cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
One year of preschool intervention or two: Does it matter?

Abstract This study investigated the effects of the federally funded Child Parent Center preschool program on several cognitive and social outcomes through sixth grade. Seven hundred fifty-seven low-income Black children in the inner city enrolled in 1 or 2 years of a Head Start-type program at age 3 or 4. One hundred thirty Black children from similar neighborhoods entered the centers in kindergarten and served as a no-preschool comparison group. Results indicated that while 2-year participants began and ended kindergarten more academically competent than 1-year participants, through the elementary grades these children did not significantly or meaningfully differ from one another in reading comprehension, mathematics achievement, teacher ratings of social adjustment, rates of grade retention and special education placement, and teacher-rated parental school involvement. The overall effect size for Grades 1 to 6 was .15 standard deviations and values consistently favored the 2-year group. Both 1- and 2-year preschool participants were consistently and significantly better adjusted than no-preschool participants. The mean effect size of 1 or 2 years of preschool participation from Grades 1 to 6 across all outcomes was .34 standard deviations. Given limited enrollment and funding, findings lend support to enrolling as many children as possible in 1 year of quality Head Start-type programs. If the level of funding is not a major consideration or if the main criterion of success is school readiness at kindergarten entry, 2 years is preferable to 1 year.
Resistance to imatinib: more and more mutations

In the short time since the introduction of imatinib in 2001, investigators have already defined the primary mechanisms of drug resistance: mutations in the BCR-ABL gene that affect drug binding or an overall increase in the level of BCR-ABL protein due to gene amplification. In this issue, Branford
Adherence to treatment in children and adolescent patients with cystic fibrosis.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to monitor medication adherence in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and its correlation with disease severity and patient age. Methods Children less than 12 years of age (group 1) and adolescents 12 years of age and older (group 2) were recruited from the University of Michigan CF Center. The study duration was 3 months. A total of 22 patients per group were enrolled. Adherence to ADEKs, an oral multivitamin, and dornase alfa, a nebulized mucolytic medication, was monitored. Adherence to ADEKs was monitored by using the Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS) SmartCaps (APREX, AARDx, Inc., Union City, California). Dornase alfa adherence rate was monitored by counting empty medication vials. Results Thirty-three patients completed the study, 15 patients in group 1 and 18 patients in group 2. The overall mean adherence rates for ADEKs and dornase alfa were (± SD) 63.6% ± 24.0% and 66.5% ± 31.2%, respectively. The median ADEKs and dornase alfa adherence rate for group 1 was 84.6% and 79.1%, respectively ( p = .08); and for group 2 was 56.7% vs. 78.4%, respectively ( p = .07). There was a trend toward significance, suggesting that the adherence rate for ADEKs was higher than for dornase alfa ( p = .08) in group 1. Group 2 showed a trend toward adherence to dornase alfa than to ADEKs ( p = .07). There was a trend for ADEKs adherence between groups 1 and 2 ( p = .09), but not for dornase alfa ( p = .93). Conclusion Parental supervision and disease severity are likely to play a major role in adherence to medical management. Partnership with patients and families about the treatment plan might be important for improving adherence rate. The MEMS SmartCaps is an electronic monitoring technology that should be used to measure drug adherence objectively both in further larger clinical trials and in the outpatient setting.
Correlated and uncorrelated fitness landscapes and how to tell the difference

The properties of multi-peaked "fitness landscapes" have attracted attention in a wide variety of fields, including evolutionary biology. However, relaively little attention has been paid to the properties of the landscapes themselves. Herein, we suggest a framework for the mathematical treatment of such landscapes, including an explicit mathematical model. A central role in this discussion is played by the autocorrelation of fitnesses obtained from a random walk on the landscape. Our ideas about average autocorrelations allow us to formulate a condition (satisfied by a wide class of landscapes we call AR(1) landscapes) under which the average autocorrelation approximates a decaying exponential. We then show how our mathematical model can be used to estimate both the globally optimal fitnesses of AR(1) landscapes and their local structure. We illustrate some aspects of our method with computer experiments based on a single family of landscapes (Kauffman's "N-k model"), that is shown to be a generic AR(1) landscape. We close by discussing how these ideas might be useful in the "tuning" of combinatorial optimization algorithms, and in modelling in the experimental sciences.
Additional tables for design of optimum ladder networks

Abstract In a preceding paper tables were presented for the design of three large classes of ladder networks. These networks had characteristics given by Butterworth, Tschebyscheff, and Bessel polynomials.In the present paper a number of additional tables are presented, the tables now being classified on the basis of the parameter r, which is the input-to-output resistance or conductance ratio. The tables give the element values of normalized low-pass ladders with one of the following characteristics: maximally flat magnitude (Butterworth), equal-ripple magnitude (Tschebyscheff), and maximally flat time delay (Bessel polynomial). By means of frequency transformations the networks given by the tabulated element values for the Butter-worth and Tschebyscheff networks may be converted to give high-pass, band-pass, and band-elimination filters. Thus the tables may be used as a handbook for the design of these optimum networks.
Adenovirus-mediated expression of 5-HT1B receptors in cardiac ventricle myocytes; coupling to inwardly rectifying K+ channels.

