cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DPNeT: Differentially Private Network Traffic Synthesis with Generative Adversarial Networks

High quality network traffic data can be shared to enable knowledge discovery and advance cyber defense research. However, due to its sensitive nature, ensuring safe sharing of such data has always been a challenging problem. Current approaches for sharing networking data present several limitations to balance privacy (e.g., information leakage) and utility (e.g., availability and usefulness). To overcome those limitations, we develop DPNeT, a network traffic synthesis solution that generates high-quality network flows and satisfies (\(\epsilon \), \(\delta \))-differential privacy. We adopt generative adversarial networks (GANs) to capture the characteristics of real network flows and a similarity-preserving embedding model for mixed-type attributes. Furthermore, we propose new techniques to improve the outcome of differentially private learning and provide the privacy analysis of the overall solution. Through a comprehensive evaluation with large-scale network flow data, we demonstrate that our solution is capable of producing realistic network flows.
Mindfulness Meditation: Impact on Attentional Control and Emotion Dysregulation.

Objective Theoretical models of mindfulness meditation conceptualize the cultivation of focused attention and regulation of emotional states, with the attitudinal foundations that promote nonjudgment and acceptance, to facilitate cognitive and affective processing resulting in improved brain health. Within the scientific study of mindfulness meditation, outcomes assessing behavioral and neural correlates of attentional control and emotion regulation have been examined for their malleability as a function of engagement in mindfulness practices. This review synthesizes the results of our pilot trials examining the preliminary effects of mindfulness meditation on metrics of cognitive, affective, and brain health in older adults and in individuals with multiple sclerosis. Conclusions There is promising support for mindfulness meditation to enhance attentional control, reduce mind-wandering, and reduce emotion dysregulation. However, well-powered efficacy trials, with an objective assessment of mindfulness practice data are needed to further provide causal and comprehensive evidence supporting the efficacy of mindfulness meditation for brain health. Inclusion of independently derived and validated brain-based signatures of cognitive and affective functioning can additionally enable a parsimonious understanding of how mindfulness meditation can causally impact metrics of functional and structural integrity of the human brain.
Mutual Constraint of Memory and Attention

That attention and memory are highly interrelated was recognized by psychologists at the beginning of the last century. Even behaviorists recognized this, though they sought to explain attentional effects through learning principles (see Chap. 7). Classical and instrumental conditioning did not explicitly posit attentional processes. Yet, early researchers studying these forms of learning placed great emphasis on characterizing the effects of stimulus changes on behavioral response. The factors governing stimulus and response selection were a central focus of the conditioning studies, which often described phenomena that we might now label as attentional when attempting to specify the rules governing learning. Therefore, for learning theorists, learning, memory, and attention were conceptually linked.
What Determines Technological Spillovers of Foreign Direct Investment: Evidence from China

Using the World Bank survey of 1500 firms in five Chinese cities, we study whether the presence of foreign firms produces technology spillovers on domestic firms operating in the same city and industry. We find positive spillovers for more backward firms. We analyze the channels of such spillovers and find that the transfer of technology occurs through movement of high-skilled workers from FDI firms to domestic firms as well as through network externalities among high-skilled workers. Moreover, these two channels fully account for the spillover effects we find, which demonstrate the importance of well-functioning labor market in facilitating FDI spillovers. Insofar as our results can be generalized to other countries, they reconcile conflicting evidence found in other studies.
Eat or Be Eaten: A Feminist Phenomenology of Women as Food

This paper focuses around women in the food chain, not in terms of agriculture and development, but as food ourselves. I start from the work of Eva-Maria Simms and Val Plumwood, who examine being eaten by non-human animals, and by human infants and fetuses. I use Simms’s and Plumwood’s examples to argue that in viewing our human selves as edible creatures, we not only distance ourselves from the role of "eater" in the masculinist domination framework but reject and break down the very dichotomy of eater/eaten, predator/prey, diner/dinner. Through the work of Maurice-Merleau Ponty, I argue that our being edible is the obverse of our being consumers: it is this fact which is proven or fulfilled when the consumer is consumed. I then suggest that seeing ourselves as edible is both a call to a greater onto-ecological understanding and to a new understanding of the life/death/life cycle: as an asymmetrical yet symbiotic relationship between organic, decaying, and nourishing bodies. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE
High rate datal delivery thrust area

In this paper, a brief description of the high rate data delivery (HRDD) thrust area, its focus and current technical activities being carried out by NASA centers including JPL, academia and industry under this program is provided. The processes and methods being used to achieve active participation in this program are presented. The developments in space communication technologies, which will shape NASA enterprise missions in the 21st. century, are highlighted.
Gastric emptying rates of solid food in relation to body size.

