cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does the angiotensin receptor blocker telmisartan prevent morbid atherosclerotic events

ONTARGET has established the efficacy of the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) telmisartan to slow disease progression and delay or prevent morbid events in patients with atherosclerosis. Although the study failed to confirm additive efficacy of telmisartan and the angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitor ramipril, caution should be exercised in assuming that the mean response in a clinical trial applies to individual patients who might benefit from combination therapy. Physicians should also recognize that the design of the study, in which full doses of the ACE inhibitor and the ARB were administered, might not replicate clinical practice, where one drug is usually added to the other.
Perceptions of the transition to adulthood among Chinese and American emerging adults

This study explored cultural differences in the criteria young people have for becoming an adult. Specifically, the study sought (a) to compare Chinese and American responses concerning whether they believe they have reached adulthood; (b) to examine whether adulthood criteria could fit a common statistical model for both cultures; and (c) after estimating this model, to compare the importance of adulthood criteria for Chinese and Americans. Results indicated that Chinese students considered themselves to be adults more than did American students. Also, Chinese students ascribed greater importance to criteria that reflect obligations toward others than did the Americans. The influence of culture in the transition to adulthood was discussed.
Onboard instrument processing concepts for the HyspIRI mission

Future NASA missions will have instruments that generate enormous amounts of data. We describe an onboard processing mission concept for a possible Direct Broadcast capability for the HyspIRI mission — a mission under consideration for launch in the next decade carrying visible to short wave infrared (VSWIR) and thermal infrared (TIR) instruments. The VSWIR and TIR instruments will produce over 800 × 106 bits per second of data however the Direct Broadcast downlink rate will be approximately 10×106 bits per second, allowing only 1/80th of the data to be rapidly downlinked. Our onboard processing concept under development spectrally and spatially subsamples the data as well as generates science products onboard to enable return of key rapid response science and applications information despite limited downlink bandwidth. This rapid data delivery concept focuses on wildfires and volcanoes as primary applications but also has applications to vegetation, coastal, flooding, dust, and snow/ice applications.
Sisterhood‐Brotherhood is Powerful: Sibling Sub‐Systems and Family Therapy

Sibling interaction is an often overlooked aspect of family functioning. Individual development and many family behavior patterns may be attributed to autonomous activities within the sibling sub-system. A number of phenomena in which siblings have profound influence upon one another are explored. Siblings collude and align with each other, at times help each other resist the powerful vertical influences of parents. Other sibling systems serve to enmesh the youngsters even more with parents. Important sib-behavior patterns include: the death or departure of siblings; the interplay between the sibling sub-system and the parenting system; and the roles that “well” siblings play vis-a-vis their “sick” siblings during family crises. The sibling relationship is seen as a life-long process, highly influential throughout the life cycle. Understanding of sibling sub-system structure and dynamics can lead to more flexible therapeutic interventions. Direct work with siblings provides the therapist with more options and greater leverage in producing change for all siblings, as well as for other family members.
Guest Editor's Introduction: Reliability-Aware Microarchitecture

This special issue of IEEE Micro addresses the trends toward reliability-aware microarchitecture, their system-level implications, and some innovative ideas on how to build systems in the face of those challenges.
Model-Driven Reconstruction of 3-D Buildings Using LiDAR Data

Data-driven and model-driven strategies are two basic approaches for building reconstruction based on LiDAR data. Due to the data noise and limitations in existing algorithms, the data-driven approach can neither construct a complete roof plane nor construct irregular planes. This letter proposes a model-driven approach to reconstruct 3-D building structures by developing prototypical roofs for commercial and residential buildings. The experiment was conducted in the City of Indianapolis, IN, USA, using the LiDAR data and building footprints provided by the city government. Irregular building footprints were first decomposed into nonintersecting and mostly quadrangular blocks for the identification of the most probable prototypical roofs. A decision tree classifier was applied to classify all building footprints into seven subtypes based on the physical and morphological parameters of buildings. The modeling of prototypical roofs was finished with the parameters including the length, the width, and the orientation of the principal axis of each building block that were computed from the LiDAR data using the static moment equations. Additional parameters, including the mean height, the top height, and the gutter height, were also considered as needed for some subtypes. Complex roofs were reconstructed by assembling adjacent prototypical roofs. The decision tree classification method was finally applied to 268 building blocks and achieved an overall accuracy of 82.1% for seven classes. A 3-D geographic information system building database that includes commercial and residential buildings in two chosen city blocks was created for further applications. This letter created a more completed building roof structure than the existing data-driven approach and demonstrated the reliability of a decision tree classifier in categorizing building roofs.
Reducing energy consumption of multiprocessor SoC architectures by exploiting memory bank locality