Abstract The 5-HT 1B receptor is expressed on nerve terminals where it inhibits neurotransmitter release. When expressed ectopically in fibroblasts, the 5-HT 1B receptor inhibits adenylyl cyclase. However, in the central nervous system, the effect of this receptor on neurotransmitter release appears to be cAMP-independent. We therefore investigated alternative effector systems that might be activated by the 5-HT 1B receptor. We constructed a recombinant adenovirus that allows expression of high levels of the 5-HT 1B receptor in a variety of cells. We chose cardiac ventricle myocytes because they express a muscarinic-gated, inwardly rectifying K + channel ( i KACh ). In infected ventricle cells, both 5-HT and the muscarinic receptor agonist, carbachol, elicited a similar inwardly rectifying K + current. The currents elicited by these agonists were pertussis-toxin sensitive and were not additive. These results suggest a common signal transduction pathway for 5-HT 1B and muscarinic receptors in ventricle cells.
Portion Sizes in Dietary Assessment: Issues and Policy Implications

Accurate estimates of energy and nutrient intake of individuals and populations are contingent on the reliability of information obtained about food intake, food composition, and portion size. This article reviews issues related to the definition, determination, and use of portion sizes in dietary assessment and public education.
Intention to Return for Papanicolaou Smears in Adolescent Girls and Young Women

Objective. Sexually active adolescent girls have high rates of abnormal cervical cytology. However, little is known about factors that influence intention to return for Papanicolaou screening or follow-up. The aim of this study was to determine whether a theory-based model that assessed knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors predicted intention to return. Methods. The study design consisted of a self-administered, cross-sectional survey that assessed knowledge, beliefs, perceived control over follow-up, perceived risk, cues for Papanicolaou smears, impulsivity, risk behaviors, and past compliance with Papanicolaou smear follow-up. Participants were recruited from a hospital-based adolescent clinic that provides primary and subspecialty care, and the study sample consisted of all sexually active girls and young women who were aged 12 to 24 years and had had previous Papanicolaou smears. The main outcome measure was intention to return for Papanicolaou smear screening or follow-up. Results. The enrollment rate was 92% (N = 490), mean age was 18.2 years, 50% were black, and 22% were Hispanic. Eighty-two percent of participants intended to return. Variables that were independently associated with intention to return included positive beliefs about follow-up (odds ratio [OR]: 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–1.11), perception that important others believe that the participant should obtain a Papanicolaou smear (OR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.38–2.74), perceived control over returning (OR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.06–1.46), and having received cues to obtain a Papanicolaou smear (OR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.08–1.60). Conclusions. Analysis of this novel theoretical framework demonstrated that knowledge and previous behaviors were not associated with intention to return for Papanicolaou smear screening and follow-up in this population of young women. However, modifiable attitudinal components, including personal beliefs, perception of others9 beliefs, and cues to obtaining Papanicolaou smears, were associated with intention to return.
Surgical mentors' and mentees' productivity from 1993 to 2006.

Abstract Background Mentorship in academic surgery is reflected in part by senior surgeon support of younger individuals with their scholarly contributions to the literature. Scholarship is also reflected in the procurement of extramural funding. This study sought to quantify this process in recent years. Study design All active American Surgical Association and Society of University Surgeons members in the following 2 eras were defined as being mentors (N = 559): 1993 to 1999 (I) and 2000 to 2006 (II). Mentees (N = 7,037) were defined as a primary author associated with the mentor. MEDLINE-cited papers of mentors and mentees were abstracted. Randomly selected mentees from era I and II were examined for academic productivity. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects database was queried for federal research funding for the mentors and mentees. Continuous categoric and logistical regression was used as appropriate. Results Combining both eras, mentors published a total of 23,558 articles, of which 3,854 were primary and 9,881 were senior authored. Mentor primary-authored papers were more common in era I than era II (mean = 8 vs 6 articles, P P = .09). Fewer mentors had federal funding in era I compared with era II (42% vs 51%, P = .04). More mentees per mentor existed in era I compared with era II (15 ± 5 vs 9 ± 4, P P Conclusions The number of mentees per mentor has decreased in recent years as has primary-authored authors, whereas federal funding has increased for mentors. Overall NIH funding for mentees was low but is related to their productivity with the mentor.
Canopy shade and the successional replacement of tamarisk by native box elder