Abstract The relationship of body size to rates of gastric emptying of solid food was investigated in order to obtain data that may allow this variable to be considered when populations of varying size are studied. Rates of gastric emptying were measured using a beef stew meal to which were added pieces of chicken liver tagged with [ 99m Tc]sulfur colloid, and following the passage of the isotope through the gastrointestinal tract with intermittent γ-imaging. Results showed an inverse linear relationship between gastric emptying rates and body surface area, and between gastric emptying rates and body weight. The variable of body size must be taken into account when measurements of gastric emptying of solid food are measured.
Three dimensional vision system for intelligent vehicles

This paper describes a three dimensional vision system for intelligent vehicles. After reviewing related works, the paper focuses on a stereo vision system which measures the distance to the vehicle in front using trinocular triangulation. Custom processor architectures were developed for low mass-production cost, real-time operation, low power consumption, and small physical size. The system was installed in a trunk of a car and evaluated successfully on highways. >
THE EFFECT OF AN ORAL NASAL DECONGESTANT UPON THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE.

Abstract 1. The effects of an oral nasal decongestant, in the form of a sustained release capsule, Ornade, have been studied upon the menstrual cycles of 157 patients. 2. A decreased menstrual flow was reported by 74.6 per cent of the patients with functional menorrhagia and by 69.2 per cent of the women with secondary menorrhagia. 3. The examination of the endometrium of 13 patients with functional menorrhagia demonstrated what is quite likely a histologic change after therapy with an oral nasal decongestant. 4. Significant, or complete, relief of pain was obtained in 86.7 per cent of the patients with endometriosis. 5. Improvement in the pain was noted in 61.5 per cent of the patients with dysmenorrhea from conditions other than endometriosis. 6. The pain of mastalgia was decreased effectively in 76.5 per cent of the patients in this study. 7. Metrorrhagia showed little benefit from the therapy, being improved in only 21.4 per cent of the women. 8. Pregnancies occurred in 13 of the patients during the 19 months of the study.
Quantitative Methods for Anthocyanins.

SUMMARY –A qualitative technique for the determination of the individual flavonol pigments of cranberries was developed, based on cellulose thin-layer chromatography. The method was such that it was suitable for quantitative use by removing the pigment spots and measurement of the selected pigments by spectrophotometry. A quantitative technique for total flavonols, expressed as quercetin, based on spectrophotometry at 374 nm was developed. Total flavonols and total anthocyanins can be determined on the same extract.
Mitochondrial DNA of Birds

The mitochondrial genome is the best known piece of eukaryotic DNA. Already the nucleotide sequences of the entire mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNAs) of human (Anderson et al., 1981), cow (Anderson et al., 1982), house mouse (Bibb et al., 1981), frog (Xenopus laevis) (Roe et al., 1985), and fly (Drosophila yakuba) (Clary and Wolstenholme, 1985) are known. These complete sequences, together with partial sequences and restriction enzyme analyses of mtDNAs from many other species, have resulted in a detailed understanding of genome size, gene order and function, nucleotide sequence divergence, and population distribution of variants of this remarkable molecule.
Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Access Program

Gilead Sciences, the U.S. leader in HIV/AIDS medicines, with global sales of $5.4 billion in 2009, had undertaken several innovative actions to make its anti-viral products available to over 100 low- and middle-income countries. Having reached nearly 680,000 patients by the middle of 2009, the company's senior managers contemplated how to reach 2 million patients by 2012.
Optimal Position of D-handles on Snow Shovels

Handles and handle designs have been the subject of numerous studies over many years. There are a number of studies concerned with parameters such as the size, shape and length of handles as they affect human performance and work efficiency. This study is concerned with D-handles on snow shovels. A simulated snow shoveling experiment with 13 subjects was conducted to determine the optimal position of D-handles on snow shovels. The shovels used were identical with respect to the length and size of their handles as well as blade shape. However, they differed in the angular position of the D-handle with respect to the shovel blade. Subjective rates of perceived exertion and body parts discomfort were collected. Analysis of the data showed significant subject differences but insignificant shovel type differences. The graphical examination of the data reveals that D-handles positioned in the 0 to 30 degree range scored the lowest rates of overall exertion and body parts discomfort.
From Theory Toward Empathic Self-Care: Creating a Mindful Classroom for Social Work Students

Social work students experience stress, emotional exhaustion and vicarious trauma during their education; these reactions can negatively impact their ability to objectively practice and integrate course material. When social work students are mindful in the classroom, meaning they are present without internal or external filters, they are better able to regulate emotions and are more open to diverse perspectives. Teaching social work students to become mindful can improve self-care and is also the first step toward developing empathy. As such, mindful practice can help enhance practice skills, especially those related to tuning in to clients. This paper describes the elements of a mindful classroom, introduces a framework for teaching mindful practice, and presents the results of a research study that examined learning outcomes associated with this framework. Graduate students participated in a 16-week course that focused on enhancing self-care and professional development via the use of formal and inform...
Modeling the Impacts of a Proposed Hypolimnetic Wastewater Discharge on Stratification and Mixing in Onondaga Lake

