cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A mathematical model of physiological processes and its application to the study of aging

The behavior of a physiological system which, after displacement, returns by homeostatic mechanisms to its original condition can be described by a simple differential equation in which the "recovery time" is a parameter. Two such systems, which influence one another, can be linked mathematically by the use of "coupling" or "feedback" coefficients. These concepts are the basis for many mathematical models of physiological behavior, and we describe the general nature of such models. Next, we introduce the concept of a "fatal limit" for the displacement of a physiological system, and show how measures of such limits can be included in mathematical models. We show how the numerical values of such limits depend on the values of other system parameters, i.e., recovery times and coupling coefficients, and suggest ways of measuring all these parameters experimentally, for example by monitoring changes induced by X-irradiation. Next, we discuss age-related changes in these parameters, and show how the parameters of mortality statistics, such as the famous Gompertz parameters, can be derived from experimentally measurable changes. Concepts of onset-of-aging, critical or fatal limits, equilibrium value (homeostasis), recovery times and coupling constants are involved. Illustrations are given using published data from mouse and rat populations. We believe that this method of deriving survival patterns from model that is experimentally testable is unique.
Computational studies on the A cluster of acetyl-coenzyme A synthase: geometric and electronic properties of the NiFeC species and mechanistic implications.

DFT computational studies on the A cluster of acetyl-coenzyme A synthase are presented and discussed. They aim at evaluating possible A cluster models to settle the ongoing controversy about the nature of the proximal metal site in the catalytically active form of the cluster, recently proposed to be either Ni or Cu. Two possible models for the NiFeC species are considered, [Fe4S4]2+−Ni+CO−Ni2+ and [Fe4S4]2+−Cu+CO−Ni+. While for the former the computed 57Fe, 61Ni, and 13C hyperfine coupling parameters agree reasonably well with corresponding experimental values, for the latter model this agreement is very poor because the actual charge distribution is [Fe4S4]+−Cu+CO−Ni2+. Together, our results provide compelling evidence that the catalytically active A cluster contains Ni rather than Cu at the proximal metal site. Computations on the Ared2 state proposed to be part of the catalytic cycle (Darnault, C.; Volbeda, A.; Kim, E. J.; Legrand, P.; Vernede, X.; Lindahl, P. A.; Fontecilla-Camps, J. C. Nat. Struct. ...
Resonance formalism for the transmission probability of symmetrical multibarrier resonant-tunneling structures.

We present a resonance formalism that allows us to express the transmission probability for symmetrical resonant-tunneling structures exclusively in terms of their transmission poles and reflection zeros (transmission 1s). The predictions of our approach are compared to the numerically calculated transmission probability for a number of structures, and excellent agreement is obtained. Using several examples, we demonstrate that our formalism works equally well for isolated resonant peaks, minibands, and strongly overlapping resonances.
Percutaneous Vertebroplasty for Malignant Compression Fractures with Epidural Involvement

PURPOSE: To evaluate safety and effectiveness of performance of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in patients with malignant compression fractures and involvement of the epidural space. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PVP was performed in 50 patients with metastatic disease or multiple myeloma between June 1998 and April 2002. Twenty-five women (mean age, 62.3 years; range, 38–85 years) and 25 men (mean age, 63.1 years; range, 37–92 years) were included. Cases were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who had undergone cross-sectional imaging were classified into three groups. First group had no epidural involvement; second group, mild epidural involvement without contact with spinal cord or nerve roots; third group, moderate involvement and contact with spinal cord or nerve roots. Procedural safety was evaluated with review of all post-PVP complications and their treatment. Effectiveness was evaluated with follow-up phone calls for assessment of change in pain level and activity after PVP. Follow-up calls were perf...
Single Point Mutations Result in the Miss-Sorting of Glut4 to a Novel Membrane Compartment Associated with Stress Granule Proteins

Insulin increases cellular glucose uptake and metabolism in the postprandial state by acutely stimulating the translocation of the Glut4 glucose transporter from intracellular membrane compartments to the cell surface in muscle and fat cells. The intracellular targeting of Glut4 is dictated by specific structural motifs within cytoplasmic domains of the transporter. We demonstrate that two leucine residues at the extreme C-terminus of Glut4 are critical components of a motif (IRM, insulin responsive motif) involved in the sorting of the transporter to insulin responsive vesicles in 3T3L1 adipocytes. Light microscopy, immunogold electron microscopy, subcellular fractionation, and sedimentation analysis indicate that mutations in the IRM cause the aberrant targeting of Glut4 to large dispersed membrane vesicles that are not insulin responsive. Proteomic characterization of rapidly and slowly sedimenting membrane vesicles (RSVs and SSVs) that were highly enriched by immunoadsorption for either wild-type Glut4 or an IRM mutant revealed that the major vesicle fraction containing the mutant transporter (IRM-RSVs) possessed a relatively small and highly distinct protein population that was enriched for proteins associated with stress granules. We suggest that the IRM is critical for an early step in the sorting of Glut4 to insulin-responsive subcellular membrane compartments and that IRM mutants are miss-targeted to relatively large, amorphous membrane vesicles that may be involved in a degradation pathway for miss-targeted or miss-folded proteins or represent a transitional membrane compartment that Glut4 traverses en route to insulin responsive storage compartments.
Essential Phosphatases and a Phospho-Degron Are Critical for Regulation of SRC-3/AIB1 Coactivator Function and Turnover

