cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MYOTONIC DYSTROPHY IN INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD

Myotonic dystrophy is more often symptomatic in infancy and early childhood than previously supposed, seven definite and two possible cases having come to our attention during a single year. In all but one case the disease was present, though unrecognized, in one or more members of preceding generations. At least three patterns of expression of the disease are suggested. (1) The most common clinical syndrome (five cases) begins at birth or in early infancy with difficulty in nursing, attributable to bilateral facial weakness. Generalized myopathic weakness and hypotonia and variable degrees of retarded motor development are encountered during infancy. In one case there was no difficulty with bulbar musculature and only the limb muscles were involved. No evidence of a progressive loss of motor function has been observed during early childhood, but the pattern of greater proximal than distal weakness of extremities appears to become reversed gradually until the tyical adult distribution of weakness and atrophy is seen. The less common clinical syndromes, which include the two possible cases of myotonic dystrophy, are: (2) almost pure myotonia, symptomatic from early infancy (one case) or evident only on electromyography (one case) and (3) isolated congenital ptosis (one case). Percussion myotonia or myotonia of grasp or both is usually present if looked for. Electromyographic evidence of myotonia has been found in every case and was of great help in establishing the diagnosis. Myopathic changes were identified in three of the five available muscle biopsies. Mental defect was an associated finding in onethird of the cases in the present series.
Facts To Guide Thinking About Life-threatening Risks

Modern science, medicine, and improving prosperity have brought many benefits to our society, but not without costs. One significant concern is that we are imposing new and perhaps greater life-threatening risks to individuals with some of the resulting technological innovations and activities. In decision problems involving life-threatening risks, it is difficult to distinguish alternatives that on balance are worth the effort in reducing risks from alternatives that are not worth the price that must be paid. The intent of this paper is to clarify some of the inherent complexity in these public and private risk decision problems. We present a number of "facts" to guide constructive thinking about decisions involving life- threatening risks. Our intent in stating these facts is to reduce the likelihood that they are forgotten or pushed aside in analyzing or appraising alternatives for specific risk problems.
Convergence rates for estimation in certain partially linear models

Abstract Rates of convergence are studied for estimation in certain partial linear models that include nonparametric regression models with discontinuous derivatives. The asymptotic behavior of two smoothing spline related estimators of the regression coefficient and regression function in these models are examined. Lower bounds are then derived for rates of convergence in estimating the size of jump discontinuities in a regression function or its derivative. The latter rates are nonparametric which indicates that parametric convergence rates are not possible in such instances.
A Meta-Analysis of the Relationship between Intrinsic Religiosity and Locus of Control

SummaryThe authors meta-analytically examined the relationship between intrinsic religiosity and internal locus of control. Thirty-seven independent samples, comprising 9,924 participants, yielded an average effect size of r = .06, which was small, but significant, indicating a positive correlation between intrinsic religiosity and internal locus of control. Moderation analyses showed a significant trend of effects becoming weaker over time (from 1971 to 2011). The judged religiousness of samples significantly predicted the strength of the correlation, such that more religious samples showed stronger effect sizes.
THE COGNITIVE ANTECEDENTS OF TASK-RELATED SELF-ESTEEM

This study tests the hypothesis that behaviors engaged in as part of an individual's work roles impact the cognitions that are the antecedents of task-related self-esteem. This experiment varied participants' cognitions of competence/incompetence, importance/unimportance, and control/non-control within the context of role playing in a job interview. Results indicate that although the cognitions were influenced as a consequence of role-playing on the task, manipulation of the cognitions had no influence on task-specific self-esteem. However, perceptions of the task-related cognitions were related to self-esteem ratings. Discussion focuses on implications of these findings for research on workplace self-esteem.
A GRASP for a difficult single machine scheduling problem

Abstract A greedy randomized adaptive search procedure (GRASP) is presented for an unusually difficult single machine scheduling problem with flow time and earliness penalties. Previous methods reported in the literature provide optimal solutions to problems with up to only 14 jobs. GRASP constructs an optimal solution typically within 10 s of CPU time on a personal computer for 58 out of the 60 problems tested with 30 jobs. For the remaining instances, the method provides a solution extremely close to the optimal.
Resonances: Bridge between Spectroscopy and Dynamics

Resonances are metastable, quasibound states of a molecular complex. They are formed predominantly by vibrational excitation of a molecular complex above a dissociation threshold. Resonances share ...
Attitudes of consumers toward military and other institutional foods

