predictability and improved control performance, because one lot of a specific product may take a very different processing path through the fabrication facility than the next lot of that same product. This paper provides a new method for state estimation in a high-mix manufacturing scenario, based on a random walk model. This model, combined with a moving window approach and least squares solution, provides better estimates for simulated processes with a high-mix of tools and products with many low-runners as compared to alternative methods. An approach combining the Kalman filter and the least squares solution is also developed, with improved results in some cases. In the case of manufacturing data, we modify the model parameters and the weights on processing contexts to get better results.
A Method for Determining a Generalized Representation of Geomagnetic Field Sources

Summary A new method for modelling a geomagnetic field has been developed. After the directional data has been analysed in terms of spherical harmonics, a representation of the field sources is obtained as a combination of a geocentric axial dipole and an eccentric (not necessarily axial) dipole. The free parameters are the location of the eccentric dipole and the relative proportions of the field arising from the geocentric axial dipole and from the eccentric dipole. Previous models for field source configurations are included as special cases. The new method has the particular advantage that it emphasizes the choice among models rather than the fit to a pre-selected model. Analyses of synthetic data sets demonstrate the stability and accuracy of the method. A regionally-averaged set of late Cenozoic palaeomagnetic data can be best represented by a combination of 75-80 per cent geocentric dipole and 25-20 per cent eccentric dipole. The eccentric component of this configuration is displaced toward the North Pacific.
The detection of White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) and Yellow Head Virus (YHV) in imported commodity shrimp

Transmission of exotic pathogens occurs through a variety of means, including migration with humans and animals, rapid transit by land, sea or air or through the shipment of infected frozen food products. White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) and Yellow Head Virus (YHV) have caused mass mortalities of cultured shrimp in Asia beginning in 1992. In 1995, these viruses appeared for the first time in the Western Hemisphere causing high mortalities in farm reared shrimp in Texas, USA. The purpose of this study was to determine if WSSV and YHV are present in frozen shrimp products imported into the United States from Asia. Infectivity assays, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed these viruses were detectable and infectious in frozen shrimp imports. Frozen shrimp were used to infect indicator shrimp (Penaeus stylirostris) which resulted in mortalities. The cause of these mortalities was determined by histology and TEM to be by YHV. PCR confirmed the presence of WSSV in the frozen, purchased products. The results from this study indicate that exotic shrimp pathogens can be transmitted via imported frozen products.
A world no less sublime.

Winter was raging throughout the Great Plains, and Oklahoma was reeling from the icy assault. We reveled in “ice stories,” to which I contributed generously. But even the most provocative story wou...
Effects of age on physiological and psychological functioning among COPD patients in an exercise program.

Older adults with chronic illness may be at greater risk of psychological distress than healthy older adults. This study examined the effect of age on physiological and psychological functioning of exercising older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Sixty-four older adults (mean age = 67.4 plus or minus 7.0; 35 male, 29 female) with COPD were included in the study. All subjects participated in a 30-day rehabilitation program consisting of exercise (walking, stationary bicycle, pool exercises), education, and stress management. Subjects underwent assessments of physiological functioning (e.g., bicycle ergometry,12-minute walk), cognitive status (e.g., memory, psychomotor speed, concentration), and psychological well-being (e.g., anxiety, depression, psychiatric symptoms) before and after the exercise program. Results were analyzed by repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance, with age (median split = 67.5 years) as a between-subject factor. Although the exercise program appeared to have a greater effect on physiological functioning and on concentration and short-term memory of younger-old subjects, both groups of subjects achieved gains in physiological functioning, and psychological well-being.
A calculus for assignments in higher-order languages

Imperative assignments are abstractions of recurring programming patterns in purely functional programming languages. When added to higher-order functional languages, they provide a higher-level of modularity and security but invalidate the simple substitution semantics. We show that, given an operational interpretation of a denotational semantics for such a language, it is possible to design a two-level extension of the lu-calculus. This calculus provides a location-free rewriting semantics of the language and offers new possibilities for reasoning with assignments. The upper level of the calculus factors out all the steps in a reduction sequence which must be in a linear order; the lower level allows a partial ordering of reduction steps.
Prevention with gay and bisexual men living with HIV: rationale and methods of the Seropositive Urban Men's Intervention Trial (SUMIT).