Summary 1. Tamarisk species (Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb., T. chinensis Lour., T. galilea L. and hybrids) have invaded riparian areas throughout western North America, resulting in expansive control efforts. Tamarisk is a relatively recent addition to North American plant communities, and competitive and successional processes are still developing. Box elder (Acer negundo L. var. interius (Britt.) Sarg.) is a native competitor found in canyons throughout western North America. We investigated the establishment chronology, competition and comparative shade tolerances of tamarisk and box elder to determine the superior competitor and to predict successional trajectories in mixed stands. 2. Competition was studied through neighbourhood analysis, and successional trends were analysed through dendrochronology in the canyons of Dinosaur National Monument, CO, USA. The shade tolerance of mature tamarisk was studied by enclosing individual plants in shade cloth for two growing seasons. The comparative shade tolerances of juvenile tamarisk and box elder were studied using five levels of shading in a glasshouse experiment. 3. Box elder and tamarisk established concurrently, or tamarisk establishment preceded box elder establishment. Box elder was the superior competitor; the presence of canopy box elders within 1 and 2 m was significantly related to tamarisk mortality but not box elder mortality. The presence of canopy tamarisk trees was not related to box elder or tamarisk mortality. 4. In the field-based experiment, mature tamarisks were killed when subjected to one to two growing seasons of 98% shade. In the greenhouse-based experiment, box elder had superior shade tolerance to tamarisk, maintained positive growth and survived under higher shade than tamarisk. 5. Synthesis and applications. Box elder is a superior competitor to tamarisk, and is capable of establishing under dense tamarisk canopies, overtopping and eventually killing tamarisk. Superior shade tolerance appears to be the mechanism for the successional replacement of tamarisk by box elder. The manipulation of competitive and successional processes through the promotion of box
Multiple endocrine neoplasia: how many syndromes?

The phrase multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) generally denotes an association of tumors so specific as to constitute a syndrome. Three well-recognized such syndromes exist. All are autosomal dominant traits and all have been tentatively mapped to specific chromosomes. Other purported endocrine tumor syndromes have been suggested either as new entities or as subtypes of the existing MEN syndromes. The evidence in favor of these contentions is examined critically. Only one “new” association. That of pheochro-mocytomas and islet cell tumors, seems reasonable, and even in this setting, some relatives have had manifestations of von Hippel-Lindau syndrome. There is no compelling reason why such conditions as von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, peripheral neuro-fibromatosis, McCune-Albright syndrome, and others should be reclassified as MEN syndromes, although awareness of their collective endocrine abnormalities is clinically important.
Stress Down-Regulates Corticosterone Receptors in a Site-Specific Manner in the Brain*

We have examined whether corticosterone receptor number within the brain can be regulated by its own ligand and whether such autoregulation reduces receptor number after the sustained secretion of corticosterone during repeated stress. Glucocorticoid receptors were measured in cytosolic preparations from acutely adrenalectomized rats using [1,2,6,7-3H] dexamethasone; maximal binding and receptor affinity parameters were determined by Scatchard analysis. Sustained elevations of circulating corticosterone, whether by repeated stress or exogenous corticosterone administration, did not change receptor affinity for [3H] dexamethasone, but significantly reduced cytosolic corticosterone receptor number. This reduction in total receptor number could not be attributed to residual tissue contamination with endogenous corticosterone after adrenalectomy or to translocation of cystosolic receptors to cell nuclei. The receptor reductions were anatomically specific, occurring in the hippocampus and amygdala, but not in ...
Specific Capacities of Wells in Crystalline Rocks

In the Rothschild area, Wisconsin, most water wells are completed in glacial deposits. When glacial deposits are unsaturated or thin, wells are completed in fractured crystalline rocks of Pre-Cambrian age. Specific capacity data from 56 wells tapping these fractured rocks reveal: 1 Yields and specific capacity are generally small, with a median specific capacity of log 0.17 gpm/ft and a mean value of log 0.10 gpm/ft. 2 Wells which are close together may have substantially different specific capacities. 3 The occurrence of saturated sand and gravel above the crystalline rocks has no obvious influence on yield or specific capacity. 4 Specific capacities of wells seem to be inversely proportional to (a) thickness of rocks penetrated below the water table, (b) depth of the wells below the water table, and (c) depth of the wells below the land surface. Assuming that specific capacities of wells are related to the number of contributing fractures penetrated and that the number of fractures diminishes linearly with depth, the following relation is derived: where Sc= specific capacity, Q = discharge, s = drawdown, B = a constant, b = fracture frequency at the land surface, z = depth, and E = maximum depth of fracturing. In the Rothschild area, E = 100 feet. In exploring for ground water in a fractured rock, the problem is to find the area of maximum b. If sound scientific methods are not available, then exploration will consist of drilling wells at random until a satisfactory well is completed. However, because wells achieve 60 to 80 percent of their yield in the first 20 feet below the water table, test wells should be pump tested when they have reached a depth of about 20 feet below the water table. Unsuccessful wells need not be drilled to completion.
Aspiring naturalists and their frustrations: the case of William Swainson (1789–1855)