ABSTRACT A one-dimensional hydrothermal model is used to forecast the impact of a proposed hypolimnetic discharge of treated municipal wastewater on stratification and mixing in Onondaga Lake, NY. Important simulated impacts are increased temperatures in the hypolimnion, reductions in density stratification, increased mixing and homogeneity within the hypolimnion, and reductions in the duration of summer stratification. Predictions from this analysis serve as input to water quality models that simulate related impacts of this management action. Features of the hydrothermal model include simulation of entrainment associated with plunging inflows, capability for simulations during ice cover, and a submodel to simulate the near-field mixing associated with a multiport diffuser. The model successfully simulated six consecutive years of historical stratification conditions. The model performs well in simulating the dimensions and temperatures of layers, and the timing/duration of stratification. The model is l...
Latent trait theory for organizational research

Abstract Latent trait theory is a relatively new development in measurement theory; emphasis in its application has been placed mainly on the measurement of ability, but potential areas of application extend well beyond into measurement of job and organizational characteristics, measurement of bias and adverse impact in equal employment compliance, attitude measurement, and the measurement of performance. The theories and models grouped under latent trait theory are therefore presented, in simple, nonmathematical form, for consideration by industrial and organizational psychologists. The rationale stems from problems encountered in classical psychometric theory with its practical dependence on distributions of attributes in samples and its theoretical dependence on parallel forms, problems alleviated by the use of latent trait analyses. This article presents some basic concepts and some available computer programs. Some controversies and unresolved problems are examined from a practical perspective.
Concierge Care and the Future of General Internal Medicine

The report by Alexander et al.1 on the characteristics of concierge practice in the United States has some good news and some bad news. The good news is that the practice of luxury primary care is not very prevalent. The authors could find only 152 retainer physicians to survey, after a very thoughtful search process. Their estimates are correlated by recent reports from the industry that there are probably less than 200 such practices in the United States today.2 Concierge care does not appear to be an approach that is gathering momentum.
Planetary science: Plate tectonics on ice

Jupiter's icy moon Europa is criss-crossed by extensional features. A tectonic reconstruction suggests that Europa's extension is balanced by subduction — if so, Earth may not be the only planetary body with a plate tectonic system.
Effect of treatment and adherence on ethnic differences in blood pressure control among adults with hypertension.

We evaluated whether hypertension control differs by ethnicity after accounting for patient characteristics, treatment, and adherence to treatment using the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (US population estimate, 42,511,379). Outcome measures were prescribed treatment, treatment adherence, hypertension control (blood pressure [BP]
Finally moving forward in adult ALL

In this issue of Blood, Dhedin et al from the Group for Research on Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (GRAALL) show that young to middle-aged adults who receive a pediatric-intensive chemotherapy regimen for treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-neg ALL) do not appear to require an allogeneic stem cell transplant (alloSCT) if they achieve a good response on minimal residual disease (MRD) testing after induction therapy. Patients who are not good MRD responders however, achieve better outcomes with alloSCT than their counterparts who do not receive alloSCT.
Heterosis for Grain Yield and Other Agronomic Traits in Foxtail Millet

Foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv.] is a largely self-pollinating species that is used as a warm-season annual in the USA. Nearly all cultivars of this species grown in the USA are selections from land races. This research was undertaken to determine whether sufficient high-parent heterosis is expressed in foxtail millet for grain yield and other key traits to justify the development and use of varietal crosses. Seven diverse parents and 21 F 2 s and 21 F 3 s produced from biparental crosses were evaluated in five environments in 1996. Genotype × environment interaction was highly significant for grain yield, but the highest yielding entries were high-yielding in each environment. High-parent heterosis for grain yield was detected in 18 of 21 F 2 s. On the basis of the estimate of average heterosis, which was highly significant in every environment, the expected yield of the F 1 generation was 68% greater than the average yield of the parental cultivars. This high level of heterosis for grain yield suggested that varietal crosses or other types of cultivars in which there exists a relatively high amount of heterozygosity would provide a significant yield benefit over nonhybrid cultivars. Although significant heterotic effects were observed for each of the other traits, additive effects were more important. Significant correlations between traits of the estimates of additive and/or variety heterosis effects suggested that at least some of the genes controlling grain yield, plant height, and spike length were either the same or in coupling phase linkage.
On the quasi-continuous approximation of the Toda lattice

Abstract We study the viability of an analytic procedure for deriving a partial differential equation approximating the dynamics of a lattice, with an arbitrary interparticle potential, in close to continuum conditions. The comparison is made through a computer study of the Toda lattice. Although the exact integrability is not preserved by the approximation, the shape of the colliding solitons is extremely well preserved after many collisions.
Increased activity of the α1(I) procollagen promoter in skin fibroblasts from patients with chronic eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome

Abstract Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS), a novel l -tryptophan-associated disease, which occurred as an epidemic in 1989, is characterized by diffuse fibrosis of the skin. The objective of these studies was to compare the in vitro expression of the gene encoding the human α1(I) procollagen (COL1A1) in dermal fibroblasts derived from patients with long-standing EMS and from healthy controls. Early passage fibroblasts in culture were transiently transfected with a series of progressively 5′ deleted human COL1A1 promoter-CAT reporter gene DNA constructs. Resultant CAT activity was assayed in the cytoplasmic extracts. Following transient transfection, COL1A1 promoter activity in 4/5 fibroblast cell lines derived from patients with EMS was two-to threefold greater than in matched normal fibroblasts. Deletion analysis indicated that CAT activity was highest, and displayed the greatest increase in EMS vs normal fibroblasts, with promoter constructs spanning 174 bp upstream from the COL1A1 transcription start site. The study shows increased CAT activity driven by a 174 bp fragment of COL1A1 in transiently transfected skin fibroblasts from patients with EMS even in the chronic stage of disease. These findings expand on previous observations indicating increased type I collagen gene expression in EMS fibroblasts, and suggest that fibrosis in l -tryptophan-induced EMS is associated with transcriptional activation of type I collagen gene expression, which persists even following cessation of l -tryptophan use.
A 3-D upwind Euler solver for unstructured meshes

A three-dimensional finite-volume upwind Euler solver is developed for unstructured meshes. The finite-volume scheme solves for solution variables at vertices of the mesh and satisfies the integral conservation law on nonoverlapping polyhedral control volumes surrounding vertices of the mesh. The schene achieves improved solution accuracy by assuming a piecewise linear variation of the solution in each control volume. This improved spatial accuracy hinges heavily upon the calculation of the solution gradient in each control volume given pointwise values of the solution at vertices of the mesh. Several algorithms are discussed for obtaining these gradients. Details concerning implementation procedures and data structures are discussed. Sample calculations for inviscid Euler flow about isolated aircraft wings at subsonic and transonic speeds are compared with established Euler solvers as well as experiment.
Low prevalence of chronic beryllium disease among workers at a nuclear weapons research and development facility.

To study the prevalence of beryllium sensitization (BeS) and chronic beryllium disease (CBD) in a cohort of workers from a nuclear weapons research and development facility. We evaluated 50 workers with BeS with medical and occupational histories, physical examination, chest imaging with HRCT (N=49), and pulmonary function testing. Forty of these workers also underwent bronchoscopy for bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and transbronchial biopsies. The mean duration of employment at the facility was 18 yrs and the mean latency (from first possible exposure) to time of evaluation was 32 yrs. Five of the workers had CBD at the time of evaluation (based on histology or HRCT); three others had evidence of probable CBD. These workers with BeS, characterized by a long duration of potential Be exposure and a long latency, had a low prevalence of CBD.
Simplified equations of interior ballistics

Abstract Subject to the assumptions of zero starting pressure, covolume equal to charge volume, burning rate proportional to pressure, constant burning surface, and no heat loss through gas or projectile friction, the equations of interior ballistics are presented in simple form. It is hoped that these simple equations will be of some aid in making ready approximate evaluations of the effect of variation of any parameter. The general equations are listed in section I. In section II the expressions for the maximum pressure and muzzle velocity are discussed more fully, and the derivatives with respect to various parameters are given.
Why we do not have—and will not have—the integrated and “smart” alarm systems that technology would allow us to have today

Abstract Background Many authors have been advocating “smart alarm systems” for more than 30 years, and technology for such systems has been described in the literature for more than 20 years. Such systems do not exist today. Goals Incoming data would be analyzed to reject artifact. Multiple inputs would be used to determine alarm conditions. Information would be passed to the best person to address the problem. If the primary person failed to respond, a backup person would be notified. The Problem One might show a statistical improvement in patient outcome with a new system, but there would always be patients who would have had an alarm under the old system, and who did not have an alarm with the new system. Only if Congress would exempt the alarm integrators from liability, as the vaccine makers are protected, could such a system be built.
Maspin expression and localization impact on angiogenesis and prognosis in ovarian cancer.