Abstract In a series of studies, attitudes of military and civilian consumers toward military and other institutional foods, e.g. foods served in school cafeterias, hospitals, military dining halls, on airlines, etc., were examined. The goals of this research were to (1) quantify the extent and nature of these attitudes in terms of expected acceptability and expected quality of the food; (2) determine whether these attitudes can be classified as stereotypical; (3) assess the relative importance of presumed causes of poor quality and acceptability in institutional food, e.g. skills of food preparers, ingredient quality, consumption environment, etc.; (4) identify the specific aspects of perceived food quality, e.g. flavor, texture, nutritive value, etc., that most differentiate commercial from military institutional food; (5) quantify the relationship between expectations of acceptability and actual acceptability ratings of military institutional food; and (6) detail the empirical effect of institutional vs. brand name food labeling on hedonic acceptability ratings. The results of these studies showed broad and significant effects of institutional food stereotypes on food acceptance and food quality ratings. The results were interpreted within the context of a psychological model of the role of consumer expectations on food acceptability. The implications of the data for institutional and brand name food marketing are discussed.
Anabolic-androgenic steroid abuse in weight lifters: Evidence for activation of the hemostatic system

Anabolic-androgenic steroid abuse has recently been linked with acute vascular events in athletes. To date, the relationship between steroid abuse and the potential for cardiovascular disease has been considered almost exclusively in terms of lipid metabolism. However, recent reports of thrombosis in androgen abusing athletes with no evidence of atherosclerosis suggests the hypothesis that thrombosis risk in such athletes could be mediated through androgen induced abnormalities of coagulation. To determine if anabolic-androgenic steroid abuse in weight lifters is associated with an activation of the hemostatic system we studied forty-nine weight lifters recruited through advertisements. History of androgen use or abstinence was confirmed via urine assays. Plasma was assayed for clotting and fibrinolytic activity by measuring thrombin/antithrombin complexes (TAT), prothrombin fragment 1 + 1 (F1 + 2), and D-dimers (D-di); markers of the endothelial based fibrinolytic components were assayed by measuring tissue plasminogen activator antigen (t-PA Ag) and its inhibitor (PAI-1); finally, the activity of antithrombin III, protein C, and protein S were measured. Abnormally high concentrations of TAT complexes were noted in 16% of our confirmed steroid using weight lifters compared to 6% of our confirmed nonusers (P = .01). Steroid users also demonstrated abnormally high concentrations of F1 + 2 and D-dimers when compared to nonusers (44 vs. 24%, P < .001, and 9 vs. 0%, respectively). Non-steroid users were more likely to have elevated levels of t-PA Ag and PAI-1 than our steroid using weight lifters (both P < .001). The activities of antithrombin III and protein S were more likely to be higher in users compared to nonusers (22 vs. 6%, P = .005; 19 vs. 0%, respectively). Some anabolic-androgenic steroid using weight lifters have an accelerated activation of their hemostatic system as evidence by increased generation of both thrombin and plasmin. These changes could reflect a thrombotic diatheses that may contribute to vascular occlusion reported in young athletes using these drugs. The predictive value of these coagulation abnormalities in terms of risk of thrombosis to individual steroid using weight lifters or the population as a whole remains to be studied.
The case of Hungary: Liberal socialism under stress

Abstract This paper analyzes the response to the increase in world oil prices since 1973 in the Hungarian economy-dependent on foreign trade, poorly endowed with energy resources, closely tied to the USSR, and possessing the most “liberal” of the East European economic reforms. Hungary has stepped up domestic energy production and shifted the structure of energy use from oil to coal. But it has also laid plans for additional energy imports at world prices (including those from the USSR). The energy crisis did not cause Hungary to abandon its economic reform; in fact, recent developments suggest that the reform is going ahead.
Ictal intracranial infraslow EEG activity

Abstract Objective To investigate seizure onset baseline shifts and their relationship to background infraslow activity (ISA: 0.01–0.1Hz). Methods Archived intracranial EEG recordings of 61 seizures from 12 patients were evaluated. All had extensive coverage of several lobes with implanted grid, strip and/or depth electrodes prior to potential epilepsy surgery. The data had been obtained on a Nihon-Kohden system (acquisition range 0.01–1000Hz). Data analysis was carried out with the BESA ® software. Results When the high pass filter was set at 0.01Hz ictal baseline shifts, comparable to those reported in the literature when DC equipment was used, were consistently observed. Their amplitude and distribution among the sampled electrodes differed to some extent in different seizures from the same patient. They were not necessarily limited to the "epileptogenic zone" as expected from conventional frequencies (CF) and formed part of a marked amplitude increase in background ISA. This could precede and/or outlast the seizure as seen on CF. Conclusions Ictal baseline shifts are part of a marked increase in ISA which is regional and/or multiregional even in patients where a purely focal process is suspected. Significance ISA provides an additional parameter for the delineation of the epileptogenic zone.
The avian intercarotid anastomosis and its homologue in other vertebrates

