cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relative Sensitivity of Three Endangered Fishes, Colorado Squawfish, Bonytail, and Razorback Sucker, to Selected Metal Pollutants

Abstract The acute toxicity of four metal pollutants to larval and juvenile stages of endangered Colorado squawfish ( Ptychocheilus lucius ), bonytail ( Gila elegans ), and razorback sucker ( Xyrauchen texanus ) were determined in a water quality representative of that in the Green River, Utah. The rank order of toxicity (96-hr LC 50 ) of the metals to all species and life stages from most toxic to least toxic was mercury (57–168 μg/liter) > cadmium (78–168 μg/liter) > hexavalent chromium (32,000–123,000 μg/liter) > lead (>170,000 μg/liter). In tests with lead, a precipitate formed in all test solutions and no mortalities occurred in these treatments. The larvae of each species were as sensitive or more sensitive than the juveniles to cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and mercury. Overall, the three species exhibited similar sensitivities to cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and mercury. Comparison of test results for the juveniles with toxicity values reported for other freshwater fishes tested in different water qualities indicates that the endangered fishes are more sensitive to cadmium than other cyprinids and centrarchids and less sensitive than salmonids, whereas their sensitivity to hexavalent chromium and mercury is similar to that of other cyprinids, centrarchids, and salmonids.
Maturation of vulnerability to excitotoxicity: intracellular mechanisms in cultured postnatal hippocampal neurons

Neuronal vulnerability to excitotoxicity changes dramatically during postnatal maturation. To study the intracellular mechanisms by which maturation alters vulnerability in single neurons, we developed techniques to maintain hippocampal neurons from postnatal rats in vitro. After establishing their neuronal phenotype with immunohistochemistry and electrophysiology, we determined that these neurons exhibit developmentally regulated vulnerability to excitotoxicity. At 5 days in vitro, NMDA-induced cell death at 24 h increased from 3.6% in 3-day-old rats to >90% in rats older than 21 days. Time-lapse imaging of neuronal morphology following NMDA demonstrated increasingly prevalent and severe injury as a function of postnatal age. Neither high- nor low-affinity calcium dyes demonstrated differences in peak NMDA-induced [Ca(2+)](i) increases between neurons from younger and older animals. However, neurons from older animals were uniformly distinguished from those from younger animals by their subsequent loss of [Ca(2+)](i) homeostasis. Because of the role of mitochondrial Ca(2+) buffering in [Ca(2+)](i) homeostasis, we measured NMDA-induced changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi) as a function of postnatal age. NMDA markedly dissipated DeltaPsi in neurons from mature rats, but minimally in those from younger rats. These data demonstrate that, in cultures of postnatal hippocampal neurons, (a) vulnerability to excitotoxicity increases as a function of the postnatal age of the animal from which they were harvested, and (b) developmental regulation of vulnerability to NMDA occurs at the level of the mitochondrion.
Moving the Arms to Activate the Legs

Recent studies on neurologically intact individuals and individuals with spinal cord injury indicate that rhythmic upper limb muscle activation has an excitatory effect on lower limb muscle activation during locomotor-like tasks. This finding suggests that gait rehabilitation therapy after neurological injury should incorporate simultaneous upper limb and lower limb rhythmic exercise to take advantage of neural coupling.
Differential effects of antipsychotic medications on polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis in rats: Relationship with liver delta6-desaturase expression

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), a lipid family comprised of omega-3 (n-3) and n-6 fatty acids, are a critical component of cellular membranes, and recent in vitro studies have found that antipsychotic medications up-regulate genes responsible for PUFA biosynthesis. To evaluate this effect in vivo, rats were treated with risperidone (1.5, 3, 6mg/kg/day), paliperidone (1.5, 3, 6mg/kg/day), olanzapine (2.5, 5, 10mg/kg/day), quetiapine (5, 10, 20mg/kg/day), haloperidol (1, 3mg/kg/day) or vehicle through their drinking water for 40day. Effects on liver Fads1, Fads2, Elovl2, and Elovl5 mRNA expression, plasma indices of n-3 (plasma 22:6/18:3 and 20:5/18:3 ratios) and n-6 (plasma 20:4/18:2 and 20:3/18:2 ratios) biosynthesis, and peripheral (erythrocyte, heart) and central (frontal cortex) membrane PUFA composition were determined. Only risperidone and its metabolite paliperidone significantly and selectively up-regulated liver delta-6 desaturase (Fads2) mRNA expression, and robustly increased plasma indices of n-3 and n-6 fatty acid biosynthesis. In risperidone- and paliperidone-treated rats, plasma indices of n-3 and n-6 fatty acid biosynthesis were all positively correlated with liver Fads2 mRNA expression, but not Fads1, Elovl2, or Elovl5 mRNA expression. All antipsychotics at specific doses increased erythrocyte docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) composition, and all except quetiapine increased arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6) composition. Risperidone, paliperidone, and olanzapine increased heart DHA and AA composition, and no antipsychotic altered frontal cortex DHA or AA composition. These in vivo data demonstrate that augmentation of PUFA biosynthesis is not common to all antipsychotic medications, and that risperidone and paliperidone uniquely increase delta-6 desaturase (Fads2) mRNA expression and most robustly increase PUFA biosynthesis and peripheral membrane composition.
Choice with probabilistic reinforcement: effects of delay and conditioned reinforcers.