Abstract Introduction. The goal of this study is to evaluate the relation of maspin expression and its cellular localization to markers of angiogenesis in epithelial ovarian serous carcinoma (OSC). Materials and methods. We identified 118 patients with high-grade advanced stage OSC who were treated at our institution. Clinical data were collected, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) with antibodies to VEGF, CD34, COX-2, and maspin was performed on paraffin-embedded tumor blocks. CD34 immunostaining was used to determine microvessel density. The correlation between the various molecular markers was assessed using the Chi-square test. Survival analysis was computed using the Kaplan–Meier model, and various prognostic variables were compared using Cox regression analysis. Results. Maspin expression was noted in 81.4% (96/118) of tumors. Expression was localized to the nuclear compartment in 21.2% of cases, whereas 60.2% of cases showed evidence of cytoplasmic ± nuclear expression. Tumors that exhibited nuclear maspin expression had lower VEGF and COX-2 expression than tumors with negative or cytoplasmic expression. Tumors with high nuclear maspin expression had lower mean MVD than those with low or negative expression. The median survival based on localization of maspin was 1146 days for those with negative tumors, 1803 days for those with nuclear maspin, and 637 days for those with cytoplasmic maspin ( P Conclusion. Maspin expression and localization seem to play a role in ovarian cancer angiogenesis and progression. High nuclear expression was associated with reduced markers of angiogenesis and prolonged survival.
Earthquake induced pounding in friction varying base isolated buildings

The earthquake induced upper story pounding response of two buildings in close proximity is investigated. The formulation models each building as two degree of freedom oscillators and allows for impact at mid-level and top-level elevations. Variable friction base isolation modeling Teflon bearings are introduced into the formulation and it is assumed that the earthquake induced motion is one dimensional in that it excites each building from the same direction for each building. Three illustrative examples are presented that provide a basis for comparison of fixed base and base isolated buildings models. In the numerical simulations, four earthquake records from different sites were used to excite the buildings and were scaled to the same spectral acceleration at the period of the fixed-base building natural period in order to provide a common seismic hazard level. The number of upper story building collisions is presented as a function of the gap spacing between the buildings, and results illustrate the effect of altered structural kinematics due to impact. The number of upper story impacts for the fixed base and the base isolated structure configurations and the effect of friction varying base isolation on the number of building impacts is shown through example to be a function of earthquake ground motion specifics.
Changes in C:N ratios and chemical structures of estuarine humic substances during aging

Abstract Humic substances were isolated from the Satilla (GA), Altamaha (GA), and York (VA) rivers via the commonly used XAD-8 extraction technique. Humics were also formed in the laboratory by allowing Spartina alterniflora plants to humify under controlled laboratory conditions over the course of 1 year; the S. alterniflora had been grown with 15N-enriched ammonium (NH4+) in the sediment such that the humics produced were enriched with 15N. The chemical characteristics of the natural and laboratory-produced humic substances were evaluated in a number of ways. Chemical shifts in the atomic carbon: nitrogen (C:N) ratio were monitored after exposing natural humic substances to environmentally relevant NH4+ concentrations. Structural characteristics of natural humics and laboratory-produced humics were determined using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, molecular weight (MW) size fractionation, and humic 15N isotope enrichment. Results indicate that first, humic substances become more fulvic-like in character as aging time increased in the laboratory. Second, as humic aging time increased (from 1 week to 6 months), the humic-N becomes more enriched with 15N. Third, the C:N ratio in the low MW size fraction of the humics decreased by more than half during the year of sampling (from 37 to 16). These results suggest that the structure and chemical composition of humic compounds change significantly during formation. Lastly, exposure of humic substances to environmentally relevant levels of NH4+ caused a significant decrease in humic C:N ratios. This result suggests that loss of ammonium during extraction using XAD can cause an underestimation of humic-N content such that humic substances in the environment are likely more N-rich than previously thought.
WebQuests, an Interactive Approach to the Web.

Abstract A librarian at a Community College in upstate New York shares her experiences collaborating with a college English professor on a WebQuest assignment for a United States Literature class. The WebQuest model was created by Bernie Dodge and Tom March in 1995. This article discusses advantages of using a WebQuest to teach students how to locate literary sources on the Internet. See the appendix for a copy of sample WebQuest.
A POP‐1 repressor complex restricts inappropriate cell type‐specific gene transcription during Caenorhabditis elegans embryogenesis

In Caenorhabditis elegans, histone acetyltransferase CBP-1 counteracts the repressive activity of the histone deacetylase HDA-1 to allow endoderm differentiation, which is specified by the E cell. In the sister MS cell, the endoderm fate is prevented by the action of an HMG box-containing protein, POP-1, through an unknown mechanism. In this study, we show that CBP-1, HDA-1 and POP-1 converge on end-1, an initial endoderm-determining gene. In the E lineage, an essential function of CBP-1 appears to be the activation of end-1 transcription. We further identify a molecular mechanism for the endoderm-suppressive effect of POP-1 in the MS lineage by demonstrating that POP-1 functions as a transcriptional repressor that inhibits inappropriate end-1 transcription. We provide evidence that POP-1 represses transcription via the recruitment of HDA-1 and UNC-37, the C.elegans homolog of the co-repressor Groucho. These findings demonstrate the importance of the interplay between acetyltransferases and deacetylases in the regulation of a critical cell fate-determining gene during development. Furthermore, they identify a strategy by which concerted actions of histone deacetylases and other co-repressors ensure maximal repression of inappropriate cell type-specific gene transcription.
Absence of overlapping resistance to vasopressin and parathyroid hormone in patients with nephrogenic diabetes insipidus and pseudohypoparathyroidism.

