cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dendritic morphology, inward rectification, and the functional properties of neostriatal neurons

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses dendritic morphology, inward rectification, and the functional properties of neostriatal neurons. Like the cerebral cortex, the neostriatum contains a large number of neurons whose axons exit the nucleus, and that differ according to the target of their axons. Afferent inputs to the spiny projection neurons terminate mostly on the dendrites, with more proximal inputs arising from interneurons within the nucleus. The chapter discusses the effect of anomalous rectification on synaptic transmission in this neuron that requires some additional data on the linear model in the case of large numbers of active synapses.
Excitons in Quantum Wells and Short Period Superlattices

Layer width fluctuations in quantum wells and superlattices produce a random potential which has a pronounced effect on the dynamics of direct and indirect excitons. The potential fluctuations broaden the direct exciton line into a band in which excitons of sufficiently low energy are localized, being separated from the delocalized ones by an effective mobility edge. Four-wave mixing, resonant Rayleigh scattering, hole-burning and and photon echoes have been used to detect the localization of direct excitons in quantum wells. The mobility edge is found to be at the position predicted by classical percolation theory. In the case of indirect excitons, as in alloys, the most pronounced effect of the disorder is on the decay kinetics, which are strongly affected by localization.
Introduction to Alice

This introductory workshop, designed for instructors with minimal to no prior experience with Alice, offers hands-on experience programming with Alice. Alice is a powerful program visualization tool enabling students to "see" objects and work with object-oriented programming. Participants will learn how to use Alice to build virtual worlds and how to use this approach in introductory-level computing courses (introductory programming for majors, programming for non-majors, computer literacy, etc.) at the college or high-school level.
Behavioral Disorders Associated with Central Nervous System Dysfunction

We hope that this chapter has conveyed the fact that many of the psychiatric symptoms, signs, and syndromes described in earlier chapters of this text commonly appear following CNS disturbance. Likewise, many of the most prevalent neurological disorders have important psychiatric sequelae. Freud, in his Project for a scientific pychology, speculated that in the future we would find that “behind every crooked thought lies a crooked neuron,” recognizing the intimate relationship between psychological phenomenon and neurophysiology. Fortunately, the Cartesian dualism, which has artificially dichotomized disorders of the mind and disorders of the brain, has faded considerably during the last decade. With the continued advances in neuropsychology and kindred disciplines, especially neuroimaging, Freud’s prediction again appears prescient.
Acquiring Professional Software Engineering Skills through Studio-based Learning

In order to prepare the students for being successful contributors in their companies, the Monmouth University Software Engineering program asks the students to enroll in a two semesters studio-based learning (SBL) experience during the senior year. In the senior project, the students work on software projects that mimic the software development lifecycle in a real-world environment, and also practice industry specific activities that also develop professional skills, such as working in groups, develop good communication skills, acquire strong life-long learning skills, and be able to function in interdisciplinary teams. This paper presents our implementation of a studio-based learning experience, with the goal of helping other researchers to apply it in their own environments. We also compare our approach with the framework defined by the University of Lancaster researchers. We believe that our implementation brings an element of novelty to SBL by introducing an almost fully student led learning process, with only an outline framework to guide them.
Birt-Hogg-Dubé Syndrome Caused by a Novel Mutation in the FLCL Gene

Background. Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by skin fibrofolliculomas, cystic lung disease, and bilateral renal tumors. It has also been implicated in the formation of tumors in other organs, particularly thyroid and colon. This case presents a young female presenting with only cystic lung disease and kidney tumors, identified as having a never before identified heterozygous mutation in the folliculin (FLCN) gene which is the likely cause of her syndrome. Case Presentation. A 34-year-old female was found to have bilateral renal masses, 2.4 cm on the right and 7.6 cm on the left, as well as multiple, small cysts in the lungs. Chest imaging further characterized the lung cysts as being basilar predominant with the largest measuring 1.6cm. The left kidney mass was resected with a partial nephrectomy with final pathologic diagnosis of an oncocytoma. Genetic testing was undertaken as she did not have characteristic skin findings. A previously undescribed mutation in the FLCN gene (c.780-2A>G) was identified with no matches in the human genetic mutation database (HGMD). Review of that database identified over 160 separate mutations in the FLCN gene. Extensive history did not identify any family members who had similar disease processes suggesting that this could be a spontaneous mutation in the proband. Conclusions. This case highlights that the traditional view of Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome as having a strong familial component may be incorrect and that spontaneous mutation may be more common than previously thought. Also notable is the fact that this patient had no characteristically described fibrofolliculomas that traditionally are the hallmark of the condition. This case suggests that genetic testing should be obtained in all suspected cases of Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome as the patient may not present with the typical skin findings and may also present with no family history consistent with this disorder.
Long-term intake of vegetables and fruits and subjective cognitive function in US men