The objectives were to provide a public health rationale for prevention with HIV-seropositive gay and bisexual men and to describe the methods of the Seropositive Urban Mens Intervention Trial (SUMIT). Design: A randomized intervention trial. Self-identified HIV-positive gay and bisexual men were recruited from community-based venues in New York City and San Francisco. Eligible participants completed an A-CASI baseline assessment were asked to provide samples for sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and were randomly assigned to either a single-session intervention or a six-session enhanced intervention designed to reduce HIV transmission risk and promote serostatus disclosure. Participants who attended the first intervention session were assessed 3 and 6 months post-intervention. STI testing was offered at the 6-month assessment. A total of 1168 self-identified HIV-seropositive gay and bisexual men completed the baseline assessment and 1110 of these (95%) opted for STI testing. A total of 811 attended the first intervention session of which 85% were assessed at 3 months and 90% were assessed at 6 months. Of those assessed at 6 months 92% (670/729) provided a blood or urine sample for STI testing. SUMIT demonstrates the feasibility and acceptability of prevention research with HIV-seropositive gay and bisexual men. The study provides new information about the sexual behavior serostatus disclosure practices and the efficacy of an intervention to reduce HIV transmission risk. (authors)
Transnasal approaches to the sellar and parasellar region: Open and endoscopic

Since the 19th century, many different approaches to sellar and parasellar pathology have been advocated and mastered by neurosurgeons and otolaryngologists. Today, with significant advances in operative technology, both open and endoscopic approaches to the sella have gained wide acceptance. Here, we discuss our open and endoscopic approaches to sellar and parasellar lesions.
Caenorhabditis elegans ras gene let-60 acts as a switch in the pathway of vulval induction

The let-60 gene, an essential ras gene of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, acts as a switch in the inductive signalling pathway that initiates vulva formation. Recessive let-60 mutations that cause a vulvaless phenotype prevent let-60 function in response to the inductive signal. These mutations are clustered and define regions necessary either for the activation or for the action of the let-60 ras protein. Dominant let-60 mutations that cause a multivulva phenotype alter codon 13 and activate let-60 in vivo, rendering it independent of the inductive signal. The let-60 gene acts within an extensively defined genetic pathway, and other genes within this pathway seem likely to encode molecules that regulate let-60 function as well as molecules that are targets of let-60 action.
The Descriptive Tests of Mathematics Skills: A Follow-Up of Performance of Older Upper Division Students

The Descriptive Tests of Mathematics Skills (DTMS) was designed for a wide range of uses in mathematics courses at the lower division level. Two tests of the battery, Elementary Algebra Skills and Intermediate Algebra Skills, were employed for placement purposes with older junior level students. Students not having the requisite skills for calculus and for statistics were required to pass an algebra course before enrolling in the advanced mathematics course. For the calculus course and for the statistics course, the average performance level of the students who had passed the DTMS was significantly higher than that observed for the students who had successfully remediated their identified weakness. Regarding the remediation, the grades in the algebra course were significantly correlated with (a) grades earned in the calculus course and (b) grades earned in the statistics course. Thus, the DTMS was found to be an effective placement instrument for older upper-division students in a curriculum demanding adv...
Effect of grape seed extract on puromycin-aminonucleoside-induced nephrosis in rats