lack of a detailed study on Swainson is all the more surprising when we consider his many talents and note the numerous contexts within the history of natural history in which he was a significant character. Like others of his generation, Swainson was a collector. He assembled sizeable and significant collections and corresponded with three collectors. He went far beyond collecting, however, for he was a prolific, possibly too prolific, author. His publications encompass a broad range of topics, from garden pests to his neobaroque version of the quinary system, and his extension of the newly discovered lithographic techniques to natural history was central in the history of the depiction of natural history objects. In a meaningful sense, then, Swainson is important for an understanding of the theoretical, empirical, and practical aspects of nineteenth-ce ntury natural history. In his personal life he also reflected a common experience. His persistent efforts to support himself and his family is part of the discouraging history of the slow professionalization of science and reveals the institutional inertia of the day. Even in emigration, Swainson is part of a larger story of the growth of the British Empire and the difficulties of colonial science. William Swainson was a man of many parts with a complex personality and would be a rewarding subject for a serious biography. I wish here to consider merely one facet of his life in order to illustrate a particular problem. Even a casual reading of Swainson's autobiographical memoir or his correspondence reveals a fundamental tension between the enormous and exciting potential in the field of natural history and the staggering frustrations that confronted aspiring naturalists. To a large extent that tension was a natural consequence of the transformation of the role of the naturalist occasioned by the dramatic changes in natural history in the first half of the nineteenth century. Natural history was ramifying into separate branches, later to become independent scientific disciplines. The nature of its institutions and audience was in the process of metamorphosis ; the growth of its empirical base was accelerating; and its theoretical foundations were in flux. These changes, combined with the many social and cultural changes that altered From Linnaeus to Darwin: commentaries on the history of biology and geology. Society for the History of Natural History, London, 1985.
Cancer: Inappropriate Expression of Stem Cell Programs?

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subpopulation of cancer cells that possess characteristics, including self-renewal, associated with normal stem cells. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Wong et al. (2008) define a core embryonic stem cell (ESC)-like gene expression program that may be important for CSC function in multiple epithelial cancers.
Lignin Formation in Plants. The Dilemma of Linkage Specificity

Lignification is the process of forming the collective of phenylpropanoid macromolecules termed lignin. There are two ways to define lignin: 1) from a chemical point of view (i.e. its chemical composition and structure), and 2) from a functional view that stresses what lignin does within the plant.
Backscattered Short Pulse Response of Surface Waves from Dielectric Spheres

A short pulse response for surface waves involved in the backscattering by dielectric spheres is considered in the time domain. Since the surface-wave contributions for the cw backscattering are known, pulse returns for the surface waves are obtained from the cw solutions by Fourier synthesis. Large savings in computation time for a Fourier series were realized with the use of the fast Fourier transform algorithm. The return positions in the short pulse response can be approximately estimated from a scattering model for surface waves depicted by Van de Hulst. With the propagation constant in the dielectric sphere rather than in free space for a wave traveling along the sphere surface, a better agreement between the predicted and calculated positions for the short pulse returns was obtained. Significant returns of surface waves for the backscattering come from the surface waves that have made the maximum number of shortcuts possible through the sphere.
Psychiatric status after human fetal mesencephalic tissue transplantation in Parkinson's disease

This report describes the prospective and systematic psychiatric assessment of nine patients who received transplantation of human fetal mesencephalic tissue into the caudate nucleus for treatment of Parkinson's disease. Unlike adrenal medullary transplantation, which often causes psychosis or delirium, this procedure appeared to have few perioperative sequelae. On longer-term follow-up, there was some statistical evidence of deterioration in psychiatric status, as manifested primarily in depressive and nonspecific emotional and behavioral symptoms. This group effect was partly attributable to the occurrence of discrete episodes of illness (major depression and panic disorder with agoraphobia) in some patients, but it was unclear whether such episodes occurred more often than would ordinarily be expected in Parkinson's disease. Differences in the neurobiological effects of fetal mesencephalic and adrenal medullary grafts may account for differences in the psychiatric sequelae of patients receiving these procedures.
Site-Specific Measurement of Water Dynamics in the Substrate Pocket of Ketosteroid Isomerase Using Time-Resolved Vibrational Spectroscopy

Little is known about the reorganization capacity of water molecules at the active sites of enzymes and how this couples to the catalytic reaction. Here, we study the dynamics of water molecules at the active site of a highly proficient enzyme, Δ5-3-ketosteroid isomerase (KSI), during a light-activated mimic of its catalytic cycle. Photoexcitation of a nitrile-containing photoacid, coumarin183 (C183), mimics the change in charge density that occurs at the active site of KSI during the first step of the catalytic reaction. The nitrile of C183 is exposed to water when bound to the KSI active site, and we used time-resolved vibrational spectroscopy as a site-specific probe to study the solvation dynamics of water molecules in the vicinity of the nitrile. We observed that water molecules at the active site of KSI are highly rigid, during the light-activated catalytic cycle, compared to the solvation dynamics observed in bulk water. On the basis of this result, we hypothesize that rigid water dipoles at the ac...
Big-bang nucleosynthesis revisited