Objective To evaluate the prospective association of long-term intake of vegetables and fruits with late-life subjective cognitive function (SCF). Methods Among 27,842 men with a mean age of 51 years in 1986, we used multinomial logistic regression to examine the relation of vegetable and fruit consumption to future SCF. Average dietary intake was calculated from 5 repeated food frequency questionnaires collected every 4 years until 2002. SCF score was assessed twice (2008 and 2012) using a 6-item questionnaire; validity was supported by strong associations with APO e4 genotype. We categorized the average of the 2 scores as good, moderate, and poor SCF. Results Higher intakes of total vegetables, total fruits, and fruit juice were each significantly associated with lower odds of moderate or poor SCF after controlling for major nondietary factors and total energy intake. The association with total fruit intake was weaker after further adjusting for major dietary factors. In this model, the multivariate odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for vegetable intake (top vs bottom quintile) were 0.83 (0.76–0.92), p trend Conclusion Our findings support a long-term beneficial role of vegetable, fruit, and orange juice consumption on SCF.
Effects of phosphorus amended low phosphorus soil on soybean (Glycine max L.) and wheat (Titicum aestivum L.) yield and phosphorus uptake

A major constraint for crop production on disturbed soils is phosphorus (P). A 2-year field study was conducted on a disturbed soil to evaluate broiler litter ash (BLA) as an inexpensive phosphorus...
Learning to love math through the exploration of maypole patterns

In this paper, Prof. Christine von Renesse and Julianna Campbell show how seeing maypole dancing through a mathematical lens can excite liberal arts students to deeply explore mathematics. After de...
Genome-wide RNA pol II initiation and pausing in neural progenitors of the rat.

Global RNA sequencing technologies have revealed widespread RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription outside of gene promoters. Small 5′-capped RNA sequencing (Start-seq) originally developed for the detection of promoter-proximal Pol II pausing has helped improve annotation of Transcription Start Sites (TSSs) of genes as well as identification of non-genic regulatory elements. However, apart from the most well studied genomes of human and mouse, mammalian transcription has not been profiled with sufficiently high precision. We prepared and sequenced Start-seq libraries from rat (Rattus norgevicus) primary neural progenitor cells. Over 48 million uniquely mappable reads from two independent biological replicates allowed us to define the TSSs of 7365 known genes in the rn6 genome, reannotating 2503 TSSs by more than 5 base pairs, characterize promoter-associated antisense transcription, and profile Pol II pausing. By combining TSS data with polyA-selected RNA sequencing, we also identified thousands of potential new genes producing stable RNA as well as non-genic transcripts representing possible regulatory elements. Our study has produced the first Start-seq dataset for the rat. Apart from profiling transcription initiation, our data reaffirm the prevalence of Pol II pausing across the rat genome and indicate conservation of pausing mechanisms across metazoan genomes. We suggest that pausing location, at least in mammals, is constrained by a distance from initiation of transcription, whether it occurs at or outside of a gene promoter. Abundant antisense transcription initiation around protein coding genes indicates that Pol II recruited to the vicinity of a promoter is distributed to available start sites of transcription at either DNA strand. Transcriptome profiling of neural progenitors presented here will facilitate further studies of other rat cell types as well as other organisms.
A Bargaining Model v. Reality in FTC v. Qualcomm: A Reply to Kattan & Muris

In a recent article Joe Kattan and Tim Muris (K&M) criticize our article on the predictive power of bargaining models in antitrust, in which we used two recent applications to explore implications for uses of bargaining models in courts and antitrust agencies moving forward. K&M focus exclusively upon one aspect of our prior article: We argued that, as in AT&T/Time Warner, the market realities at issue in FTC v. Qualcomm are inconsistent with the use of Dr. Carl Shapiro’s bargaining model to predict competitive effects in the relevant market. K&M criticize our analysis and invite us to delve more deeply into the record evidence presented at trial, which they argue support the FTC’s case and Dr. Shapiro’s economic analysis. We accept their invitation. We demonstrate K&M’s position that the evidence “supports Shapiro’s testimony overwhelmingly” ignores the sound empirical evidence employed by Dr. Aviv Nevo during trial and has not aged well in light of the internal Apple documents made public in Qualcomm’s Opening Statement following the companies’ decision to settle the case. The documents undermine Apple’s public complaints about Qualcomm, call into question the validity of the underlying theory of harm in the FTC’s case, and directly refute some of the arguments K&M put forth in their critique of our prior article. We also discuss the implications of the newly-public internal Apple documents for the FTC’s case.
Twirling, whirling, and tensioning: Plectoneme formation and suppression in flexible filaments

A straight filament will undergo helical buckling if torsion is not offset by an appropriate level of tension. Combining experiment with an extension of Timoshenko's theory of elastic instability, this paper models the critical buckling point for a wide variety of filaments under tension and torsion.
Chemistry of Bioproducts