Intrasphenoid and intrasellar segments of the cerebral carotid arteries were dissected in 82 specimens of birds, representing 21 avian orders. The configuration and branching of these carotid segments and the intercarotid anastomosis were observed. A well develop intercarotid anastomosis unites the two carotids directly caudal to the hypophysis in all birds examined except for five specimens of passeriform birds of the Suborder Tyranni. Three principal patterns occur: an H-type having a lengthy transverse anastomosis connecting the carotids; an X-type with the carotids anastomosing side-to-side; and an I-type with the carotids merged into a single longitudinal vessel. Patterns for each species are illustrated. Since ordinarily birds lack a cerebral arterial circle comparable to that of mammals. the intercarotid anastomosis obviously serves as its substitute. Evidence of correlation between asymmetry of caudal rami of the cerebral carotids and form of the intercarotid anastomosis is presented. A communication between cerebral carotids caudal to the hypophysis seems to be a deep-rooted vertebrate characteristic. An intercarotid anastomosis, apparently homologous to that of birds, occurs in a number of cartilaginous fishes, reptiles, and mammals. In mammals the intercarotid anastomosis is a communication between right and left posterior hypophyseal arteries.
The relationship of urban design to human health and condition

Abstract The population of the United States of America is currently experiencing increased illness from dispersed and synergistic causes. Many of the acute insults of the past have receded due to centralized health care and regulatory action. However, chronic ailments including asthma and allergies, animal-transmitted diseases, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and depression are on the rise. These diverse illnesses join with forest fragmentation, stream degradation, wetlands destruction, and the concomitant loss of native species to suggest detrimental contributions from the built environment. This paper surveys the state of the science on the impacts of urban design on human health and well-being. Drawing primarily on recent peer-reviewed literature in a broad array of health, planning, and environmental fields, it outlines the influence of design at three spatial scales on aspects of physical and mental health, and social and cultural vibrancy. Selected ecological effects are also discussed to illustrate shared associations with urbanization. While causal chains are generally complex and not always completely understood, sufficient evidence exists to reveal urban design as a powerful tool for improving human condition. Solutions are discussed at the personal and professional level, emphasizing cross-disciplinary collaboration in urban planning and design, and the participation of residents in shaping their living environment. At the parcel scale, greenery and access to it visually and physically are the principal keys to health. These elements must be incorporated into relatively high-density neighborhood designs that include public buildings, open space, mixed land use, and pedestrian walkways to increase physical exercise and enhance civic life. Finally, neighborhoods must be embedded in existing urban infrastructure to provide larger cultural and business opportunities and reduce reliance on the automobile. Further research is recommended to strengthen the associations between design and health. Increased communication on this subject is also necessary between design and health practitioners and their clients and colleagues.
Height Independent Compressive Modulus of Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotube Arrays

The compressive modulus of dense vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays synthesized by chemical vapor deposition was investigated using an optically probed precision-loading platform. For CNT arrays with heights ranging from 15 to 500 microm, the moduli were measured to be about 0.25 MPa and were found to be independent of array height. A continuum mechanics model based on multimode buckling guided by the wavy features of CNT arrays is derived and explains well the measured compressive properties. The measured compressive modulus of the CNT arrays also satisfies the "Dahlquist tack criterion" for pressure sensitive adhesives, which was previously observed for these vertically aligned CNT arrays (Zhao, Y., et al. J. Vac. Sci. Technol., B 2006, 24, 331-335).
Functional Characterizations of Some Positively Dependent Bivariate Random Vectors

In this paper, we consider three different notions of positive dependence for a bivariate random vector: (i) total positivity of order 2, (ii) stochastic increasingness, and (iii) positive quadrant dependence. By defining three classes of arrangement-increasing functions, we show that these three different notions can be unified by functional inequalities. Using these functional inequalities, we derive the relations between the positively dependent notions (i) and (iii) and their corresponding counterparts in stochastic majorization orderings. Moreover, these classes of functions also lead to equivalent characterizations of two random vectors with independent components ordered in the sense of likelihood ratio ordering and stochastic ordering.
Abstract 4185: miR-129 is a potential tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer by regulating apoptosis and modulating fluropyrimidine based chemosensitivity.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Resistance to fluoropyrimidine based chemotherapy is the major reason for the failure of treating advanced colorectal cancer. The lack of ability for tumor cells to undergo apoptosis after genotoxic stress is the key contributor to such intrinsic mechanism. Mounting evidence has demonstrated that non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial regulators of gene expression, in particular, under acute stress. However, there is still very limited knowledge about the role of miRNAs in apoptosis. In this study, we discovered a novel mechanism mediated by miR-129 directly inducing apoptosis by suppressing a key anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Ectopic expression of miR-129 promotes apoptosis, inhibits cell proliferation and causes G2-cell-cycle arrest in colon cancer cells in vitro. The intrinsic apoptotic pathway triggered by miR-129 is activated by cleaving caspase-9 and caspase-3. The expression of miR-129 is very significantly down-regulated in colorectal cancer tissue specimens compared with the paired normal control samples (p<0.00001). More importantly, we demonstrated that miR-129 functions synergistically with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in vitro and in vivo to enhance 5-FU cytotoxicity. These results suggest that miR-129 is a major regulator of apoptosis in colorectal cancer. Therefore, miR-129 may be a potential tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer and a novel candidate for developing miR-129 based therapeutic strategies. Citation Format: Mihriban Karaayvaz, Haiyan Zhai, Jingfang Ju. miR-129 is a potential tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer by regulating apoptosis and modulating fluropyrimidine based chemosensitivity. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4185. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4185
Nonlinear classical theory of electromagnetism

