cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Probing the Protein-Protein Signaling Mechanism in Intact Archaeal Cells Using Time-Resolved FTIR Difference Spectroscopy

Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of protein-protein interaction and signal transduction remains an important goal in biophysics. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) difference spectroscopy allows the study of protein structural changes at atomic resolution, however most FTIR studies are currently performed on purified proteins removed from their original environment. Here, we present evidence that FTIR spectroscopic methods can be successfully applied to detect conformational changes of individual proteins and protein complexes in the native cell membranes as well as in intact cells. The FTIR spectra of haloarchaeal blue-light phototaxis receptor sensory rhodopsin II (SRII), a seven-helical membrane protein, linked to its full-length cognate transducer HtrII was studied in isolated cell membranes. The SRII-HtrII complex exhibited a greater extent of conformational changes assigned to receptor-transducer interactions compared to earlier studies of heterologously expressed, detergent purified and reconstituted SRII-HtrII complex which is truncated in the membrane-proximal region. The difference spectra of full-length complex also reveal conformational changes which are likely to occur in the distant cytoplasmic region of the transducer that functions as a binding site for histidine kinases. Moreover, for the first time, time-resolved spectra of the SRII-HtrII complex were recorded in intact halobacterial cells (Halobacterium salinarum) using visible light to trigger the SRII signaling pathway, which ultimately controls the cell's motility. The ability to monitor time-resolved protein structural changes that occur inside living cells has the potential to significantly expand the scope of biological FTIR spectroscopy. For example, the effects of transmembrane potential and interaction of proteins downstream of the receptor-transducer complex can be investigated in a native environment.
A comparison of staff and patient perceptions of a child and adolescent psychosomatic unit and a pediatric unit.

Social planning is frequently considered to be a vital part of designing psychiatric treatment programs. The authors were interested in the differential effects of social planning on a child psychosomatic unit and a pediatric unit. It was postulated that according to the staff and patients the psychosomatic and the pediatric units would be perceived to have very different characteristics. It was also postulated that the perceptions of the psychosomatic unit's staff and patients would have significantly greater cohesiveness than on the pediatric unit. The Ward Atmosphere Scale was revised for use with children and administered to staff and patients. The perceptions of the two wards were found to have important quantitative and qualitative differences, primarily in the area of psychiatric treatment (support, personal problem orientation, and anger and aggression). The psychosomatic unit's staff and patients showed the greatest disparity in perceptions due presumably to the patients' young age, relative lack of experience with a psychiatric treatment milieu, and degree of psychopathology. The psychosomatic staff showed substantially greater cohesiveness in their perceptions of the ward than the pediatric staff, possibly due, in the authors' opinion, to the environmental press created by the explicit ongoing social planning of the psychosomatic unit.
Astrocytes in adult rat brain express type 2 inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate receptors

Astrocytes respond to neuronal activity by propagating Ca(2+) waves elicited through the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate pathway. We have previously shown that wave propagation is supported by specialized Ca(2+) release sites, where a number of proteins, including inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP(3)R), occur together in patches. The specific IP(3)R isoform expressed by astrocytes in situ in rat brain is unknown. In the present report, we use isoform-specific antibodies to localize immunohistochemically the IP(3)R subtype expressed in astrocytes in rat brain sections. Astrocytes were identified using antibodies against the astrocyte-specific markers, S-100 beta, or GFAP. Dual indirect immunohistochemistry showed that astrocytes in all regions of adult rat brain express only IP(3)R2. High-resolution analysis showed that hippocampal astrocytes are endowed with a highly branched network of processes that bear fine hair-like extensions containing punctate patches of IP(3)R2 staining in intimate contact with synapses. Such an organization is reminiscent of signaling microdomains found in cultured glial cells. Similarly, Bergmann glial cell processes in the cerebellum also contained fine hair-like processes containing IP(3)R2 staining. The IP(3)R2-containing fine terminal branches of astrocyte processes in both brain regions were found juxtaposed to presynaptic terminals containing synaptophysin as well as PSD 95-containing postsynaptic densities. Corpus callosum astrocytes had an elongated morphology with IP(3)R2 studded processes extending along fiber tracts. Our data suggest that PLC-mediated Ca(2+) signaling in astrocytes in rat brain occurs predominantly through IP(3)R2 ion channels. Furthermore, the anatomical arrangement of the terminal astrocytic branches containing IP(3)R2 ensheathing synapses is ideal for supporting glial monitoring of neuronal activity.
Nature of Amorphous Aluminum Hydroxycarbonate

The titration of sodium carbonate with aluminum nitrate is shown to produce amorphous aluminum hydroxycarbonate. This compound is not stoichiometric, although the maximum carbonate to aluminum ratio appears to be 0.5. The pH conditions for achieving the maximum carbonate content are concentration dependent. A model for the particle surface at the solution interface is proposed. This model accounts for the presence of carbonate directly coordinated to the aluminum and carbonate adsorbed by electrostatic forces. Sodium is present in the diffuse layer and is, therefore, not an integral part of the structure.
Kinesin-related proteins in plant cytokinesis

