cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association of Neighborhood Deprivation With Epigenetic Aging Using 4 Clock Metrics.

Importance Neighborhood deprivation is associated with age-related disease, mortality, and reduced life expectancy. However, biological pathways underlying these associations are not well understood. Objective To evaluate the association between neighborhood deprivation and epigenetic measures of age acceleration and genome-wide methylation. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study used data from the Sister Study, a prospective cohort study comprising 50 884 women living in the US and Puerto Rico aged 35 to 74 years at enrollment who had a sister with breast cancer but had not had breast cancer themselves. Cohort enrollment occurred between July 2003 and March 2009. Participants completed a computer-assisted telephone interview on demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle, and residential factors and provided anthropometric measures and peripheral blood samples at a home examination. DNA methylation data obtained for 2630 non-Hispanic White women selected for a case-cohort study in 2014 were used in this cross-sectional analysis. DNA methylation was measured using the HumanMethylation450 BeadChips in whole blood samples collected at baseline. Data analysis for this study was performed from October 17, 2019, to August 27, 2020. Exposures Each participants' primary address was linked to an established index of neighborhood deprivation. Main Outcomes and Measures Epigenetic age was estimated using 4 epigenetic clocks (Horvath, Hannum, PhenoAge, and GrimAge). Age acceleration was determined using residuals from regressing chronologic age on each of the 4 epigenetic age metrics. Linear regression was used to estimate associations between neighborhood deprivation and epigenetic age acceleration as well as DNA methylation at individual cytosine-guanine sites across the genome. Results Mean (SD) age of the 2630 participants was 56.9 (8.7) years. Those with the greatest (>75th percentile) vs least (≤25th percentile) neighborhood deprivation had higher epigenetic age acceleration estimated by Hannum (β = 0.23; 95% CI, 0.01-0.45), PhenoAge (β = 0.28; 95% CI, 0.06-.50), and GrimAge (β = 0.37; 95% CI, 0.12-0.62). Increasing US quartiles of neighborhood deprivation exhibited a trend with Hannum, PhenoAge, and GrimAge. For example, GrimAge showed a significant dose-response (P test for trend <.001) as follows: level 2 vs level 1 (β = 0.30; 95% CI, 0.17-0.42), level 3 vs level 1 (β = 0.35; 95% CI, 0.19-0.50), and level 4 vs level 1 (β = 0.37; 95% CI, 0.12-0.62). Neighborhood deprivation was found to be associated with 3 cytosine-phosphate-guanine sites, with 1 of these annotated to a known gene MAOB (P = 9.71 × 10-08). Conclusions and Relevance The findings of this study suggest that residing in a neighborhood with a higher deprivation index appears to be reflected by methylation-based markers of aging.
Efficacy and Tolerability of Rufinamide in Epileptic Children Younger Than 4 Years.

Background:Rufinamide, a triazole derivative, is a new-generation antiseizure medication with a novel mechanism of action. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of rufinamide treatment in children w...
Coherent vorticity dynamics and dissipation in a utility-scale wind turbine wake with uniform inflow

Abstract The vorticity dynamics and its relationship to dissipation in the wake of a utility-scale wind turbine are investigated through large-eddy simulation. The vorticity dynamics is assessed through the enstrophy, which is related to the turbulent dissipation. The averaged enstrophy and turbulent dissipation are shown to be quantitatively similar in the wake. Using temporal phase averaging, the vorticity fluctuations are decomposed into coherent and random fluctuations with respect to the frequency of the tip vortices. The enstrophy in the tip vortices is dominated by coherent fluctuations, while the coherent fluctuations of root vortices are immediately saturated by the random vorticity fluctuations of the unstable hub vortex. The coherent strain rate has significant differences compared to the coherent enstrophy within one diameter downwind of blade tip, but the random enstrophy and strain rate are relatively similar. Differences in coherent enstrophy and strain rate decrease further from the rotor.
A Review of the Auditory System and Its Evoked Potentials

ABSTRACT.Within the past 10 yrs, evoked potentials (EP) have played a prominent role in the armentarium of the clinical neurophysiologist (6) and the auditory system has received its proper share of attention (83). The present paper will review the different kinds of responses from the auditory system with special emphasis on the brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP).
Introductions and Requests: Rhetorical Strategies That Elicit Response in Online Communities

Online communities allow millions of people who would never meet in person to interact. People join web-based discussion boards, email lists, and chat rooms for friendship, social support, entertainment, and information on technical, health, and leisure activities [24]. And they do so in droves. One of the earliest networks of online communities, Usenet, had over nine million unique contributors, 250 million messages, and approximately 200,000 active groups in 2003 [27], while the newer My Space, founded in 2003, attracts a quarter million new members every day [27].
Chromosomal Location of Mutations Affecting the Electrophoretic Mobility of Malate Dehydrogenase in Escherichia coli K-12

The structural locus for a soluble malate dehydrogenase (l-malate:NAD oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.37), mdh, lies about 1.2 min from aspB on the Escherichia coli chromosome in the sequence argG, aspB, mdh.
Is a Fuller Relinguification of TESOL Desirable