The next generation embedded architectures are expected to accommodate multiple processors on the same chip. While this makes interprocessor communication less costly as compared to traditional high-end parallel machines, it also makes off-chip requests very costly. In particular, frequent off-chip memory accesses do not only increase execution cycles but also increase overall power consumption. One way of alleviating this power problem is to divide the off-chip memory into multiple banks, each of which can be power-controlled independently using low-power operating modes.In this article, we focus on a multiprocessor-system-on-a-chip (MPSoC) architecture with a banked memory system, and show how code and data optimizations can help us reduce memory energy consumption for embedded applications with regular data access patterns, for example, those from the embedded image and video processing domain. This is achieved by ensuring bank locality, which means that each processor localizes its accesses into a small set of banks in a given time period. We present a mathematical formulation of the bank locality problem. Our formulation is based on constructing a set of matrix equations that capture the mappings between the data, computation, processor, and memory bank spaces. Based on this formulation, we propose a heuristic solution to the bank locality problem under different scenarios. Our solution involves an iterative process through which we try to satisfy as many matrix constraints as possible; the unsatisfied constraints represent the degree of degradation in bank locality. Finally, we report extensive experimental results showing the effectiveness of our strategy in practice. Our results show that the proposed solution improves bank locality significantly, and reduces the overall memory system energy consumption by up to 34p over an approach that makes use of the low-power modes but does not employ our strategy.
SEARCH FOR V PARTICLES PRODUCED BY 430-MEV PROTONS

Polyethylene was bombarded with 430-Mev protons from the Chicago synchrocyclotron and a search carried out in nearby nuclear emulsions for ${{V}_{1}}^{0}$ particles, as well as for possible charged analogs which decay by the process ${{V}_{1}}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}n+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}+Q$. No events of either type were found. The upper limits of the cross sections are respectively 0.35 mb and 0.15 mb per carbon nucleus for the ${{V}_{1}}^{0}$ and ${{V}_{1}}^{+}$.
FIXED-GRID FRONT-TRACKING ALGORITHM FOR SOLIDIFICATION PROBLEMS, PART I: METHOD AND VALIDATION

This article presents a method for solving moving-boundary problems associated with phase change. This method is an explicit interface-tracking scheme that involves the reconstruction and advection of the moving interface on a fixed grid. Three distinct steps are undertaken to handle the movement of the interface: advection and reconstruction (tracking); calculation of normal velocities; and the solution of the governing equations for different phases. Details of each step and its implementation are provided. The transient heat diffusion equation in two space dimensions is the governing equation for energy transport. In order to validate the approach, results obtained from the front-tracking scheme are compared with exact analytical solutions for melting problems in Cartesian and cylindrical coordinates. It is shown that the numerical and analytical results are in excellent agreement. Finally, problems involving the multidimensional solidification of a pure aluminum ingot subject to bi-directional heat ex...
Rapid calculation of the solution scattering profile from a macromolecule of known structure.

If one expands the structure factor equation in spherical coordinates, rotational averaging of the molecular Fourier transform, which leads directly to the solution scattering profile, is greatly simplified. It becomes a projection in the polar and azimuthal angular variables. The profile is given by The index j runs over all atoms; r, θ, ϕ are atomic coordinates and e and N are constants; the Ym,n are complex spherical harmonics, and Jn are spherical Bessel functions; R = 2 sin θ/λ. The effects of solvent have been modeled by subtracting from each protein atom a properly weighted water. Hydrogens have been included by using scattering curves fj derived from the spherical averaging ofprotein atoms with their attached hydrogens. This approach may also be satisfactory for neutron scattering. Published scattering profiles2 for lysozyme and BPTI have been accurately matched in less than one-tenth the time required by other methods. Separate, adjustable temperature factors for the protein, solvent waters, and bound watersare used, and appear to be needed. In the case of BPTI, as suggested by NMR observations, the observed diffraction pattern was much better accounted for by including only 4 tightly bound waters rather than the roughly 60 seen by crystallography.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Students and the Institutions that Serve Them

As the global work environment continues to evolve, the United States needs to increase its human capital in order remain economically competitive. Whether the nation can meet the demands of the gl...
Sensory population decoding for visually guided movements.

We have used a new approach to study the neural decoding function that converts the population response in extrastriate area MT into estimates of target motion to drive smooth pursuit eye movement. Experiments reveal significant trial-by-trial correlations between the responses of MT neurons and the initiation of pursuit. The preponderance of significant correlations and the relatively low reduction in noise between MT and the behavioral output support the hypothesis of a sensory origin for at least some of the trial-by-trial variation in pursuit initiation. The finding of mainly positive MT-pursuit correlations, whether the target speed is faster or slower than the neuron’s preferred speed, places strong constraints on the neural decoding computation. We propose that decoding is based on normalizing a weighted population vector of opponent motion responses; normalization comes from neurons uncorrelated with those used to compute the weighted population vector.
Infectious and allergic aspects of bronchiolitis