Cytokinesis in higher plant cells is mediated by the phragmoplast. The framework of the phragmoplast consists of two anti-parallel sets of microtubules with their plus ends facing each other at or near the division site. During cytokinesis, the phragmoplast microtubule array undergoes dynamic reorganization from a solid cylinder to a hollow array. Concomitant with the microtubule reorganization, Golgi-originated vesicles are rapidly transported along microtubules toward their plus ends to give rise to the centrifugally growing cell plate. Kinesin-related motor proteins play crucial roles in microtubule reorganization and vesicle transport. To date, a number of plant proteins in the kinesin superfamily have been localized to the phragmoplast, and possibly exert roles in cytokinesis. Plus end-directed motors in the BIMC subfamily play a role in sliding anti-parallel microtubules apart to establish the phragmoplast microtubule array, while microtubule minus end-directed Ncd/Kar3-like motors in the C-terminal motor subfamily likely act antagonistically to balance the force generated by the BIMC-like kinesins. The novel C-terminal motor kinesin KCBP probably regulates microtubule organization and cross-linkage of the microtubule minus ends in a Ca ++ /calmodulin-dependent manner. By acting at or near the plus ends of the microtubules, the Arabidopsis phragmoplast-associated kinesin-related protein AtPAKRP1 likely plays a role in establishing and/or maintaining the organization of phragmoplast microtubules. We anticipate more phragmoplast-associated motors to be revealed in the next few years as the completed Arabidopsis genome contains more than 45 genes encoding kinesin-related proteins. Orchestrated forces generated by different motors are required for microtubule-dependent activities to take place in the phragmoplast.
A comparison of models for deriving dry deposition fluxes of O3 and SO2 to a forest canopy

4 canopy models, representing the various classes of models that are currently used to estimate gaseous deposition to plant canopies are presented. The predictive capabilities of the models are evaluated with direct eddy correlation measurements of SO 2 and O 3 fluxes to a deciduous forest for both well-watered and water-stressed conditions. By increasing the degree of detail of the exchange-governing physical processes from the more simple single laye,: model to the more detailed multi-layer models, the predictions of the deposition rates improved by 40-50% as determined from the root mean square error (rmse). We also found by including the effect of water stress in the stomatal resistance formulations, the rmse of the predictions were decreased by generally 50% for the models that were examined. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0889.1988.tb00297.x
Modeling Low Reynolds Number Incompressible Flows Using SPH

The method of smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) is extended to model incompressible flows of low Reynolds number. For such flows, modification of the standard SPH formalism is required to minimize errors associated with the use of a quasi-incompressible equation of state. Treatment of viscosity, state equation, kernel interpolation, and boundary conditions are described. Simulations using the method show close agreement with series solutions for Couette and Poiseuille flows. Furthermore, comparison with finite element solutions for flow past a regular lattice of cylinders shows close agreement for the velocity and pressure fields. The SPH results exhibit small pressure fluctuations near curved boundaries. Further improvements to the boundary conditions may be possible which will reduce these errors. A similar method to that used here may permit the simulation of other flows at low Reynolds numbers using SPH. Further development will be needed for cases involving free surfaces or substantially different equations of state.
Sliding GAIT Algorithm for the All-Terrain Hex-Limbed Extra-Terrestrial Explorer (ATHLETE)

The design of a surface robotic system typically involves a trade between the traverse speed of a wheeled rover and the terrain-negotiating capabilities of a multi-legged walker. The ATHLETE mobility system, with both articulated limbs and wheels, is uniquely capable of both driving and walking, and has the flexibility to employ additional hybrid mobility modes. This paper introduces the Sliding Gait, an intermediate mobility algorithm faster than walking with better terrain-handling capabilities than wheeled mobility.
On the Lie algebra of a finite group of Lie type

In this paper we study a certain finite Lie algebra, g, associated with a finite group of Lie type, G. The maximal tori of g are determined (assuming certain characteristic restrictions), and it is shown that the number of Gorbits of these depends only on the Weyl group. For each maximal torus of g there is a decomposition of g into generalized weight spaces. With additional hypotheses we show that each subgroup of G containing a maximal torus has an associated subalgebra of g, and the subalgebras arising in this manner are precisely those that contain a maximal torus. The association provides a computationally effective linearization of the main results of [3]. The proofs of the above results are fairly easy given the existing literature on modular Lie algebras, standard results on maximal tori in G, and results from [3]. However, we note that the required group theoretic results are in fact based on the full classification of finite simple groups.
Equalization of packet delays in OFDMA scheduling of real-time video calls