Shelley K. Taylor is an associate professor in the Faculty of Education and member of the graduate faculty in French Studies at the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. She is an English-French-Danish trilingual. Her research focuses on multilingual children enrolled in bilingual education programs (ethnic Kurdish children in a Danish-Turkish program; minority language children in Canadian French immersion programs).
Substituted methanes: Part XXXI. Molecular constants of carbon tetraiodide from vibrational spectra

Abstract Potential energy constants, mean amplitudes of vibration, Coriolis coupling constants, and rotational distortion constants have been calculated for carbon tetraiodide from vibrational spectra. Values of the heat content, free energy, entropy, and heat capacity also are given for the rigid rotor, harmonic oscillator approximation, at 12 temperatures between 100°K and 1000°K.
Visual Attention during Route Learning: A Look at Selection and Engagement

Two aspects of visual attention, the selection of environmental features and the engagement of attention on those features, were examined in an experimental study using a slide-presentation simulation of route experience. Results showed that (a) after learning, viewers’ knowledge of spatial relations among high-information regions was more accurate than their knowledge of spatial relations among low-information regions; (b) during learning, viewers were more selective when looking at high-information regions than when looking at low-information regions; (c) during learning, viewers were slower to disengage attention when looking at high-information regions than when looking at low-information regions; and (d) during learning, the most common type of visual activity when viewers saw high-information regions were saccades between landmarks and the path’s vanishing point in the scene. These findings indicate that although route learning is a relatively simple and wellpracticed task, it involves attention in terms of the selection of highly informative regions for in-depth coding of spatial relations.
Families and Adolescent Development

This chapter focuses on several family and social–psychological processes (i.e., parent behaviors, parent–adolescent conflict, and interparental or marital conflict) that predict the development of adolescent social competence and problem behavior. An emphasis of this chapter is the importance of cultural values and family structural variation (i.e., divorce, remarriage, and the presence of siblings) that may contribute to social, psychological, and family process changes and, in turn, foster or inhibit social competence or problem behavior. A concluding theme is that parenting within families that fosters social competence provides adolescents with resilience and coping abilities that function as natural forms of everyday prevention.
Diversity of Interactions: A Metric for Studies of Biodiversity

Multitrophic interactions play key roles in the origin and maintenance of species diversity, and the study of these interactions has contributed to important theoretical advances in ecology and evolutionary biology. Nevertheless, most biodiversity inventories focus on static species lists, and prominent theories of diversity still ignore trophic interactions. The lack of a simple interaction metric that is analogous to species richness is one reason why diversity of interactions is not examined as a response or predictor variable in diversity studies. Using plant–herbivore–enemy trophic chains as an example, we develop a simple metric of diversity in which richness, diversity indices (e.g., Simpson's 1/D), and rarefaction diversity are calculated with links as the basic unit rather than species. Interactions include all two-link (herbivore–plant and enemy–herbivore) and three-link (enemy–herbivore–plant) chains found in a study unit. This metric is different from other indices, such as traditional diversity measures, connectivity and interaction diversity in food-web studies, and the diversity of interaction index in behavioral studies, and it is easier to compute. Using this approach to studying diversity provides novel insight into debates about neutrality and correlations between diversity, stability, productivity, and ecosystem services. RESUMEN Las interacciones multitroficas son en gran parte responsables por el origen y el mantenimiento de la diversidad de especies, y las investigaciones de estas interacciones han contribuido a avances teoricos en ecologia y biologia evolutiva. Sin embargo, en la mayoria de los inventarios de biodiversidad se hacen listas estaticas de especies, y las teorias de la diversidad mas prominentes siguen ignorando las interacciones troficas. La falta de una metrica de interaccion sencilla y que sea analoga a la riqueza de especies es una de las razones para que no se examine la diversidad de interacciones como una respuesta o una variable dependiente en estudios de diversidad. Usamos las cadenas troficas de plantas-herbivoros-enemigos como un ejemplo y desarrollamos una variable simple de diversidad en la cual se puede calcular la riqueza de interacciones o los indices de diversidad (por ejemplo, 1 / D de Simpson) y la diversidad de rarefaccion; se usan los enlaces como la unidad basica en lugar de las especies. Las interacciones incluyen todas las interacciones de dos enlaces (planta-herbivoro y herbivoro-enemigo) y de tres enlaces (enemigo-herbivoro-planta) que se encuentra en muestreos o censos por transectos o por parcelas. Esta variable es diferente de otros indices de diversidad tradicionalmente usados como la conectividad de interaccion en estudios de cadenas troficas, y el indice de diversidad de interacciones que se usa en estudios comportamentales, ademas es mas facil de calcular. Usando esta aproximacion para estudiar la diversidad de interacciones creara nuevas perspectivas en debates sobre la teoria neutral y las correlaciones entre la diversidad, la estabilidad, la productividad, y servicios de los ecosistemas.
Pavlov's position on the effects of decortication on conditional reflexes.