Abstract We compute the homogeneous big-bang nucleosynthesis yields of D, 3 He, 4 He, and 7 Li, taking into account recent measurements of the neutron mean-life as well as updates of several nuclear reactions rates which primarily affect the production of 7 Li. We discuss the extraction of primordial abundances from observation and the likelihood that the primordial mass fraction of 4 He, Y p , is less than or equal to 0.24. Using the primordial abundances of D+ 3 He and 7 Li we limit the baryon-to-photon ratio ( η in units of 10 −10 ): 2.6 ⩽ η 10 ⩽ 4.3 (or, in terms of the present mass density in baryons, 1.8×10 −31 ⩽ ϱ B ⩽ 3.0×10 −31 g/cm 3 , for a microwave background temperature of 2.75°) which we use to argue that baryons contribute between 0.02 and 0.11 to the critical energy density of the universe. An upper limit to Y p of 0.24 constrains the number of light neutrinos to N ν ⩽ 3.4, in excellent agreement with the LEP and SLC collider results. We turn this argument around to show that the collider limit of 3 neutrino species can be used to bound the primordial abundance of 4 He: 0.235 ⩽ Y p ⩽ 0.245.
The application of conformal transformations to ocean wave refraction problems

If the bottom contours are considered straight and parallel, and if the usual assumptions are made, a simple differential equation for the orthogonals can be derived from Snell's Law. Solutions to the equation are easily obtained. Conformal transformations may be applied to change the contours in the complex Z-plane into several different configurations in a complex W-plane. In each case an orthogonal in the Z-plane maps into a new orthogonal in the W-plane, and thus a solution to the problem of wave refraction over the contour system in the W-plane is obtained. An expression for Kd is then derived from the orthogonal pattern. Cases treated include a circular island, a reef and a bay with parabolic contours, and twin islands. The method indicates considerable future possibilities in different applications.
Enumeration of rat allospecific antibody-producing cells by a solid-phase antibody-forming cell focus (AFCF) assay.

Abstract Individual rat cells producing antibody to rat MHC class I alloantigens (RT1A) and other erythrocyte (E)-associated alloantigens can be enumerated by a solid-phase antibody-forming cell focus (AFCF) assay. Cells are incubated in solid agarose medium in petri dishes coated with affinity-purified anti-immunoglobulin antibodies and antibody produced by any cell is captured by these anti-immunoglobulin antibodies. Foci of antibody to E alloantigens produced by single cells become visible upon subsequent addition of the appropriate target E. Execution of the assay in solid agarose medium facilitated handling of the petri dishes and reduces target background binding compared to performance of the assay in liquid medium.
The effect of photoinitiators on intracellular AKT signaling pathway in tissue engineering application.

Free-radical photopolymerization initiated by photoinitiators is an important method to make tissue engineering scaffolds. To advance understanding of photoinitiator cytocompatibility, we examined three photoinitiators including 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone (DMPA), Irgacure 2959 (I-2959), and eosin Y photoinitiating system (EY) in terms of their effects on the viability of HN4 cells and expression levels of intracellular AKT and its phosphorylated form p-AKT. Our results show that the photoinitiators and their UV-exposed counterparts affect intracellular AKT signaling, which can be used in conjunction with cell viability for cytocompatibility assessment of photoinitiators.
Ground-State Energy Eigenvalues and Eigenfunctions for an Electron in an Electric-Dipole Field

Ground-state energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions are obtained by a variational method for an electron in the field of a finite, stationary, permanent electric dipole. The dipole moments studied cover the range from the minimum value required for binding (${D}_{min}=0.6393 e{a}_{0}$) to $D=400 e{a}_{0}$, where the system is equivalent to the hydrogen atom perturbed slightly by a distant stationary negative charge. The eigenvalues obtained agree with those reported by Wallis, Herman, and Milnes, who determined them by another method in the range $D=0.84e{a}_{0} \mathrm{to} 30e{a}_{0}$. The normalized eigenfunctions display the manner in which the electronic charge density changes from that of the hydrogen atom at very large $D$ to a flat distribution approaching that which is characteristic of a zero-energy continuum state as the minimum moment is approached from above. Optimized variational wave functions for different values of $D$ are presented for use in other calculations. Contour maps and profiles of electronic charge density are shown for a number of values of $D$. Mean values of the powers -1, 1, and 2 of the distances of the electron from the dipole charges are also calculated.
Altered corrosion resistance from casting to stainless steel posts