Bioproducts are bio-based products derived from sustainable resources or biomass. Energy, chemicals, and various materials obtained from such resources can be classified under the umbrella of bioproducts that provide an alternate to fossil fuel-derived products. Bioproducts offer the advantage of reducing greenhouse gas emission, arresting global warming, and preventing loss of fossil fuel resources. This document has attempted to review the three major classes of bioproducts, viz. bioenergy, biochemicals, and biomaterials from the viewpoint of a chemist. The emphasis has been primarily given to the understanding of chemical structures, formations, transformations, and reactions of various classified bioproducts. Chemistry is inevitable and omnipresent in the process of making bioproducts beginning with biomass through intermediates. The proper understanding, safe manipulation, and smart application of the chemistry involved in the generation of bioproducts are essential in the smooth transition from fossil fuel products to bioproducts with the ultimate goal of making the world a safer and cleaner place.
Light Z′ and dark matter from U(1)X gauge symmetry

Abstract We consider a U(1)X gauge symmetry extension of the Standard Model (SM) with a Z ′ -portal Majorana fermion dark matter that allows for a relatively light gauge boson Z ′ with mass of 10 MeV− a few GeV and a much heavier dark matter through the freeze-in mechanism. In a second scenario the roles are reversed, and the dark matter mass, in the keV range or so, lies well below the Z ′ mass, say, ∼1 GeV. We outline the parameter space that can be explored for these two scenarios at the future Lifetime Frontier experiments including Belle-II, FASER, LDMX and SHiP.
Steady Flow at the Carotid Bifurcation

Despite the fact that deaths from heart and blood vessel disease have been declining since 1968, these diseases still account for over 50 percent of the deaths in the United States each year. Atherosclerosis is a major form of arterial disease, and its genesis, proliferation and detection are complex and unsolved problems. Although exact mechanisms for lipid accumulation in the arterial wall are not fully established, the tendency for plaques to occur at preferred sites in the vasculature has stimulated the hypothesis that fluid mechanical factors play a causative role in atherogenesis and may, additionally, be involved in proliferation of early lesions. The passage of blood components into the initima and media, accretion of fibrin and other circulating cellular elements on the intimal surface, the rate of proliferation of intimai cells, and the extent of accumulation of fibrous elements within the subendothelial region may all be dependent, to some extent, on hemodynamic factors. Furthermore, as early disease progresses towards advanced obstruction, plaque encroachment upon the vessel lumen can create localized flow disturbances long before a hemodynamically significant stenosis is present. For these reasons the role of fluid mechanics in the genesis, proliferation and detection of atherosclerosis has received increasing attention.
Predicting need for pacemaker implantation early and late after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Objectives To identify associations with either early or late permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in order to develop an easily interpretable management algorithm. Background Injury to the conduction system after TAVR occasionally requires PPM. There is limited data on how to identify which patients will require PPM, particularly after discharge from index hospitalization after TAVR. Methods All patients having undergone TAVR at the University of North Carolina through August 2019 were identified and records were manually reviewed. Multivariable analyses were performed to identify associations with post-TAVR PPM due to high-degree atrioventricular block (HAVB). Comparisons were made between patients with no PPM (n = 304) and PPM required, stratified into early (during index hospitalization, n = 32) and late (during subsequent hospitalization, n = 11) PPM cohorts. Results Of the 347 patents included for analysis, 43 (12.4%) underwent post-TAVR PPM. In multivariable regression models, early PPM was associated with baseline bifascicular block (OR: 42.16; p 15% (OR: 3.61; p Conclusions Bifascicular block, any pacing on first post-TAVR ECG, and >15% valve oversizing are associated with early PPM, while RBBB and history of atrial fibrillation/flutter are associated with late PPM. We suggest a management strategy for post-TAVR surveillance and management of HAVB.
The entrepreneurial mindset and poverty

We investigate the role of the entrepreneurial mindset in facilitating entrepreneurship by those in poverty. The poverty context contains attributes that place individuals at a disadvantage when la...
Transient Receptor Potential Channel Ankyrin 1: A Unique Regulator of Vascular Function

TRPA1 (transient receptor potential ankyrin 1), the lone member of the mammalian ankyrin TRP subfamily, is a Ca2+-permeable, non-selective cation channel. TRPA1 channels are localized to the plasma membranes of various cells types, including sensory neurons and vascular endothelial cells. The channel is endogenously activated by byproducts of reactive oxygen species, such as 4-hydroxy-2-noneal, as well as aromatic, dietary molecules including allyl isothiocyanate, a derivative of mustard oil. Several studies have implicated TRPA1 as a regulator of vascular tone that acts through distinct mechanisms. First, TRPA1 on adventitial sensory nerve fibers mediates neurogenic vasodilation by stimulating the release of the vasodilator, calcitonin gene-related peptide. Second, TRPA1 is expressed in the endothelium of the cerebral vasculature, but not in other vascular beds, and its activation results in localized Ca2+ signals that drive endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Finally, TRPA1 is functionally present on brain capillary endothelial cells, where its activation orchestrates a unique biphasic propagation mechanism that dilates upstream arterioles. This response is vital for neurovascular coupling and functional hyperemia in the brain. This review provides a brief overview of the biophysical and pharmacological properties of TRPA1 and discusses the importance of the channel in vascular control and pathophysiology.
Concrete Formwork Systems