Two experiments measured pigeons' choices between probabilistic reinforcers and certain but delayed reinforcers. In Experiment 1, a peck on a red key led to a 5-s delay and then a possible reinforcer (with a probability of .2). A peck on a green key led to a certain reinforcer after an adjusting delay. This delay was adjusted over trials so as to estimate an indifference point, or a duration at which the two alternatives were chosen about equally often. In all conditions, red houselights were present during the 5-s delay on reinforced trials with the probabilistic alternative, but the houselight colors on nonreinforced trials differed across conditions. Subjects showed a stronger preference for the probabilistic alternative when the houselights were a different color (white or blue) during the delay on nonreinforced trials than when they were red on both reinforced and nonreinforced trials. These results supported the hypothesis that the value or effectiveness of a probabilistic reinforcer is inversely related to the cumulative time per reinforcer spent in the presence of stimuli associated with the probabilistic alternative. Experiment 2 tested some quantitative versions of this hypothesis by varying the delay for the probabilistic alternative (either 0 s or 2 s) and the probability of reinforcement (from .1 to 1.0). The results were best described by an equation that took into account both the cumulative durations of stimuli associated with the probabilistic reinforcer and the variability in these durations from one reinforcer to the next.
Poor recovery after the first two attacks of multiple sclerosis is associated with poor outcome five years later.

Objective Examine the relative importance of several risk factors for progression, in a large sample of MS patients. Methods Using a retrospective design in a single university-based MS treatment center, we studied 207 patients with relapsing remitting MS diagnosed, treated at our center, evaluated within one year of their second attack, and at least 2 years after their first attack. Risk factors were: 1) age greater than 40 at first attack; 2) more than 2 attacks in the 2 years from onset; 3) EDSS > 1.5 after second attack (poor recovery); 4) male gender; and 5) motor symptoms at onset. Groups were defined as having a few (0 to 2) or many (3 to 5) risk factors. Results Two hundred seven patients were followed for an average of 94 months (SD = 44). 30% were over 40 years of age at onset, 38% had more than 2 attacks in 2 years, 28% had an EDSS > 1.5 after the second attack (i.e., had poor recovery), 24% were male, and 58% had motor symptoms at onset. Regression analysis and Kaplan–Meier survival curves that suggested poor recovery after the first two attacks were the best individual predictors of progression at 5 years after initial diagnosis. In addition, having many individual risk factors was associated with having a higher risk of progression (p < .001 by Mann Whitney U, sustained final EDSS at an average disease duration of 9.7 years). Conclusions This study suggests a paramount importance of recovery from early attacks, as well as an additive effect of individual risk factors for progression of MS in the first several years after diagnosis.
Regional hydrogeology of agricultural drainage wells in Iowa

In Iowa, agricultural drainage wells (ADW9s) represent the largest deliberate transfer of degraded water into major aquifers. An estimated 700 ADW9s remove tile and surface waters from level farmland and inject it into underlying aquifers. Of 174 field-identified ADW9s, 165 were grouped into 3 clusters in north-central Iowa (17 in Floyd County, 44 in Wright County, and 104 in Humbolt-Pocahontas Counties). Geologically, most of the identified ADW9s penetrate the Des Moines glacial lobe and discharge into carbonate aquifers. These aquifers are in the intermediate ground-water flow regime, with recharge mainly from the overlying landscape and discharge mainly to rivers. A graphic flow net model indicates a progressive increase in recharge down gradient, providing increased dilution for contaminants. Modeling suggests that tile-line drainages have averaged about 10-12 ppm nitrate-N during the past decade, mostly derived from fertilizer applications. ADW effluents measured during Spring 1983 ranged between 10 and 20 ppm nitrate-N. Plumes associated with ADW9s would contain nitrate-N in concentrations approaching 20 ppm near the source, decreasing down gradient to 2-6 ppm with ground-water mixing. Joint and bedding-plane openings in the carbonate aquifer formations were measured in quarries, and the effective porosities were about 1%. If it is assumed that diffuse flow approximates isotropic and homogeneous conditions, ground-water flow velocities range from 500 to 26,000 ft/yr. Residence times for ground water in the carbonate aquifers range from a few months to a few decades, depending on the ground-water velocity and the length of individual flow paths.
Antimutagenic Activity of Milk Fermented by Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus

Abstract Antimutagenic activity of acetone or ethylacetate extracts of skim milk fermented by Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus , or a combination of both the organisms was studied using Salmonella typhimurium (TA 98 and TA 100). Mutagens used were 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide (a direct-acting mutagen) and 2-aminofluorene (a mutagen requiring S9 activation). Extracts from all fermented milks showed significant ( P L. bulgaricus plus S. thermophilus showed significantly ( P S. thermophilus alone. Solvent (acetone vs. ethyl acetate) effect was not significant with 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide as mutagen. However, in the case of 2-aminofluorene, acetone extracts showed significantly ( P S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus .
Motional heat loss of a Gifford-McMahon cryorefrigerator

