cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calorespirometric analysis of plant tissue metabolism using calorimetry and pressure measurement

Abstract Methods and equipment are described for simultaneous measurements of heat flow rates, CO 2 evolution rates, O 2 use rates and sample volumes for three samples in a differential heat conduction calorimeter. Isothermal measurements of metabolic heat rates were conducted in 1 ml sealed ampoules connected to pressure sensors. Pressure measurements in the presence and absence of a CO 2 trapping solution allow determination of the gas flux rates. The decrease in the partial pressure of O 2 within the sealed ampoule under trapping conditions measures O 2 consumption by the tissue. The CO 2 rates are determined by two methods. Absorption of CO 2 produces heat at a rate proportional to the rate of CO 2 production. Also, the difference between the rate of change of pressure with and without trapping solution yields the CO 2 production rate by the tissue. Measuring gas flux by pressure change requires knowledge of headspace volume. Two methods of headspace volume determination are discussed. The first involves the introduction of a mass of known volume into the ampoule during pressure change measurements and the second involves recording the pressure increase upon addition of a known volume of gas into the ampoule. The methods described here are useful for studies of metabolic efficiency in biomass production and examination of responses of cell metabolism to changes in environmental or physiological conditions.
Inhibition of sindbis virus replication by ribavirin: Influence of cultural conditions and of the host cell phenotype

Abstract Several factors which influence the ability of ribavirin to inhibit the replication of Sindbis virus in baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells are described; these include the cell passage level, the presence of serum in the medium and cell density. Inhibition of viral replication was much more effective with low passage cells than with high passage cells. However, with high passage cells antiviral activity was enhanced 1) when subconfluent cultures were infected, rather than confluent cultures, and 2) when infected cultures were maintained in the presence of serum rather than without serum. Under all conditions, a good correlation was found between the inhibition of virus replication by ribavirin and its ability to reduce cellular GTP levels. Using Chinese hamster ovary cell mutants we found that ribavirin inhibited Sindbis virus replication in cells lacking hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT−) but not in HPRT+ cells. This result and the demonstration that Aedes albopictus cells (in which ribavirin is very effective) are unable to incorporate hypoxanthine suggest that certain salvage enzymes involved in purine metabolism can interfere with the antiviral activity of ribavirin.
The muddy waters of idiom comprehension

Target sentences containing familiar and less familiar idioms used either literally or figuratively or containing no idioms were presented repeatedly for 100 msec per presentation. Each sentence was preceded by a short paragraph. The number of presentations required to read each target sentence and the cued recall of those target sentences containing idioms were recorded. Control sentences required fewer presentations to be read than all sentences except those with less familiar idioms used literally. Sentences with less familiar idioms used literally required fewer presentations to be read than those with less familiar idioms used figuratively and those with familiar idioms used literally. Familiar idioms were recalled significantly more often than less familiar idioms. The results of this study were unexpected and a model of idiom comprehension incorporating these results and those of other researchers is proposed. This model suggests that idioms fall along continuums of figurative meaning familiarity and literal meaning likelihood, and that their positions along these continuums determines whether the figurative or the literal meaning is processed initially.
Submanifolds in de sitter space-time satisfying ΔH=λH

In [3] the author initiated the study of submanifolds whose mean curvature vectorH is an eigenvector of the Laplacian Δ and proved that such submanifolds are either biharmonic or of 1-type or of null 2-type. The classification of surfaces with ΔH=λH in a Euclidean 3-space was done by the author in 1988. Moreover, in [4] the author classified such submanifolds in hyperbolic spaces. In this article we study this problem for space-like submanifolds of the Minkowski space-timeE 1 m when the submanifolds lie in a de Sitter space-time. As a result, we characterize and classify such submanifolds in de Sitter space-times.
LTE uplink MIMO receiver with low complexity interference cancellation

In LTE/LTE-A uplink receiver, frequency domain equalizers (FDE) are adopted to achieve good performance. However, in multi-tap channels, the residual inter-symbol and inter-antenna interference still exist after FDE and degrade the performance. Conventional interference cancellation schemes can minimize this interference by using frequency domain interference cancellation. However, those schemes have high complexity and large feedback latency, especially when adopting a large number of iterations. These result in low throughput and require a large amount of resource in software defined radio implementation. In this paper, we propose a novel low complexity interference cancellation scheme to minimize the residual interference in LTE/LTE-A uplink. Our proposed scheme can bring about 2 dB gains in different channels, but only adds up to 7.2 % complexity to the receiver. The scheme is further implemented on Xilinx FPGA. Compared to other conventional interference cancellation schemes, our scheme has less complexity, less data to store, and shorter feedback latency.
Thermal management concepts for higher-efficiency heavy vehicles