Testicular functions were investigated in 23 grandfathers [60±88 yr old; 67 ‡ 7.8 (mean ± SD)], i.e. men with fertility proven earlier in life. They were recruited from a nonpatient population and led an active life, most of them with a permanent partner. The grandfathers were compared with a group of 20 unrelated healthy fathers, 24–37 years old (29.2 ± 3.2). Whereas sperm density was higher in the older group, there were no significant differences in ejaculate volume and sperm morphology between the younger and older men. Sperm motility and seminal fructose, however, decreased with age. The fertilizing capacity of sperm as assessed in the heterologous ovum penetration test using zona pellucida-free hamster eggs did not decrease significantly with age. Whereas the basal serum testosterone and estradiol levels were not different between the younger and older men, the response to 2 days of hCG stimulation decreased significantly with age. This decrease was observed in older men whether they had frequent or...
Regression of pulmonary MALT lymphoma after treatment with rituximab

We describe a patient with extranodal (pulmonary) marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) who was refractory to treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy. After a single four-week course of rituximab she had significant regression of pulmonary lesions and remains progression free 19 months after finishing her treatment. This case report demonstrates the potential efficacy of rituximab as a single therapeutic agent in patients with pulmonary MALT lymphoma.
Glioblastoma multiforme in the adult conus medullaris

De novo glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) of the spine is rare. We present a patient with a unique GBM arising within the conus and radiographically mimicking a filum terminale ependymoma. During surgery the lesion was notable for its highly vascular and diffuse infiltration of the surrounding spinal cord parenchyma. The operative goals were altered to account for the unexpected pathology. The treatment and prognosis of spinal GBM are briefly reviewed and the importance of considering an aggressive pathology when formulating a surgical plan for benign appearing lesions is emphasized.
The President's Page: Coming of age

In November of 1970, Philip Handler, President of the National Academy of Sciences, addressed a letter to the American Geophysical Union suggesting that AGU give consideration to acquiring independent legal status separate from the Academy. After fifty years of association with the Academy, AGU has become a society of over 10,000 members, with a substantial meetings and publication program and a good-sized annual budget. Except for its role as the U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, the AGU has been operating largely independently of the Academy and has certainly come of age.
Stability of Periodic Solutions¶of Conservation Laws with Viscosity:¶Pointwise Bounds on the Green Function

We investigate stability of periodic traveling-wave solutions of systems of conservation laws with viscosity within the abstract Evans function framework established by R. A. Gardner. Our main result, generalizing the work of Zumbrun and Howard in the traveling-front or -pulse setting, is to establish sharp pointwise bounds on the Green function for the linearized evolution equations, provided that an appropriate Evans function condition applies to the linearized operator about the wave. This condition is equivalent to a spectral stability criterion introduced by Schneider in the context of periodic reaction-diffusion waves. An immediate consequence is that strong spectral stability (in the sense of Schneider) implies linearizedL1 → Lpasymptotic stability for all p > 1. On the other hand, we show that the strict version of Schneider's condition generically fails in the conservation law setting, leading to complicated new “metastable” behavior reminiscent of that seen for degenerate, neutrally stable families in the traveling-front or -pulse case. Our results apply also to the reaction-diffusion setting, sharpening (at the linearized level) results obtained by Schneider using weighted-norm and Bloch-decomposition methods.
Children's Recall and Recognition of Sex Role Stereotyped and Discrepant Information.

This research investigated the influence of differing levels of sex role stereotyped and discrepant information on immediate and delayed (one week) memory. Specifically, kindergarten and second-grade children's recall and recognition of stereotyped, moderately discrepant, and highly discrepant pictures were compared. In Study 1, a sorting procedure was utilized to determine the level of stereotyping of 34 toys. From this study 12 toys were selected as stimuli for Study 2. In Study 2, children's immediate and delayed recall and recognition was assessed. Results suggested significantly better recall of highly discrepant pictures than stereotyped or moderately discrepant pictures. In addition, immediate recall was better than delayed recall and second-grade recall was better than kindergarten recall. Similar trends emerged with the recognition task. Results were discussed with respect to the schematic processing model.
Mathematical analysis of isometric cardiac muscle contraction: The effects of stimulus interval, temperature, and calcium