This paper studies the scheduling of multiple real-time unicast videos (e.g. video calls) over the Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) air interface. Modified Largest Weighted Deadline First (M-LWDF) and Exponential Rule (EXP) were proposed to schedule traffic with quality-of-service constraints in shared-channel systems. Both have been proven to be throughput optimal and EXP also possesses delay optimality in a sense. This paper proposes several techniques that modify M-LWDF to further improve users' 99% packet delays over M-LWDF and EXP. An interesting phenomenon of simultaneous reduction in latencies and bandwidth usages is demonstrated in various comparisons, which contradicts with the conventional observation that giving unequal weights to users sacrifices spectral efficiency. Our study shows that a better scheduling policy often improves both spectral efficiency and user latencies simultaneously in the scheduling of real-time traffic. Under the same user latency constraints, the proposed scheduler also improves the Peak-Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (PSNR) of received videos considerably under moderate system load.
Analysis of primisulfuron and triasulfuron in water and soil samples by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

Abstract A capillary electrophoresis (CE) method was developed to separate and determine residues of two sulfonylurea herbicides (primisulfuron and triasulfuron) in water and soil samples. Fortified water samples were extracted by solvent partitioning with methylene chloride and analysis by CE. Fortified soil samples were extracted by shaking in methanol–phosphate buffer (1:1) followed by partitioning of the residues into methylene chloride and analysis by CE. The method was simple, rapid and yielded excellent recoveries. Average recoveries were greater than 90% for both herbicides fortified at 10 μg/l in lakewater samples and at 50 μg/kg in soil samples. Our results demonstrate that capillary electrophoresis provides a powerful analytical tool for determination of the residues of primisulfuron and triasulfuron in water and soil samples.
Long-term Follow-up After Conversion from Intravenous Epoprostenol to Oral Therapy With Bosentan or Sildenafil in 13 Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Background Epoprostenol significantly improves function and survival in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) but is associated with many risks and side effects. Furthermore, effective oral therapy is now available. We report our long-term experience with 13 patients from among 118 treated with epoprostenol who were able to be weaned to oral therapy, including 6 with persistently abnormal hemodynamics (mean pulmonary artery pressure ≥35 mm Hg). Methods Oral therapy with bosentan (n = 11) or sildenafil (n =2) was started before weaning epoprostenol in all but 1 patient. Right heart catheterization was performed when patients reached a dose of 2 ng/kg/min, and epoprostenol was discontinued with hemodynamic monitoring. Functional class and 6-minute walk test were assessed at regular intervals. Repeat right heart catheterization was performed 1 year after discontinuation of epoprostenol. Results Nine patients remained on oral therapy alone for up to 46 months. Four patients deteriorated in functional class, and 2 of them resumed epoprostenol therapy. Inhaled iloprost was started in another patient. One additional patient died, unrelated to PAH. Twelve patients underwent right heart catheterization at the time of epoprostenol discontinuation. Hemodynamic evaluation 13.2 ± 0.9 months later showed that the 5 patients with normal or nearly normal hemodynamics at the time of discontinuation of epoprostenol had no deterioration, whereas 4 of the 7 patients with abnormal hemodynamics had worsened. The 6-minute walk test at last follow-up was not significantly changed from maximal distance on epoprostenol (420 ± 94 vs 412 ± 95 meters). Conclusion Weaning from epoprostenol to sildenafil or bosentan with sustained clinical improvement is possible, even with persistent pulmonary hypertension; however, patients with persistently abnormal hemodynamics are at risk for hemodynamic and clinical deterioration and require close follow-up.
QuaLe: A Quantum-Leap Inspired Model for Non-stationary Analysis of NoC Traffic in Chip Multi-processors

This paper identifies non-stationary effects in grid like Network-on-Chip (NoC) traffic and proposes QuaLe, a novel statistical physics-inspired model, that can account for non-stationarity observed in packet arrival processes. Using a wide set of real application traces, we demonstrate the need for a multi-fractal approach and analyze various packet arrival properties accordingly. As a case study, we show the benefits of our multifractal approach in estimating the probability of missing deadlines in packet scheduling for chip multiprocessors (CMPs).
Estimation of Regression Parameters and the Hazard Function in Transformed Linear Survival Models

Summary. An estimator of the regression parameters in a semiparametric transformed linear survival model is examined. This estimator consists of a single Newton-like update of the solution to a rank-based estimating equation from an initial consistent estimator. An automated penalized likelihood algorithm is proposed for estimating the optimal weight function for the estimating equations and the error hazard function that is needed in the variance estimator. In simulations, the estimated optimal weights are found to give reasonably efficient estimators of the regression parameters, and the variance estimators are found to perform well. The methodology is applied to an analysis of prognostic factors in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Reciprocal independent disarmament (RID): A new approach for arms control

(1985). Reciprocal independent disarmament (RID): A new approach for arms control. Arms Control: Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 97-100.
A study of the reaction between bismuth bromide and amine hydrobromides