Heat treatment during the burnout procedure may cause corrosion of the stainless steel post. This study was undertaken to determine whether alteration of the corrosion resistance of stainless steel posts occurs as a result of various simulated burnout procedures. Stainless steel posts were divided into five groups of five posts: group 1, control; 2, gypsum-bonded investment, bench cooled; 3, gypsum-bonded investment, quenched; 4, phosphate-bonded investment, bench cooled; and 5, phosphate-bonded investment, quenched. The posts were placed in individual containers of Ringer's solution and observed at 30, 180, and 600 days. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, optical emission spectroscopy, and optical microscopy were used to evaluate the posts qualitatively and quantitatively. Investment and heat treatment altered the metallic structure of stainless steel posts. Prefabricated posts submitted to simulated burnout procedures had a noticeable reduction in corrosion resistance. Direct casting to stainless steel posts is contraindicated.
UV photosensitivity in conventionally melted germano-silicate glasses

The UV-photosensitivity effect in germania-doped optical waveguides has become an important area of research because of the ease and utility of making Bragg gratings. In this study we report on the finding of a large UV-induced refractive index change in a conventionally melted an alkali-alumino-boro-germano- silicate composition that has been loaded with molecular hydrogen. The exposure was done with either CW 244-nm light, or a pulsed KrF excimer laser at 248-nm. A modulated refractive index of the order of 2-3 X 10-4 has been measured.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Granular computing: Category theory based models

A very general formal model based on category theory is proposed, it covers nearly all known examples.
Use of place mats to provide seniors with information on depression.

OBJECTIVE The primary objective was to provide information on depression and antidepressants to seniors living in rural (frontier) settings in a format that might be effective. SETTING The setting included all senior centers, senior center satellites, assisted living facilities, and boarding homes listed with the Wyoming Department of Health Aging Division as well as seniors' private homes. PRACTICE DESCRIPTION Through funding from the aging division, a consultant pharmacist provides programs and activities for and about seniors regarding medication management, screening, and education. PRACTICE INNOVATION A place mat was designed with basic information on depression and resources available, with a brief quiz on antidepressants. The place mats were intended to be utilized during meals at the respective facilities or to be sent with meals to seniors who received meals from the sites. Twenty thousand copies of the place mat were printed and distributed in December 2004. Facilities were surveyed briefly in February 2005. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Although the main outcome could not be measured easily, the goal was to increase the understanding of depression and antidepressants by seniors in the generally frontier areas of Wyoming. RESULTS Comments indicated that the format was well received. One senior center instituted a monthly mental health session in response to the place mats. CONCLUSION Although scientific evidence of effectiveness was not measured, the use of place mats for providing information on depression and its treatment appear to have been accepted as useful, and that acceptance may help decrease the stigma of treatment in these seniors in rural areas.
Development of cooperativity in the local segmental dynamics of poly(vinylacetate): synergy of thermodynamics and intermolecular coupling☆

Abstract The properties of the α- and Johari–Goldstein β-relaxations in conjunction with configurational entropy data are used to show how cooperativity of the dynamics of poly(vinylacetate) develops as temperature is decreased towards Tg from above. Such behavior is also characteristic of small molecule glass-forming liquids, demonstrating that the combined effects of configurational entropy changes and intermolecular coupling underlie structural relaxation phenomena. Any theoretical model must include both thermodynamics and many-body dynamics in order to accurately describe the general properties of the glass transition.
Structure, Evolution and Developmental Expression of the Silkmoth Chorion Multigene Families

SYNOPSIS. The silkmoth eggshell (chorion) is a complex extracellular structure, with important physiological functions concerning survival of the developing embryo. The chorion proteins are encoded in several families of genes, generated during evolution by gene duplication and diversification. The gene families are highly regulated during development, so that more than 100 distinct chorion proteins are produced during specific stages in choriogenesis. Chorion genes are clustered in a single chromosome, and in the aggregate account for more than 350 kb of DNA. They have been cloned and their structure and organization have been studied by recombinant DNA techniques. I summarize the information currently available, and relate it to the processes of gene evolution and regulation of gene expression during development.
A Nonparametric Approach to Expenditure-Constrained Profit Maximization

A nonparametric approach to expenditure‐constrained profit maximization is developed. A deterministic frontier profit function is constructed with and without expenditure constraints. Foregone profit is used as dual evidence for the existence of expenditure constraints. Individual evaluations on performance and expenditure constraints are produced. Empirical analysis is based on survey data for California rice farms. Seventeen of the eighty‐two surveyed farms experience profit loss as a result of expenditure constraints.
Effects of clonidine and yohimbine on the social play of juvenile rats

The social play of juvenile rats was observed following administration of either the alpha-2-adrenergic agonist clonidine (0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, and 50 micrograms/kg) or antagonist yohimbine (0.5, 1, 2, and 5 mg/kg). Using pins (one animal on its back with the other on top) as the dependent measure, we found that clonidine reliably reduced the amount of play at all but the lowest dose tested, while yohimbine had no effect at any but the highest dose. In addition, we tested a clonidine-yohimbine interaction to assess neurospecificity of the results. While yohimbine alone (0.5 mg/kg) had no effect on play, it partially reversed the clonidine-induced suppression, indicating that the effect may be mediated to some degree through an alpha-2-adrenergic mechanism.
Isolation and characterization of axolemma-enriched fractions from discrete areas of bovine CNS.