This paper examined D. Joravsky's (1989) hypothesis that I.P. Pavlov dogmatically refused to acknowledge that classical conditioning can be mediated by subcortical regions of the large cerebral hemispheres. Decortication literature from 1901 to 1936 was reviewed. The early studies available to Pavlov, who died in 1936, showed that decortication does not allow the establishment of new or retaining of old conditional reflexes (CRs). G.P. Zelenyĭ's later experiments(1930) suggested that the establishment of primitive CRs in decorticated dogs was possible. Pavlov never denied this possibility but cautioned that Zelenyĭ's experiments could have been methodologically flawed. Although Joravsky's original hypothesis on Pavlov's position on the relation between decortication and the establishment of CRs is by and large accepted, it must be stressed that Pavlov's theory of higher nervous activity was primarily concerned with the function of the brain in the higher organism's struggle for existence. Within this context the cortical, rather than subcortical, processes play the decisive role in the organism's adaptation to the changing external environment.
Understanding and not only observing: the key to success in tissue engineering?

The article by Stacy and colleagues in this issue of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery evaluates the role of a noninvasive single-photon emission tomography/ x-ray computed tomography (SPECT/CT) imaging method to quantify the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity in tissue-engineered vascular grafts remodeling after implantation in a growing animalmodel. Stacy and colleagues clearly demonstrate the feasibility of this innovative imagingmethod to assess MMP activity and conclude that such activity remains elevated in tissue-engineered grafts 6 months after implantation, which may indicate remodeling. Many articles have demonstrated promising results of the application of the concept of tissue-engineering to the surgery of congenital cardiac defects, as such tissue-engineered devices (patches, grafts, valves, or valved tubes) undergo a biologic remodeling and display a growth potential, which is essential to this specific population. Nevertheless, little is still known about the exact mechanisms of this complex in vivo remodeling and the factors that could influence the quality of the biologic steps allowing a beneficial and sustainable transition of a cell-seeded (or not) polymeric (or biologic) scaffold to an autologous, living, and growing new anatomic structure (such as a vessel or a valve). This justifies and emphasizes the need for studies such as this article, which comes from the group of Breuer and Shinoka that has been now working successfully on that exciting topic for many years. On the basis of voluminous evidence that MMPs (especially MMP-2 and MMP-9) may play a role in the remodeling of tissue-engineered vascular grafts, Stacy and colleagues demonstrates the utility of a noninvasivemethod of imaging (SPECT/CT) in assessing a biologic activity that seems to be related to the remodeling occurring in these vascular devices. Imaging revealed higher MMP activity in grafts than in native tissue and in unseeded than in seeded grafts. These results are definitely interesting and pave the
Talking About Genetically Modified (GM) Foods in South Korea: The Role of the Internet in the Spiral of Silence Process

Using the issue of genetically modified foods, this study examines how the Internet may affect the spiral of silence phenomenon in South Korea. More specifically, we explore whether the Internet has created a social environment, where people can exchange opinions more freely without being fearful of social isolation. Analyzing data from an online survey, we first examine whether the Internet can play a role as a source of information, from which people assess the climates of public opinion. Also examined is whether the opinions of netizens can comprise another form of opinion climate, exerting pressure on one's willingness to speak out. Finally, we explore whether expressing an opinion on the Internet is subject to the pressure of opinion climates. Findings suggest that the Internet may play an important role in shaping people's perceptions of opinion climates. Perceived opinion congruence with other people were significantly associated with one's willingness to participate in an online forum, indicating ...
Tetrazete (N4). Can it be prepared and observed

Abstract The nitrogen plasma generated by microwave or electrical discharge in gaseous N 2 was quenched on a cold window (6.2–35 K) and resulting matrix was examined by IR and UV–Vis absorption spectroscopies. In samples prepared with 14 N 2 we observe a weak infrared transition at 936.7 cm −1 . It shifts to 900.0 cm −1 when 15 N 2 is used. Both peaks do not correlate with any other features in the spectra and are best explained as originating from tetrahedral tetrazetes (N 4 ). Their positions are compatible with quantum chemical estimates for 14 N 4 , at 936.0 cm −1 and 15 N 4 , at 904.4 cm −1 .
The effect of perchlorate ion and some pharmacological agents on the sensitivity of the frog (Rana pipiens) rectus abdominis to acetylcholine.

Die Reaktion des mit Eserin vorbehandelten musculus rectus abdominis des Frosches auf Acetylcholin liess sich durch Oxotremorin (2.0·10−5 M), Arecolin (2.0·10−5M), Aceclidin (1.0·10−4 M) und Carbachol (2.0·10−7 M) verstarken, wahrend Atropin (1.0·10−5 M) hemmend wirkte. Perchlorationen in Konzentrationen uber 2 · 10−4 M sensibilisierten den Froschmuskel erheblich und reduzierten die Grenzdosis, bei der eine Potenzierung durch Substanzen mit muskarinahnlicher Wirkung beobachtet wird. Alle beschriebenen Reaktionen liessen sich durch Gehirnextrakte verstarken, in denen zuvor Acetylcholin durch Kochen in alkalischer Losung zerstort worden war.
Subcutaneous formalin produces centrifugal hyperalgesia at a non-injected site via the NMDA-nitric oxide cascade.