Thermal management is a cross-cutting technology that directly or indirectly affects engine performance, fuel economy, safety and reliability, aerodynamics, driver/passenger comfort, materials selection, emissions, maintenance, and component life. This review paper provides an assessment of thermal management for large trucks, particularly as it impacts these features. Observations arrived at from a review of the state of the art for thermal management for over-the-road trucks are highlighted and commented on. Trends in the large truck industry, pertinent engine truck design and performance objectives, and the implications of these relative to thermal management, are presented. Finally, new thermal management concepts for high efficiency vehicles are described.
Electrochemical oxidation of amine-containing compounds. A route to the surface modification of glassy carbon electrodes

A method for the modification of glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs) with amine-containing compounds for electrocatalytic and biosensor purposes is investigated. The method utilizes the electrooxidation of amines to their analogous cation radicals to form a chemically stable covalent linkage between the nitrogen atom of the amine and edge plane sites at the GCE surface. By use of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for coverage assessment, the capability of this route is demonstrated by the immobilization of a simple primary amine at the GCE surface. An investigation of the influence of substituents on the nitrogen atom (e.g., primary, secondary, tertiary amines) revealed that the surface coverage of primary amines was [approximately] 3 times higher than that of secondary amines, whereas tertiary amines were not immobilized at a detectable level. This behavior is attributed to a strong steric effect whereby bulky substituents on the nitrogen atom binder accessibility of the reactive amine cation radical to surface binding sites. Amine salts and amides also showed no detectable coverage by XPS. The utility of the method for creation of a GCE with electrocatalytic activity is demonstrated by the immobilization of dopamine (DA) at the GCE surface. 48 refs., 9 figs., 1 tab.
Causal internalization of academic performance as a function of self-esteem and performance satisfaction

Abstract In the present investigation, we integrated self-theories (specifically, theories of cognitive consistency and self-esteem) with attribution theory. Our intent was to clarify the effects of different levels of self-esteem and performance satisfaction on causal internalization of academic performance. Subjects were 162 university students who attributed causality for their individual performances on a midterm examination. Attributions to four internal and four external causal sources were analyzed with a 2 × 2 (Self-Concept × Performance Satisfaction) MANOVA and with follow-up univariate F ratios. Most of the findings support the predictions based on self-esteem theory; i.e., satisfaction with performance, rather than consistency of performance with self-esteem, served as the primary influence on internalization of causality, with students internalizing satisfying outcomes more than dissatisfying outcomes. Cognitive-consistency theory and B. Weiner's (1979, Journal of Educational Psychology, 71, 3–25) attribution proposal regarding maintenance of a stable self-concept also received support, as attributions to the internal and stable causal sources of ability and general effort were a function of an interaction of self-esteem and performance satisfaction. Hence, neither self-theory adequately anticipated the effects of self-esteem and performance satisfaction on causal internalization. Rather, a consolidation of theories is needed to explain the results.
Myoblast proliferation and differentiation on fibronectin-coated self assembled monolayers presenting different surface chemistries

Biomaterial surface properties modulate protein adsorption and cell adhesion to elicit diverse cellular responses in biomedical and biotechnological applications. We used alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers presenting well-defined chemistries (OH, CH(3), NH(2), and COOH) to analyze the effects of surface chemistry on myoblast proliferation and differentiation. Surfaces were pre-coated with equivalent densities of fibronectin. C2C12 skeletal myoblasts exhibited surface-dependent differences in cell proliferation (COOH = NH(2) > CH(3) = OH). Myogenin and troponin T gene expression levels were up-regulated on CH(3) and OH surfaces compared to other chemistries. Furthermore, immunostaining for sarcomeric myosin revealed surface chemistry-dependent differences in myogenic differentiation following the pattern OH > CH(3) > NH(2) = COOH. Immunostaining analyses of integrin subunits demonstrated surface chemistry-dependent differences in integrin binding to adsorbed fibronectin. OH and CH(3) surfaces supported selective binding of alpha(5)beta(1) integrin while the COOH and NH(2) functionalities displayed binding of both alpha(5)beta(1) and alpha(V)beta(3) Myogenic differentiation correlated with differences in integrin binding; surface chemistries that supported selective binding of alpha(5)beta(1) displayed enhanced differentiation. Finally, blocking beta(1), but not beta(3), integrins inhibited differentiation, implicating specific integrins in the differentiation process. These results demonstrate that surface chemistry modulates myoblast proliferation and differentiation via differences in integrin binding to adsorbed fibronectin.
Slewing Multimode Flexible Spacecraft with Zero Derivative Robustness Constraints