Concrete formwork - an introduction horizontal formwork systems - hand-set systems slab form design horizontal formwork systems - crane-set systems selection criteria for horizontal formwork system vertical formwork systems - crane dependent systems wall form design vertical formwork systems - crane-independent systems selection criteria for vertical formwork systems.
Abstract 12223: ICD Defibrillation Threshold Testing in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Should Not be Abandoned

Introduction: Defibrillation threshold testing (DFT) in patients undergoing ICD implantation has been routine, until recent data argue against such testing. In addition, a clear trend towards implantation of single coil ICD leads has been advocated because of less risk with extraction compared to dual coil leads. While these trends in patients with ischemic and non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy may have merit, whether they can be expanded to patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is not clear. Hypothesis: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients undergoing ICD implantation should undergo DFT’s to ensure adequate defibrillation thresholds. Methods: All patients with a diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who were implanted with an ICD at Tufts Medical Center were examined retrospectively from the year 2000 to 2014. Patient notes as well as medical records were examined for ICD parameters, including DFT’s and ICD system adjustments. A true DFT was defined as DFT testing until failure to defibrillate wa...
Worse long‐term surgical outcomes in elderly patients undergoing SPARCTM retropubic midurethral sling placement

Study Type – Diagnostic (case series) Level of Evidence 4 OBJECTIVE • The purpose of our study was to evaluate long-term clinical outcomes following placement of a retropubic mid-urethral sling in patients aged 70 and over and to compare outcomes with those of a younger cohort of patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS • Patients with stress urinary incontinence undergoing retropubic polypropylene sling (SPARCTM) placement were entered into a prospective, institutional review board-approved database. • Patients with at least 12 months follow-up were sent postoperative questionnaires assessing outcomes. Results of these questionnaires were compared for patients aged 70 or older and those younger than 70 years. RESULTS • A total of 337 patients who underwent SPARC sling placement in an 8-year period were identified. Of these, 290 patients had a minimum of 12 months follow-up, and among these patients, 235 (81%) answered postoperative mailed questionnaires. Average follow-up was 45.2 months. • Thirty-seven patients were 70 or older, and 198 were younger than 70. The older group had significantly lower success (53.1% vs 83.6%) and dry (6.1% vs 35.3%) rates than the younger cohort. • Assessment of preoperative variables determined that the older cohort had significantly more vaginal deliveries and a higher percentage of patients who had undergone either hysterectomy, previous prolapse and/or incontinence surgery. • There was no significant difference in Valsalva leak-point pressure, percentage of patients with intrinsic sphincteric deficiency or type 0 stress urinary incontinence between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS • Experience at our Institution shows that there are clearly lower success rates in older patients undergoing a SPARC sling as compared with a younger cohort of patients. • Parity, hysterectomy and previous pelvic organ prolapse/anti-incontinence surgery may also play a role in the difference in outcomes.
Projections of Power: Framing News, Public Opinion, and U.S. Foreign Policy

Projections of Power: Framing News, Public Opinion, and U.S. Foreign Policy. By Robert M. Entman. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003. 200p. $16.00.Which news frames prevail in the coverage of U.S. foreign policy? Robert Entman introduces a “cascading activation” model to explain news framing—“the process of selecting and enhancing some aspects of a perceived reality, and enhancing the salience of an interpretation and evaluation of that reality” (p. 5). According to the cascade model, news frames flow hierarchically, from the White House to Washington elites to the media—although they may also flow directly from the administration to the media—and then to the public. Whereas the “indexing” model holds that news reflects the homogeneity of Washington elites, Entman's model has political communication going both ways: Presidential administrations and Washington elites (congressmen, ex-government officials, lobbyists, academic experts) are guided and constrained by the news (actual or anticipated), just as news organizations tailor the news according to public opinion (actual or anticipated). Because different news frames activate different thoughts and feelings at each stage of the process (p. 9), some frames succeed better than others.
Spanish Working-Class History

Spanish history has consistently contrasted the vigor of the working classes with the torpor and ineptness of the upper classes. One sees traces of this in Golden Age dramas, where the servant is often livelier than his master and where, as in Fuente ovejuna, the poor collectively display great dignity and strength. That treatment becomes commonplace during the War of Independence, when in many localities common people forced their "betters" to join the initial revolt and, once the epic struggle was joined, carried out guerrilla war against the French invader. This dynamism, this capacity to assume unexpected forms, to suddenly erupt on the historical stage in decisive ways, has also characterized the Spanish working classes during the past two centuries. Their uniqueness in supporting anarchism so massively and for so long is well known. So, too, is the role they played during the Spanish Civil War, greater even than that of their ancestors against Napoleon in 1808-14, or of the Russian working classes in 1917-21. The English-speaking scholarly world has long been aware of the distinctive ness of the Spanish working classes. That awareness was born during the Civil War, when they were at their peak, and has been sustained by the continued popularity of such wonderful works as Gerald Brenan's Spanish Labyrinth. For many decades, however, this awareness did not lead to an effort to deepen and
Procollagen and collagen produced by a teratocarcinoma-derived cell line, tsd4. Evidence for a new molecular form of collagen.