Previous work has demonstrated that pain facilitation can occur following injection of subcutaneous irritants, such as formalin. Such studies have focused on apparent pain facilitation induced at the site of irritant injection. Changes in processing of incoming pain information have typically been assumed to result from activation of neurocircuitry intrinsic to the spinal cord. The present series of studies have examined hyperalgesia exhibited at a site distant from the site of irritant injection and have begun to define the neurocircuitry and neuropharmacology underlying this pain enhancement. This work demonstrates that s.c. formalin injected into the dorsum of one hindpaw in rats produces prolonged hyperalgesia as measured by the tailflick test. Hyperalgesia is not mediated solely by circuitry intrinsic to the spinal cord, but rather involves activation of centrifugal pathways originating within the brain and descending to the spinal cord via pathway(s) outside of the dorsolateral funiculus. At the level of the spinal cord, this hyperalgesic state is mediated by an NMDA-nitric oxide cascade, since hyperalgesia can be abolished by administration of either an NMDA antagonist (APV) or a nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor (L-NAME).
Gender differences in health risk behaviors and physical activity among middle school students

Adolescence is a period of accelerated growth and change, bridging the complex transition from childhood to adulthood. This period offers adolescents an opportunity to begin planning for their futures and to adopt healthy attitudes about risk behaviors that can continue into adulthood, thus setting the stage for a lifetime of desirable health behaviors. This study used the Youth Risk Behavior Survey on middle school students and examined the gender differences of health risk behaviors among 674 8th-graders from an urban setting. The results showed that males were more likely to be involved in fights, to initiate alcohol use, and to participate in physical activity; whereas females were more likely to try to lose weight with unhealthy practices, such as fasting and laxatives. School nurses are in a prime position to promote adolescent health in the school setting by providing health-related services and teaching to help students initiate and maintain healthy lifestyles.
Coalbed methane: From hazard to resource

Abstract Coalbed gas, which mainly consists of methane, has remained a major hazard affecting safety and productivity in underground coal mines for more than 100 years. Coalbed gas emissions have resulted in outbursts and explosions where ignited by open lights, smoking or improper use of black blasting powder, and machinery operations. Investigations of coal gas outbursts and explosions during the past century were aimed at predicting and preventing this mine hazard. During this time, gas emissions were diluted with ventilation by airways (e.g., tunnels, vertical and horizontal drillholes, shafts) and by drainage boreholes. The 1970's `energy crisis' led to studies of the feasibility of producing the gas for commercial use. Subsequent research on the origin, accumulation, distribution, availability, and recoverability has been pursued vigorously during the past two decades. Since the 1970's research investigations on the causes and effects of coal mine outbursts and gas emissions have led to major advances towards the recovery and development of coalbed methane for commercial use. Thus, coalbed methane as a mining hazard was harnessed as a conventional gas resource.
Phase I clinical and pharmacokinetic study of oral 9-aminocamptothecin (NSC-603071)

Purpose: 9-Aminocamptothecin (9-AC) is a topoisomerase I inhibitor with high antitumor activity but poor solubility in conventional vehicles. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the toxicities and pharmacokinetics of a colloidal dispersion (CD) formulation of 9-AC when administered orally on a 5 days per week every 2 weeks schedule. Method: This formulation, which was developed for intravenous administration, was orally administered in 20 ml orange juice. A group of 16 cancer patients were treated at doses of 0.2–0.68 mg/m2 daily. Results: Grade 1–2 nausea (n=9) was common, usually occurring during the last 2 days of dosing. No objective responses or cumulative toxicities were observed. Pharmacokinetic analysis of total 9-AC showed highly variable apparent oral 9-AC clearance and half-life. There was marked interpatient variability at each dose level in the 9-AC AUC and C max , and these parameters showed a poor correlation with dose (r 2=0.07 and 0.38, respectively). Conclusions: We conclude that this formulation is not suitable for further clinical development because of poor bioavailability and highly variable and/or saturable absorption or elimination. Another formulation developed for oral administration is under study elsewhere.
Competition, fee-for-service requirements, and government performance: evidence on the Federal Reserve

Abstract This paper examines the impact of competition and fee-for-service requirements on the efficiency and quality of government services. Using internal cost and quality data on the United States Federal Reserve, I find that fee-for-service requirements alone were not enough to motivate performance improvements. Costs went down only in the single Fed service (forward check-clearing) that also faced vigorous product-market competition, and the extent of the cost reductions was greater in more competitive markets. Importantly, the cost reductions in check-clearing were accompanied by quality improvements, with service quality positively associated with contemporaneous and subsequent costs. These results are consistent with studies on the private sector that indicate that quality improvements can increase productivity and reduce costs. Taken together, the evidence points to competition as a potential tool in the nation’s efforts to improve the performance of government services.
CHANGED ORIENTATION OF THE MITOTIC SPINDLE OF STOMATAL GUARD CELL DIVISIONS IN HORDEUM VULGARE