Abstract Twenty five compounds were prepared by the reaction of hydrobromic acid solutions of bismuth bromide and amide hydrobromides. The complex compounds were purified by recrystallization, analyzed for bromine and bismuth content, their melting points or decomposition temperatures determined and qualitative solubilities fournd. The conditions of he reactions were carefully controlled and practically indentical for all preparations. The solid compounds recovered were of four different types: three RBiBr 4 ; eight R 2 BiBr 5 ; ten R 3 Bi 2 Br 9 (where R represents an amine cation).
Hallucinations in Nonpsychotic Children

Abstract: Sixty-two cases of children with hallucinations but without psychosis were identified in a psychiatric emergency service. Auditory hallucinations were more frequent than visual ones. There were positive trends between the content of auditory hallucinations and diagnosis. Recognition of this clinical phenomenon of hallucinations in children in the absence of psychosis and awareness of underlying psychopathology and precipitating factors is necessary in evaluating hallucinations in nonpsychotic children. Children with such presentations run the risk of being misdiagnosed as having psychosis or schizophrenia and being subjected to the inherent risks of treatment with antipsychotics.
Child-Turcotte-Pugh versus MELD score as a predictor of outcome after elective and emergent surgery in cirrhotic patients

Abstract Background Cirrhotic patients who present for elective and emergent surgery pose a formidable challenge for the surgeon because of the high reported morbidity and mortality. The Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score previously has been used to evaluate preoperative severity of liver dysfunction and to predict postoperative outcome. Recently, a more objective scoring classification, the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), has been shown to predict accurately the 3-month mortality for cirrhotic patients awaiting transplantation. We sought to compare the CTP and MELD scores in predicting outcomes in cirrhotic patients undergoing surgical procedures requiring general anesthesia. Methods During the study period, 40 patients with a history of cirrhosis who required elective (E) or emergent (EM) surgical procedures under general anesthesia were reviewed (E = 24, EM=16). The preoperative CTP and MELD scores were calculated and patient short- (30-day) and long-term (3-month) outcomes were recorded. Results There was a significant difference in the 1-month and 3-month mortality rates between the emergent and elective groups (EM group: 1 mo=19%, 3 mo=44%; E group: 1 mo=17%, 3 mo=21%, P r = 0.81; E: r = 0.65). Conclusions Our study shows that cirrhotic patients who undergo surgery under general anesthesia have an extremely high 1- and 3-month mortality rate that progressively increases with severity of preoperative liver dysfunction. Additionally, the MELD score correlates well with the CTP score, providing a more objective predictor of postoperative mortality in cirrhotic patients undergoing surgery.
Survey of recent developments in the fields of heat conduction in solids and thermo-elasticity

Abstract The developments of the last few years in both the fields of heat conduction in solids and of thermo-elasticity are reviewed. Attention is centered in both instances on solutions, results and techniques of direct engineering application, with comparatively less emphasis on those of primarily theoretical interest. Thus in the calculation of either the temperature or of the consequent mechanical response both exact and approximate approaches are treated; in the latter case this includes an assessment of the error involved, and in some problems the determination of bounds to the exact solution. The paper starts with a brief review of the basic theory, including the effects of thermo-mechanical coupling and the conditions under which these effects may safely be ignored in practice. The problem of heat conduction is taken up next, including a summary of recent solutions for rods, cylinders and other structural members, and of recent advances in numerical techniques. Some extensions of known approximate analytical procedures are indicated, and the conclusions to which they lead are compared with pertinent exact results. The status of heat-conduction calculations involving changes of phase is summarized; results pertaining to plates, cylinders and spheres are quoted, and analytical short-time solutions and numerical long-time calculations are discussed, and results in two- and three-dimensional melting are presented. Recent thermoelastic results pertaining to rods, beams, plates, cylinders and spheres are then reviewed. The importance of thermally induced vibrations is assessed, and an approximate formula for its evaluation is presented. Bounds for the stresses, deflections and the torsional rigidity of beams and plates under arbitrary temperature distributions are calculated by means of a simple analogy. The calculation of thermal stresses in indeterminate structures such as rings is critically examined, and the proper use of energy methods in such cases is indicated. Some new results concerning the mechanical response of melting plates are quoted. Developments concerning thermalstress calculations in which an extension to visco-elastic materials is readily carried out, are briefly referred to. The paper includes a comprehensive bibliography of recently published papers in heat conduction and thermoelasticity.
Osmotic Properties of the Common Prawn

IN a previous communication1 I referred to the homoiosmotic behaviour of Palœmonetes varians and its ability to maintain hypotonicity in normal sea water. Further experiments on the osmo-regulatory mechanism of some Crustacea have revealed that the common prawn, Leander serratus (Pennant), is also definitely hypotonic when in normal sea water.
Unveiling cell phenotypes in lung vascular remodeling.