Recent studies indicate that an excessive production of oxidants plays an important role in the pathogenesis of glomerular disease. Grape seed extract (GSE) is a potent antioxidant, and the aim of this pilot study was to evaluate its effect on puromycin-aminonucleoside (PAN)-induced nephrosis in rats. Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups. Groups 1 and 2 rats received water from day 0 to day 30. Rats in groups 3, 4, and 5 received GSE at 10 mg/100g of body weight (BW), which was started on day 0, 6, and 3 of the experiment, respectively. In group 5 animals the GSE dose was increased (40 mg/100g BW) on day 9. Intraperitoneal dextrose (group 1) or PAN 15 mg/100g BW (groups 2-5) was administered on day 3. Urine and blood specimens were collected at regular intervals, and the comparison between the various groups was made by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Rats in all study groups (groups 3-5) showed a decrease in urine protein and serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which was statistically significant in group 3 animals. No significant changes were noted in serum albumin and creatinine levels. In conclusion, GSE administration decreases urine protein excretion and serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in rats with PAN-induced nephrosis.
Pseudospinodal mechanism for fine α/β microstructures in β-Ti alloys

Abstract Recent experimental observations in β -Ti alloys have demonstrated the formation of a dense population of fine intragranular α precipates when the alloy is step-quenched below a critical temperature. These precipitates are associated with a sudden, significant increase in the apparent nucleation rate. We developed a computational model of α precipitation in Ti alloys, via the phase-field method, in order to investigate the fundamental cause of the observed microstructural changes. We simulated the nucleation of α phase in TiMo for a series of compositions and temperatures and qualitatively reproduced the experimental observations. These results are explained via a pseudospinodal nucleation mechanism: when the system is close enough to the critical point at which the α and β phases have the same free energy, fluctuation-assisted partitionless transformation from β to α becomes the dominant precipitation pathway. Consequently a rapid increase in the nucleation rate occurs, resulting in a fine distribution of numerous intragranular α precipitates.
Copper staining: a five-minute protein stain for sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels.

Abstract We present a new method for visualizing proteins electrophoresed in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. After electrophoresis, gels are incubated in CuCl2 to produce a negative image of colorless protein bands against a semiopaque background. Gels are stained completely within 5 min, do not require destaniing, and can be stored indefinitely without loss of the image. Because proteins are not permanently fixed within the gel, they can be quantitatively eluted after chelation of Cu with EDTA. The sensitivity of the CuCl2 stain falls between that of Coomassie blue and silver. We anticipate that CuCl2 will be useful in the rapid analysis of proteins by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and in the preparation of purified polypeptides by elution from gel slices.
Long-term response to lenalidomide in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma

Lenalidomide is an immunomodulatory (IMid) drug that is commonly used to treat newly diagnosed and relapsed multiple myeloma (MM).1 Clinical observations in patients with newly diagnosed MM suggest that some patients are able to attain long-term remissions after treatment with immunomodulatory drugs, some of which may be sustained for several years.2 In this study, our goal was to identify predictive factors among those patients who were induced with and continued on lenalidomide for 3 years (long-term responders (LTRs)).
Phosphine-mediated Heinz body formation and hemoglobin oxidation in human erythrocytes.

Abstract In this work the in vitro reactions of phosphine with intact red blood cells and membrane-free hemoglobin extracts are reported. We demonstrate that phosphine or phosphine derivatives induce dense aggregates of denatured hemoglobin known as ‘Heinz bodies’ in intact red blood cells. The reaction products include irreversible hemichrome formation. We further demonstrate an oxygen requirement for these effects. PH3 appears to act as a novel type of O2 radical chain initiator or propagator with heme proteins.
Hilbert Modules over Function Algebras

Much of the early motivation for the study of operator theory came from integral equations although early in this century both operator theory and functional analysis took on a life of their own. Self-adjoint operators, both bounded and unbounded, occupied center stage for several decades either singly or in algebras. During the last two or three decades various approaches to the non-selfadjoint theory have been introduced with considerable success at least in the case of a single operator. The generalization to several operators, whether commuting or non-commuting, has largely eluded us. In this note we want to outline a different point of view which may assist in guiding developments in this area.
Generalized isotone optimization with applications to starshaped functions