Three-day-old seedlings of 'Atlas' barley were treated for 1 hr with an aqueous solution of 2mercaptoethanol at various concentrations. This caused a general delay of mitosis, suppression of subsidiary cell formation in many stomatal complexes, and complete inhibition of the formation of some stomatal complexes. In a small proportion of stomatal complexes the orientation of the division of the guard cell mother cell was changed so that its mitotic spindle was no longer transverse but parallel to the long axis of the leaf and produced daughter cells proximally and distally to each other. The highest frequency of such proximal-distal orientations, a mean of 2.23 per stomatal row, was produced by concentratioiis of 0.175-0.2 M. Proximal-distal reorientations were concentrated in a region of the leaf distal to that in which the greatest inhibition of stomatal complexes occurred. Susceptible complexes were those at early stages of subsidiary formation when exposed to mercaptoethanol; this is long before prophase of GCMC division. The mean length/ width ratio of cells at this stage was significantly greater in treated than in control material. Gibberellic acid at 550 ppm significantly increased both the l/w ratio and the frequency of proximal-distal divisions. A much higher proportion of proximal-distal divisions was obtained in upper leaf sheaths excised and placed for 24 hr in a moist atmosphere. This effect was associated with a period of quiescence following excision, after which mitoses were resumed, many of them with proximal-distal reorientation.
Application of the first higher-order (M21) mode Rayleigh wave to the inspection of stainless steel overlays

Efficient inspection of stainless steel overlays appears to present a particularly challenging problem due to the anisotropy that is characteristic of that material. An improved inspection technique may be available, however, when the dissimilar properties of the overlay and the base material are utilized. Higher order mode Rayleigh waves which at high frequencies remain confined to the upper layer of the stainless steel material are demonstrated to be able to detect welding defects in the overlay material in a field some distance away from the probe
Rees algebras of finitely generated torsion-free modules over a two-dimensional regular local ring

Let (R,m) be a two-dimensional regular local ring and let A be a finitely generated torsion-free R-module. If A is a complete module, then Katz and Kodiyalam show A satisfies five conditions, one of these being that the Rees algebra A of A is Cohen-Macaulay. They ask whether these five conditions are equivalent without assuming A to be complete. We exhibit an example to show that A/IA may be Cohen-Macaulay while A fails to be Cohen-Macaulay, and investigate other implications among these five properties in the case where A is not complete. We prove in general that the depth of A is greater than or equal to the depth of A/IA, and that if a module has reduction number at most one, then a direct summand also has reduction number at most one. We present an example where A is a direct sum of two submodules each of which has reduction number at most one while A has reduction number at least two. In the last section of this paper, we present two sufficient conditions for modules obtained by adjoining one element...
Transportation in suburbia : trends in attitudes, behaviors and policy preferences in Orange County, California

This paper analyzes transportation attitudes, behaviors and policy preferences in a suburban region. The focus of the study is Orange County, which has experienced rapid growth and industrialization in recent decades. The results from the 1989 Orange County Annual Survey indicate that most residents perceive traffic to be the most serious problem facing the area, and most residents are dissatisfied with the current freeways. Over time, the trend is increased perceptions of traffic problems, However, there is little evidence that residents have changed their driving habits in recent years and there is considerable opposition to new transportation taxes and policies aimed at reducing traffic congestion. These trends are related to opposition to change by affluent suburban residents and to distrust of local government. Traffic attitudes and conservativism appear to play a minor role in predicting current driving habits and policy preferences. The results have important implications for future efforts to improve suburban traffic.
Inhibition of bacterial bioluminescence by pargyline

Abstract Pargyline ( N -benzyl- N -methyl-2-propynylamine), an inactivator of mitochondrial monoamine oxidase, inhibits growth and in vivo and in vitro bioluminescence in Beneckea harveyi . The inhibition is competitive with the two substrates, FMNH 2 and aldehyde, and the inhibitor binds with a reaction intermediate of the the enzyme luciferase to form a stable, but reversible, adduct. Inhibition of in vivo bioluminescence is an apparently complex phenomenon, and may involve a block in the synthesis of aldehyde.
Seat-interface pressures on various thicknesses of foam wheelchair cushions: A finite modeling approach