A topological theory of electric charge is given. Einstein's criteria for the completion of classical electromagnetic theory are summarized and their relation to quantum theory and the principle of complementarity is indicated. The inhibiting effect that this principle has had on the development of physical thought is discussed. Developments in the theory of functions on nonlinear spaces provide the conceptual framework required for the completion of electromagnetism. The theory is based on an underlying field which is a continuous mapping of space-time into points on the two-sphere.
Polysynaptic pathways from the vestibular nuclei to the lateral mammillary nucleus of the rat: substrates for vestibular input to head direction cells

The activity of some neurons in the lateral mammillary nucleus (LMN) of the rat corresponds with the animal's current head direction (HD). HD cells have been studied extensively but the circuitry responsible for the generation and maintenance of the HD signal has not been established. The present study tested the hypothesis that a polysynaptic pathway connects the vestibular nuclei with the LMN via one or more relay nuclei. This circuitry could provide a substrate for the integration of sensory input necessary for HD cell activity. This hypothesis is based upon the prior demonstration that labyrinthectomy abolishes HD selectivity in thalamic neurons. Viral transneuronal tracing with pseudorabies virus (PRV) was used to test this hypothesis. We injected recombinants of PRV into the LMN and surrounding nuclei of adult male rats and defined the patterns of retrograde transneuronal infection at survival intervals of 60 and 72 h. Infected medial vestibular neurons (MVN) were only observed at the longest postinoculation interval in animals in which the injection site was localized largely to the LMN. Robust infection of the dorsal tegmental nucleus (DTN) and nucleus prepositus hypoglossi (PH) in these cases, but not in controls, at both survival intervals identified these nuclei as potential relays of vestibular input to the LMN. These data are consistent with the conclusion that vestibular information that contributes to the LMN HD cell activity is relayed to this caudal hypothalamic cell group via a polysynaptic brainstem circuit.
Is quantum parallelism real

ABSTRACT In this paper we raise questions about the reality of computational quantum parallelism. Such questions areimportant because while quantum theory is rigorously established, the hypothesis that it supports a more pow-erful model of computation remains speculative. More specically, we suggest the possibility that the seemingcomputational parallelism oered by quantum superpositions is actually eected by gate-level parallelism in thereversible implementation of the quantum operator. In other words, when the total number of logic operationsis analyzed, quantum computing may not be more powerful than classical. This fact has signicant public policyimplications with regard to the relative levels of eort that are appropriate for the development of quantum-parallel algorithms and associated hardware (i.e., qubit-based) versus quantum-scale classical hardware.Keywords: Quantum Computing, Quantum Algorithms, Complexity Theory, Quantum Circuit Synthesis,Quantum Gates 1. QUANTUM COMPUTING
ARIA: automatic resource inference and allocation for mapreduce environments

MapReduce and Hadoop represent an economically compelling alternative for efficient large scale data processing and advanced analytics in the enterprise. A key challenge in shared MapReduce clusters is the ability to automatically tailor and control resource allocations to different applications for achieving their performance goals. Currently, there is no job scheduler for MapReduce environments that given a job completion deadline, could allocate the appropriate amount of resources to the job so that it meets the required Service Level Objective (SLO). In this work, we propose a framework, called ARIA, to address this problem. It comprises of three inter-related components. First, for a production job that is routinely executed on a new dataset, we build a job profile that compactly summarizes critical performance characteristics of the underlying application during the map and reduce stages. Second, we design a MapReduce performance model, that for a given job (with a known profile) and its SLO (soft deadline), estimates the amount of resources required for job completion within the deadline. Finally, we implement a novel SLO-based scheduler in Hadoop that determines job ordering and the amount of resources to allocate for meeting the job deadlines.We validate our approach using a set of realistic applications. The new scheduler effectively meets the jobs' SLOs until the job demands exceed the cluster resources. The results of the extensive simulation study are validated through detailed experiments on a 66-node Hadoop cluster.
Implementing Technology for Genetic Improvement: Sire-Daughter and Dam-Daughter Paths, Farm Management's View

Abstract Dairy producers have implemented technological advances to varying degrees for choosing parents of female replacements. Some use AI exclusively and make near optimum use of USDA sire summaries, National Association of Animal Breeders calving ease summaries, and ratings from breed associations and AI organizations for overall type and linear traits. Others use AI on most cows but fewer heifers and make less use of tools available. Still others use no AI but do use sons of AI sires to obtain some benefit from the efforts of others. Finally, there are a sizeable number who use no AI, use beef bulls to breed most heifers and some cows, and use dairy bulls of unknown merit for the remainder. Many producers express extreme interest in embryo transfer and sexed semen. However, less than half use a technology as simple and profit enhancing as production testing. Trends in the industry include increased usage of type and linear traits, less loyalty to an individual AI organization, and increased use of mating services. Background favoring these trends are discussed. Also listed and discussed briefly are suggestions for AI organizations, producers, and educators to consider as the industry strives for continued improvement via these pathways.
Writing as Healing