Abstract Procollagen and collagen were isolated from the culture medium and cell layer of line TSD4 (obtained from mouse teratocarcinoma OTT6050). SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the highly purified procollagen fraction demonstrated that the fraction is composed of θ chains (150,000 daltons), pro α chains (130,000 daltons), and α chains (100,000 daltons). Limited pepsin digestion of this fraction yielded a single species of collagen molecules having a chain composition (α1) 3 , as did collagen isolated from the cell layer. Each α1 chain appears to be slightly larger than α1 chains from calf or human type I and type III collagen. Amino acid analysis and cyanogen bromide peptide profiles of pepsin-treated TSD4 collagen demonstrated significant differences from those of other collagens (II, III, IV) of the type α1(X) 3 , although similar to that of the α1 chain of type I collagen, [α1(I)] 2 α2. Taken together, acrylamide gel electrophoresis, amino acid composition, electron microscopy, and cyanogen bromide peptide analysis indicate that this material represents a new molecular species of collagen not previously characterized, probably related to [α1(I)] 3 .
Neural-specific deletion of Htra2 causes cerebellar neurodegeneration and defective processing of mitochondrial OPA1.

HTRA2, a serine protease in the intermembrane space, has important functions in mitochondrial stress signaling while its abnormal activity may contribute to the development of Parkinson’s disease. Mice with a missense or null mutation of Htra2 fail to thrive, suffer striatal neuronal loss, and a parkinsonian phenotype that leads to death at 30–40 days of age. While informative, these mouse models cannot separate neural contributions from systemic effects due to the complex phenotypes of HTRA2 deficiency. Hence, we developed mice carrying a Htra2-floxed allele to query the consequences of tissue-specific HTRA2 deficiency. We found that mice with neural-specific deletion of Htra2 exhibited atrophy of the thymus and spleen, cessation to gain weight past postnatal (P) day 18, neurological symptoms including ataxia and complete penetrance of premature death by P40. Histologically, increased apoptosis was detected in the cerebellum, and to a lesser degree in the striatum and the entorhinal cortex, from P25. Even earlier at P20, mitochondria in the cerebella already exhibited abnormal morphology, including swelling, vesiculation, and fragmentation of the cristae. Furthermore, the onset of these structural anomalies was accompanied by defective processing of OPA1, a key molecule for mitochondrial fusion and cristae remodeling, leading to depletion of the L-isoform. Together, these findings suggest that HTRA2 is essential for maintenance of the mitochondrial integrity in neurons. Without functional HTRA2, a lifespan as short as 40 days accumulates a large quantity of dysfunctional mitochondria that contributes to the demise of mutant mice.
Memory for faces: are caricatures better than photographs?

Because photographs capture an individual at a moment in time, they contain fleeting features as well as more stable ones. Caricature line drawings, however, include stable features and emphasize distinctive ones. As such, caricatures are closer to schematic memory representations than are photographs. Three experiments using faces of public figures test the hypothesis that caricatures yield better performance than do photographs. Contrary to hypothesis, photographs lead to better performance than do line-drawing caricatures in three different tasks: name recall, face recognition, and name-face verification reaction time. Photographs are also rated as more characteristic or representative of their targets than are line-drawing caricatures.
Is it possible to find a solar signature in the current climatic warming

Abstract This paper investigates whether it is possible to find a solar signature in the current Earth’s climatic warming. The attempt seems audacious as, on one hand, solar output variability on the atmosphere is far to be understood, and on the other hand, there is evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years can be attributed to human activities. However, series of the annual global average temperature, from 1861 up to now are available, showing periods of warming and cooling that are statistically significant. From recent findings, it is also known that solar irradiance shows a variability and can be modeled today with a good accuracy over the last century. The idea was to compare the likelihood linear trends shown in the climatic data with those of the irradiance, during same well defined time ranges. Changes from 1861 to 1975 show an unexpected remarkable correlation, whereas the period 1976–2000 completely deviates from the previous analysis. The 1861–1975 set of data supports the suggestion of an influence of solar irradiance on global climate, which was checked as a natural forcing: the response is found to be λ = 0.46 °C/W m−2, a quite reasonable value, bearing in mind the imprecision in the irradiance modeling. This analysis is also discussed in the scope of other forcings and uncertainties in the data.
Social Networks and Support, Gender, and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Hypertension Among Older Adults