Myelinated axons were isolated by flotation from bovine pons, middle cerebellar peduncle, cervical spinal cord and three regions of the subcortical white matter. The myelinated axons were osmotically and mechanically shocked, followed by fractionation on a linear 15% sucrose to 45% sucrose density gradient. Axolemma-enriched fractions (AEF) found in the 28% to 32% sucrose region of the gradient from brainstem and cord white matter had high acetylcholinesterase (AChE) while little or nil AChE activity was found in corresponding AEF derived from the subcortical white matter. Morphologically, the subcortical white matter from all regions contained a heterogeneous population of well-myelinated to thinly myelinated axons, while brainstem and cord regions contained a more homogeneous population of well-myelinated axons. Histochemical analysis of AChE localized this enzyme to axonal elements. The AEF derived from any white matter source had similar polypeptide compositions. AEF derived from subcortical white matter contained two-fold more myelin basic protein and a three-fold greater content of 2′ 3′ cyclic nucleotide 3′ phosphodiesterase (CNP) compared with AEF derived from well myelinated white matter. We conclude that the purity of the AEF is related to the degree of myelination of the white matter from which the AEF is derived. Homogeneously well myelinated white matter (pons, cerebellar peduncle, cervical spinal cord) yields the highest purity AEF, as judged by the low CNP and myelin basic protein content and highest enrichment in AChE specific activity.
Access Pricing Under Imperfect Competition

The study investigates optimal access charges when the downstream markets are imperfectly competitive. Optimal access charges have been examined in the literature mainly under the condition where only the incumbent has market power. However, network industries tend to exhibit an oligopolistic market structure. Therefore, the optimal access charge under imperfect competition is an important consideration when regulators determine access charges. This essay investigates some general principles for setting optimal access charges when downstream markets are imperfectly competitive. One of the primary objectives of this essay is to show the importance of the break-even constraint when first-best access charges are not feasible. Specifically, we show that when the first-best access charges are not feasible, the imposition of the break-even constraint on only the upstream profit of the incumbent is superior to the case where break-even constraint applies to overall incumbent profit, where the latter is the most commonly used constraint in the access pricing literature. Bypass and its implications for optimal access charges and welfare are also explored.
Automatic creation of tile size selection models

Tiling is a widely used loop transformation for exposing/exploiting parallelism and data locality. Effective use of tiling requires selection and tuning of the tile sizes. This is usually achieved by hand-crafting tile size selection (TSS) models that characterize the performance of the tiled program as a function of tile sizes. The best tile sizes are selected by either directly using the TSS model or by using the TSS model together with an empirical search. Hand-crafting accurate TSS models is hard, and adapting them to different architecture/compiler, or even keeping them up-to-date with respect to the evolution of a single compiler is often just as hard. Instead of hand-crafting TSS models, can we automatically learn or create them? In this paper, we show that for a specific class of programs fairly accurate TSS models can be automatically created by using a combination of simple program features, synthetic kernels, and standard machine learning techniques. The automatic TSS model generation scheme can also be directly used for adapting the model and/or keeping it up-to-date. We evaluate our scheme on six different architecture-compiler combinations (chosen from three different architectures and four different compilers). The models learned by our method have consistently shown near-optimal performance (within 5% of the optimal on average) across all architecture-compiler combinations.
Spleen in haematological malignancies: spectrum of imaging findings

Imaging morphology and metabolic activity of splenic lesions is of paramount importance in patients with haematological malignancies; it can alter tumour staging, treatment protocols and overall prognosis. CT, MRI and positron emission tomography (PET)/CT have been shown to be powerful tools for the non-invasive assessment of splenic involvement in various haematological malignancies. Since many haematological malignancies and non-neoplastic conditions can involve the spleen and imaging manifestations can overlap, imaging and clinical findings outside of the spleen should be looked for to narrow the differential diagnosis; confirmation can be obtained by pathological findings. Radiologists should be familiar with the cross-sectional imaging patterns of haematological malignancies involving the spleen as well as non-neoplastic splenic findings common in these patients to facilitate their care and follow-up. This pictorial review provides the common and uncommon imaging appearances and complications of vari...
An Application of Stochastic and Dynamic Models for the Control of a Papermaking Process

A statistical approach to model a papermaking process and to control paper basis weight is presented. The process behavior is described by a mathematical model which takes into consideration both the input-output dynamics and disturbances coming into the system. The model building procedure was based on a three-step approach of identification, estimation and diagnostic checking. The disturbance model is accounted for by a discrete time series model, whereas the dynamic model is a discrete transfer function model. The simplicity of the modeling process lies in the fact that only the input-outpul data are necessary without recourse to a complicated analysis of the physical system itself. An optimal control equation was arrived at whereby the basis weight of the paper was to be controlled at a specified target value. Confirmation runs were conducted to check the effectiveness of the control equation.
Distribution of Myosin Attachment Times Predicted from Viscoelastic Mechanics of Striated Muscle