References 1Lim, K. B., and Gawronski, W., “Actuator and Sensor Placement for Control of Flexible Structures,” Control and Dynamics Systems, edited by C. T. Leondes, Vol. 57, Academic, San Diego, CA, 1993, pp. 109–152. 2Gawronski, W., and Lim, K. B., “Balanced Actuator and Sensor Placement for Flexible Structures,” International Journal of Control (to be published); also AIAA Paper 95-3259. 3Lim, K. B., and Gawronski, W., “Hankel Singular Values of Flexible Structures in Discrete Time,” Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 19, No. 6, 1996, pp. 1370–1377; also AIAA Paper 96-3757, 1996. 4Gregory, C. Z., Jr., “Reduction of Large Flexible Spacecraft Models Using Internal Balancing Theory,” Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 7, No. 6, 1984, pp. 725–732. 5Boyd, S. P., and Barratt, C. H., Linear Controller Design: Limits of Performance, Prentice–Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1991, Chap. 2. 6Gawronski, W., and Williams, T., “Model Reduction for Flexible Space Structures,” Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 14, No. 1, 1991, pp. 68–76. 7Moore, B. C., “Principal Component Analysis in Linear Systems: Controllability,Observability andModel Reduction,” IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, Vol. 26, No. 1, 1981, pp. 17–32.
Pleading guilty but mentally ill: adversarial justice and mental health

The principles of Anglo-Saxon law have long held that the mental state of the offender is an essential element in determining the individual’s legal culpability. Someone found insane could be confined under civil, but not criminal procedures. Thus, an offender who raised the insanity defense could be found either “mad” or “bad” (See Stone, 1975:6). There has been considerable discussion of the philosophical and practical problems which arise when issues of mental health are raised within the context of the criminal justice process (Wexler, 1981). Most often, questions of appropriate procedural safeguards surface when mental health and justice concerns result in civil commitment, such as following findings of incompetence to stand trial or not guilty by reason of insanity (Steadman, 1979; Morris, 1983). Substantive concerns arise when those believed to be mentally ill are subject to criminal commitment. These can be seen in current concerns with the treatment of mentally ill offenders in jails and prisons (Guy et al., 1985; Wiehn, 1982). The basis of both concerns lies in the presumed incompatibility of civil and criminal commitment goals. Recently enacted statutes which allow for simultaneous findings of guilt and mental illness further complicate the relationship between civil and criminal commitment. This complexity seems most evident when the criminal commitment process is shorn of its adversarial nature and defendants enter pleas of guilty but mentally ill. On one hand, these pleas appear to reflect civil commitment concerns for the best interests of the client. On the other hand a successful plea of guilty but mentally ill results in sanctions reserved for defendants found guilty in the criminal justice process, thus raising questions about the therapeutic intent of the finding. Thus, the confusion of civil and criminal process goals may be greatest when defendants enter a plea of guilty but mentally ill. One consistent finding of research is that pleadings are the most common method of reaching a finding of guilty but mentally ill. In this paper we will briefly discuss the development of guilty but mentally ill statutes, summarize existing research on their use and use
Properties of the hybrid form of the 26S proteasome containing both 19S and PA28 complexes.

PA28 is a γ-interferon-induced complex that associates with the 20S proteasome and stimulates breakdown of small peptides. Recent immunoprecipitation studies indicate that, in vivo, PA28 also exists in larger complexes that also contain the 19S particle, which is required for ATP-ubiquitin-dependent degradation of proteins. However, because of its lability, the structure and properties of this larger complex remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that, in vitro, PA28 can associate with ‘singly capped’ 26S (i.e. 19S–20S) proteasomes. Electron microscopy of the resulting structures revealed one PA28 ring at one end of the 20S particle and a 19S complex at the other. These hybrid complexes show enhanced hydrolysis of small peptides, but no significant increase in rates of protein breakdown. Nevertheless, during breakdown of proteins, the complexes containing PA28αβ or PA28α generated a pattern of peptides different from those generated by 26S proteasomes, without altering mean product length. Presumably, this change in peptides produced accounts for the capacity of PA28 to enhance antigen presentation.
Beyond Verticality: Fuelscape Politics and Practices in the Andes

This paper analyzes the material, discursive, and biophysical dimensions of fuelscapes, or energy landscapes. Ethnographic and ecological fieldwork was conducted in the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary, Peru. Andean land use studies have focused on agricultural patterns such as vertical production zones. Fuelscapes are an important, energy-based means of producing and representing landscape. They show how uncultivated lands fit into livelihood strategies and reflect historic sedimentation of landscape. Fuelscapes are shaped by ecological characteristics, historic settlement patterns and property rights, gendered and intergenerational divisions in household labor, and state conservation policies. Conservation policies delimit fuelscapes to privilege live trees, but the resultant denudation of dead wood may carry implications for ecosystem health. This study elucidates how official policies intersect with household and communal resource use strategies to produce Andean fuelscapes. It provides insight into how uncultivated ecosystems fit into land use politics, practices, and representation.
Health Services Research: Drug Use and Human Immunodeficiency Virus in the United States

Major research findings show gaps in health services research on the prevalence and outcomes of patient- and organization-level human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and drug abuse prevention and treatment services. The latest thrust of health services research on translational research issues includes informing and training practitioners about new, proven drug abuse treatment interventions; changing treatment organizations (creating a climate for change and building a culture to sustain change); and financing new treatments. Findings defining the direct relationship between the quality of drug abuse treatment and the patients' program completion, the perception of the staff by the patient, feelings of self-empowerment and mitigation of patient and organizational readiness, the superiority of integrated care, and the primary reasons for delays in HIV-infected substance-using patients seeking care are included. More needs to be done to increase the participation of substance abuse programs in teaching about and implementing HIV prevention and developing means to modulate or eliminate barriers to the integration of HIV and substance abuse care.
Fluid-Structure Interaction Model for Low-Frequency Synthetic Jets