A clinical and etiologic study was conducted among children who wheezed during acute respiratory infections. The results suggest that the clinical response of many children who first wheeze with respiratory infections not due to respiratory syncytial virus may represent the initial bout of asthmatic bronchitis. In contrast, children who wheeze with an attack of bronchiolitis due to RS virus probably do not have an increased likelihood of developing bronchial asthma.
Adaptation and major chromosomal changes in populations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Thirteen independent populations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (nine haploid and four diploid) were maintained in continuous culture for up to approximately 1000 generations, with growth limited by the concentration of organic phosphates in medium buffered at pH 6. Analysis of clones isolated from these populations showed that a number (17) of large-scale chromosomallength variants and rearrangements were present in the populations at their termination. Nine of the 16 yeast chromosomes were involved in such changes. Few of the changes could be explained by copy-number increases in the structural loci for acid phosphatase. Several considerations concerning the nature and frequency of the chromosome-length variants observed lead us to conclude that they are selectively advantageous.
A Survey of Senior Agency, Advertiser, and Media Executives on the Future of Advertising

Abstract This paper reports the results of a survey of leading U.S. advertising executives on trends expected to shape the industry into the next century, the activities their organizations are relying on to prepare for the future, and anticipated changes in the importance of advertising media. The data, from 414 respondents to a mail survey including senior executives from advertising agencies, advertisers and the media, are analyzed by group and an overall view of the transformations expected to occur is offered.
Endpoints of resuscitation of critically injured patients: normal or supranormal? A prospective randomized trial.

The quest for ideal endpoints of resuscitation after severe trauma is incomplete. Higher-than-normal values (traditionally called supranormal or optimal) of global hemodynamic and oxygen transport parameters are associated with improved outcome. 1,2 Frequently used optimal values are a cardiac index (CI) greater than 4.5 L/min/m2, an oxygen delivery index (DO2I) greater than 600 mL/min/m2, and an oxygen consumption index (VO2I) greater than 170 mL/min/m2. 1,2 However, it is not clear whether these values should represent endpoints of resuscitation or are simply markers of physiologic reserve and predictors of outcome. Ten prospective randomized studies have examined this issue. 3–12 Five of them 3–7 found no difference between patients who were randomized to receive resuscitation aimed at optimal values versus patients who had only normal values as endpoints of their resuscitation. Four trials 8–11 showed that patients randomized to the optimal group had better outcome. One trial 12 showed a higher death rate among patients randomized to optimal values. Most of these studies examined heterogeneous populations, randomized after severe sepsis or organ failure was diagnosed. Only one study 10 evaluated trauma patients exclusively. A major critique of the existing studies is that resuscitation to optimal goals was not started early in the evolution of the critical illness. 13,14 It has been argued that once organ failure is established, reversal is difficult, irrespective of the resuscitation technique used. 13 Optimization is best at improving survival when it is used to prevent organ failure, not treat it. 14–16 However, hemodynamic and oxygen transport values are monitored after pulmonary artery catheterization. Because in most institutions a pulmonary artery catheter is not inserted before the patient arrives in the intensive care unit (ICU), invasive hemodynamic monitoring cannot start while the trauma patient is in the emergency department, radiology suite, or operating room. Often, many hours have elapsed and multiple diagnostic tests and therapeutic interventions have been completed before the trauma patient is transferred to the ICU and receives a pulmonary artery catheter. In this randomized controlled study, we examined the appropriateness of resuscitating critically injured patients to optimal goals by starting immediately after admission. To obtain hemodynamic measurements before ICU admission, we used thoracic bioimpedance to calculate the CI and transcutaneous oxygen tension measurement to assess tissue perfusion during the pre-ICU resuscitation. Both techniques recognize accurately, in our experience, circulatory and perfusion deficits, and the derived values are associated with final outcome after critical injury. 17,18
Sterols and oxysterols in immune cell function.

Sterols and oxysterol derivatives of cholesterol regulate diverse cellular processes. Nathanael Spann and Christopher Glass review the emerging data indicating that these endogenous compounds also serve key roles in almost all aspects of immunological function. Intermediates in the cholesterol-biosynthetic pathway and oxysterol derivatives of cholesterol regulate diverse cellular processes. Recent studies have expanded the appreciation of their roles in controlling the functions of cells of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Here we review recent literature reporting on the biological functions of sterol intermediates and oxysterols, acting through transcription factors such as the liver X receptors (LXRs), sterol regulatory element–binding proteins (SREBPs) and the G protein–coupled receptor EBI2, in regulating the differentiation and population expansion of cells of the innate and adaptive immune systems, their responses to inflammatory mediators, their effects on the phagocytic functions of macrophages and their effects on antiviral activities and the migration of immune cells. Such findings have raised many new questions about the production of endogenous bioactive sterols and oxysterols and their mechanisms of action in the immune system.
The conditioning influence of organization size upon managerial practice

Abstract Organization size is a frequently discussed, less often studied, characteristic of organization units. Two size dimensions, unit size and size of parent organization, are analyzed for independent and joint relationships with various dimensions of organizational behavior and managerial practice. Results suggest that managerial practices of delegation, staffing and direction vary with size and moderate expected size influences upon coordination and performance.
Comparison of VA intentional and unintentional deaths.