Abstract Ragan R, Kernozek TW, Bidar M, Matheson JW. Seat-interface pressures on various thicknesses of foam wheelchair cushions: a finite modeling approach. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2002;83:872-5. Objective: To investigate the effect of cushion thickness on subcutaneous pressures during seating by using a finite element modeling approach. Design: Seat-interface pressure measurements were used in a computational model. Setting: Biomechanics laboratory. Participant: A single healthy man (weight, 70kg). Interventions: Subject sat upright either with or without cushions of various heights. Seat-interface pressures measured by using a sensor mat interfaced to a personal computer sampling at 15Hz. Main Outcome Measures: Peak seat-interface pressure; finite-element software was used to model the buttock, ischial tuberosity, and seat cushion. Subcutaneous stresses were calculated from the model. Results: The region of highest subcutaneous stress in the soft tissue was concentrated within 1 or 2cm of the ischial tuberosity, with the maximum compressive stress inferior to the bottom surface of the ischial tuberosity. The maximum subcutaneous stress, maximum seat-interface pressure, and maximum subcutaneous shear stress each changed with cushion thickness. Subcutaneous pressures decreased with thicker cushions, but almost all of the reduction was obtained with an 8-cm cushion. The amount of subcutaneous shear stress increased slightly for thicker cushions. The maximum subcutaneous stress was greater than the maximum interface pressure but not by a constant factor. Instead, the former was consistently larger by 0.7 to 0.8N/cm 2 . Conclusions: Cushion use reduced the maximum subcutaneous stress inferior to the ischial tuberosity. However, increasing the cushion thickness beyond 8cm was ineffective in further reducing subcutaneous stress. It was also found that seat-interface pressures were a good indicator of the subcutaneous stress reduction in seating. © 2002 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Non-universal scaling of ρxx peak widths of gated GaAs/AlGaAs in the IQHE regime

A systematic study of the halfwidths of the ρxx peaks, ΔB(T), and (∂ρxy/∂B)max as a function of electron density, or equivalently, disorder, has been undertaken. Our samples are low mobility, gated GaAs/Al0.3Ga0.7As heterostructures (HS). Scaling arguments predict the linewidths of ρxx peaks in the IQHE to vary as ΔB∼Tκ, where κ is universal. We find that κ decreases with increasing Landau level number, is a function of disorder and is sample dependent. We investigate peaks 0↓, 1↑, 1↓, and unsplit peaks 1–4 at densities in the range 2–6×1011 cm−2 For the 1↑ peak, κ is 0.6 at high densities. Values of κ range from 0.15 to 0.4 for unsplit peaks These results differ from reported κ=0.42 for InGaAs/InP HS and some GaAs/AlGaAs HS below 200 mK.
Identification of species-specific genes from Leucaena leucocephala using interspecies suppression subtractive hybridisation

Leucaena leucocephala (leucaena) is a tropical tree-legume, known for its high level of tolerance to various stress conditions including drought and diseases. We hypothesised that leucaena contains a specific set of genes for tolerance to various abiotic and biotic stresses, which may be either absent or not expressed in other legumes that are susceptible to these stress conditions. Interspecies suppression subtractive hybridisation (iSSH) was used to identify some leucaena-specific genes using cDNAs from leucaena and Acacia confusa (acacia) as the tester and driver, respectively. Ninety-six leucaena genes showing homologies to various plant genes with known functions and 46 other genes encoding hypothetical proteins (hyps) were identified. Twenty-two genes encoded various stress-related proteins including chitinase, PR-10 protein, type 2 metallothionein, thaumatin-like protein, germin-like protein (GLP), molybdenum cofactor sulfurase (MCSU), aldehyde dehydrogenase, cysteine proteinase and Kunitz trypsin inhibitor. Conserved domain (CD) and position-specific iterative (PSI)-BLAST analyses predicted the possible functions of 15 hyps. The possible functions of the remaining hyps were predicted on the basis of various linear motifs. Six stress-related genes and 22 hyps were identified that expressed at higher levels under drought conditions in leucaena. The stress-related genes of leucaena identified through iSSH provide a foundation for future studies of molecular bases of stress tolerance in leucaena. These genes may also serve as a useful source of stress-tolerant genes for crop improvement in the future.
To Wink or to Blink: Technical Limits or Phenomenological Difficulties

In a recent article “Neuroimaging Techniques for Memory Detection: Scientific, Ethical and Legal Issues” Daniel V. Meegan (2008) argues that none of the scientific techniques such as priming, old/n...
Generic Sequential Sampling for Metamodel Approximations

Metamodels approximate complex multivariate data sets from simulations and experiments. These data sets often are not based on an explicitly defined function. The resulting metamodel represents a complex system's behavior for subsequent analysis or optimization. Often an exhaustive data search to obtain the data for the metalnodel is impossible, so an intelligent sampling strategy is necessary. While inultiple approaches have been advocated, the majority of these approaches were developed in support of a particular class of metamodel, known as a Kriging. A more generic, cotninonsense approach to this problem allows sequential sampling techniques to be applied to other types of metamodeis. This research compares recent search techniques for Kriging inetamodels with a generic, inulti-criteria approach combined with a new type of B-spline metamodel. This B-spline metamodel is competitive with prior results obtained with a Kriging metamodel. Furthermore, the results of this research highlight several important features necessary for these techniques to be extended to more complex domains.
Studies in algorithmic optimization: Festschrift in Honor of William C. Davidon