This article considers a curve-fitting problem involving the minimization of the distance from a functionf to a convex cone of functions. A weighted uniform norm is considered as a measure of the distance. The domain of the functions is a partially ordered set, and the convex cone is defined by the isotonicity and nonnegativity conditions on functions. The problem has a linear programming formulation; however, explicit expressions for the optimal solutions have been obtained directly, thereby eliminating the necessity of using linear programming techniques. The results are applied to approximation by starshaped functions.
Classifying Functions for Mechanical Design

As design methods are studied, the usefulness of function-based methodologies becomes clear. However, for these methodologies to be fully utilized, there must be some standardization of the functions used to provide a common language. This paper presents a taxonomy of elemental mechanical functions which can be used with many decomposition techniques. The taxonomy can be used as a pedagogical tool or as a basis for the derivation of a complete taxonomy. Also discussed are generic forms and how they interact with the taxonomy.
Bile acid transporters in health and disease.

In recent years the discovery of a number of major transporter proteins expressed in the liver and intestine specifically involved in bile acid transport has led to improved understanding of bile acid homeostasis and the enterohepatic circulation. Sodium (Na+)-dependent bile acid uptake from portal blood into the liver is mediated primarily by the Na+ taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (NTCP), while secretion across the canalicular membrane into the bile is carried out by the bile salt export pump (BSEP). In the ileum, absorption of bile acids from the lumen into epithelial cells is mediated by the apical Na+ bile salt transporter (ASBT), whereas exit into portal blood across the basolateral membrane is mediated by the organic solute transporter α/β (OSTα/β) heterodimer. Regulation of transporter gene expression and function occurs at several different levels: in the nucleus, members of the nuclear receptor superfamily, regulated by bile acids and other ligands are primarily involved in controlling ...
Landscape Equivalency Analysis: Methodology for Estimating Spatially Explicit Biodiversity Credits

We propose a biodiversity credit system for trading endangered species habitat designed to minimize and reverse the negative effects of habitat loss and fragmentation, the leading cause of species endangerment in the United States. Given the increasing demand for land, approaches that explicitly balance economic goals against conservation goals are required. The Endangered Species Act balances these conflicts based on the cost to replace habitat. Conservation banking is a means to manage this balance, and we argue for its use to mitigate the effects of habitat fragmentation. Mitigating the effects of land development on biodiversity requires decisions that recognize regional ecological effects resulting from local economic decisions. We propose Landscape Equivalency Analysis (LEA), a landscape-scale approach similar to HEA, as an accounting system to calculate conservation banking credits so that habitat trades do not exacerbate regional ecological effects of local decisions. Credits purchased by public agencies or NGOs for purposes other than mitigating a take create a net investment in natural capital leading to habitat defragmentation. Credits calculated by LEA use metapopulation genetic theory to estimate sustainability criteria against which all trades are judged. The approach is rooted in well-accepted ecological, evolutionary, and economic theory, which helps compensate for the degree of uncertainty regarding the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on endangered species. LEA requires application of greater scientific rigor than typically applied to endangered species management on private lands but provides an objective, conceptually sound basis for achieving the often conflicting goals of economic efficiency and long-term ecological sustainability.
SPARC mediates early extracellular matrix remodeling following myocardial infarction