The motional heat loss of a Gifford-McMahon (G-M) cryorefrigerator was calculated by a finite difference formulation. The two-dimensional axisymmetric finite difference model consisted of a set of equations describing the transient heat transfer in the radial and axial directions from the displacer to its housing during the displacer's cyclic motion. Several types of displacer motion were considered, including a sinusoidal profile and a profile determined by a previously developed algorithm that described the dynamics, fluid dynamics and thermodynamics of the cryorefrigerator. Several cases were analysed to determine the equivalent heat loss as a function of various parameters.
SU-E-CAMPUS-J-06: Development of a Tumor Blood Flow Measurement System for Proton Therapy Patients

Purpose: To develop a tumor blood flow rate measurement system utilizing positron emission after proton therapy for potential evaluation of the efficacy of radiotherapy, concurrent chemotherapy and/or antiangiogenesis therapy of proton therapy patients. Method: Daily proton treatment generates positron emission nuclei, i.e., 15O, 13N and 11C inside the treated volume of patients. In‐room measurement of activities of 15O as a function of time right after proton treatment can directly measure tumor blood flow rate due to the biological washout characteristics. A pair of NaI2 detectors and coincidence detection electronics were obtained. The NaI2 detectors were mounted on a modified C‐arm for good axial alignment and flexible isocentric rotation. The detector energy spectrum was calibrated using 60Co, 137Cs and 22Na sources. The energy window was set for 511 keV peaks. Current system is not optimized for collimation and shielding. The system performance was evaluated using 18F‐FDG. Proton irradiated water and/or ice were also measured for positron emission activity and the acquired data were analyzed. Detector shielding and collimation is under construction. IRB approval for proton patient blood flow rate measurement was obtained for evaluation of their tumor blood flow rates and changes over treatment course. Results: The C‐arm based detector platform demonstrated precise alignment and great flexibility for different treatment sites. The 18F‐FDG decay measurement using the system showed the measured half life is within 16s of the theoretical value. Activity measurement of proton irradiated water and ice showed about 10s half life difference between the measured and theoretical value. This was potentially due to the activation inside the water/ice container and lack of detector collimation and shielding. Conclusions: A non‐invasive in‐room tumor blood flow rate measurement system for proton therapy patients is under development. The preliminary data is reported. American Cancer Society Chris DiMarco Institutional Research Grant
A 100 MHz MEMS SiBAR phase modulator for quadrature phase shift keying

A technique is proposed to employ the phase shifting capability of a MEMS resonator to form the basic component of a switchless quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) scheme. The advantages of such an approach include direct baseband to RF modulation, no generation of intermodulation products since the resonator is operated linearly, and small size, cost, and power dissipation. An example phase modulator system built using a 100 MHz SiBAR demonstrates at least 54° of relative phase shift.
A Certified Diabetes Educator and a Physical Therapist in Japan

1．糖尿病教育指導の専門家が必要な理由―糖尿病専門医の絶対数の少なさと日本での患者数の急増に加え，社会の要請としての医療費コスト削減。2．日本糖尿病療養指導士とは何か，この制度の目的，認定機関―糖尿病の治療と教育の専門的知識を持った国家資格を得て医療行為を行う者。目的は医療従事者における糖尿病ケアに関する知識，技術の水準を一定にし，認定医とパートナーシップによる治療サービスが可能な人を増やすこと。認定するのは日本糖尿病学会と糖尿病協会の合意に基づく認定機構(第三セクター)。3．日本以外の制度との関係，米国糖尿病教育士―米国で1972年より検討が始まり1985年より開始され，医師も受験し認定を受けなければならない資格が出来た，このシステムを日本に導入する機運が高まった。同年，前琉球大学三村悟郎教授らによってこの資格の教科書の翻訳がなされた。4．理学療法士からみた日本糖尿病療養指導士―インスリン注射を行うことは医療法上許されていない。しかし全般を知ることで指導はできるという点で受験資格が与えられ，活躍が期待される。中でも運動療法，足のケア，運動器官機能の過用症候群の予防などは専門的な領域となろう。5．将来性―医療費削減に有効であるとなれば社会の要請によって日本の公的な医療保険制度と何らかの関係が生じる可能性もあろう。
Somatic cell cloned transgenic bovine neurons for transplantation in parkinsonian rats

Parkinson's disease symptoms can be improved by transplanting fetal dopamine cells into the putamen of parkinsonian patients. Because the supply of human donor tissue is limited and variable, an alternative and genetically modifiable non-human source of tissue would be valuable. We have generated cloned transgenic bovine embryos, 42% of which developed beyond 40 days. Dopamine cells collected from the ventral mesencephalon of the cloned fetuses 42 to 50 days post-conception survived transplantation into immunosuppressed parkinsonian rats and cells from cloned and wild-type embryos improved motor performance. Somatic cell cloning can efficiently produce transgenic animal tissue for treating parkinsonism.
Glaucoma progression detection using variational expectation maximization algorithm

Glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, is an optic neuropthy characterized by distinctive changes in the optic nerve head (ONH) and visual field. In this context, the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT), a confocal scanning laser technology, has been commonly used to detect glaucoma and monitor its progression. In this paper, we present a new framework for detection of glaucomatour progression using the HRT images. In contrast to previous works that do not integrate a priori knowledge available on the images and particularly the spatial pixel dependency in the change detection map, we propose the use of the Markov Random Field to handle a such dependency. To our knowledge, the task of inferring the glaucomatous changes with a Variational Expectation Maximization VEM algorithm will be used for the first time in the glaucoma diagnosis framework. We then compared the diagnostic performance of the proposed framework to existing methods of progression detection.
Larval habitat selection in Crepidula (L.) and its effect on adult distribution patterns

Larval settlement and metamorphosis of the marine gastropods Crepidula fornicata (L.) and Crepidula plana Say were investigated to determine the ecological role of larval habitat selection. Field studies conducted during June (prerecruitment sample) and August (during recruitment) established the aggregative dispersion of these species on discrete hard substrata. Differences in the types of Crepidula- occupied substrata from June to August provided evidence for enhanced mortality of Crepidula spp. juveniles that colonized suboptimal substrata. This source of differential mortality implies a risk involved in random settlement, hence selection for the utilization of settlement cues. Laboratory experiments were conducted to test the response (metamorphosis) of Crepidula larvae to a variety of potential inducers. These bioassays demonstrate that metamorphosis of Crepidula larvae can be induced by a water-soluble chemical (or possibly chemicals) associated with adults. This finding, which is complemented by field studies showing significant positive effects of Crepidula occupancy on larval recruitment to experimental substrata, indicates that Crepidula larvae settle gregariously. In addition, larvae are capable of responding to other ecologically relevant species to find a habitat suitable for settlement and survival. We conclude that the aggregative dispersion of C. fornicata and C. plana on discrete substrata can be explained by the results of selective larval settlement which are accentuated by differential mortality of postmetamorphic individuals.
Are dietary restraint scales valid measures of longer-term dietary restriction? Objective biological and behavioral data suggest not.

Observational studies indicate that dieting predicts bulimic symptom onset, but experiments indicate that low-calorie diets reduce bulimic symptoms. One explanation for the inconsistent findings is that dietary restraint scales used in the former studies are not valid measures of dietary restriction. Indeed, we previously found that dietary restraint scales were not correlated with objective measures of acute caloric intake. In this follow-up report, we re-evaluate this finding using two measures of longer-term energy intake: Caloric intake from repeated lunches purchased at worksite cafeterias over a 3-month period and estimates of energy intake derived from two doubly labeled water (DLW) studies. All three studies measured restraint using the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ)—Cognitive Restraint (CR) scale; all three also employed measures of self-reported caloric intake (food diaries and/or 24 h food recalls). CR showed significant inverse correlations with self-reported caloric intake (as it has in past studies), but was not correlated with observationally measured caloric intake in the cafeteria or with DLW-measured caloric intake over 2 weeks in either of the DLW studies. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that restrained eaters may consume less food than they would like to eat but not less than they need to maintain energy balance. The findings could also explain past discrepancies in the literature concerning dieting as a risk factor for bulimic pathology.
Occurrence of Cretaceous Reptiles in the Moreno Shales of the Southern Coast Ranges, California

Recently, S. P. Welles called attention to a plesiosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of the San Joaquin Valley, California, and on the basis of its skeletal characters, long neck and short head, referred this sauropterygian to the family Elasmosauridae [1]. During the past summer, field parties from the California Institute of Technology explored the Moreno formation as exposed in the Panoche Hills, northwestern Fresno County. Our attention was drawn specifically to this region by the discovery of reptilian remains by Robert T. White of the Barnsdall Oil Company, The materials found by Mr. White proved to be on excavation a shoulder girdle, one flipper, a series of sixty or more vertebrae and remains of the posterior part of the skull and jaws of a plesiosaur. Apparently the marine reptile represented by these remains possesses several of the characters noted by Welles in the plesiosaur found approximately five miles farther north in the Panoche Hills, although the second specimen is distinctly smaller than the first. Further search in the region where the second plesiosaur was found revealed the presence of two other types of reptiles. These represent mosasaurs and an hadrosaurian dinosaur. Both types are of interest, and the latter particularly, because for many years no record has been made of the presence of these groups in Cretaceous deposits of. the Pacific Coast of North America, although they are not uncommon in certain horizons of the Cretaceous found elsewhere on the North American continent. Discovery of these reptiles in this far western area is of considerable scientific interest and possesses great significance since among other facts derived from the study of the remains as well as of the occurrence, light may be thrown not only on the age relationships of the Moreno but also upon the conditions under which at least certain portions of the formation accumulated.
Medical Innovation Then and Now: Perspectives of Innovators Responsible for Transformative Drugs