Newton’s method for minimizing a multivariate nonlinear function has rapid (local) convergence to a solution from a good starting point, but requires potentially expensive second-order information, and some kind of extension in order to assure (global) convergence from distant starting points. Cauchy’s method of steepest-descent converges globally and requires only first-order function information, but it can be very slow, even from good starting points. The variable-metric method [3], which occupies the middle ground, was a quantum leap forward when it came into wide use during the nineteensixties. It proved to be both reliable and very efficient from the standpoints of local rate of convergence, global convergence and informational requirements. For example, as Powell [9] recalls in a recent historical article: “I tried the method on some examples and the results were stunning”. Davidon’s pioneering work on the variable-metric algorithm dates back to 1956 when he was a member of the theoretical physics group at Argonne National Laboratory ‐ see, in particular, Anderson and Davidon [1] and Anderson, Davidon, Glicksman and Kruse [2], where the method was used for experimental-physics computations. A short paper that Davidon wrote on such algorithms was submitted to the Journal of Mathematics and Physicsand was rejected. At the urging of some physicists who were using his algorithm and wanted a suitable reference, a revised version was prepared as Technical Report ANL-5990 of Argonne National Laboratory, in 1959. This report was eventually published unchanged as the first paper in the inaugural issue of SIAM Journal on Optimization(see [7]), except for a new preface where Davidon recounts early events surrounding the birth of his algorithm. In particular, he notes the very important clarification and promulgation by Fletcher and Powell [8]. Subsequent research over an extended period of more than two decades generated an enormous literature on the development, analysis (convergence and numerical), implementation and application of algorithms for unconstrained and constrained optimization that were germinated by Davidon’s breakthrough. Davidon celebrated his 70th birthday in March, 1997. Several previous issues of Mathematical Programming, Series Bhave been organized to honor pioneering researchers in the field, and, following in that tradition, we initiated a special issue in his honor at that time. This effort has now come to fruition.
Diffusion in Porous Solids: The Parallel Contribution of Gas and Surface Diffusion Processes in Pores Extending from the Mesoporous Region into the Microporous Region

When a species diffusing in a porous solid is adsorbed to some extent, the ratio of adsorbed molecules to gas molecules in the pores may be very high if there is a large surface area associated with the pores. In addition to transport of molecules through the pores by gaseous diffusion, transport by surface diffusion may then become important. Good examples have been reported in the literature. However, there are many cases in which the mode of transport of an adsorbing species is limited to gaseous diffusion. Although the overall process is simpler when gaseous diffusion alone must be considered, the experimental diffusion coefficient determined directly by classical nonequilibrium methods is still not a true diffusion coefficient. Because of the complication of the “adsorption capacity factor”, the experimental value is lower than the true value, and may be as much as orders of magnitude lower. For mesoporous solids this has been recognized by various investigators for some time. For certain microporous...
Confidence in Individual and Group Decision Making: When "Two Heads" Are Worse Than One.

The authors investigated students' accuracy and confidence judgments for course-related material in college classrooms. Under conditions of group work and instructor feedback, students produced higher exam accuracy scores working in groups than alone but at a cost of increased confidence for groups' wrong answers. Groups' high confidence for wrong answers generated the case when 'two heads' are worse than one. Students participating in groups that arrived at wrong exam answers gave higher confidence when wrong and lower confidence when correct for repeated items on a final exam. Two heads groups when wrong had no adverse effect on students' accuracy for repeated exam items. An intervention of lecture and readings on confidence calibration, metamemory, and overconfidence did not improve the students' accuracy-confidence judgments.
Poder y sociedad en el Perú contemporaneo

Bourricaud nos habla de un tiempo presente, de los problemas del Peru de hoy, de su sorprendente actualidad: un regimen politico fragil, con sus juegos entre actores, de sus convivencias y connivencias; con un paisaje marcado por derroteros similares entorno a la dificultad de gobernar, los roles de la oposicion "obstruccionista", la incipiente sociedad civil, la politizacion de las clases medias y la emergencia de la cholificacion.
Does Descriptive Race Representation Enhance Institutional Legitimacy? The Case of the U.S. Courts

In the past two decades, numerous studies have tested empirically the normative theory of descriptive race representation. Here, we focus specifically on one aspect of descriptive representation—the relationship between increased racial representation and institutional legitimacy. Does greater racial diversity within a political institution increase its reservoir of good will? Using a novel experimental design centered on the federal courts, we find that greater descriptive representation for blacks causes increased legitimacy for the institution among African Americans. However, we also find that white support declines under the same experimental condition. In probing our data further, we discover that increased diversity does not impact blacks and whites in the same manner across the ideological spectrum. Rather, a person's ideology mediates how he or she assesses racial diversity on the bench. We conclude by discussing the implications of our findings.
Significant improvements in Long Trace Profiler measurement performance

A Modifications made to the Long Trace Profiler (LTP II) system at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory have significantly improved the accuracy and repeatability of the instrument The use of a Dove prism in the reference beam path corrects for phasing problems between mechanical efforts and thermally-induced system errors. A single reference correction now completely removes both error signals from the measured surface profile. The addition of a precision air conditioner keeps the temperature in the metrology enclosure constant to within {+-}0.1{degrees}C over a 24 hour period and has significantly improved the stability and repeatability of the system. We illustrate the performance improvements with several sets of measurements. The improved environmental control has reduced thermal drift error to about 0.75 microradian RMS over a 7.5 hour time period. Measurements made in the forward scan direction and the reverse scan direction differ by only about 0.5 microradian RMS over a 500mm, trace length. We are now able to put 1-sigma error bar of 0.3 microradian on an average of 10 slope profile measurements over a 500mm long trace length, and we are now able to put a 0.2 microradian error bar on an average of 10 measurements over a 200mm trace length. The corresponding 1-sigma height error bar for this measurement is 1.1 run.
Evidence for decreased androgen 5 alpha-reduction in skin and liver of men with severe acne after 13-cis-retinoic acid treatment.