Secreted protein, acidic, and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is a matricellular protein that functions in the extracellular processing of newly synthesized collagen. Collagen deposition to form a scar is a key event following a myocardial infarction (MI). Because the roles of SPARC in the early post-MI setting have not been defined, we examined age-matched wild-type (WT; n=22) and SPARC-deficient (null; n=25) mice at day 3 post-MI. Day 0 WT (n=28) and null (n=20) mice served as controls. Infarct size was 52 ± 2% for WT and 47 ± 2% for SPARC null (P=NS), indicating that the MI injury was comparable in the two groups. By echocardiography, WT mice increased end-diastolic volumes from 45 ± 2 to 83 ± 5 μl (P < 0.05). SPARC null mice also increased end-diastolic volumes but to a lesser extent than WT (39 ± 3 to 63 ± 5 μl; P < 0.05 vs. day 0 controls and vs. WT day 3 MI). Ejection fraction fell post-MI in WT mice from 57 ± 2 to 19 ± 1%. The decrease in ejection fraction was attenuated in the absence of SPARC (65 ± 2 to 28 ± 2%). Fibroblasts isolated from SPARC null left ventricle (LV) showed differences in the expression of 22 genes encoding extracellular matrix and adhesion molecule genes, including fibronectin, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF; CCN2), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2). The change in fibroblast gene expression levels was mirrored in tissue protein extracts for fibronectin, CTGF, and MMP-3 but not TIMP-2. Combined, the results of this study indicate that SPARC deletion preserves LV function at day 3 post-MI but may be detrimental for the long-term response due to impaired fibroblast activation.
Cognitive behavioral therapy for PTSD and somatization: an open trial

Abstract No treatment, to date, has been developed to improve both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS), despite mounting evidence of high comorbidity between PTSD and MUPS. This study assessed the feasibility, acceptability, and treatment outcomes of an adapted cognitive behavioral therapy for PTSD and abridged somatization in a sample of eight participants. Fifteen percent of completers did not meet PTSD criteria after treatment completion and 62.5% improved their somatic symptoms. There was a significant difference between pre- and post-treatment depression symptoms, as well as in psychological and physical functioning measures. Results indicated a small to moderate effect size ( d = 0.27–0.78) in PTSD severity scores, and moderate to large effect size in depression symptoms and psychosocial and physical functioning variables ( d = 0.39–1.12). Preliminary evidence of acceptability indicates that the current CBT intervention may be suitable for Latinos individuals with PTSD and MUPS.
Direct and Indirect Effects of Interparental Relationship Quality on Child Behavior Problems in Low-Income, Black, Single-Mother Families

ABSTRACT Evidence of direct and indirect effects of interparental relationship quality and parental contexts on child behavior problems is well established. However, limited literature exists about these associations in low-income, Black families in which the parents are not married. Informed by the risk and resilience theoretical perspective, this study hypothesized that disharmonious interparental relations would predict greater preschool child behavior problems directly and indirectly through maternal parenting factors and father contact. Economic difficulties and low maternal education would exacerbate these problems. This study included 2,115 Black, single mothers from Waves 1–3 of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study data sets. Using structural equation modeling, a strong model fit indicated that our hypotheses were supported. Discussion includes policy and practice implications related to the Healthy Marriage Initiative.
Rational Prescribing for Patients With a Reduced Life Expectancy

Optimal prescribing for patients who are in late life and have multiple comorbid illnesses remains unclear despite the increasing recognition that chronic diseases should be managed differently in the setting of reduced life expectancy.1 As new diseases are diagnosed and chronic comorbidities worsen with advancing age, more and more medications are added in accordance with disease-specific clinical practice guidelines. The result is often a complex drug regimen that is difficult to manage.2 This occurs regardless of the appreciation that the ongoing benefits and risks of chronic treatments are uncertain as diseases become life-defining or life-limiting.3 Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2008); 85, 1, 103–107 doi:10.1038/clpt.2008.211
Statistical Evaluation of Exposure Assessment Strategies

Abstract It is well known that exposure measurement error or misclassification can bias an epidemiologic risk assessment. Accordingly, it is useful to have methods of assessing the degree of error in exposure assessments. This paper proposes statistical evaluation techniques for two types of exposure assessment strategies: categorization of exposure and estimation of actual personal exposure levels (with particular attention to the latter). Categorization of exposure is generally done in one of the two ways: ordinal but nonquantitative grouping or quantitative exposure intervals. Estimation of actual exposure levels is most often done in the form of job-by-year exposure matrices and somewhat less often by exposure prediction models. The nature of uncertainty inherent with each of these approaches is described. Quantitative estimates of the magnitude of error in an exposure assessment are possible when exposure matrices or prediction models are employed. Three types of statistical approaches are explored f...
Relationship of certain chemical constituents of beef muscle to its eating quality.