Effective medical innovation is a common goal of policymakers, physicians, researchers, and patients both in the private and public sectors. With the recent slowdown in approval of new transformative prescription drugs, many have looked back to the "golden years" of the 1980s and 1990s when numerous breakthrough products emerged. We conducted a qualitative study of innovators (n=127) directly involved in creation of groundbreaking drugs during that era to determine what made their work successful and how the process of conducting medical innovation has changed over the past 3 decades. Transcripts were analyzed using standard coding techniques and the constant comparative method of qualitative data analysis to identify the positive features of and challenges posed by the past and present therapeutic innovation environments (70 of the 127 interviewees explicitly addressed these issues). Interviewees emphasized the continued central role played by individuals and the institutions they were a part of in driving innovation. In addition, respondents discussed the importance of collaboration between individuals and institutions to share resources and expertise. Strong underlying basic science was also cited to be a major contributing factor to the success of an innovation. The climate for modern-day medical innovation involves a greater emphasis on patenting in academia, difficulty negotiating the technology transfer process, and funding constraints. Regulatory demands or reimbursement concerns were not commonly cited as factors that influenced transformative innovation. This study suggests that generating future transformative innovation will require a simplification of the current technology transfer process, continued commitment to basic science research, and policy changes that promote meaningful collaboration between individuals from disparate institutions.
Relative contributions of congruence and personality dimensions to job satisfaction.

Abstract Research generally supports Holland's postulated relation between congruence and job satisfaction, but the magnitude of the relation seldom surpasses .30. Sample size and breadth and measurement of congruence and job satisfaction, however, are often limited. This research surveyed the job satisfaction of 395 diversely employed adults to determine whether personality dimensions recognized in the five-factor model of personality contributed to prediction of job satisfaction beyond the contribution of congruence. Personality also was examined as a primary predictor. Congruence, as measured by each of two indices, did not predict job satisfaction, but the block of Big-Five personality dimensions did contribute significantly to the prediction of job satisfaction; extraversion and low neuroticism were unique predictors. Results also failed to support the hypothesis that personality moderates the congruence–satisfaction relation.
A carbon capture and distribution network design problem for carbon emission reduction and utilization

As global warming turns to be a very serious global problem, most worlds' major carbon emitting countries have enacted climate-change laws to tackle carbon emissions. Enterprises strike a balance between profit objective and emission reduction obligations. As capture technologies of carbon dioxide are getting economically feasible and operable in mature market, carbon dioxide can be captured to be used or sold for profit. This paper addresses carbon reduction and utilization strategy. A carbon capture and distribution network design problem is studied. A mathematical model of the addressed problem is proposed with the objective of maximizing the profit of the network on carbon reduction and utilization. Computational results have demonstrated the effectiveness of the model of the carbon capture and distribution network design problem.
Sorting Networks of Logarithmic Depth, Further Simplified

We further simplify Paterson’s version of the Ajtai–Komlos–Szemeredi sorting network, and its analysis, mainly by tuning the invariant to be maintained.
Change in Platelet Factor 3 as a Means of Demonstrating Immune Reactions Involving Platelets: Its Use as a Test for Quinidine-Induced Thrombocytopenia

An increase in platelet factor 3 activity of intact platelet-rich plasma (PRP), measured as a shortening of the product I or Russell's viper venom time, has been found to accompany platelet damage. In the present study increased platelet factor 3 activity was found on incubation of PRP with hetero-antibodies directed against platelets, as well as in incubation mixtures containing quinidine and the antibody of quinidine-induced thrombocytopenia obtained from six patients. Sensitivity of this measurement as a test for quinidine purpura was found to be comparable to that of quantitative complement fixation and its use as an adjunct in the diagnosis of drug purpura is proposed.
Comprehensive statistical method for protein fold recognition

We present a protein fold recognition method that uses a comprehensive statistical interpretation of structural Hidden Markov Models (HMMs). The structure/fold recognition is done by summing the probabilities of all sequence-to-structure alignments Conventionally, Boltzmann statistics dictate that the optimal alignment can give an estimate of the lowest free energy of the sequence conformation imposed by the structural model. The alignment is optimized for a scoring function that is interpreted as a free energy of an amino acid in a structural environment. Near-optimal alignments are ignored, regardless of how likely they might be compared to the optimal alignment. Here we investigate an alternative view. A structure model can be seen as a statistical representation of an ensemble of similar structures. The optimal alignment is always the most probable, but sub-optimal alignments may have comparable probabilities. These sub-optimal alignments can be interpreted as optimal alignments to the “other” structures from the ensemble or optimal alignments under minor fluctuations in the scoring function. Summing probabilities for all alignments gives an estimate of sequence-model compatibility. We have built a set of structural HMMs for 188 protein structures, and have compared two methods for identifying the structure compatible with a sequence: by the optimal alignment probability and by the total probability. Fold recognition by total probability was 40% more accurate than fold recognition by the optimal alignment probability.
Maximally dependent random variables.