To investigate the effect of 13-cis-retinoic acid (13-cis-RA) treatment on androgen metabolism in men with severe nodulocystic acne, eight men with severe acne received an oral daily dose of 0.7 mg/kg 13-cis-RA over 3 months. Exploration of androgen metabolism in serum samples, 24-h urine collections, and skin biopsies obtained before and at the end of the treatment revealed no significant alterations in serum levels of either adrenal or gonadal androgens. However, the treatment did induce significant decreases in serum levels of the 5 alpha-reduced androgens: 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (P < 0.02), androsterone glucosiduronate (P < 0.04), and 5 alpha-androstan-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol glucosiduronate (P < 0.004). Unlike serum, the urinary 5 alpha-reduced metabolites 5 alpha-androstan-3 alpha, 17 beta-diol and androsterone did not vary significantly despite a decrease in the excretion of the latter. Moreover, a marginally significant increase in urinary excretion of etiocholanolone, very similar to the decre...
Bacterial phenotypes mediated by mviA and their relationship to the mouse virulence of Salmonella typhimurium.

The focus of this study was the phenotypic characterization ofSalmonella typhimuriummutants lacking the function of the response regulatormviA. The inactivation ofmviA+(mviA: :kan) is shown to induce a significant change in the growth of most virulent strains, as reflected in the size of the colonies formed on agar plates. The colony phenotype observed in these strains has been designated as the small colony morphology (Scm+) phenotype. Mutants exhibiting the Scm+phenotype are shown to be significantly attenuated for virulence in susceptible (Itys) mice. The Scm+phenotype therefore provides anin vitrophenotypic marker formviA+activity. Further examination of Scm+mutants has revealed that they lack expression of a 55 kDa periplasmic protein which is detected in isogenicmviA+strains. This protein has been designatedmviA+relatedprotein A (MrpA) and was expressed in direct correlation with virulence in allS. typhimuriumstrains examined.
Amyloid β-protein precursor: new clues to the genesis of Alzheimer's disease

Abstract Research into the cellular processing and functional properties of the amyloid β-protein precursor (βPP) and its secreted derivatives is rapidly accelerating and drawing interest from many investigators outside the field of Alzheimer's disease pathobiology. Recent in vitro studies suggest multiple activities for the major secreted product, βPP s , including protease inhibition, growth promotion, neuroprotection and stimulation of a signal transduction pathway. Surprisingly, the hydrophobic amyloid βi-protein fragment is also constitutively secreted. Its generation occurs in part during the endocytosis of cell-surface βPP molecules. Processing of βPP via amyloidogenic versus non-amyloidogenic pathways is under complex regulation by various first and second messengers. Analyses of βPP missense mutations and of the effects of apolipoprotein E genotype lend new support mutations t the hypothesis that accelerated amyloid β protein deposition plays a pivotal role in the genesis of Alzheimer's disease.
Selection of recipient vessels for free flaps to the distal leg and foot following trauma

The recipient vessels are of prime importance in free flap transfers to the lower limbs. To determine the incidence and pattern of vascular trauma, a study was carried out in 126 patients who had Gustillo Type III open fractures of the distal legs and feet that required free flaps for wound coverage. In comparison with the posterior tibial artery, the anterior tibial artery has a much higher incidence of injury with more extensive damage. It can be injured at a more proximal level than estimated from gross inspection during surgery. This should be borne in mind when the anterior tibial artery is selected as the recipient artery in order to prevent reexploration and failure of the flaps. However, the posterior tibial artery is much less vulnerable to damage in most injuries and is more reliable as the recipient artery. In this series there was no problem in finding proper recipient veins in the legs. A general principle is proposed for selecting recipient vessels in crushed legs, with a warning against the pitfalls that have been encountered. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Political Science and Political Fiction

C. P. Snow, in his Rede Lecture on the scientific and literary worlds as separate cultures, lists four groups needed by a country if it is to “come out top” in the scientific revolution. First, as many top scientists as it can produce; second, a larger group trained for supporting research and high class design; third, educated supporting technicians; and “fourthly and last, politicians, administrators, an entire community, who know enough science to have a sense of what the scientists are talking about.”It seems increasingly clear that the growing army of “political” scientists—meaning natural scientists in politics—is more likely to be aided by students of politics prepared to understand the effects of science in political terms than by most of the recent efforts to understand politics in scientific terms. When one looks over the journals in political science, and in related areas of public opinion and social psychology, searching for significant conclusions in articles where much time has been spent on the elaboration of method, it is difficult to avoid V. O. Key's conclusion “that a considerable proportion of the literature commonly classified under the heading of ‘political behavior’ has no real bearing on politics, or at least that its relevance has not been made clear.”