We demonstrate that viscoelastic mechanics of striated muscle, measured as elastic and viscous moduli, emerge directly from the myosin crossbridge attachment time, , also called time-on. The distribution of was modeled using a gamma distribution with shape parameter, , and scale parameter, . At 5 mM MgATP, was similar between mouse -MyHC ( ms) and -MyHC ( ms), and was higher () for -MyHC ( no units) compared to -MyHC (). At 1 mM MgATP, approached a value of 10 in both isoforms, but rose only in the -MyHC ( ms). The estimated mean (i.e., product) was longer in the -MyHC compared to -MyHC, and became prolonged in both isoforms as MgATP was reduced as expected. The application of our viscoelastic model to these isoforms and varying MgATP conditions suggest that is better modeled as a gamma distribution due to its representing multiple temporal events occurring within compared to a single exponential distribution which assumes only one temporal event within .
Both Forward and Reverse TCA Cycles Operate in Green Sulfur Bacteria

The anoxygenic green sulfur bacteria (GSBs) assimilate CO2 autotrophically through the reductive (reverse) tricarboxylic acid (RTCA) cycle. Some organic carbon sources, such as acetate and pyruvate, can be assimilated during the phototrophic growth of the GSBs, in the presence of CO2 or HCO3−. It has not been established why the inorganic carbonis required for incorporating organic carbon for growth and how the organic carbons are assimilated. In this report, we probed carbon flux during autotrophic and mixotrophic growth of the GSB Chlorobaculum tepidum. Our data indicate the following: (a) the RTCA cycle is active during autotrophic and mixotrophic growth; (b) the flux from pyruvate to acetyl-CoA is very low and acetyl-CoA is synthesized through the RTCA cycle and acetate assimilation; (c) pyruvate is largely assimilated through the RTCA cycle; and (d) acetate can be assimilated via both of the RTCA as well as the oxidative (forward) TCA (OTCA) cycle. The OTCA cycle revealed herein may explain better cell growth during mixotrophic growth with acetate, as energy is generated through the OTCA cycle. Furthermore, the genes specific for the OTCA cycle are either absent or down-regulated during phototrophic growth, implying that the OTCA cycle is not complete, and CO2 is required for the RTCA cycle to produce metabolites in the TCA cycle. Moreover, CO2 is essential for assimilating acetate and pyruvate through the CO2-anaplerotic pathway and pyruvate synthesis from acetyl-CoA.
A randomized algorithm for finding a path subject to multiple QoS constraints

An important aspect of quality-of-service (QoS) provisioning in integrated networks is the ability to find a feasible route that satisfies end-to-end QoS requirements of a connection request while efficiently using network resources. In general, finding a path subject to multiple additive constraints (e.g., delay, delay-jitter) is an NP-complete problem. For this problem, we propose a randomized heuristic algorithm with polynomial-time complexity. Our algorithm first prunes all the links that cannot be on any feasible paths. It then uses a randomized heuristic search to find a feasible path, if one exists. The worst-case computational complexity of our algorithm is O(n/sup 2/), where n is the number of nodes. The storage complexity of the algorithm is O(n). Using extensive simulations, we show that our algorithm gives very high success rate in finding feasible paths.
Broadband Dual-frequency CPW-fed Annual-ring Antenna

A new broadband annual-ring antenna fed by CPW (coplanar waveguide) is developed for mobile communication applications. The antenna adopts a single-layer double-side configuration. Two annual rings are used to activate the dual operating frequencies. By exciting the resonant modes of the two rings and using the partial notched ground plane, the broadband dual-frequency characteristic is achieved. The two operation bands have 30% (2.8-3.8 GHz) and 20% (8.3-10.1 GHz) bandwidths, which cover S-band and X-band. The antenna has a frequency ratio of 2.8 and a gain of 6 dBi.
Kinetics of the Growth of Spinel on Alumina Using Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy

The kinetics of the initial stage of the formation of a nickel aluminate spinel on the surface of alumina substrates has been studied. The NiO layer was formed by evaporating a thin film Ni onto the surface of single-crystal alumina substrates and oxidizing the specimens in air at 700°C. This method gave a thin layer of NiO film that was uniform in thickness on top of the alumina substrates. The alumina surfaces studied include (0001), [1120], [1102], and [1100]. After the initial oxidation, the samples were annealed in air at 1020°C. The interaction of the thin-film and the single-crystal substrates was examined using Rutherford back-scattering spectroscopy. The crystallography of the alumina substrates was found to influence greatly the kinetics of the spinel formation. For example, the rate of the spinel formation reaction is fastest for the lsqb;1102rsqb; and lsqb;1100rsqb; orientations and slowest for the (0001) orientation. The roughness of the surface of the alumina substrate has also been shown to influence directly the rate of the spinel formation. The presence of surface scratches accelerated the spinel formation.