SUMMARY— The levels of certain chemical and physical constituents of the Longissimus dorsi (LD), Semimembranosus (SM) and Triceps brachii (TB) muscles from 10 half-sib Hereford steer carcasses were determined and related to sensory evaluations made by a laboratory panel. Highly significant (P < .01) differences due to animals and panel members were found. However, no statistically significant differences in tenderness, juiciness, flavor and an overall acceptability score were observed between the muscles. This was apparently the result of the large panel member × muscle interaction (P < .01). Certain significant differences (P < .01) in tenderness between the muscles were detected by the Warner-Bratzler (WB) shear. Sensory panel evaluations strongly suggested an undesirable effect of lactic acid and pigment concentration on muscle acceptability. These were the only muscle constituents studied which varied significantly (P < .05) in concentration between muscles. Variable, but small, negative correlations between panel traits and the acid and alkaline phosphatase concentrations of the muscle were determined.
Data Sharing by Scientists: Practices and Perceptions

Background: Scientific research in the 21st century is more data intensive and collaborative than in the past. It is important to study the data practices of researchers – data accessibility, discovery, re-use, preservation and, particularly, data sharing. Data sharing is a valuable part of the scientific method allowing for verification of results and extending research from prior results. Methodology/Principal Findings: A total of 1329 scientists participated in this survey exploring current data sharing practices and perceptions of the barriers and enablers of data sharing. Scientists do not make their data electronically available to others for various reasons, including insufficient time and lack of funding. Most respondents are satisfied with their current processes for the initial and short-term parts of the data or research lifecycle (collecting their research data; searching for, describing or cataloging, analyzing, and short-term storage of their data) but are not satisfied with long-term data preservation. Many organizations do not provide support to their researchers for data management both in the shortand long-term. If certain conditions are met (such as formal citation and sharing reprints) respondents agree they are willing to share their data. There are also significant differences and approaches in data management practices based on primary funding agency, subject discipline, age, work focus, and world region. Conclusions/Significance: Barriers to effective data sharing and preservation are deeply rooted in the practices and culture of the research process as well as the researchers themselves. New mandates for data management plans from NSF and other federal agencies and world-wide attention to the need to share and preserve data could lead to changes. Large scale programs, such as the NSF-sponsored DataNET (including projects like DataONE) will both bring attention and resources to the issue and make it easier for scientists to apply sound data management principles.
Interaction Engineering: Achieving Perfect CSMA Handshakes in Wireless Networks

Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA) protocols are unable to effectively arbitrate the medium in wireless networks; problems such as hidden and exposed terminals occur frequently leading to collisions, poor performance and unfairness. CSMA networks can be optimized by careful tuning of transceiver parameters, such as transmission power and carrier sensing threshold, to maximize spatial reuse of wireless channel while minimizing collisions. However, existing studies fail to jointly optimize these parameters to eliminate collisions and maximize spatial reuse. Our approach leverages on the observation that links under CSMA interfere in one of the few discrete interaction modes; each mode leads to different behavior in terms of performance and fairness. The proposed methodology controls the transceiver parameters to convert destructive interaction modes (such as various types of hidden terminals) into constructive ones; we call this approach Interaction Engineering (IE). In this paper, we first formulate a model and centralized algorithm that computes the parameters based on one-to-one interaction between the links. We then develop a distributed IE protocol. We evaluate the protocols under Wireless LAN and multi-hop wireless networks using both simulation and testbed. We show that IE eliminates a vast majority of the collisions and significantly boosts spatial reuse. For example, in the WLAN scenarios, we observed a median improvement of 4× in throughput and more than 2.5× improvement in fairness, and orders of magnitude improvement in connection delay and jitter. IE also shows significant improvements in multi-hop networks, and under different forms of traffic such as video and TCP.
County-Level Basics of Living Affects Overall Mortality Rate in the United States – 2000

Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs theory proposed that there is a hierarchy of human needs, which range from the basics of survival to creativity. Building from Maslow's idea, this paper examines the first level of human needs and empirically constructs a basics of living (BOL) index for every United States county from 28 candidate factors. The final BOL Index includes nine measures of air, water, and income. This study examined whether county-level health would be poor if the BOL were not met. Findings showed a positive correlation between the BOL index and all cause mortality, the fewer BOL, the worse the all cause mortality. Strikingly, poor BOL is most often found in small jurisdictions ( 150,000 population). In the mapping of the BOL index, areas of greatest need can be observed and in multivariate modeling, highest overall mortality is regional. The BOL index predicts a substantial amount of variation observed in county overall mortality and is independent of county poverty and quality of life.
Group paired-associate learning: applicability to the study of mediated generalization.

Es interested in verbal learning have been somewhat handicapped by the inefficiency of their procedures. In the traditional paired-associate anticipation learning procedure only one S may be tested at a time, requiring that a large amount of E's time must be devoted to the collection of data. Where several experimental treaunencs are involved, several hundred hours of E's time may be necessary before any results are available. The result is that an experimental program is frequently limited by the amount of time available as well as by the quantity and quality of E's hypotheses. The inefficiency of the traditional paired-associate procedures has led a number of Es to seek ways in which more than one S can be tested at a time while maintaining comparability with the findings to be expected from an individual testing procedure. Such a procedure has recently been reported by Cieutat (1960, 1961, 1962). Each S in the group was given a booklet containing the material to be learned. The correct pairings of items were llsted at the top of each page, and below them were two columns of items. In each column the stimulus items were presented in random order at the left, and with each stimulus were presented four of the response alternatives. S's cask was to circle the correct response for each stimulus, and the measure of learning was the total number of items circled in successive 1-min. intervals. Cieutat (1960) has shown that when lists of pairs differing in meaningfulness are used, the difference between groups in number of items circled in - successive minutes increases, indicating that high meaningfulness pairs are learned more rapidly than low meaningfulness pairs. Since this result was consistent with previous findings on the effects of meaningfulness obtained with individual paired-associate learning procedures (see Underwood & Schulz, 1960), Cieutat inferred that che group procedure is comparable to the individual procedure. A further experiment by Cieutat ( 1961 ) supported this conclusion, again showing that when stimulus and response meaningfulness are varied simultaneously learning is faster for high meaningfulness pairs than for low meaningfulness pairs. In this experiment, however, Cieutat also varied stimulus and response meaningfulness independently, and the results showed that stimulus meaningfulness consistently yielded a greater facilitative effect than response
A Distributed Numerical Approach to Interference Alignment and Applications to Wireless Interference Networks

Recent results establish the optimality of interference alignment to approach the Shannon capacity of interference networks at high SNR. However, the extent to which interference can be aligned over a finite number of signalling dimensions remains unknown. Another important concern for interference alignment schemes is the requirement of global channel knowledge. In this work, we provide examples of iterative algorithms that utilize the reciprocity of wireless networks to achieve interference alignment with only local channel knowledge at each node. These algorithms also provide numerical insights into the feasibility of interference alignment that are not yet available in theory.
Links for a Human-Centered Science of Design: Integrated Design Knowledge Environments for a Software Development Process

Based on extensive empirical observation of design activities that might be supported by a knowledge repository, we report conclusions from three case studies. Seeking to improve research infrastructure necessary to cultivate a "science of design" within human-computer interaction, we focus on identifying essential activities that help proceduralize the key requirements of knowledge management within a software development effort. From related literature, we selected five focus points for our analyses, which in turn, guided development of our repository in terms of how design knowledge is used, reused, and harvested through system tools. The case studies successively validate potential activities, while exposing breakdowns in process or practice that show promise of being resolved with additional tool features highlighted in other cases. Emerging largely from our case studies, we present general guidelines and tradeoffs for developing a design knowledge repository, as well as directions for further empirical study.