Abstract The time course of oscillatory and nonoscillatory isometric rested-state contraction in rat ventricle has been described by solutions of a nonhomogeneous second-order linear differential equation. The experimental conditions constitute a definition of the initial conditions of the differential equation and thus determine the form of the transient solution. The response of the contractile system can be further characterized by a damping ratio defined in terms of the constants of the homogeneous part of the differential equation. Test contractions early in the recovery of contractility were more heavily damped than the rested-state contraction. During the first phase of recovery, their damping decreased to that of the rested-state contraction. Under conditions of oscillation both low temperature and high calcium decreased the damping, the latter by a specific effect on the angular frequency of oscillation.
Dose effects on heart rate conditioning when pentobarbital is the CS and amphetamine is the US

If sodium pentobarbital is injected into rats 30 min prior to d-amphetamine sulphate on four or five occasions, there is a learned effect of pentobarbital on heart rate. The conditioned response is a higher heart rate than found in rats with a control history of exposure to the same drugs. In Experiment 1, when the pentobarbital dose was 32 mg/kg throughout, this effect was obtained with amphetamine doses of 2, 4, 8, or 16 mg/kg. In Experiment 2, when the amphetamine dose was 12 mg/kg throughout, pentobarbital doses of 16 and 32 mg/kg yielded conditioning, while 8 mg/kg yielded equivocal results.
Accelerating the self-repair rate of a polymer via acoustic energy

We consider the effects of acoustic pressure on the curing of a two-part epoxy, which can be considered analogous to the polymer healing process. An epoxy sample is loaded into a tube and monitored throughout the curing process by measuring the amplitudes of its natural frequencies in response to periodic mechanical impulses. The progress of the curing process can be quantified by tracing the natural frequencies and temperature of the epoxy-tube system. Studies described in our last report continue and work completed in this reporting period has sought and achieved repeatable test results by making slight modifications to existing procedures and protocol.
The role of exercise in the treatment of obesity

The prevalence of obesity in the USA has increased dramatically in the past decade. This foreshadows an increase in the rates of morbidity and mortality from obesity-related diseases and increases in the number of individuals undergoing weight-loss therapy. Although exercise has long been recommended for inclusion in such therapy, the present review has found that it has had little or no effect on weight loss per se when the exercise is limited to the typically prescribed 3-5 h/wk of moderate or vigorous activity. However, further review has shown that exercise helps to preserve and at times even increase fat-free mass during weight loss. At the same time, fat loss is generally increased. Neither type nor amount of exercise appears to have much effect during treatment, with the possible exception of resistance training, which is associated with the best outcome for fat-free mass. The most important role of exercise, however, is in the maintenance of the weight loss. In this respect, the volume of exercise seems to be important because several lines of evidence have indicated that exercise must expend roughly 2500 kcal/wk to maintain weight loss. Studies of weight maintenance, however, have generally not included randomized controls; thus, further research is required to solidify these conclusions.
Spatial separation of light perception and growth response in maize root phototropism

Although the effects of gravity on root growth are well known and interactions between light and gravity have been reported, details of root phototropic responses are less documented. We used high-resolution image analysis to study phototropism in primary roots of Zea mays L. Similar to the location of perception in gravitropism, the perception of light was localized in the root cap. Phototropic curvature away from the light, on the other hand, developed in the central elongation zone, more basal than the site of initiation of gravitropic curvature. The phototropic curvature saturated at approximately 10 micromoles m-2 s-1 blue light with a peak curvature of 29 +/- 4 degrees, in part due to induction of positive gravitropism following displacement of the root tip from vertical during negative phototropism. However, at higher fluence rates, development of phototropic curvature is arrested even if gravitropism is avoided by maintaining the root cap vertically using a rotating feedback system. Thus continuous illumination can cause adaptation in the signalling pathway of the phototropic response in roots.
Inventory-turnover analysis: Its importance for on-site food service

Inventory-turnover analysis can tell you whether food is being used at san appropriate rate and, just as important, whether some of it may be “walking” out the door.
Folding Very Short Peptides Using Molecular Dynamics

Peptides often have conformational preferences. We simulated 133 peptide 8-mer fragments from six different proteins, sampled by replica-exchange molecular dynamics using Amber7 with a GB/SA (generalized-Born/solvent-accessible electrostatic approximation to water) implicit solvent. We found that 85 of the peptides have no preferred structure, while 48 of them converge to a preferred structure. In 85% of the converged cases (41 peptides), the structures found by the simulations bear some resemblance to their native structures, based on a coarse-grained backbone description. In particular, all seven of the β hairpins in the native structures contain a fragment in the turn that is highly structured. In the eight cases where the bioinformatics-based I-sites library picks out native-like structures, the present simulations are largely in agreement. Such physics-based modeling may be useful for identifying early nuclei in folding kinetics and for assisting in protein-structure prediction methods that utilize the assembly of peptide fragments.
PRESENTING PULSE PRESSURE PREDICTS THROMBOLYTIC THERAPY-RELATED INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE THROMBOLYTIC PREDICTIVE INSTRUMENT (TPI) PROJECT RESULTS