Research conducted with a writing group at an HIV clinic demonstrated how writing was healing. The research used grounded theory to help show patterns m the writers' discourse and in the narratives they constructed. Results showed that people in the writing group constructed four different kinds of narrative, each with a different healing function. These narratives included making sense of life in general, teaching others about AIDS, helping others with AIDS and generating a community of support, and gaining control and empowerment by claiming one's own experience and survival of AIDS. An individual healing occured as the writers wrote and witnessed their stories, whereas a social healing occured through the experience of forming a writing community.
Expeditious organic-free assembly: morphologically controlled synthesis of iron oxides using microwaves.

A microwave hydrothermal method is developed for the synthesis of iron oxides, α-Fe2O3, β-FeOOH, and the junction of α-Fe2O3–β-FeOOH. This method is absolutely organic-free, and various structures could be obtained simply by changing the use of the iron source and NaOH. The as-prepared sea urchin-like β-FeOOH exhibits excellent catalytic performance for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) in the presence of H2O2.
Involvement of Nuclear Orphan Receptor NGFI-B in Transcriptional Activation of Salivary-specific R15 Gene by cAMP

Proline-rich proteins (PRPs) are selectively expressed in the acinar cells of the salivary glands and are inducible by beta-agonist isoproterenol and dietary tannins. In the previous studies of rat PRP gene, R15, the 5'-flanking region up to -1.7 kilobase pairs (kb), which was thought to contain the necessary proximal regulatory elements, failed to confer the catecholamine isoproterenol and dietary tannin inducibility to the transgene expression in the salivary glands of transgenic mice. Here we analyzed distal 5'-flanking region of R15 in order to understand the mechanisms of tissue-specific and inducible gene regulation. An upstream regulatory region located between -2.4 and -1.7 kb of the R15 5'-flanking region is demonstrated to be indispensable for the salivary-specific and inducible reporter gene expression in vivo, by transgenic approach. Element(s) within the 0.7-kb (-2.4 to -1.7) region that is able to cis-activate the expression of a heterologous reporter gene expression is further elucidated by transient transfection assays in vitro. Three distinct nuclear orphan receptor NGFI-B regulatory sequences are identified within a 184-base pair (bp) minimal control region extended from -1995 to -1812 nucleotides relative to the transcription start site. When reporter gene containing this 184-bp control region and heterologous promoter was cotransfected with the NGFI-B expression construct, a transactivation that mimics the effect of cAMP is observed in the parotid cells. Finally, mutations on all three identified NGFI-B binding sites and coexpression of a dominant negative mutant construct, pCMV-NGFI-B(Delta25-195), abolish this transactivation mediated by NGFI-B. In summary, these data suggest that the inducible nuclear orphan receptor NGFI-B may participate in the regulation of salivary acinar cell-specific and inducible expression of the rat R15 gene via three distinct distal NGFI-B sites.
APL2—A mathematician's delight

The early claims of APL to the attention of the computing world included its closeness to mathematical notation and hence its power both to improve and enhance the understanding of mathematical ideas, and also to smooth the process of realizing them on a computer. The new features of APL2, notably nested arrays and operator extensions have brought programming and mathematics even closer together. Mathematical users of APL cannot but delight in the new possibilities, of which just a few are outlined in this paper.
Who and what is native to Israel? On Marcel Janco's settler art and Jacqueline Shohet Kahanoff's “Levantinism”

The poetics and esthetics of “natural occupancy” are relevant to the ways in which settlers' colonists artistically and discursively produce their subsequent cultural formations. I focus on the decade of the 1950s to chart specific settler ideologies of ownership that emerged in Israel after the establishment of the state in 1948. What are the varied strands of colonizing ideology that define spaces currently inhabited by Jewish Israeli settlers seeking to forget the original colonial domination? One approach to questions about space, land, ownership, and indigeneity in Israel/Palestine is to investigate the literature and arts that serve to designate Jewish Israelis as natural occupants. Two seminal theories, the “Mediterranean option” (in Hebrew yam tikhoniyut) and “Levantinism” (levantiniyut), were imaginatively de-historicized in the art projects of Marcel Janco and the writings of Jacqueline Shohet Kahanoff, respectively. Both fostered the myth of natural occupancy by appropriating for themselves a s...
Recognizing Activities via Bag of Words for Attribute Dynamics

In this work, we propose a novel video representation for activity recognition that models video dynamics with attributes of activities. A video sequence is decomposed into short-term segments, which are characterized by the dynamics of their attributes. These segments are modeled by a dictionary of attribute dynamics templates, which are implemented by a recently introduced generative model, the binary dynamic system~(BDS). We propose methods for learning a dictionary of BDSs from a training corpus, and for quantizing attribute sequences extracted from videos into these BDS code words. This procedure produces a representation of the video as a histogram of BDS code words, which is denoted the bag-of-words for attribute dynamics (BoWAD). An extensive experimental evaluation reveals that this representation outperforms other state-of-the-art approaches in temporal structure modeling for complex activity recognition.
Aeromonas liquefaciens in the giant African snail, Achantina fulica.