Using data from the 2001 NHIS and the 2005–2006 and 2007–2008 NHANES, we examine how self-reporting a previous diagnosis of hypertension among adults aged 65+ differs by race/ethnicity for men and women; we explore the extent to which disparities are driven by group differences in social risk factors, particularly social support and integration; and last, whether these relationships mimic patterns seen for measured hypertension at interview. Findings indicate that rates of ever-diagnosed hypertension in both samples are highest among black seniors and older women and lowest among Mexican-American men, with the gender gap lowest among whites and substantially higher among blacks and Mexican-Americans. However, replication analyses of NHANES models using measured hypertension, instead of a self-report of having ever been diagnosed with hypertension, suggests that reporting bias and measurement error contribute to observed disparities, as racial/ethnic differences in hypertension rates are smaller when measured hypertension is examined, especially among women. Logistic regression models also show that while adjusting for group differences in measures of support and integration mediates some of the disparity in measured hypertension between Mexican-American and white seniors, adjusting for support and integration amplifies black-white disparities in both ever diagnosed and measured hypertension—driven primarily by adjustment for attendance at religious services, which reduces hypertension risk for all older adults but is more commonly reported among black seniors, especially women.
Effects of Acute Administration of l-Arginine on Morphine Antinociception and Morphine Distribution in Central and Peripheral Tissues of Mice

Abstract The effect of acute treatment with l -arginine, a substrate for nitric oxide synthase (NOS) that forms NO, an important second messenger, on morphine antinociception and distribution of morphine in central and peripheral tissues of male Swiss–Webster mice was determined. The antinociception activity of morphine (10 mg/kg, SC) was attenuated by 400 and 800 mg/kg doses of l -arginine, but a lower dose (200 mg/kg) had no effect. d -Arginine (200–800 mg/kg) did not modify morphine antinociception. The dose of l -arginine (200 mg/kg) that did not modify morphine antinociception also did not alter the distribution of morphine in brain regions and spinal cord. A dose of 800 mg/kg of l -arginine produced a significant decrease in the concentration of morphine in midbrain and spinal cord. The highest dose of l -arginine (800 mg/kg) also increased the concentration of morphine in spleen. None of the doses of l -arginine modified the concentration of morphine in serum or urine. The results suggests that acute activation of the NO system attenuates morphine antinociception possibly by inhibiting its uptake in central sites (midbrain and spinal cord) involved in antinociceptive actions.
Partial-fraction expansion: part 3 [rational function numerical analysis]

This series of articles has been discussing means of obtaining partial-fraction expansions (PFEs) of rational functions numerically. In parts 1 and 2 we presented the background on Chin and Steiglitz' algorithm (IEEE Trans. Circuits Syst., pp.42-45, 1977) for determining the PFE coefficients associated with the proper rational function H(s), which may contain multiple poles. We now continue with Chin and Steiglitz' algorithm, laying out the particulars of forming the PFE coefficients. The analysis leads to a very straightforward algorithm that requires only a few lines of code to implement.
225 Are Women at Higher Risk to Develop Radiocontrast-Induced Nephropathy (RCIN) Following Coronary Angiography?

ARE WOMEN AT HIGHER RISK TO DEVELOP RADIOCONTRAST-INDUCED NEPHROPATHY (RCIN) FOLLOWING CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY? Javier Neyra, Gordon Jacobsen, James E Novak Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan RCIN is the third leading cause of hospital-acquired acute kidney injury in the United States and is associated with unfavorable outcomes. It is unknown whether female gender influences the development of RCIN. We retrospectively utilized a population-based linked administrative database of hospitalized patients who underwent coronary angiography from January 2008 through December 2009 to assess multiple risk factors for RCIN. We excluded patients with baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 25% from baseline, absolute increase in creatinine ≥ 0.5 mg/dL, or decrease in eGFR ≥ 25% within 72 hours after contrast exposure. A total of 1211 patients were included in the study, 481 (39.7%) with eGFR between 15 and 59 mL/min/1.73m and 730 (60.3%) with eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73m. There were 530 (43.8%) female patients included in the study (242 in the group with eGFR between 15 and 59 mL/min/1.73m and 288 in the group with eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73m). Among these patients, RCIN occurred in 105 (19.8%) women and in 93 (13.6%) men (p = 0.004). After adjustment for possible confounders, multivariable analyses identified female gender to be an independent predictor of RCIN (odds ratio [OR] 1.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17 – 2.21, p = 0.003). Other predictors included the use of furosemide (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.83 – 3.47, p 100 mL (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.04 – 1.98, p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses of female gender as a risk factor for RCIN showed a significant OR (1.94, 95% CI 1.25 – 2.99, p = 0.003) in patients with eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73m but not in those with eGFR between 15 and 59 mL/min/1.73m (1.09, 95% CI 0.66 – 1.81, p = 0.742). Women with eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73m are at higher risk than men to develop RCIN following coronary angiography.
Blind Relay Network with Viterbi Detection