PULMONARY VASCULAR REMODELING is a hallmark of most forms of pulmonary hypertension (PH), both primary and secondary. This remodeling takes the form of concentric medial thickening of small arterioles, neomuscularization of previously nonmuscular capillary-like vessels, and structural wall changes in larger pulmonary arteries. The pulmonary arterial muscularization is characterized by increased numbers of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) as well as by hypertrophy of individual SMCs (25). In human PH, characteristic plexiform lesions develop, and there is increasing discussion of neovasculogenesis and angiogenesis during remodeling. The vascular remodeling is associated with hypoxia- or inflammationinduced production of growth factors, angiogenic factors, inflammatory mediators, and vasoconstrictors. For decades, investigators have attempted to dissect the mechanisms behind this lung-specific vascular remodeling, investigating a wide range of environmental stimuli, hemodynamic events, biochemical and molecular signaling pathways, and extracellular matrix changes. Recently, investigators have begun looking in greater detail at the heterogeneity of cells in lung vascular walls under normal and pathological remodeling conditions (14, 26). Initially, it was recognized that even within a single region, endothelial cells differ and may have highly distinct characteristics and functions. Now there is increasing interest in and evidence for the existence of diverse cell types within the media of remodeling lung vessels. Emerging evidence suggests that endogenous or circulating inflammatory and/or progenitor cells contribute significantly to the remodeling process (9, 22). The term “circulating inflammatory/progenitor cells” characterizes a wide variety of cell populations that differ with respect to their structural characteristics, expression of marker molecules, and biological functions. These cells include macrophages and other inflammatory cells, mononuclear cells, stem cells, endothelial progenitor cells, fibrocytes, and myofibroblasts. The nature of these cells, their relative importance, and their derivation and source continue to be unclear and highly controversial. The phenotype of these cells may change during the remodeling process or vary with the specific initiating pathophysiology or type of PH. Thus, it is important to define the phenotype of cells in the vascular media and the roles of the cells in the normal and diseased pulmonary vasculature. The exact source of the cells is also important to know because it may determine cell phenotype and targets for
Software for an expert system for human fatigue analysis

A noninvasive technique for the measurement of the metabolic percursors of fatigue has been developed. A microcomputer-based expert system applies an experimentally derived set of algorithms to data collected on the subjects eye blink, heart rate, head movement, etc. Limitations of the system are recognized, and further development is outlined. >
Effect of oxidized oil on the liver fatty acids of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

Abstract 1. 1. Experimental fish diets containing 7.5% of herring oil oxidized to different degrees (peroxide values of 5, 120 and 314 meq/kg) were very stable and not affected by 12 weeks' storage at room temperature. 2. 2. These diets contained from 0.3 to 0.8% of ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids by weight of dry diet. 3. 3. No essential fatty acid deficiency or “Sekoke” disease symptoms were observed in trout fed these diets.
Intraoperative Colonic Lavage in a Premature Infant: A Case Report

Left-sided colonic obstruction in the neonate traditionally is managed with a multistaged defunctioning colostomy and resection. In adults, one-stage primary anastomosis has become increasingly popular with the use of on-table antegrade colonic lavage. In infants, and especially in premature neonates, enterostomies pose significant morbidity. O'Connor and Sawin reported a 68% complication rate in 50 infants with necrotizing enterocolitis who had survived until the time of enterostomal closure. This case discusses a modified application of on-table colonic lavage in the management of an obstructing sigmoid stricture in a premature infant.
The relation between first-and second-language writing skills: Evidence from Puerto Rican elementary school children in bilingual programs

Writing skills of 38 fourth and fifth graders in a Spanish-English bilingual program were assessed using a picture description task administered in both Spanish and English. The children had been rated by their teachers as ‘good’ or ‘poor’ on the basis of oral, aural, and reading skills in both Spanish and English, producing three groups: children rated good in both languages (GG), children rated poor in both languages (PP), and children rated poor in English but good in Spanish (PG). Measures of complexity, sophistication, and semantic content of the children's writing showed significant group differences, with the GG and the PG groups scoring better than the PP group in Spanish, as would be expected, but also in English. The fact that the PG group wrote longer, syntactically more complex, and semantically more complete essays than the PP group in English as well as in Spanish suggests they were transferring academic and literacy skills from L1 to L2 before their L2 oral-aural skills had developed very far. The poor performance of the PP group in English could be a reflection of their lack of academic and literacy skills in their first language.
Metabolic and maturational effects of thyroxine on the infant rat.