This retrospective clinical study contrasts 22 unintentional (‘accidental’) deaths with 31 intentional (suicide) deaths of patients obtaining psychiatric care in a mid-sized VA Health Care system during 1993–1998. Unintended deaths were more frequently associated with addicting agents, particularly opioids. The number of such incidents increased from 1993–1998, a phenomenon that appeared to be associated with the implementation of managed care. These findings challenge rapidly changing psychiatric care systems to generate more effective treatment methods for dangerous addiction pathology despite decreasing numbers of substance abuse personnel per patient.
Nuclear Electromagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

An argument is made for the existence of nuclear electromagnetic resonance (N.E.R.) between the interaction hamiltonian due to the conjugate product pi of the electric fields of a powerful pump laser and a new concept of nuclear spin polarisability, and a resonating electromagnetic probe field in the appropriate frequency range. N.E.R. is mediated theoretically by the interaction of pi with an axial vector quantity identified as nuclear spin polarisability, **s". The latter is defined through off diagonal matrix elements of nuclear transition electric dipole moments, between states of different parity, and the perturbation hamiltonian -pi **s" provides the nucleus with net spin, analogously with the interaction of nuclear spin, I, and external static magnetic flux density B, the basis of N.M.R. spectroscopy. This analogy is based on the identical parity and motion reversal symmetries of pi and B and of I and **s".
Meshless Local Petrov-Galerkin Formulation for Problems in Composite Micromechanics

In this paper we present the meshless local Petrov-Galerkin formulation for the generalized plane strain problem with specific emphasis on micromechanics of composite materials containing material discontinuities. The problem requires the introduction of an extra discrete degree of freedom, the out-of-plane uniform normal strain. The treatment of material discontinuity at the interface between the two phases of the composite is presented by means of direct imposition of interface boundary conditions. The meshless local Petrov-Galerkin method is used in the micromechanical model for predicting the elastic constants of the composite. To our knowledge, this is the first study in which the meshless local Petrov-Galerkin method is formulated for the so-called meshless local Petrov-Galerkin method based micromechanical analysis. Examples are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the current method, and it is validated by comparing the results with available analytical and numerical solutions. The current method has the potential for use in micromechanics, especially for textile composites, where the meshing of the unit cell has been quite difficult.
A new approach for the investigation of reperfusion-related brain injury

Effective stroke therapies require recanalization of occluded cerebral blood vessels; however, early reperfusion can cause BBB (blood–brain barrier) injury, leading to cerebral oedema and/or devastating brain haemorrhage. These complications of early reperfusion, which result from excess production of ROS (reactive oxygen species), significantly limit the benefits of stroke therapies. Here, we summarize some of the findings that lead to the development of a novel animal model that facilitates identification of specific free radical-associated components of the reperfusion injury process and allows therapeutic interventions to be assessed. In this model, KO (knockout) mice containing 50% activity of the mitochondrial antioxidant manganese-SOD (superoxide dismutase) (SOD2-KO) undergo transient focal ischaemia followed by reperfusion. These animals have delayed (>24 h) BBB breakdown associated with activation of matrix metalloproteinase-9, inflammation and a high brain haemorrhage rate. These adverse consequences are absent from wild-type littermates, SOD2 overexpressors and minocycline-treated SOD2-KO animals. In addition, using microvessel isolations following in vivo ischaemia/reperfusion, we were able to show that the tight junction membrane protein, occludin, is an early and specific target in ROS-mediated microvascular injury. This new model is ideal for studying ischaemia/reperfusion-induced vascular injury and secondary brain damage and offers a unique opportunity to evaluate free radical-based neurovascular protective strategies. Abbreviations: BBB, blood–brain barrier; KO, knockout; MMP, matrix metalloproteinase; OGD, oxygen and glucose deprivation; ROS, reactive oxygen species; SICH, symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage; SOD, superoxide dismutase; TG, transgenic; tPA, tissue plasminogen activator; TUNEL, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling; WT, wild type; ZO-1, zonula occludens 1 protein
Using asymmetric distributions to improve text classifier probability estimates