Let X(1),..., X(n) have an arbitrary common marginal distribution function F, and let M(n) = max(X(1),..., X(n)). It is shown that EM(n) x) = min{1, n[1 - F(x)]} for all x. Moreover, as n --> infinity, a(n) approximately m(n) approximately m(n) (*), where m(n) (*) = EM(n) when X(1),..., X(n) are independent, provided that [1 - F(cx)]/[1 - F(x)] --> 0 as x --> infinity for every c > 1, and E(X(1) (-))(r) 0. The case in which F is standard normal is considered in detail.
Psychological distress, fatigue, burden of care, and quality of life in primary caregivers of patients with breast cancer undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation.

Purpose/objectives To determine the effects of sociodemographic variables, psychological distress, fatigue, and quality of life (QOL) on burden of care in primary caregivers of patients with breast cancer undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Design Descriptive, correlational, predictive. Setting Urban National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in the eastern United States. Sample Convenience sample of 102 primary caregivers. Methods Participants completed the sociodemographic data form, Piper Fatigue Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, QOL Index, and Measurement of Objective and Subjective Burden Scales prior to BMT during an oncology clinic visit. Main research variables Depression, anxiety, fatigue, QOL, and burden of care. Findings Mean fatigue scores were low. Primary caregivers experienced moderate state anxiety and low trait anxiety. Some experienced severe depression. The objective burden of care mean score was slightly higher than the subjective mean score. Mean QOL scores were low. All variables were significantly intercorrelated, except subjective burden and temporal and sensory fatigue. Significant correlations were found between age and subjective burden, and income with fatigue temporal subscale, and state and trait anxiety. Family subscale of QOL was a significant predictor of objective burden. Age and trait anxiety were significant predictors of subjective burden. Conclusions Primary caregivers of patients with breast cancer scheduled for BMT experience fatigue, anxiety, burden of care, and low QOL. These caregivers may have tried to meet their needs and the patients' needs simultaneously. Implications for nursing Healthcare providers need to proactively assess primary caregivers of patients for fatigue, psychological distress, burden of care, and decreased QOL and provide nursing interventions tailored to individual needs.
Microscopic characterization of coal residues from supercritical desulfurization of Illinois coal

Abstract An investigation of the microscopic properties of residues produced from Illinois coal treated under various supercritical alcohol extraction conditions has been conducted. The objective of this investigation was to obtain a better understanding of the supercritical alcohol/coal desulfurization system. It was found that pyrite is converted progressively to pyrrhotite and then to troilite. Also, coal particles tended to become fluid and form coke. The degree of coke formation and size of anisotropic units (optical texture) were found to correspond to the extent of desulfurization. These correlations were found to be solvent dependent. Zoning effects were also observed in both the organic and inorganic phases. These effects appear to be mass or heat transfer limited and related to the operation of the batch reactors employed in obtaining samples for this study. The investigation is continuing, employing smaller reactors with improved heat and mass transport properties. Attempts will be made to determine if desulfurization is enhancing fluidity or if fluidity is enhancing desulfurization.
Panicum sonorum in Sonoran Desert agriculture

Evidence of prehistoric domestication of plants native to southwestern United States is rare. Presented here are archaeological, historic and contemporary ethnobotanical data suggesting that a native grain, Panicum sonorum,was harvested, sown and culturally selected in the Sonoran Desert Region. This indicator crop, other new clarifications of indigenous crops, and water management practices all point to the distinctiveness of the region’s agricultural complex. As redefined here, the Sonoran Desert Agricultural Region is diverse in both native crops and in cultivars of introduced crops originating elsewhere.
Temperature rise at root surface during post-space preparation

Abstract This study compared the changes in temperature at the root surface of extracted human central incisors during post-space preparation using the following reamers (1) Peeso, (2) Kurer, (3) Gates-Glidden, (4) Para-Post, and (5) diamond burs. A mean temperature rise ranging from 2.3 °C to 15.6 °C from the baseline of approximately 28 °C was recorded. Peeso reamers recorded the highest temperatures followed by Kurer system and diamond burs, whereas Gates-Glidden and Para-Post systems were the lowest.
Studies on the interaction of anesthetic steroids with phosphatidylcholine using 2H and 13C solid state NMR

Abstract The effects of the anesthetic steroid alphaxalone and its inactive analog Δ16-alphaxalone on model phospholipid membranes were studied using 13C and 2H solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Aqueous multilamellar dispersions of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) with specific 13C and 2H labels as endogenous probes at the carbonyl and the C-7 methylene groups, respectively, of the sn-2 chain were used to study the conformational and dynamical properties of the bilayer as a function of temperature. There were no significant changes between the 13C and 2H spectra of the DPPC preparation containing the inactive steroid and that of DPPC with no drug. However, the physiologically active steroid produces significant spectral 2H and 13C changes. These changes include a reduction of the main phase transition temperature and a broadening of that transition. Alphaxalone also increases the relative number of gauche conformers in the liquid-crystalline phase of DPPC and increases the rate of axial diffusion in both the gel and liquid-crystalline phase. The thermotropic properties of the above preparations, as monitored by differential scanning calorimetry, were congruent with the spectroscopic data.
Exploring time patterns in people's use of a metropolitan park district