BACKGROUNDIn selecting patients with acute myocardial infarction for thrombolytic therapy, it is important to identify patients who are at high risk for intracranial hemorrhage, for whom thrombolytic therapy is ill advised. We hypothesized that presenting pulse blood pressure, representing the "hammer" effect on cerebral vessels and the effects of age on arterial compliance, might predict thrombolysis-related intracranial hemorrhage better than systolic, diastolic, or mean arterial blood pressures.METHODS AND RESULTSOf 3483 Thrombolytic Predictive Instrument (TPI) Project subjects receiving thrombolytic therapy for acute infarction, we identified and obtained detailed clinical data on the 19 with treatment-related intracranial hemorrhages confirmed by computed tomography and on 175 matched controls. Systolic, diastolic, mean arterial, and pulse blood pressures were each significantly related to the occurrence of intracranial hemorrhage, with pulse pressure most highly related. The mean pulse pressure in p...
Electrical Energy Losses in Power Systems

Today's power system engineer is perplexed by the pressure to ``do something'' about wasted energy. His need is to know where losses exist in system components, how he can measure them, what are the theoretical savings, and what he can do about them. An introduction to this mushrooming subject is given, typical loss data on electrical equipment are provided, and measurement problems are discussed. System design criteria for reducing losses are examined. A check list for decreasing losses, comments on operating losses, and discussion on future savings and trends are included.
Organic films with a twist

Left- and right-handed helical molecules form mirror-image chiral crystals on a copper substrate. It seems that the substrate and the molecules work in concert to determine the handedness of the crystal domains.
Assessment of Numerical Accuracy of PDF/Monte Carlo Methods for Turbulent Reacting Flows

This study is to explore the numerical features of a particle-mesh algorithm developed for a stand-alone joint velocity-frequency-composition PDF method for turbulent reactive flows. Numerical experiments are performed on a piloted-jet nonpremixed turbulent flame of methane to characterize and quantify various numerical errors in terms of numerical parameters: number of particles per cellNpc, number of cells M2, and time step ? t. First, a stationary solution is obtained and is verified to be independent of the time step ? t. Then, the total numerical error is identified as statistical error, bias, and discretization error. It is revealed that the statistical error converges as Npc?1/2, and the bias as Npc?1. The statistical error can be reduced by time-averaging or by performing multiple independent simulation (e.g., with a parallelized program). Finally, the scheme is shown to be second-order accurate?the spatial discretization error converging as M?2. A modified turbulence frequency model based on the turbulence production-to-dissipation ratio is shown to improve the numerical behavior of the turbulence model. These results demonstrate that the particle-mesh method is convergent. Also, the optimal numerical parameters, minimizing computational cost subject to a specified error tolerance, are estimated. An error reduction scheme, similar to Richardson extrapolation, is proposed and shown to be quite effective in reducing the deterministic error.
The T2 factor: utility of T2 signal change in predicting treatment success following MR guided focused ultrasound of symptomatic uterine fibroids

necrosis on explant evaluation (70%) compared to a negative CT/MRI after DEB-TACE (12.5%; p1⁄40.02). Conclusion: A negative CT/MRI on follow up imaging after interstitial ablation is significantly more often associated with a result of complete necrosis of tumor on explant evaluation compared to DEB-TACE. This warrants a larger study to confirm the findings, and to evaluate the unknown significance of microscopic residual disease.
Purification and properties of a folate-catabolizing enzyme.

We have identified and purified to homogeneity an enzyme from rat liver that catalyzes the oxidative catabolism of 5-formyltetrahydrofolate to p-aminobenzoylglutamate and a pterin derivative. Purification of the enzyme utilized six column matrices, including a pterin-6-carboxylic acid affinity column. Treatment of crude rat liver extracts with EDTA or heat decreased the specific activity of the enzyme by up to 85%. Peptides generated from the purified protein were sequenced and found to be identical to primary sequences present within rat light chain or heavy chain ferritin. Commercial rat ferritin did not display catabolic activity, but activity could be acquired with iron loading. The purified enzyme contained 2000 atoms of iron/ferritin 24-mer and displayed similar electrophoretic properties as commercial rat liver ferritin. The ferritin-catalyzed reaction displayed burst kinetics, and the enzyme catalyzed only a single turnover in vitro. Expression of rat heavy chain ferritin cDNA resulted in increased rates of folate turnover in cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells and human mammary carcinoma cells and reduced intracellular folate concentrations in Chinese hamster ovary cells. These results indicate that ferritin catalyzes folate turnover in vitro and in vivoand may be an important factor in regulating intracellular folate concentrations.