Abstract The etiology of a disease syndrome in the giant African snail, Achatina fulica , was studied. The bacterium Aeromonas liquefacians was repeatedly isolated and was shown to be of statistical significance in the disease. Following conjugation of fluorescein isothiocyanate with rabbit antibodies to a known culture of A. liquefaciens , the organisms from leucodermic lesions of the achatinids were identified by fluorescein microscopy. Snails from five geographically different areas on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, were employed in the study. It was demonstrated that A. liquefaciens was involved in the pathology of the disease syndrome in the giant African snail.
Two Enhanced Fourth Order Diffusion Models for Image Denoising

This paper presents two new higher order diffusion models for removing noise from images. The models employ fractional derivatives and are modifications of an existing fourth order partial differential equation (PDE) model which was developed by You and Kaveh as a generalization of the well-known second order Perona-Malik equation. The modifications serve to cure the ill-posedness of the You-Kaveh model without sacrificing performance. Also proposed in this paper is a simple smoothing technique which can be used in numerical experiments to improve denoising and reduce processing time. Numerical experiments are shown for comparison.
Integrating Design for Environment (DfE) Impact Matrix into Quality Function Deployment (QFD) Process

This paper describes a methodology for integrating environmental concerns and requirements into the product definition and evaluation process. The approach taken is the incorporation of a Design for Environment (DfE) ‘Environmentally Responsible Product Assessment Matrix’ into Quality Function Deployment's (QFD's) ‘House of Quality’ (HoQ) matrices. By integrating a DfE's environmental criteria (the ‘Voice of the Environmental Customer’) into QFD's HoQ matrices, all product requirements – quality, cost, and environmental – can be considered concurrently throughout the product life cycle. To do this, the traditional sequence of HoQ matrices is redefined to include the structuring of design objectives and alternatives based on a multi-objective decision hierarchy. The paper presents an illustrative example demonstrating this method.
Plasmon-waveguide resonance (PWR) spectroscopy for directly viewing rates of GPCR/G-protein interactions and quantifying affinities

Plasmon-waveguide resonance (PWR) spectroscopy is an optical technique that has been developed in our laboratories and applied to the study of membrane-associated proteins, especially GPCRs. It has high sensitivity and requires no labeling of materials, and it can monitor changes in proteolipid mass density and conformation in real time using plasmon excitation by light polarized both perpendicular and parallel to the resonator surface. Direct measurements will be described of the association of ligands and G-proteins to GPCRs incorporated into a self-assembled lipid bilayer deposited on the silica surface of a PWR resonator. These studies have provided new insights into the functioning of this important class of signaling proteins.
Thickening action of hydroxystearates in peanut butter

When 0.5–1% of 12-hydroxystearic acid or the corresponding triglyceride is incorporated into unhardened peanut butter, the resulting product has stiff creamy consistency, and no oil separation takes place upon standing. Sensory evaluation of this peanut butter indicated that it was indistinguishable from typical commercial material in flavor and texture.
Selective Suppression of Mutant Type I Collagen mRNA in Cultured Osteogenesis Imperfecta Fibroblasts: Development of Gene Therapy for Dominant Disorders • 708

Gene therapy of recessive disorders involves the replacement of a defective or missing protein into cells. However, in dominant genetic disorders, such as osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), it is more appropriate to use gene therapy techniques to destroy specific mRNAs to eliminate the dominant negative dysfunction. One approach of message therapy involves the targeted removal of mutant mRNA by ribozyme or antisense technology. We report here the preliminary analysis of ribozymes targeted to mutant type I collagen mRNA in vitro and in cultured cells derived from a patient with OI.
Nonradioactive Detection of the Common Connexin 26 167delT and 35delG Mutations and Frequencies among Ashkenazi Jews

Abstract Mutations in the gap junction β2 ( GJB2 ) gene, Connexin 26 ( Cx26 ), cause nonsyndromic sensorineural recessive deafness (NSRD). Two frameshift mutations, 167delT and 35delG, are the most frequent Cx26 lesions causing NSRD. The 35delG mutation is panethnic, while the 167delT lesion occurs almost exclusively in the Ashkenazi Jewish population at a carrier frequency of 2 to 4%. To facilitate carrier detection, a simple nonradioactive allele-specific oligonucleotide (ASO) hybridization assay was developed for the 167delT and 35delG mutations. Screening of 1012 anonymous Ashkenazi Jewish individuals from the New York Metropolitan area revealed carrier frequencies for 167delT and 35delG of 3.96% (95% CI: 2.75–5.15%) and 0.69% (95% CI: 0.18–1.20%), respectively. This sensitive, specific, and relatively inexpensive method can reliably identify affected newborns and patients with NSRD as well as facilitate carrier screening for Connexin 26 deafness in the Ashkenazi Jewish community.
A comparison of echocardiographic findings in young adults with cardiomyopathy: with and without a history of methamphetamine abuse.