The effect of alterations in thyroid status upon oxygen consumption and development was studied in rats of different ages. Thyroidectomy or thyroxine administration did not influence metabolic rate or body temperature during the first 2 weeks of life, when the rat is essentially poikilothermic. During this period thyroxine increased brain cholesterol and locomotor activity and advanced the time of eye-opening. (Endocrinology 78: 527,1966)
Gravimetric determination of gold (III) by 2-mercaptoacetic (thioglycollic) acid

Summary Gold(III) can be quantitatively determined by precipitation in a 6 N HCl medium by thioglycollic acid. 6 to 60 milligrams of gold can be estimated within an error of ±0.5%. Among the advantages of the method are favorable weight factor, easy transferance and filtration of the precipitate and commercial availability of the reagent.
Calculation of three‐dimensional left ventricular strains from biplanar tagged MR images

The noninvasive measurement of time-resolved three-dimensional (3D) strains throughout the myocardium could greatly improve the clinical evaluation of cardiac disease and the ability to mathematically model the heart. On the basis of orthogonal arrays of tagged magnetic resonance (MR) images taken at several times during systole, such strains can be determined, but only after heart motion through the image planes is taken into account. An iterative material point—tracking algorithm is presented to solve this problem. It is tested by means of mathematical models of the heart with cylindric and spherical geometries that undergo deformations and bulk motions. Errors introduced by point-tracking interpolation were found to be negligible compared with those due to marker identification on the images. In a human heart studied with this technique, the corrected radial strains at the left ventricular base were approximately 2.5 times the two-dimensional estimates derived from the fixed image planes. The authors conclude that material point tracking allows accurate, time-resolved 3D strains to be calculated from tagged MR images, and that prior correction for motion of the heart through image planes is necessary.
The Use of Emotion Explanations by Mothers: Relation to Preschoolers’ Gender and Understanding of Emotions

Mothers’ emotion talk, children's emotion talk, and children's understanding of emotion were examined in 50 mother–child dyads at 41 months. Language measures included total emotion words, unique emotion words, labels, explanations, and different types of explanations. Children's emotion understanding was assessed for labeling, situation, and role-taking knowledge, as well as an overall score. There were different patterns of relations between mothers’ emotion talk and boys’ and girls’ emotion talk, with mothers’ emotion talk related more strongly to boys’ emotion talk. Mothers’ emotion talk for boys and girls was differentially related to the subparts of the emotion understanding test. Specifically, mothers’ total emotion talk predicted boys’ performance on the situation knowledge test and their use of causal emotion explanations predicted boys’ overall score, but none of the maternal variables predicted girls’ performance. This finding may result from differences in variability of maternal speech to boys’ and girls’, and it may be due to differences in maternal speech in earlier years.
Computerized tolerance techniques

Abstract The intense global competition to produce quality product at low cost has led many industrial nations to consider mechanical tolerances as a key factor to bring about cost savings as well as be competitive. In the last two decades, not enough research work has been done in the area of tolerance techniques. In this paper, a comprehensive summary of the state of the art and the projection of future trends in tolerance techniques is presented to help make a decision concerning the improvement techniques today and to aid in guiding research for the future. This paper reviews the status of theory and practice about how manufacturing and assembly processes are characterized for relating tolerances to process or production cost. The specification of tolerancing on the dimension of the manufactured part has a significant impact on the final production cost. Tight tolerances can result in excessive process cost, while loose tolerances may lead to increased waste and assembly problems. This paper systematically reviews the state of art by classifying the papers written so far into three categories. The categories are tolerance chain technique, tolerances based on analysis and synthesis, and tolerances based on cost-tolerance algorithms and design methods. Future areas of research and the unresolved issues have been presented that will serve as a guiding light for the researcher to investigate and bring about the solution in future.
Effects of pressure on high-temperature dislocation creep in olivine

Effects of pressure on high-temperature, dislocation creep in olivine ((Mg, Fe) 2 SiO 4 ) aggregates have been determined under both water-poor ('dry') and water-saturated ('wet') conditions. New experimental data were obtained at pressures of 1-2 GPa under 'dry' and 'wet' conditions using a newly developed high-resolution dislocation density measurement technique to estimate the creep strength. These data are compared with previous data at lower and higher pressures to determine the pressure dependence of high-temperature dislocation creep in olivine aggregates. We find that the creep strength under 'dry' conditions increases monotonically with increasing pressure, whereas the creep strength under 'wet' conditions changes with pressure in a non-monotonic fashion: it first decreases rapidly with increasing pressure and then becomes less sensitive to pressure at above 1 GPa. Such behaviour can be described by the following formula: where the subscripts d and w refer to parameters for 'dry' and 'wet' condi...
Factors influencing the diagnosis of mental disorder among primary care patients.

Understanding the role primary care physicians play in the recognition and management of mental disorder among their patients is a research topic that has assumed considerable importance because of the high prevalence combined with low recognition of mental morbidity in primary care settings. Patien
Predictors of Aggression at School: The Effect of School-Related Alcohol Use.