Advancements in microelectronics have increased circuit board heat densities to the point where active cooling is required. Synthetic jets offer interesting capabilities for localized active cooling of electronics due to their compact size, low cost, and substantial cooling effectiveness. The design of synthetic jets for specific applications requires practical design tools that capture the strong fluid-structure interaction without computationally long run times. There is particular interest in synthetic jets that have a low operating frequency to reduce noise levels. This paper describes how common finite elements and codes can be used to calculate parameters for a synthetic jet fluid- structure interaction model that only requires a limited number of degrees of freedom and is solved using a direct approach for low-frequency synthetic jets. Extensive tests are performed with the synthetic jet in vacuum to measure deflection, in ambient air to measure pressure and exit velocity, and impinging on a heated surface to measure heat transfer enhancement. The test results are compared with the fluid-structure interaction model results for validation, and agreement is found to be good in the frequency range of interest from 200 to 500 Hz.
Effects of traits and states subjective probability of task success and performance

In a laboratory experiment with 113 male university students, probability of succeeding at an arithmetic task was set at either .25, .50, or .75. This objective probability of success was linealy and positively related to subjective probability of success and to level of performance. No significant main effects of the trait of generalized expectancy of task success were found either on subjective probability of success or on performance. However, the more specific trait of expectancy of success at numerical tasks, with measured ability held constant, did show significant positive effects on subjective probability of success and performance. These results suggest that persons with high self-appraisals in a particular skill area form higher subjective probabilities of success and perform at higher levels on tasks calling for those skills than do persons with low self-appraisals, even though they do not differ in measured ability.
Design of Foundations on Sensitive Champlain Clay Subjected to Cyclic Loading

Sensitive clay subjected to cyclic loading may experience gradual loss of its shear strength, which may lead to liquefaction. Foundations built on this clay would suffer extensive settlement and significant loss of bearing capacity or perhaps catastrophic failure. This paper presents an experimental investigation on sensitive (Champlain) clay obtained from the city of Rigaud, Quebec (Canada). Consolidation tests, static and cyclic undrained and drained triaxial tests were performed on representative samples of this clay. The objective of this investigation was to examine the influence of the physical and mechanical parameters, which govern the shear strength of sensitive clay subjected to cyclic loading. Based on the results of the present investigation and those available in the literature, it can be reported herein that the undrained response is the most critical for these foundations; furthermore, the preconsolidation pressure is considered as an important parameter in establishing the shear strength of sensitive clay. A design procedure is developed to determine the safe zone for the undrained and drained responses, within which a combination of the cyclic deviator stress and the number of cycles for a given soil/loading/site conditions can achieve a quasielastic resilient state without reaching failure. The proposed design procedure is applicable to all regions around the world, where sensitive clays can be found. Furthermore, this procedure can be adopted to examine the conditions of existing foundations built on sensitive clay at any time during its lifespan.
EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF FLEXURAL HINGING IN HOLLOW MARINE PRESTRESSED PILE SHAFTS

Parametric analysis of hollow precast prestressed piles indicated that under certain conditions of loading and geometry, plastic hinge formation could be expected in the pile shaft below ground level. Four half-scale model precast prestressed piles were tested in flexure to characterize plastic hinge development. The test rig simulated the subgrade moment pattern found in an in situ pile, and simulated external confinement from the soil around the pile shaft. Parameters varied were transverse reinforcement ratio, presence of external confinement, and presence of nonprestressed longitudinal steel in the plastic hinge region. The model piles were found to be insensitive to parameter variation. Failure occurred at similar levels of structural displacement in all cases, and in all cases took the form of compression failure of the pile wall. The piles had limited ductility, less than μΔ = 4 in all cases.
The synthesis of novel polycyclic heterocyclic ring systems via photocyclization. 2 . Benzo[h][1]benzothieno[2,3‐c]quinoline and benzo[h][1]benzothieno[2,3‐c]quinoline

The synthesis of two previously unknown unsubstituted heterocyclic ring systems namely, benzo[h][1]benzothieno[2,3-c]quinoline (6) and benzo[f][1]benzothieno[2,3-c]quinoline (12) is reported. These two novel ring systems have been assembled by photocyclization of the appropriate amides.
Development of an x-ray microprobe using synchrotron radiation

An X-ray microprobe is being built that will use a bending magnet port on the new Advanced Light Source (ALS) at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. A pair of elliptical multi-layer mirrors will be used to focus and monochromatize the white radiation beam from the synchrotron. A beam spot size of 1 micrometers X 1 micrometers will be produced with a bandwidth of 1 keV at 10 keV. The energy of the beam will be variable from 3 keV to 12 keV. With a counting time of 30 sec it should be possible to simultaneously measure femtogram amounts of elements from potassium to zinc.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Purification and properties of superoxide dismutase from bovine retina

Abstract Superoxide dismutase from bovine retina has been purified to apparent homogeneity by a modification of the procedure described by McCord and Fridovich 1969 for isolation of the enzyme from bovine erythrocytes. Typical of other CuZn dismutases, the retinal enzyme has a subunit molecular weight of about 16000 and contains a blocked amino-terminal amino acid. Although bovine retinal and erythrocyte superoxide dismutases are similar in amino acid composition and isoelectric pH, differences exist in their compositions, trytic peptide maps and immunoreactivity. These two proteins may be SOD isozymes.
Sociology Senior Majors' Perceptions on Learning Sociology: A Research Note.