Background Methamphetamine is currently the most widespread illegal stimulant abused in the United States. No previous reports comparing echocardiographic findings of cardiomyopathy with and without a history of methamphetamine abuse are available. Methods We performed a single institution retrospective review of medical records and analyses of echocardiographic findings in patients Results Among a total of 59 patients, 28 (47%) had a history of methamphetamine abuse or positive urine toxicology. Both methamphetamine abusers and non-abusers were predominately male (64.3% vs 64.5%, P = .99), and had a high prevalence of obesity (55.6% vs 73.3%, P = .16). Bivariate analysis revealed significant differences between the methamphetamine abusers and non-abusers in left atrium volume (119.7 +/- 55.4 ml vs 85.8 +/- 33.5 ml, P = .008), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (201.9 +/- 71.4 ml vs 156.6 +/- 63.1 ml, P = .01), left ventricular end-systolic volume (136.0 +/- 53.7 ml vs 92.3 +/- 55.8 ml, P = .004), right ventricular dimension (26.3 +/- 6.0 mm vs 21.3 +/- 6.0 mm, P = .007), and quantified left ventricular ejection fraction (32.9% +/- 11.3% vs 44.6% +/- 17.8%, P = .004). Conclusions We found a high prevalence of methamphetamine abuse in our study population. Methamphetamine abusers had echocardiographic findings of more severe dilated cardiomyopathy compared with non-abusers.
Synthesis and formulation of vinyl-containing polyacids for improved light-cured glass-ionomer cements

Vinyl-containing poly(acrylic acid-co-itaconic acid) copolymers were synthesized and used to formulate light-curable cements containing reactive glass fillers (Fuji II LC). The conditions for light curing were studied and optimized. Effects of molecular weight (MW), grafting ratio, comonomer, liquid composition, powder/liquid (P/L) ratio, glass powder and aging were evaluated. The results show that the vinyl-containing glass-ionomer cements (GICs) prepared in this study exhibit higher compressive strength (CS, 225.6 MPa), diametral tensile strength (DTS, 28.4 MPa) and much higher flexural strength (FS, 116.4 MPa), as compared to commercial Fuji II LC GIC (186.6 in CS, 19.1 in DTS and 57.1 in FS). The optimal light-exposure time was found to be around 10 min, and concentrations of CQ and DC were 0.5% (by weight) and 1.0%, respectively. Effects of MW, grafting ratio, P/L ratio and content of polymer in the liquid formulation were significant. The highest strengths were found for the optimal formulations where the MW was 15,000 (weight average), grafting ratio 25 mol%, P/L ratio 2.7 and liquid composition 50:20:30. During aging, the cement showed an increase of strength over the first week and then no change for a month. SEM analysis suggests that more integrated microstructures and smaller glass particles can lead to higher FS and higher polymer content in GICs leads to tough fracture surface and plastic deformation.
Radiation Sensitivity of Listeria monocytogenes on Beef as Affected by Temperature

Longissimus dorsi from beef was inoculated with Listeria monocytogenes and the effect of gamma irradiation on the survival of this pathogen at -60 to +15 o C was determined. Radiation D-values were determined for inactivation of L. monocytogenes at 5 o C intervals from -20 to 5 o C. These data were used to develop an equation to predict the response to gamma radiation within that range. An abrupt increase in resistance occurred at -5 o C. The radiation D-value was 0.45 kGy at 0 o C, 0.77 kGy at -5 o C and 1.21 kGy at -20 o C. A straight line was obtained when the log 10 of the D-values from -5 to -20 o C was plotted vs the reciprocal of the absolute temperature. This led us to calculate a value analogous to the Arrhenius activation energy for inactivation of L. monocytogenes by gamma radiation
Developments and Setbacks in The Palestinian Resistance Movement 1967-1971