School-related alcohol use is a large but understudied problem in American schools. This investigation examined factors related to aggression at school, particularly the role of alcohol use. School aggression was higher among students who were male, rebellious, had a weak sense of school identification, low academic achievement, and engaged in alcohol use during the school day. General alcohol use was not related to school aggression beyond the effect of school-related alcohol use. Schools that encourage school involvement and alcohol resistance may help prevent problems of student aggression.
On the I-divergence Demodulation of the Nonnegative Impulse Response ISI Channel

Csiszar's I-divergence is adopted as a discrepancy measure for the nonnegative impulse response intersymbol interference (ISI) channel demodulation. Both blind and nonblind I-divergence demodulation algorithms are discussed and numerically studied. Simulation results show that they have bit error rate (BER) performance close to the Viterbi algorithm for the one-dimensional channel. Furthermore, the asymptotic optimality of the I-divergence demodulation algorithms is studied theoretically. It is shown that the I-divergence discrepancy measure agrees with the Euclidean distance asymptotically. The role of the progressive thresholding in improving the BER performance is discussed. Estimation of the channel impulse response function is asymptotically maximum-likelihood optimal under the nonnegativity constraints. The complexity of the I-divergence detection algorithms is significantly less than that of the Viterbi algorithm for long ISI channels.
Spatial Compounding in 3D Imaging of Limbs

Effects of spatial compounding on image resolution and speckle noise are studied. Using computer simulation, it is shown that spatial compounding using averaged reconstruction can significantly improve lateral resolution while slightly deteriorate axial resolution. The amount of net resolution improvement depends mainly on the compound angle, but is insensitive to the number of component images used in compounding. While the fact that spatial compounding can effectively reduce speckle noise is well known, the analysis in this paper indicates that to maximize speckle reduction, the component echo amplitudes must meet two conditions: to be mutually independent and to have the same mean power. These findings provide useful guidelines for the analysis and optimization of the performance of an ultrasound scanning system that has been specially developed for imaging residual limbs.
Stable and Efficient Electronic Business Networks: Key Players and the Dilemma of Peripheral Firms

This paper studies a spatial model of electronic business network formation where firms build links based on a cost-benefit analysis. Benefits result from directly and indirectly connected firms in terms of knowledge flows, which are heterogeneous: a key-player (e.g. a firm providing an exchange platform in a business-to-business network) provides a higher level of knowledge flows than peripheral firms (e.g. tier 3 suppliers in a vertically differentiated industry). For intermediate cost values of link formation, stable and efficient network structures comprise only a subset of the total set of firms, excluding peripheral firms which are most distantly located to the key player. When link formation implies a certain degree of network congestion, the stable and efficient network size is smaller than in a model with bilateral decisions upon link formation between two firms.
Assessing the Predictability of Convection Initiation in the High Plains Using an Object-Based Approach

AbstractThis study investigates the short-range (0–12 h) predictability of convection initiation (CI) using the Advanced Research Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model (ARW) with a horizontal grid spacing of 429 m. A unique object-based method is used to evaluate model performance for 25 cases of CI across the west-central high plains of the United States from the 2010 convective season. In the aggregate, there exists a high probability of detection but, due to the significant overproduction of CI events by the model, high false alarm and bias ratios that lead to modestly skillful forecasts. Model CI objects that are matched with observed CI objects show, on average, an early bias of about 3 min and distance errors of around 38 km. The operational utility and inherent biases of such high-resolution simulations are discussed.
Methodological application of multiple case study design using modified consensual qualitative research (CQR) analysis to identify best practices and organizational factors in the public rehabilitation program

A multiple case study design, using modified consensual qualitative research (CQR) methodological elements for data analysis, was used to explore emerging and promising practices among four state vocational rehabilitation programs. One hundred fifty-eight counselors, mid-level managers, and leaders participated in semi-structured interviews to help identify both organizational and service delivery practices associated with successful employment outcomes in the public Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program. Conducting comprehensive, multiple case studies is time and resource intensive and can therefore be difficult to replicate. However, the eclectic methodology utilized for this study resulted in rich results that will be helpful in informing rehabilitation research, practice, and policy.
Vascular malformation and hemangiomatosis syndromes: spectrum of imaging manifestations

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this review is to describe the role of imaging and associated findings in the diagnosis of blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome, Proteus syndrome, Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome, and Kasabach-Merritt syndrome.CONCLUSION. Blue rubber bleb nevus, Proteus, Klippel-Trenaunay, and Kasabach-Merritt syndromes are a diverse group of vascular malformation and hemangiomatosis syndromes. Both cutaneous and visceral vascular lesions are associated with these disorders. Accurate diagnosis of these syndromes is important because they can be associated with serious complications, including life-threatening hemorrhage.
Trellis demodulation of two-level Reed-Solomon-modulated FH-CDMA wireless communication systems

Frequency-hopping code-division multiple access (FH-CDMA) along with coded modulation using Reed-Solomon (RS) codes has recently been proposed for wireless communications to increase data transfer rate. In this paper, an improved method of implementing the modulation and demodulation of the RS codes in RS/FH-CDMA by means of a trellis and the Viterbi algorithm is proposed and analyzed. We study an efficient algorithm for “pruning” the trellis to decrease demodulation errors. Our pruned-trellis method reduces modulation complexity and substantially simplifies the demodulation process. Finally, the performance of this trellis-based RS/FH-CDMA system is analyzed and compared with the old system without trellis.
Neuronal vacuolation in raccoons from Oregon.