The purpose of this article is to explore how leisure behavior is organized in terms of temporal frames of reference. It is postulated that leisure occurs within the context of predictable timetables that are shaped by the general timetables of the social system, cyclical events, and the synchronization of individual time schedules. Results from a study of visitors to a metropolitan park district indicated significant associations between the characteristics of visitors and when they visited; the activities people engaged in were associated with the time of day, day of the week, and season of the year when they visited.
Synthesis, characterization and polymerization of metal pyrrolyl complexes

Abstract Four new pyrrolyl complexes of Ni(II) and Pd(II) have been prepared and characterized. These complexes undergo oxidative polymerization to give semiconducting materials with conductivities as high as 0.025 S/cm. When polymerized in the presence of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, the polymers are soluble in organic solvents and may be cast into high quality films. The polymer prepared from (6-phenyl-2,2′-bipyridine)pyrrolylpalladium(II) is strongly photoluminescent.
One-dimensional electronic structure effects of single-layer cuprates Bi-2201 and Bi(Pb)-2201

Abstract The single-layer high- T c superconductor (BiPb) 2 Sr 2− x La x CuO 6+ δ represents an excellent possibility to study the almost undisturbed CuO 2 -plane, the substantial element of the cuprate superconductors. For this material, a new splitting of the spectral weight at E F has been observed along the Cu–O bond ( π , 0) direction of the Brillouin zone. It will be shown by high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy that similar to the strong polarization dependence the split excitations reveal a distinct 90° asymmetry and exist only below a certain temperature which is probably the transition temperature of the pseudo-gap phase T ∗ . These observations are additional hints on the one-dimensionality of the electronic structure of the two-dimensional CuO 2 -plane.
Use of Indexes for Plaque Control

In this program for plaque control in the dental office, indexes are used to monitor the ability of patients to control the formation of plaque. The indexes are charted on graphs that already have predetermined goals indicated as a reference base. The graphs then serve as a long-term record to monitor the achievement of plaque control levels by patients.
Successful pseudorabies vaccination in maternally immune piglets using recombinant vaccinia virus vaccines

Three gilts were vaccinated with a NYVAC vaccinia recombinant expressing glycoprotein gD of pseudorabies virus (PRV) (NYVAC/gD). After farrowing, the piglets were allowed to nurse normally to obtain colostral immunity and then were divided into four groups, receiving NYVAC/gD, a NYVAC recombinant expressing glycoprotein gB of PRV (NYVAC/gB), an inactivated PRV vaccine (iPRV), or no vaccine. The piglets were vaccinated twice, three weeks apart beginning at approximately two weeks of age and later challenged with virulent PRV oronasally. Piglets that received NYVAC/gB or iPRV were the best protected based on lack of mortality, lower temperature responses, decreased weight loss and decreased viral shedding after challenge. These results indicate effective strategies for stimulating active immune response while still under the protection of maternal immunity.
Characteristic Classes and Weyl Tensor: Applications to General Relativity

Abstract In a recent paper, Chern and Simons proved that the Pontrjagin forms of a Riemannian manifold remain invariant under a conformal deformation. We show that these forms can be expressed uniquely in terms of the conformal curvature tensor: this provides a new proof of their result. Similar techniques can be applied to Euler-Poincare characteristic class, as suggested to me by A. Taub. We obtain the following: If the Weyl tensor of a compact space time is of type III of Bel-Petrov, then it cannot carry a perfect fluid + electromagnetic field.
Ratio-based zero-profiling indoor localization

Wireless signal propagation in indoor environments is generally affected by various factors such as multi-path fading, temperature and humidity. It is thus challenging to use the simple metric of Received Signal Strength (RSS) for indoor localization. Prior work often requires manual profiling of each indoor environment to achieve good accuracy. We, instead, propose a simple generic localization algorithm that can be applied in any indoor environment without profiling. Our algorithm makes use of a simple signal propagation model and accepts a broad characterization of the environmental effect. The algorithm's simplification results in some accuracy loss compared to profiling-based algorithms. We, however, believe that our algorithm's zero-profiling requirement would make it favorable in many scenarios, especially when extensive profiling is not affordable or it is favored to trade a little accuracy for saved human effort. Evaluations also show that deployment of additional landmarks can be combined with our algorithm to compensate the accuracy loss, thus achieving good accuracy without profiling.
Transforming growth factor-β1 induces extracellular matrix formation in glomerulonephritis