Dans cet article, l'A fait part de resultats de recherche concernant la perception des etudiants en sociologie de derniere annee, de l'enseignement qu'ils recoivent. L'A utilise ici des entretiens semi-structures realises pendant l'annee universitaire 2003-2004, et se place du point de vue methodologique dans la tradition de la recherche-action pendant les cours. Les etudiants evoquent comme raison premiere le choix de la sociologie comme enseignement principal l'influence interpersonnellle de l'enseignant ou du cours, ainsi que l'interet du sujet du programme
Interaction between Citrate Synthase and Malate Dehydrogenase SUBSTRATE CHANNELING OF OXALOACETATE

The interactions between pig heart citrate synthase and mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase or cytosolic malate dehydrogenase were studied using the frontal analysis method of gel filtration and by precipitation in polyethylene glycol. This method showed that an interaction between citrate synthase and mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase occurred but no interaction between citrate synthase and cytosolic malate dehydrogenase. Channeling of oxaloacetate in the malate dehydrogenase and citrate synthase-coupled systems was tested using polyethylene glycol precipitates of citrate synthase and mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase, and citrate synthase and cytosolic malate dehydrogenase. The effectiveness of large amounts of aspartate aminotransferase and oxaloacetate decarboxylase, as competing enzymes for the intermediate oxaloacetate, was examined. Aspartate aminotransferase and oxaloacetate decarboxylase were less effective competitors for oxaloacetate when precipitated citrate synthase and mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase in polyethylene glycol was used at low ionic strength compared with free enzymes in the absence of polyethylene glycol or with a co-precipitate of citrate synthase and cytosolic malate dehydrogenase. Substrate channeling of oxaloacetate with citrate synthase-mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase precipitate was inefficient at high ionic strength. These effects could be explained through electrostatic interactions of mitochondrial but not cytosolic malate dehydrogenase with citrate synthase.
Efficient syntheses of chiral myo-inositol derivatives--key intermediates in glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) syntheses.

Abstract A facile and effective method was developed for large-scale syntheses of myo-inositol derivatives with the 1,2,6-O-positions differentiated from each other and from other positions as well. The syntheses started from methyl α- d -glucopyranoside, and the key steps are Ferrier rearrangement and a series of other regioselective and stereoselective reactions. The target compounds are key intermediates in the synthesis of GPIs.
Adrenal extracellular matrix scaffolds support adrenocortical cell proliferation and function in vitro.

Transplantation of functional adrenal cortex cells could reduce morbidity and increase the quality of life of patients with adrenal insufficiency. Our aim was to determine whether adrenal extracell...
Testing the environmental prediction hypothesis for mast-seeding in California oaks

We analyzed 29 years of acorn production by five species of California oaks (genus Quercus) to test the hypothesis that trees produce large seed crops prior to wet years, conditions facilitating seedling germination and survival. The mean crop of three of the species correlated positively and nontrivially with the following year’s rainfall, but none was statistically significant. Including the acorn crop 1 and 2 years earlier yielded several significant relationships between the acorn crop and future rainfall, but none held up when applied to a second, independent site. Across individuals, acorn production by 7% of trees correlated significantly with subsequent rainfall. Although these trees differed from other trees in several characters, differences were not sufficient to discriminate between trees that correlated significantly with subsequent rainfall from those that did not. We conclude that acorn production by California oaks does not forecast wet years and does not support the environmental predicti...
Coronary artery stenting in the aged

Abstract OBJECTIVES The study compared the safety and efficacy of coronary artery stenting in aged and nonaged patients and identified predictors of adverse clinical outcomes. BACKGROUND Limited data are available on the outcomes of stenting in the aged (≥80 years) compared to nonaged patients. METHODS The study was a pooled analysis of 6,186 patients who underwent coronary artery stenting in six recent multicenter trials. A clinical events committee adjudicated clinical end points, and quantitative angiography was performed by an independent core laboratory. RESULTS There were 301 (4.9%) aged patients (≥80 years). Compared to nonaged patients, aged patients had a higher prevalence of multivessel disease (16.5% vs. 9.6%, p = 0.001), unstable angina (50.8% vs. 42.1%, p = 0.003), moderate to severe target lesion calcification (30.4% vs. 15.3%, p = 0.001) and smaller reference vessel diameter (2.90 mm vs. 2.98 mm, p = 0.004). Procedural success rate (97.4% vs. 98.5%, p = 0.14) was similar in the two groups. In-hospital mortality (1.33% vs. 0.10%, p = 0.001), bleeding complications (4.98% vs. 1.00%, p CONCLUSIONS Coronary artery stenting can be performed safely in patients ≥80 years of age, with excellent acute results and a low rate of clinical restenosis, albeit with higher incidences of in-hospital and long-term mortality, and vascular and bleeding complications compared to nonaged patients.
Assessing performance upon abrupt awakening from naps during quasi-continuous operations