During a 2-year period (1995-1997), vacuoles were detected in neurons of 21/50 (42% preva- lence) raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Oregon. Age or sex predisposition was not apparent. Twenty of these raccoons were from within a radius of 40 km of Corvallis in western Oregon. Microscopically, the vacuoles were variable in size, were in the perikarya, and were consistently present in pontine nuclei. Brain tissues were negative for rabies virus antigen by fluorescent antibody test and for the protease-resistant protein prion by immunohistochemistry. Electron microscopic examination of the brain stem of selected animals revealed ac- cumulation of electron-dense material within neuronal perikarya. Light and electron microscopic examination indicated that the accumulated intracellular material had a high lipid content. These lesions suggest a form of neuronal storage condition. Further research is required to identify the composition of the intracellular lipid material, to elucidate the mechanism of neuronal vacuolation in raccoons, and to understand the basis for the apparent geographic restriction of this lesion. Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are nocturnal and are widespread throughout North America. They are high- ly adaptable omnivores and have managed to survive and increase their numbers in many urban and subur- ban areas. For this reason, they have been used as monitors of zoonotic diseases and environmental con- tamination. 2,7 Spongiform changes affecting the neuropil and neu- ronal cell bodies have been described in experimental and natural cases of rabies in skunks and foxes 3 and in a heifer. 5 Neuronal perikaryonic vacuolation is also seen in scrapie and related spongiform encephalopa- thes 6 and in lysosomal and acquired storage diseases of various animals. 11 Naturally occurring transmissible spongiform encephalopathy and storage diseases have not been documented in raccoons, but rabies is com- monly encountered in raccoons of the eastern United States. However, vacuolation of neurons or the neu- ropil has not been seen in raccoons with naturally ac- quired rabies 9 or in raccoons experimentally infected with either a dog or a raccoon isolate of the rabies virus. 10 Recently vacuolation in neurons of 2 raccoons from 2 different geographic locations in the USA has been described. 8 Here, we describe histopathologic changes in 21 additional raccoons from the same geographic area of Oregon from which 1 of the original cases was identified. 9
Identification of a protein required for disulfide bond formation in vivo

We describe a mutation (dsbA) that renders Escherichia coli severely defective in disulfide bond formation. In dsbA mutant cells, pulse-labeled beta-lactamase, alkaline phosphatase, and OmpA are secreted but largely lack disulfide bonds. These disulfideless proteins may represent in vivo folding intermediates, since they are protease sensitive and chase slowly into stable oxidized forms. The dsbA gene codes for a 21,000 Mr periplasmic protein containing the sequence cys-pro-his-cys, which resembles the active sites of certain disulfide oxidoreductases. The purified DsbA protein is capable of reducing the disulfide bonds of insulin, an activity that it shares with these disulfide oxidoreductases. Our results suggest that disulfide bond formation is facilitated by DsbA in vivo.
Long-term neprilysin gene transfer is associated with reduced levels of intracellular Abeta and behavioral improvement in APP transgenic mice

Proteolytic degradation has emerged as a key pathway involved in controlling levels of the Alzheimer's disease (AD)-associated amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide in the brain. The endopeptidase, neprilysin, has been implicated as a major Aβ degrading enzyme in mice and humans. Previous short and intermediate term studies have shown the potential therapeutic application of neprilysin by delivering this enzyme into the brain of APP transgenic mice using gene transfer with viral vectors. However the effects of long-term neprilysin gene transfer on other aspects of Aβ associated pathology have not been explored yet in APP transgenic mice. We show that the sustained expression of neprilysin for up to 6 months lowered not only the amyloid plaque load but also reduced the levels of intracellular Aβ immunoreactivity. This was associated with improved behavioral performance in the water maze and ameliorated the dendritic and synaptic pathology in the APP transgenic mice. These data support the possibility that long-term neprilysin gene therapy improves behavioral and neurodegenerative pathology by reducing intracellular Aβ.
Assessing Elementary Understanding of Multiplication Concepts

This article summarizes the basic concepts of multiplication and provides some evidence that the traditional third-grade curriculum and instruction emphasizing memorization of multiplication facts produces much less understanding of the basic concepts of multiplication than a standards-based curriculum and instruction emphasizing construction of number sense and meaning for operations. This study also describes a collection of assessment tasks that provided meaningful evidence of children's understandings of basic multiplication concepts, including understandings of the relationships between multiplication and addition.