Text classifiers that give probability estimates are more readily applicable in a variety of scenarios. For example, rather than choosing one set decision threshold, they can be used in a Bayesian risk model to issue a run-time decision which minimizes a user-specified cost function dynamically chosen at prediction time. However, the quality of the probability estimates is crucial. We review a variety of standard approaches to converting scores (and poor probability estimates) from text classifiers to high quality estimates and introduce new models motivated by the intuition that the empirical score distribution for the "extremely irrelevant", "hard to discriminate", and "obviously relevant" items are often significantly different. Finally, we analyze the experimental performance of these models over the outputs of two text classifiers. The analysis demonstrates that one of these models is theoretically attractive (introducing few new parameters while increasing flexibility), computationally efficient, and empirically preferable.
Detecting the bloom-forming dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense using the absorption signature

Pulsed N inputs were simulated by exposing Alexandrium tamarense to sudden increase in concentration of three different N sources to evaluate an approach of using absorption coefficient (aph) ratio at three wavelengths to detect toxic dinoflagellates such as A. tamarense. The present study examined the absorption properties of A. tamarense for a range of concentrations under three different nitrogen sources and concluded that using absorption such as chlorophyll-specific absorption coefficient (aph*) at a single wavelength is not appropriate for detecting bloom forming species due to variability of aph* caused by varying physiological states. With appropriate wavelengths established, the aph ratio approach with three wavelengths has the capability of detecting A. tamarense. Variable environmental conditions such as nutrient species, light quantity and light quality did not affect the aph ratios significantly, particularly the ratio at 510 and 675 relative to 555 nm. This ratio allows differentiation of A. tamarense from other phytoplankton species including other bloom-forming dinoflagellates. In addition, this ratio could also detect the presence of A. tamarense in mixed cultures from diluted samples of as low as 5% in cell abundance (c. 30% in Chl a concentration). The present study suggests that this ratio could be an adequate biomarker for dinoflagellates such as A. tamarense. This absorption ratio technique could provide means of interpreting field populations and enhancing the capability for detecting harmful species such as A. tamarense.
“Is it simple to be a feminist in philosophy?”: Althusser and feminist theoretical practice

(2000). “Is it simple to be a feminist in philosophy?”: Althusser and feminist theoretical practice. Rethinking Marxism: Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 18-34.
Structure of poorly crystalline MoS2 - A modeling study

Abstract Current interest in amorphous and poorly crystallized phases of the layered transition metal dichalcogenides arises primarily from their unique catalytic and electrochemical properties not present in the corresponding crystalline phases. Computer calcultions of the scattered X-ray intensity from model structures of poorly crystalline (px-) MoS2 are compared here with experimental patterns from materials prepared at different temperatures. The results are used to identify the salient features of the observed diffraction patterns of px-MoS2 in which the measured diffuse scattered intensity may be clearly attributed to the stacking and rotational disorder of the layers as well as the limited number of these layers. A procedure for the interpretation of the X-ray diffraction pattern of px-MoS2 has thereby been developed in which the entire scattering pattern may be calculated without separation into Bragg peaks (of varying breadth and shape) and diffuse background.
Effects of catecholamine-depleting drugs and amphetamine on self-stimulation of brain following various 6-hydroxydopamine treatments.

Changes in electrical self-stimulation responding were examined in rats with electrodes implanted in the lateral hypothalamus following 6-hydroxydopamine treatments which depleted brain dopamine, norepinephrine or both of these catecholamines. Acute depression of self-stimulation occurred after treatments which reduced brain dopamine, but did not occur in rats treated to deplete just brain norepinephrine. A chronic deficit in self-stimulation responding occurred in rats treated with 6-hydroxydopamine in combination with pargyline to reduce both brain amines, while responding of animals in which brain dopamine was reduced returned to levels observed prior to 6-hydroxydopamine treatment. A dose of α-methyl-tyrosine (25 mg/kg), which did not affect responding of control rats, caused a significant reduction in responding of rats depleted of brain dopamine. This treatment did not affect responding of rats depleted of brain norepinephrine. Administration of the dopamine-Β-hydroxylase inhibitor, U-14624, failed to affect self-stimulation in spite of an additional 70% reduction of brain norepinephrine content. The response to a dose of d-amphetamine (0.25 mg/kg), that increased self-stimulation of control rats, was significantly reduced in rats with brain dopamine selectively depleted. Rats in which norepinephrine was depleted responded to d-amphetamine like the control group. α-Methyltyrosine antagonized the increased self-stimulation responding following administration of d-amphetamine (1 mg/kg) to reserpinized rats, while U-14624 did not. Results support the hypothesis that central dopaminergic fibers have an important involvement in the maintenance of self-stimulation of brain.
Advantages of Barium Peroxide in the Powder Synthesis of Perovskite Superconductors