Quasi-continuous work settings often involve sleep loss and requirements to perform at unpredictable times. Napping may alleviate some of the sleep-loss problems, but it increases the risk that the person will have difficulty functioning upon abrupt awakening. This paper describes an experimental approach, techniques, and analyses for investigating performance upon abrupt awakening from 2 h naps placed near either the circadian peak (P) or trough (T) in body temperature and preceded by 6, 18, 30, 42, or 54 h of sleep deprivation. Five groups of healthy young adults performed quasi-continuously for 54 h and were permitted a 2-h nap at one of five times. Reaction time (RT) to answer a phone terminating the nap, subjective estimates, and performance of a brief, challenging cognitive task were related to nap-sleep parameters of each group. Sleep deprivation increased the amount of deep sleep in the naps, and this was associated with greater postnap cognitive performance decrements; subjective estimates were unaffected, and RT performance was related simply to stage of sleep prior to awakening. Circadian placement of the naps also modulated the postnap cognitive decrement: T naps produced greater cognitive decrements than P naps, even when the latter involved more prior sleep loss. These findings have both practical and theoretical significance for evaluating the awakening process, and would not have been possible without the approach, techniques, and procedures described.
Mechanisms Governing Metastatic Dormancy and Reactivation

Many cancer patients suffer from metastatic relapse several years after they have undergone radical surgery. Early cancer cell dissemination followed by a protracted period of dormancy potentially explains this prevalent clinical behavior. Increasing evidence suggests that the metastasis-initiating cells are cancer stem cells or revert to this functional state upon infiltrating a target organ. Their entry into dormancy and subsequent reactivation are governed by intrinsic programs and by contextual cues, which resemble those regulating the self-renewal capability of adult stem cells. In addition, metastatic cells undergoing reactivation are nursed by specialized extracellular matrix niches, which support positive signals, such as Wnt and Notch, and attenuate negative signals, such as BMP. In spite of significant remaining uncertainties, these findings provide a framework to understand the logic of metastatic dormancy and reactivation and open new avenues for therapeutic intervention.
Power Line Noise Survey

The results of a recent survey of power line noise levels at a number of locations-ranging from an urban business office to a rural farm-are given.
Moderate hypoxia potentiates interleukin-1β production in activated human macrophages.

Rationale:Inflammation drives atherogenesis. Animal and human studies have implicated interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in this disease. Moderate hypoxia, a condition that prevails in the atherosclerotic plaque, may conspire with inflammation and contribute to the evolution and complications of atherosclerosis through mechanisms that remain incompletely understood. Objective:This study investigated the links between hypoxia and inflammation by testing the hypothesis that moderate hypoxia modulates IL-1β production in activated human macrophages. Methods and Results:Our results demonstrated that hypoxia enhances pro-IL-1β protein, but not mRNA, expression in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human macrophages. We show that hypoxia limits the selective targeting of pro-IL-1β to autophagic degradation, thus prolonging its half-life and promoting its intracellular accumulation. Furthermore, hypoxia increased the expression of NLRP3, a limiting factor in NLRP3 inflammasome function, and augmented caspase-1 activation in lipo...
The Integraton of Graph-Based Knowledge Discovery with Image Segmentation Hierarchies for Data Analysis, Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery

Currently available pixel-based image analysis techniques do not effectively extract the information content from the increasingly available high spatial resolution remotely sensed imagery data. We are exploring an approach to object-based image analysis in which hierarchical image segmentations provided by the Recursive Hierarchical Segmentation (RHSEG) software are analyzed by the Subdue graph-based knowledge-discovery system. In this paper we discuss our initial approach to representing the RHSEG-produced hierarchical image segmentations in a graphical form understandable by Subdue, and discuss results from real and simulated data.
Fused-silica monolithic total-internal-reflection resonator.

We have characterized a miniature fused-silica monolithic optical ring resonator in which the Gaussian mode is confined by total internal reflection. Laser light is coupled into and out of the resonator by frustrating one of the total internal reflections by means of a prism. The resonator can be overcoupled and undercoupled by varying the resonator–prism distance. The minimum measured resonator linewidth was less than 3 MHz. This type of broadband, stable, low-loss resonator has applications in linear and nonlinear optics.
Modeling network losses using quadratic cones

This work shows that line losses can be accounted for locally in dc optimal power flow (DC-OPF) by adding rotated quadratic cones to a variation of the original linear set of constraints. The result is a conic quadratic optimization problem. A favorable property of this problem is that primal-dual interior-point methods developed for linear programming can be generalized to its solution while maintaining their efficiency. Numerical results using an efficient implementation of an interior-point method are presented.
Comparison of 3- and 2-dimensional sonographic techniques for counting ovarian follicles.