Abstract Extracellular matrices can be important in disease. Glomerulonephritis is an inflammation of the kidney that is characterized by the accumulation of extracellular matrix within the damaged glomeruli. We have shown that transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is unique in regulating the production of proteoglycans and matrix glycoproteins by glomerular cells in vitro. In an experimental model of glomerulonephritis in rats, we found increased proteoglycan and fibronectin synthesis by cultured nephritic glomeruli, which was greatly reduced by the addition of antiserum to TGF-β1. Conditioned media from glomerular cultures, when added to normal cultured mesangial cells, induced elevated proteoglycan synthesis. The stimulatory activity of the conditioned media was blocked by addition of TGF-β1 antiserum. Glomerular histology showed mesangial matrix expansion in a time course that roughly paralleled the elevated proteoglycan synthesis by the nephritic glomeruli. At the same time there was an increased expression of TGF-β1 mRNA and TGF-β1 protein in the glomeruli. Administration of anti-TGF-β1 at the time of induction of glomerulonephritis suppressed the elevated extracellular matrix production and dramatically attenuated histological manifestations of the disease. A small proteoglycan, decorin, also inhibits the activity of TGF-β, potentially providing an alternative format for the prevention of TGF-β activity. Our results provide direct evidence for a causal role of TGF-β1 in the pathogenesis of the experimental disease and suggest a new approach to the therapy of glomerulonephritis.
Structural Configuration Study for an Acoustic Wave Sensor

A continuous structure has several response characteristics that make it a candidate for a sensor used to locate an acoustic source. One of primary goals in developing such a sensor is to ensure that the response is rich enough to provide information about the impinging acoustic wave and its direction of travel without being too sensitive to background noise. As such, there are several factors that must be examined with regard to sensor configuration and measurement requirements. The research described here includes the initial study that examines various configuration requirements for such a sensor. Some of the parameters of interest include the size and aperture of the structure, boundary conditions, material properties, and thickness. Since it is expected that an inverse formulation will be used to reconstruct the transient acoustic pressure wave propagating across the structure's surface, the requirements for the inverse approach may also impact the structure's configuration. The initial results presented here include the impact of these factors on the response of a beam-like sensor structure. The response of the structure to transient sinusoidal wave excitations is examined numerically. To gain insight into the dynamic information contained within the response, methods like the wavenumber spectrum are utilized to assess the behavior. The tools presented here will be extended to alternative configurations prior to prototype development and testing. Supported by NSF Sensor Innovation and Systems.
Theoretical Rate Constant for Thermal Unimolecular Reactions in a Multilevel System

A macroscopic unimolecular rate constant is given here in terms of the detailed microscopic rates of transport and relaxation in a many‐quantum‐level system. A rate equation for each quantum level is written considering all input and output processes. The resulting set of equations constitutes a master equation. The conventional unimolecular rate constant is then the lowest eigenvalue to the relaxation problem defined by the master equation. This is then a general prescription for the theoretical treatment of unimolecular behavior based only on the assumed mechanism and explicitly including the multilevel behavior of real systems undergoing chemical reaction.General methods for solving this eigenvalue problem are discussed. These methods are illustrated with the master equation for a generalized Lindemann mechanism. The lowest eigenvalue for this mechanism is obtained by an iteration procedure. The zero‐order result of the iteration is shown to be equivalent to the rate constant derived from a steady‐state approximation. Both the zero‐order and exact expressions for the lowest eigenvalue are given in terms of a computationally useful many‐shot expansion. The lowest eigenvalue result then constitutes an exact and computationally simple version of the unimolecular rate constant which is an unambiguous consequence of the microscopic parameters inserted into the chosen relaxation mechanism.Since the particular mechanism used here is also the point of departure in the derivation of the well‐known RRKM theory of unimolecular reactions, the lowest eigenvalue solution is directly compared with the RRKM rate constant. The additional restrictive conditions for agreement between the two rate constants are enumerated.Some generalized expressions for mean first passage times in unimolecular rate theory are also derived and expressed in terms of many‐shot solutions. These latter expressions are computationally useful for extremely rapid reactions.
Molecular dynamics simulation of displacement cascades in Cu and Ni: Thermal spike behavior

Molecular dynamics simulations of energetic displacement cascades in Cu and Ni were performed with primary-knock-on-atom (PKA) energies up to 5 keV. The interatomic forces were represented by the Gibson II (Cu) and the Johnson-Erginsoy (Ni) potentials. Our results indicate that the primary state of damage produced by displacement cascades is controlled basically by two phenomena: replacement collision sequences during the ballistic phase, and melting and resolidification during the thermal spike. The thermal-spike phase is of longer duration and has a more marked effect in Cu than in Ni. Results for atomic mixing, defect production, and defect clustering are presented and compared with experiment. Simulations of “heat spikes” in these metals suggest a model for “cascade collapse” based on the regrowth kinetics of the molten cascade core.
Estimating Subnational Opinion with Cluster-Sampled Polls: Challenges and Suggestions

Multilevel regression with poststratification (MRP) has become widely used in political science to estimate subnational opinion from national polls. This method takes into account both demographic and state-level effects and has greatly expanded knowledge of public opinion at the subnational level. In this paper, I assess the use of MRP on two cluster-sampled polls, the American National Election Studies (ANES) and the General Social Survey (GSS). I discuss concerns that cluster sampling raises and demonstrate that MRP can produce problematic results when used on a typical cluster-sampled poll. I evaluate several ways to improve upon MRP with cluster sampling. I find that adding a state-level predictor to the model, pooling surveys across years and sampling frames, and incorporating additional geographic information can all improve MRP’s performance on cluster-sampled polls, but that caution should still be used when applying MRP to cluster-sampled data.