The results of Bednorz and Muller [1] and Wu and Chu [2] have stimulated a tremendous volume of research on ceramic superconductors [3–7]. Despite a number of other synthetic techniques, the solid state reaction remains the choice of most workers due to its simplicity [4,5,7]: CuO, Y2O3 and BaCO3 are often used in the powder synthesis of Ba2YCu3O7−x. BaO2 is known to be a useful reagent in the synthesis of compounds containing higher oxidation states of metals [8]. Therefore, in our study of the possible role of Cu3+ in superconducting perovskites, we also use BaO2 in the solid state reaction. This paper compares reaction chemistry, material processing and material characterization using BaCO3or BaO2 in the solid state reaction. We obtain greater mass density, increased sample homogeneity, lower resistance, and improved reproducibility for material prepared using BaO2. We would like to point out that other groups have produced Ba2YCu3O7−x using BaO2 [4,7]; Calestani and Rizzoli have reported a one-step process for producing single crystals of Ba2YCu3O7−x using BaO2 [9].
Different forms of synaptic plasticity in somatosensory and motor areas of the neocortex

We have studied vertical synaptic pathways in two cytoarchitectonically distinct areas of rat neocortex--the granular primary somatosensory (SI) area and the agranular primary motor (MI) area--and tested their propensity to generate long-term potentiation (LTP), long-term depression (LTD), and related forms of synaptic plasticity. Extracellular and intracellular responses were recorded in layer II/III of slices in vitro while stimulating in middle cortical layers (in or around layer IV). Under control conditions, 5 Hz theta-burst stimulation produced LTP in the granular area, but not in the agranular area. Agranular cortex did generate short-term potentiation that decayed within 20 min. Varying the inter-burst frequency from 2 Hz to 10 Hz reliably yielded LTP of 21-34% above control levels in granular cortex, but no lasting changes were induced in agranular cortex. However, the agranular cortex was capable of generating LTP if a GABAA receptor antagonist was applied locally at the recording site during the induction phase. In contrast to LTP, an identical form of homosynaptic LTD could be induced in both granular and agranular areas by applying low frequency stimulation (1 Hz for 15 min) to the middle layers. Under control conditions, both LTP and LTD were synapse-specific; theta-burst or low-frequency stimulation in the vertical pathway did not induce changes in responses to stimulation of a layer II/III horizontal pathway. Application of the NMDA receptor antagonist D-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (AP5) blocked the induction of both LTP and LTD in granular and agranular cortex. In the presence of AP5, low-frequency conditioning stimuli yielded a short-term depression in both areas that decayed within 10-15 min. Nifedipine, which blocks L-type, voltage-sensitive calcium channels, slightly depressed the magnitudes of LTP and LTD but did not abolish them. Synaptic responses evoked during theta-burst stimulation were strikingly different in granular and agranular areas. Responses in granular cortex were progressively facilitated during each sequence of 10 theta-bursts, and from sequence-to-sequence; in contrast, responses in agranular cortex were stable during an entire theta-burst tetanus. The results suggest that vertical pathways in primary somatosensory cortex and primary motor cortex express several forms of synaptic plasticity. They were equally capable of generating LTD, but the pathways in somatosensory cortex much more reliably generated LTP, unless inhibition was reduced. LTP may be more easily produced in sensory cortex because of the pronounced synaptic facilitation that occurs there during repetitive stimulation of the induction phase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Platelet factor 4 limits Th17 differentiation and cardiac allograft rejection

Th cells are the major effector cells in transplant rejection and can be divided into Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg subsets. Th differentiation is controlled by transcription factor expression, which is driven by positive and negative cytokine and chemokine stimuli at the time of T cell activation. Here we discovered that chemokine platelet factor 4 (PF4) is a negative regulator of Th17 differentiation. PF4-deficient and platelet-deficient mice had exaggerated immune responses to cardiac transplantation, including increased numbers of infiltrating Th17 cells and increased plasma IL-17. Although PF4 has been described as a platelet-specific molecule, we found that activated T cells also express PF4. Furthermore, bone marrow transplantation experiments revealed that T cell–derived PF4 contributes to a restriction in Th17 differentiation. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrate that PF4 is a key regulator of Th cell development that is necessary to limit Th17 differentiation. These data likely will impact our understanding of platelet-dependent regulation of T cell development, which is important in many diseases, in addition to transplantation.
Long continuous actin bundles in Drosophila bristles are constructed by overlapping short filaments

The actin bundles essential for Drosophila bristle elongation are hundreds of microns long and composed of cross-linked unipolar filaments. These long bundles are built from much shorter modules that graft together. Using both confocal and electron microscopy, we demonstrate that newly synthesized modules are short (1–2 μm in length); modules elongate to ∼3 μm by growing over the surface of longitudinally adjacent modules to form a graft; the grafted regions are initially secured by the forked protein cross-bridge and later by the fascin cross-bridge; actin bundles are smoothed by filament addition and appear continuous and without swellings; and in the absence of grafting, dramatic alterations in cell shape occur that substitutes cell width expansion for elongation. Thus, bundle morphogenesis has several components: module formation, elongation, grafting, and bundle smoothing. These actin bundles are much like a rope or cable, made by overlapping elements that run a small fraction of the overall length, and stiffened by cross-linking.
Robust CDN replica placement techniques