Objective. The purpose of this study was to compare 3-dimensional (3D) and 2-dimensional (2D) ovarian follicle counts and 3D counts using stored volumes between experienced and inexperienced operators. Methods. Follicles larger than 5 mm were counted on 1 randomly selected ovary. Two-dimensional follicle counts were compared with stored 3D volumes by the same experienced operator (registered diagnostic medical sonographer [RDMS]). Counts using 3D stored data were compared between the experienced operator and inexperienced operator (principal investigator [PI]). The mean difference in follicle counts was computed, and a 1-sample Student t test was performed to test the hypothesis that the mean of the differences was 0. Comparison of the 2 methods and observers by Bland-Altman plots was used to determine any systematic differences based on the total number of follicles per selected ovary. Results. Mean differences differed from 0 (P < .005) for all 3 comparisons: 2D RDMS versus 3D RDMS, 2D RDMS versus 3D PI, and 3D RDMS versus 3D PI. For the comparison of 2D versus 3D counts done by the RDMS, 5 ovaries (10%) had a difference of more than 5 follicles counted; for the 2D RDMS versus 3D PI, 11 ovaries (22%) had a difference of more than 5 follicles; for the 3D RDMS versus 3D PI, 8 ovaries (16%) had a difference of more than 5 follicles. Mean differences in counts ranged 0.29 to 1.04 for ovaries with 10 or fewer follicles compared with 3.94 to 9.00 for ovaries with more than 10 follicles. Conclusions. Follicle counts using 3D volumes were similar to 2D counts, and 3D follicle counts done by an inexperienced operator were similar to counts done by an experienced sonographer.
The muscle-hypertrophic effect of clenbuterol is additive to the hypertrophic effect of myostatin suppression.

Introduction: In this study we investigated the combined effect of myostatin (MSTN) suppression and b-agonist (clenbuterol) administration on muscle hypertrophy and the phos- phorylation of muscle 4E-BP1 and p70S6k, two downstream effectors of the Akt/mTOR anabolic pathway. Methods: Female heterozygous MSTN-prodomain transgenic mice (an MSTN suppression model) and wild-type littermates were given 0 or 20 ppm of clenbuterol (CL) in their drinking water, and muscle samples were collected at 1 and 2 weeks after treatment. Results: CL increased body and muscle mass in both geno- types. Levels of phosphorylated muscle 4E-BP1 and p70S6k were higher in MSTN-prodomain transgenic mice than in wild- type mice. CL increased the phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 and p70S6k in both genotypes. Conclusions: The muscle-hyper- trophic effect of CL is additive to the effect of MSTN suppres- sion. The combination of MSTN suppression and treatment with b-agonists may be an effective therapeutic approach to combat muscle-wasting conditions. Muscle Nerve 43: 700-707, 2011
Detection-theoretic analysis of MatInspector

The goal of this paper is twofold. First, we wish to raise awareness in the signal processing community of research problems related to transcription factor binding site (TFBS) finding. This class of problems is important in the study of gene expression and regulation and is similar to the problems studied in statistical signal processing and detection theory. Second, we analyze one of the very popular tools for TFBS finding-MatInspector-from a detection-theoretic viewpoint. They show that MatInspector's test statistic is suboptimal, but its performance is reasonably close to that of the optimal Neyman-Pearson detector.
Parallel volume rendering on the IBM Blue Gene/P

Parallel volume rendering is implemented and tested on an IBM Blue Gene distributed-memory parallel architecture. The goal of studying the cost of parallel rendering on a new class of supercomputers such as the Blue Gene/P is not necessarily to achieve real-time rendering rates. It is to identify and understand the extent of bottlenecks and interactions between various components that affect the design of future visualization solutions on these machines, solutions that may offer alternatives to hardware-accelerated volume rendering, for example, when large volumes, large image sizes, and very high quality results are dictated by peta- and exascale data. As a step in that direction, this study presents data from experiments under a number of conditions, including dataset size, number of processors, low- and high-quality rendering, offline storage of results, and streaming of images for remote display. Performance is divided into three main sections of the algorithm: disk I/O, rendering, and compositing. The dynamic balance among these tasks varies with the number of processors and other conditions. Lessons learned from the work include understanding the balance between parallel I/O, computation, and communication within the context of visualization on supercomputers; recommendations for tuning and optimization; and opportunities for further scaling. Extrapolating these results to very large data and image sizes suggests that a distributed-memory high-performance computing architecture such as the Blue Gene is a viable platform for some types of visualization at very large scales.
Immune Responses to Candida albicans in Genetically Distinct Mice