This paper compares the performance of a blind relay communication system with that of a non-blind relay communication system. For a blind system, a differential space-time block code (DSTBC) or a blind Viterbi detection is used, and for a non-blind system, a space-time block code (STBC) is used. Also, this paper takes another blind detection mechanism, the Zhang's code, and compares its performance with that of the blind Viterbi detection under a Jakes' fading environment. It was found that the case of a relay closer to the source shows better performance than the case of a relay closer to the destination. It was also observed that the blind Viterbi decoder shows better performance than the Zhang's code under the Jakes' fading environment.
Forest gene diversity is correlated with the composition and function of soil microbial communities

The growing field of community and ecosystem genetics indicates that plant genotype and genotypic variation are important for structuring communities and ecosystem processes. Little is known, however, regarding the effects of stand gene diversity on soil communities and processes under field conditions. Utilizing natural genetic variation occurring in Populus spp. hybrid zones, we tested the hypothesis that stand gene diversity structures soil microbial communities and influences soil nutrient pools. We found significant unimodal patterns relating gene diversity to soil microbial community composition, microbial exoenzyme activity of a carbon-acquiring enzyme, and availability of soil nitrogen. Multivariate analyses indicate that this pattern is due to the correlation between gene diversity, plant secondary chemistry, and the composition of the microbial community that impacts the availability of soil nitrogen. Together, these data from a natural system indicate that stand gene diversity may affect soil microbial communities and soil processes in ways similar to species diversity (i.e., unimodal patterns). Our results further demonstrate that the effects of plant genetic diversity on other organisms may be mediated by plant functional trait variation.
Serine Protease Autotransporters of Enterobacteriaceae (SPATEs): Biogenesis and Function

Serine Protease Autotransporters of Enterobacteriaceae (SPATEs) constitute a large family of proteases secreted by Escherichia coli and Shigella. SPATEs exhibit two distinct proteolytic activities. First, a C-terminal catalytic site triggers an intra-molecular cleavage that releases the N-terminal portion of these proteins in the extracellular medium. Second, the secreted N-terminal domains of SPATEs are themselves proteases; each contains a canonical serine-protease catalytic site. Some of these secreted proteases are toxins, eliciting various effects on mammalian cells. Here, we discuss the biogenesis of SPATEs and their function as toxins.
Effects of Chronic Nitric Oxide Inhibition on the Renal Excretory Response to Leptin

Objective: Previous investigations have demonstrated that leptin promotes natriuresis with a renal tubular effect. However, the mechanisms involved in this response are unclear. The present study was designed to examine the hypothesis that the natriuretic response to leptin in normotensive Sprague-Dawley rats is regulated by nitric oxide (NO). Research Methods and Procedures: The hemodynamic and renal excretory effects of intravenous bolus administration of pharmacological doses of synthetic murine leptin were examined in groups of control Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 8), Sprague-Dawley rats treated for 4 days with the NO synthase inhibitor Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) (n = 8), and Sprague-Dawley rats treated for 4 days with l-NAME followed by acute treatment with sodium nitroprusside (n = 8). Results: In the control group (n = 8), an intravenous bolus of leptin, 400 μg/kg body weight, increased urinary sodium excretion 4- to 6-fold. In the Sprague-Dawley rats chronically administered l-NAME (n = 8), an intravenous bolus of 400 μg/kg of leptin did not increase sodium excretion. Acute sodium nitroprusside infusion to Sprague-Dawley rats chronically treated with l-NAME (n = 8) was associated with partial restoration of the sodium excretory response to leptin administration. Discussion: Collectively, these results are interpreted to suggest that the natriuretic and diuretic responses to leptin observed in the Sprague-Dawley rat require a functional NO system.
The promise of education

Americans experience their world like most others in developed nations as ‘the age of the terrific deal’. Global information access, international marketplaces, unlimited choices, personal customiz...
Using service responsibility tables to supplement UML in analyzing e-service systems

This paper proposes using Service Responsibility Tables (SRTs) as a tool in analyzing e-service systems. First it discusses difficulties and deficiencies of using formal modeling languages such as UML in analyzing e-service systems. It proposes using SRTs as an informal language and lightweight analytical tool to be used by business professionals in analyzing e-service systems. SRTs are based on a service value chain framework but do not rely on abstract concepts and constructs, and therefore can be used by business professionals to supplement UML. We suggest a set of heuristics for transforming SRTs into two key UML diagrams, thereby illustrating how SRTs can be used as a bridge from relatively informal modeling by business professionals to formal modeling techniques for systems design and implementation by IT professionals.
Virulence of Mycoplasma synoviae in poultry: a review