Creating replicas of frequently accessed data objects across a read-intensive Content Delivery Network (CDN) can result in reduced user response time. Because CDNs often operate under volatile conditions, it is of the utmost importance to study replica placement techniques that can cope with uncertainties in the system parameters. We propose four CDN replica placement heuristics that guarantee a robust performance under the uncertainty of arbitrary CDN server failures. By robust performance we mean the solution quality that a heuristic guarantees given the uncertainties in system parameters. The simulation results reveal interesting characteristics of the studied heuristics. We report these characteristics with a detailed discussion on which heuristics to utilize for robust CDN data replication given a specific scenario.
Application of variable tolls on congested toll road

This paper examines how different price elasticities of travel demand would impact traffic on a toll road with a time-of-day variable toll rate. Price elasticities were derived from data collected on a pair of bridges that currently offer tolls that vary by time of day. Both aggregate traffic data and disaggregate driver data were used to determine a range of probable elasticities. The aggregate method applied the short run price elasticities observed at the operational bridges to a hypothetical toll road. To determine disaggregate elasticity rates, discrete choice models of a driver's willingness to alter his or her time of travel due to the variable toll were estimated using survey data. Using these models, and varying the socioeconomic and commute characteristics of drivers on the hypothetical toll road, it was possible to determine the impact of different price elasticities on the flow of traffic. Elasticities from 20.076 to 20.15 caused travel times to improve by 8.8 to 13.3%, respectively.
Skilled motor deficits in rats induced by ventrolateral striatal dopamine depletions: behavioral and pharmacological characterization

Abstract Rats were tested in an instrumental lever pressing procedure, in which a computer program recorded detailed parameters of responding such as response initiation and duration. Initially, rats with ventrolateral striatal dopamine depletions and control rats were tested on days 3–5 after surgery. Dopamine depletions produced by local injections of 6-hydroxydopamine substantially reduced the number of lever presses emitted. Dopamine depleted animals showed significant increases in average response initiation times, average length of fast initiation times, average length of pauses and total pause time. The distribution of initiation times was altered so that DA depleted rats showed significant reductions in the relative number of very high rate responses and also showed increases in the relative number of pauses. On day 7 after surgery, dopamine-depleted rats received one of three drug treatments: injections of ascorbate vehicle, injections of 20.0 mg/kg l -DOPA, and injections of 40.0 mg/kg l -DOPA. Injections of 40.0 mg/kg l -DOPA led to some improvement in several parameters of instrumental responding. Compared to the previous baseline day, the group that received 40.0 mg/kg l -DOPA showed a significant increase in number of responses on the drug treatment day, and also showed significant decreases in average response initiation time and total pause time. The group that received 40.0 mg/kg l -DOPA also showed significant increases in number of responses (expressed as a percent of the previous day) when compared to the control group that received injections of ascorbate vehicle. These results indicate that l -DOPA can partially reverse the skilled motor deficits produced by ventrolateral striatal dopamine depletions, and suggest that this test may be useful for the assessment of antiparkinsonian drugs.
Web services on mobile devices-implementation and experience

Web services have started to appear on servers as interfaces between business-to-business applications. To date, mobile devices have only consumed Web services running on stationary servers. We expand this notion so that mobile devices can both offer and consume Web services. We discuss some interesting classes of applications that can be enabled when mobile devices can host Web services. This can be a powerful model for facilitating automatic interaction between resource-constrained mobile devices, time starved users, and pervasive infrastructure. We also explore the issues that arise due to mobility of devices hosting Web services, such as service discovery, device disambiguation, software footprint, and security requirements. To explore this paradigm and to gain an understanding of these issues, we have implemented a retail shopping scenario where a mobile device offers wallet services to an electronic check-out kiosk. This demonstration is now housed at the IBM Industry Solutions Lab and has been operational for several months.
MR Imaging Detection of Cerebral Microbleeds: Effect of Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging, Section Thickness, and Field Strength

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The emergence of cerebral microbleeds (CMB) as common MR imaging findings raises the question of how MR imaging parameters influence CMB detection. To evaluate the effects of modified gradient recalled-echo (GRE) MR imaging methods, we performed an analysis of sequence, section thickness, and field strength on CMB imaging properties and detection in subjects with cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), a condition associated with microhemorrhage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multiple MR images were obtained from subjects with probable CAA, with varying sequences (GRE versus susceptibility-weighted imaging [SWI]), section thicknesses (1.2–1.5 versus 5 mm), and magnetic field strengths (1.5T versus 3T). Individual CMB were manually identified and analyzed for contrast index (lesion intensity normalized to normal-appearing white matter signal intensity) and diameter. CMB counts were compared between 1.5T thick-section GRE and thin-section SWI for 3 subjects who underwent both protocols in the same scanning session. RESULTS: With other parameters constant, use of SWI, thinner sections, and a higher field strength yielded medium-to-large gains in CMB contrast index (CI; Cohen d 0.71–1.87). SWI was also associated with small increases in CMB diameter (Cohen d CONCLUSIONS: The examined alternatives to conventional GRE MR imaging yield substantially improved CMB contrast and sensitivity for detection. Future studies based on these techniques will most likely yield even higher prevalence estimates for CMB.
Mapping a Path to Autonomous Flight in the National Airspace