This paper attempts to describe the re-emergence of a Palestinian Arab national movement, the Palestinian resistance (al-Muqawama al-Filastiniya) during the years following the Arab-Israeli war of June 1967. Perspectives and concepts from comparative politics are employed to facilitate description and evaluation. An effort is made to assess the violence capabilities, structural development, and ideological trends of the movement in light of general theoretical considerations and also in the context of the politics of the Arab world. From the spring of 1968 until the fall of 1970, the guerrillas developed the capacity to carry out serious protracted violence against Israel. The guerrilla organizations themselves became more elaborate structurally and began to develop important political functions of a nation-building character. The movement was becoming more radical ideologically, a development which reinforced its overall cohesion although serious elite rivalries persisted. These developments increased the influence of the movement over Arab governments, but they also increased its threat potential, thus complicating the relationship. As far as the superpowers were concerned, the Palestinians injected an element of instability into the local political-military situation and a consequent additional risk of great-power confrontation. Thus, when Jordan and the United States moved to eliminate guerrilla activities from Jordan the Palestinians found they had no effective outside supporters.
Stereognostic coordination chemistry 4 the design and synthesis of a selective uranyl ion complexant

Abstract A new approach to ligand design for the sequestration of metal-oxo cations has been called stereognostic coordination chemistry, in that the ligand incorporates a traditional Lewis base coordination to the metal center and a hydrogen bond donor to interact with the oxo group. This paper reports the synthesis of ligands that are more rigid and sterically predisposed to bind the targeted UO 2 2+ cation. These are the tripod ligands tris- N , N ′, N ′′-[2-(2-carboxy-phenoxy)ethyl]-1,4,7-triazacyclononane bis-hydrochloride (ETAC · 2HCl) and tris- N , N ′, N ′′-[2-(2-carboxy-4-decyl-phenoxy)ethyl]-1,4,7-triazacyclononane tris-hydrochloride (DETAC · 3HCl), which chelate uranyl with a tris-carboxylate coordination sphere and provide a hydrogen bond donor through a protonated amine on the triazacyclononane macrocycle to interact with one uranyl oxo atom. Structural models predict that upon uranyl binding the hydrogen bond donor must point directly towards the oxo atom, enforcing a stereognostic interaction. Both ETAC and DETAC chelate the uranyl ion; DETAC is a powerful extractant and will quantitatively extract uranyl into an organic phase at pH 1.9 and above. The extraction coefficient is estimated to be 10 14 in neutral aqueous conditions. Vibrational spectra of 18 O labeled UO 2 2+ have been used to probe the stereognostic coordination to uranyl utilizing hydrogen bonding.
Modeling Circadian Rhythms of Glucocorticoid Receptor and Glutamine Synthetase Expression in Rat Skeletal Muscle

The circadian rhythm of endogenous corticosterone (CS) may produce fluctuations of downstream gene expression in normal rats. This study examined changes in glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and glutamine synthetase (GS) expression in rat skeletal muscle in relation to plasma CS over a 24-h period. Fifty-four normal male Wistar rats were sacrificed at 18 time points (n = 3) over 24 h. Plasma CS concentrations and gastrocnemius muscle GR and GS mRNA and GS activity were measured. The circadian rhythm of plasma CS was captured by a two-harmonic function. The expression of GR and GS mRNA and GS activity follow a circadian rhythm in normal rat skeletal muscle. GR mRNA reaches a trough at 4 h after the peak of plasma CS and it fluctuates between 0.55 and 0.9 fmol g tissue−1. GS mRNA and activity reach peaks at 6 and 12 h after the endogenous CS peak. GS mRNA oscillates between 3 and 6 fmol g tissue−1, whereas GS activity fluctuates between 17 and 23 μmol min−1 g protein−1. Mechanistic receptor/gene-mediated pharmacodynamic models were applied to describe the temporal patterns of GR mRNA, GS mRNA, and GS activity within the circadian cycle. The integrated models were able to capture the circadian expression patterns of plasma CS, and GR and GS in normal rat skeletal muscle showing a dependence of tissue gene expression on plasma CS.
Recovery of iron/iron oxide nanoparticles from solution: comparison of methods and their effects

Most methods currently being used to recover Fe0-core/oxide-shell nanoparticles from solutions (including the solvents they are synthesized or stored in) are potentially problematic because they may alter the particle composition (e.g., depositing salts formed from solutes) or leave the particles prone to transformations during subsequent storage and handling (e.g., due to residual moisture). In this study, several methods for recovery of nanoparticles from aqueous solution were studied to determine how they affect the structure and reactivity of the recovered materials. Simple washing of the nanoparticles during vacuum filtration (i.e., “flash drying”) can leave up to ~17 wt% residual moisture. Modeling calculations suggest this moisture is mostly capillary or matric water held between particles and particle aggregates, which can be removed by drying for short periods at relative vapor pressures below 0.9. Flash drying followed by vacuum drying, all under N2, leaves no detectable residue from precipitation of solutes (detectable by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, XPS), no significant changes in overall particle composition or structure (determined by transmission electron microscopy, TEM), and negligible residual moisture (by thermogravimetric analysis, TGA). While this improved flash-drying protocol may be the preferred method for recovering nanoparticles for many purposes, we found that Fe0-core/oxide-shell nanoparticles still exhibit gradual aging during storage when characterized electrochemically with voltammetry.