Mycoplasma synoviae belongs to the class Mollicutes which includes the mycoplasmas, the ureaplasmas, the acholeplasmas and the spiroplasmas. These organisms, most of which are parasites or commensals of plants, insects and animals, are among the smallest prokaryotes capable of independent life. Numerous factors have been associated with the pathogenicity of Mycoplasma infection, including cytadhesion to host target cells, evasion of host immune defences, stimulation of host immune-related self injury, toxin production and harmful effects on host cell metabolism. In animals, mycoplasmas usually colonise mucosal epithelial surfaces of the upper respiratory and urogenital tracts and the mammary gland; however, some mycoplasmas have the potential to invade systemically. Strains of M. synoviae differ in the severity with which they cause disease in poultry, from subclinical infection to upper respiratory disease and, occasionally, septicaemia and synovitis. Current findings indicate that the pathogenicity of M. synoviae in poultry involves attachment and colonisation of the organisms in target tissues; however, one or more as yet unidentified factors seem also to be necessary.
Nonlinear registration using variational principle for mutual information

We extend the multimodal image registration method described in Alexander and Summers [Fast registration algorithm using a variational principle for mutual information, Proc. SPIE Int. Soc. Opt. Eng. 5032 (2003) 1053-1063] to nonlinear registration. A variational principle maximizing mutual information leads to an Euler-Lagrange (EL) equation for the displacement field, represented here in a basis of cubic B-spline functions. A cost function is constructed from the sum of squares of the residuals of the EL equation at a subset of pixels where the magnitude of the spatial gradient of intensity exceeds a user-chosen threshold. The unknown coefficients in the displacement field representation are evaluated using a Levenberg-Marquardt minimization procedure. The proposed method was successfully applied to several image pairs of the same and different modalities, and an artificially constructed series of images containing nonlinear distortions and noise.
Medium energy ion irradiation capability for studies of radiation damage effects over a wide temperature range

Abstract In this report, we present preliminary ion irradiation experiments performed using a new medium energy (up to ∼20 MeV), high temperature ion irradiation capability that we developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Details of ion fluence and irradiation temperature (including ion beam heating) control, measurements procedure and accuracy are described. In particular, we investigated irradiation-induced atomic intermixing in a layered structure composed of MgO and HfO 2 thin films deposited on a sapphire substrate. This multi-layered structure represents a dispersion nuclear fuel form surrogate. To simulate a nuclear reactor environment, we performed ion irradiation using 10 MeV Au ions to a fluence of 5 × 10 15 cm −2 at a substrate temperature of 1000 °C. The degree of atomic intermixing was assessed from depth profiles of Mg, Hf, and Al atoms, which were obtained using Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. We found considerable interlayer mixing for sample regions in close proximity to the sapphire substrate.
Synthesis and characterization of rhenium(VII) oxide complexes of phenothiazines

Five complexes of rhenium(VII) oxide with N-alkylphenothiazines have been synthesized and characterized on the basis of elemental analyses, molar conductances, and u.v.-vis., i.r. and n.m.r. spectral data. The molecular formulas of the new ionic complexes are: [ReO3(PTZ)2(H2O)][ReO4], PTZ = chlorpromazine, promethazine or ethopropazine; [ReO3(TF)(H2O)][ReO4], TF = trifluoperazine; and [ReO3(TR)3][ReO4(H2O)2]·H2O, TR = thioridazine. Tentative structures have been proposed.
Calibration of the Ogawa passive ozone sampler for aircraft cabins

Abstract Elevated ozone levels in aircraft cabins would pose a health hazard to exposed passengers and crew. The Ogawa passive sampler is a potentially useful tool for measuring in-cabin ozone levels. Accurate interpretation of measured values requires knowing the effective collection rate of the sampler. To calibrate the passive sampler for the aircraft-cabin environment, ozone was measured simultaneously with an Ogawa sampler and an active ozone analyzer that served as a transfer standard, on 11 commercial passenger flights, during Feb–Apr 2007. An empirical pressure-independent effective collection rate that can be used to convert nitrate mass to ozone mixing ratio was determined to be 14.3 ± 0.9 atm cm 3 min −1 (mean ± standard error). This value is similar to estimates from other applications where airflow rates are low, such as in personal monitoring and in chamber studies. This study represents the first field calibration of any passive sampler for the aircraft cabin environment.
Kootenai River White Sturgeon Spawning Migration Behavior and a Predictive Model

Abstract Each autumn and spring, adult white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus migrate from the lower Kootenai River and Kootenay Lake, British Columbia, to prespawn staging reaches in Idaho. In spring, they migrate further upriver to a spawning reach near Bonners Ferry, Idaho. We monitored movement and behavior of 49 reproductively mature white sturgeon with radio and sonic telemetry from 1991 through 1997. White sturgeon responded to mitigated flows from 1994 through 1997, migrating substantial distances to a spawning reach soon after the onset of local runoff and rising water temperatures. Males migrated at temperatures of 5.5–12.1°C, 2 weeks before spawning; females followed about a week later, at slightly warmer temperatures. Females stayed in the spawning reach 1–28 d, averaging 10.5 d. Males spent 7 d to 2 months in the spawning reach, averaging 30 d. After spawning, 63% of the females moved immediately to Kootenay Lake; the remainder spent a longer time in the river downstream of the spawning reach...