The introduction of autonomous flight, whether military, commercial, or civilian, into the National Airspace System (NAS) will present significant challenges. Minimizing the impact and preventing the changes from becoming disruptive, rather than an enhancing technology will not be without difficulty. From obstacle detection and avoidance to real-time verification and validation of system behavior, there are significant problems which must be solved prior to the general acceptance of autonomous systems. This paper examines some of the key challenges and the multi-disciplinary collaboration which must occur for autonomous systems to be accepted as equal partners in the NAS.
A longitudinal study of differences in late- and early-onset geriatric depression: depressive symptoms and psychosocial, cognitive, and neurological functioning.

Objectives: Studies suggest early-onset depression (EOD) is associated with a more severe course of the depressive disorder, while late-onset depression (LOD) is associated with more cognitive and neuroimaging changes. This study examined if older adults with EOD, compared with those with LOD, would exhibit more severe symptoms of depression and, consistent with the glucocorticoid cascade hypothesis, have more hippocampal volume loss. A second goal was to determine if LOD, compared with EOD, would demonstrate more cognitive and neuroimaging changes. Method: At regular intervals over a four-year period non-demented, older, depressed adults were assessed on the Mini-Mental Status Examination and the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale. They were also assessed on magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Compared with LOD, EOD had more depressive symptoms, more suicidal thoughts, and less social support. Growth curve analyses indicated that EOD demonstrated higher levels of residual depressive symptoms over time. The LOD group exhibited a greater decrement in cognitive scores. Contrary to the glucocorticoid cascade hypothesis, participants with EOD lost right hippocampal volume at a slower rate than did participants with LOD. Right cerebrum gray matter was initially smaller among participants with LOD. Conclusions: EOD is associated with greater severity of depressive illness. LOD is associated with more severe cognitive and neurological changes. These differences are relevant to understanding cognitive impairment in geriatric depression.
Changes in forest vegetation and arbuscular mycorrhizae along a steep elevation gradient in Arizona

We assessed species composition, richness and abundance of understory vegetation, as well as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) inoculum potential on the San Francisco Peaks, tallest mountains in Arizona, crossing a steep, south-facing elevational gradient. These mountains have a high conservation value due to their rare habitats but previous vegetation studies have been limited. Because mature trees in the Pinaceae do not form associations with AM fungi, there may be more variation in plant community and AM fungal associations in coniferous forest than in ecosystems where all species associate with AM fungi. Differences in species composition between forest types reflected differences in the historical disturbance regimes. Species richness was highest in ponderosa pine forest (32.6 � 1.4 per 1000 m 2 plot), although plant abundance was highest in aspen forest (49.4 � 3.8%). Ponderosa pine and bristlecone pine forest were both high in species richness and contained species which were tolerant of frequent, low-intensity fire. Exotic species richness and abundance were highest in the lower elevations, which were also areas of high species richness and greater anthropogenic disturbance. Arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculum potential varied widely (1.2– 80.1%), decreasing with increases in tree cover. We suggest indicator species that may be of use in monitoring these forests under changing climate and fire regimes. # 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Computer Models in Ground‐Water Exploration

Four case histories illustrate the various roles that digital computer simulation models can play in ground-water exploration. The case histories describe their use in evaluating aquifer parameters and characteristics, in estimating ground-water recharge, in resolving data inconsistencies, and in determining the optimal allocation of exploration funds. The models are especially useful in identifying data deficiencies and inconsistencies.
THE ECOLOGY OF GANG TERRITORIAL BOUNDARIES

Within any type of system, the actors in the system inevitably compete over resources. With competition comes the possibility of conflict. To minimize such effects, actors often will partition the system into geographic territories. It is against the larger ecological backdrop of competition and conflict that we examine territory formation among urban street gangs. Although previous studies have examined the social and built environment where gangs form, and how the presence of a gang influences local levels of violence, we know little about how competitive interactions are tied to the formation and maintenance of gang territories. We use formal spatial Lotka–Volterra competition models to derive hypotheses about competition-driven territory formation. By using data on 563 between-gang shootings, involving 13 rival street gangs in the Hollenbeck Policing Division of Los Angeles, we show that violence strongly clusters along the boundaries between gangs in a way that is quantitatively predicted by the theory. The results suggest that even weak competitive interactions between gangs are sufficient to drive gang territory formation without recourse to other processes or assumptions.