Mice from six genetically distinct strains were examined for their immune responses to Candida albicans in in vitro and in vivo assays, and naive mice and mice immunized with the fungus were challenged intravenously with three different doses of C. albicans to determine differences in susceptibility. Naive mice from the six groups showed substantial differences in resistance to challenge based on mortalities and quantitative cultures of kidneys, with mice from strains C57BL/6J and BALB/cByJ showing the most resistance; mice from strains A/J, C3H/HeJ, and CBA/J showing moderate susceptibility; and mice from strain DBA/2J showing the highest degree of susceptibility to challenge. Unimmunized mice from strains C57BL/6J and BALB/cByJ did not produce detectable levels of Candida-specific antibody by the end of the 28-day observation period when challenged intravenously, but the other strains did. Immunized mice showed a degree of protection to challenge, with all groups except mice from strain BALB/cByJ showing a reduction of two to three log units in the level of colonization in their kidneys and all strains producing significant levels of antibody. Additionally, the immunized mice of all strains developed substantial levels of delayed-type hypersensitivity and demonstrated nearly identical lymphocyte proliferative responses to Candida antigens. The results indicate that resistance to systemic candidiasis is dependent upon a combination of innate factors, predominately an intact complement system, and the acquisition of an immune response, most likely of a cell-mediated type. Additionally, the findings suggest that genetic control of acquired resistance to C. albicans may not be associated with the H-2 complex.
Developmental Biology of Uterine Glands

All mammalian uteri contain endometrial glands that synthesize or transport and secrete substances essential for survival and development of the conceptus (embryo/fetus and associated extraembryonic membranes). In rodents, uterine secretory products of the endometrial glands are unequivocally required for establishment of uterine receptivity and conceptus implantation. Analyses of the ovine uterine gland knockout model support a primary role for endometrial glands and, by default, their secretions in peri-implantation conceptus survival and development. Uterine adenogenesis is the process whereby endometrial glands develop. In humans, this process begins in the fetus, continues postnatally, and is completed during puberty. In contrast, endometrial adenogenesis is primarily a postnatal event in sheep, pigs, and rodents. Typically, endometrial adenogenesis involves differentiation and budding of glandular epithelium from luminal epithelium, followed by invagination and extensive tubular coiling and branching morphogenesis throughout the uterine stroma to the myometrium. This process requires site-specific alterations in cell proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling as well as paracrine cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions that support the actions of specific hormones and growth factors. Studies of uterine development in neonatal ungulates implicate prolactin, estradiol-17β, and their receptors in mechanisms regulating endometrial adenogenesis. These same hormones appear to regulate endometrial gland morphogenesis in menstruating primates and humans during reconstruction of the functionalis from the basalis endometrium after menses. In sheep and pigs, extensive endometrial gland hyperplasia and hypertrophy occur during gestation, presumably to provide increasing histotrophic support for conceptus growth and development. In the rabbit, sheep, and pig, a servomechanism is proposed to regulate endometrial gland development and differentiated function during pregnancy that involves sequential actions of ovarian steroid hormones, pregnancy recognition signals, and lactogenic hormones from the pituitary or placenta. That disruption of uterine development during critical organizational periods can alter the functional capacity and embryotrophic potential of the adult uterus reinforces the importance of understanding the developmental biology of uterine glands. Unexplained high rates of peri-implantation embryonic loss in humans and livestock may reflect defects in endometrial gland morphogenesis due to genetic errors, epigenetic influences of endocrine disruptors, and pathological lesions.
Human Nature: A Critical Reader; The Biological Basis of Human Behavior

Human Nature:. Critical Reader. Laura Betzig. ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.489 pp. The Biological Basis of Human Behavior. Robert W. Sussman. ed. Needham Heights, MA: Simon and Schuster, 1997.451 pp.
Missing Voices War Attitudes among Military Service-Connected Civilians

Public opinion studies on war attitudes say little about civilians who are related to military service members. The authors argue that military “service-connected” individuals are missing voices in...
Accuracy of force and center of pressure measures of the Wii Balance Board

A B S T R A C T The Nintendo Wii Balance Board (WBB) is increasingly used as an inexpensive force plate for assessment of postural control; however, no documentation of force and COP accuracy and reliability is publicly available. Therefore, we performed a standard measurement uncertainty analysis on 3 lightly and 6 heavily used WBBs to provide future users with information about the repeatability and accuracy of the WBB force and COP measurements. Across WBBs, we found the total uncertainty of force measurements to be within � 9.1 N, and of COP location within � 4.1 mm. However, repeatability of a single measurement within a board was better (4.5 N, 1.5 mm), suggesting that the WBB is best used for relative measures using the same device, rather than absolute measurement across devices. Internally stored calibration values were comparable to those determined experimentally. Further, heavy wear did not significantly degrade performance. In combination with prior evaluation of WBB performance and published standards for measuring human balance, our study provides necessary information to evaluate the use of the WBB for analysis of human balance control. We suggest the WBB may be useful for low-resolution measurements, but should not be considered as a replacement for laboratory-grade force plates.