SRC-3/AIB1 is a master growth coactivator and oncogene, and phosphorylation activates it into a powerful coregulator. Dephosphorylation is a potential regulatory mechanism for SRC-3 function, but the identity of such phosphatases remains unexplored. Herein, we report that, using functional genomic screening of human Ser/Thr phosphatases targeting SRC-3's known phosphorylation sites, the phosphatases PDXP, PP1, and PP2A were identified to be key negative regulators of SRC-3 transcriptional coregulatory activity in steroid receptor signalings. PDXP and PP2A dephosphorylate SRC-3 and inhibit its ligand-dependent association with estrogen receptor. PP1 stabilizes SRC-3 protein by blocking its proteasome-dependent turnover through dephosphorylation of two previously unidentified phosphorylation sites (Ser101 and S102) required for activity. These two sites are located within a degron of SRC-3 and are primary determinants of SRC-3 turnover. Moreover, PP1 regulates the oncogenic cell proliferation and invasion functions of SRC-3 in breast cancer cells.
Histoplasmosis in a pediatric oncology center

Abstract Objective To understand the presentation and current management of histoplasmosis in a pediatric oncology center. Study design Retrospective review of clinical features of patients with histoplasmosis at a tertiary-care cancer center in an endemic area. Results Between 1988 and 2001, 57 patients with cancer had 61 episodes of acute histoplasmosis. Of these, 76% were male, and 64% had acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). Most were not neutropenic and had nonspecific febrile illnesses. The most rapid and specific tests for histoplasmosis in patients with cancer were histopathologic examination of lung biopsy specimens in patients with localized pulmonary infection and Histoplasma sp. antigen detection in the urine of patients with disseminated histoplasmosis (DH). The mean times to diagnosis were 20.6±15.2 days (pulmonary) and 18.6±8.2 days (disseminated) after the onset of symptoms. Most patients were treated with amphotericin B (AmB) followed by azole drugs for a mean of 8.5±3.1 weeks (pulmonary) and 10.4±7.9 weeks (disseminated). No patient died of histoplasmosis, but cancer therapy often was modified because of the infection. Most received unnecessary antibacterial drugs. Conclusions Most readily available diagnostic tests for histoplasmosis lack sensitivity in these patients. Delay in diagnosis of histoplasmosis complicates care. No deaths were attributed to histoplasmosis; outcomes after treatment are good.
Idiopathic Cam Morphology Is Not Caused by Subclinical Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis: An MRI and CT Study

Background:Cam impingement as a known sequelae of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) has led to speculation that subclinical SCFEs may be the causative factor in idiopathic cam morphology; al...
Consumers' Price Sensitivities Across Complementary Categories

In this paper, we examine the pattern of correlation among consumer price sensitivities for customer purchase incidence decisions across complementary product categories. We use a hierarchical Bayesian multivariate probit model to uncover this pattern. We estimated this model using purchase incidence data for six categories involving three pairs of complementary products. Our results show a new and interesting pattern of correlation among price parameters of complementary products. For example, we find that the correlation of own-price sensitivities of complementary products is negative. These results are consistent across the three complementary pairs of products. We also investigate the reason for this counterintuitive result. Finally, we present some managerial implications of our model. We show how our model can be used for cross-category targeting decisions by retailers. We find that compared to nontargeted discounting, the average profitability gain from customized discounting across the three category pairs is only 1.29% when complementarity is ignored, but this gain improves to 8.26% when full complementarity is taken into account. We also investigate whether ignoring the complex pattern of correlation has implications for managerial actions regarding targeting and optimal discounting. We find that retailers can make misleading inferences about the impact of targeted discounts when they ignore cross-category effects in modeling.
BUCOLIC: A Program for Teaching Color Theory to Art Students

The standard method of teaching color theory is cumbersome at best. Computer graphics can solve problems of time and tedium and cover much more material as well.
Angiogenic biomarkers for prediction of maternal and neonatal complications in suspected preeclampsia.

Objective: To determine if maternal serum angiogenic factors predict maternal and neonatal complications in women presenting to an acute care setting with suspected preeclampsia. Study design: Maternal serum samples were prospectively collected from women with suspected preeclampsia at the time of initial presentation to hospital triage with signs or symptoms of preeclampsia. Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt1), placental growth factor (PlGF), and soluble endoglin (sEng) were measured by ELISA. The primary outcome was a composite of maternal and neonatal complications. Results: Of 276 women with suspected preeclampsia, 78 developed maternal or neonatal complications. Among women presenting prior to 37 weeks gestation, sFlt1, PlGF, and sEng were significantly different in women who developed maternal and neonatal complications as compared to women without complications. Higher levels of sFlt1, sEng, and the sFlt1:PlGF ratio were associated with an increased odds of complications among women presenti...
Using natural distributions of short‐lived radium isotopes to quantify groundwater discharge and recharge

Radium activity in pore water of wetland sediments often differs from the amount expected from local production, decay, and exchange with solid phases. This disequilibrium results from vertical transport of radium with groundwater that flows between the underlying aquifer and surface water. In situations where groundwater recharge or discharge is significant, the rate of vertical water flow through wetland sediment can be determined from the radium disequilibrium by a combined model of transport, production, decay, and exchange with solid phases. We have developed and tested this technique at three sites in the freshwater portion of the Everglades by quantifying vertical advective velocities in areas with persistent groundwater recharge or discharge and estimating a coefficient of dispersion at a site that is subject to reversals between recharge and discharge. Groundwater velocities ( v) were determined to be between 0 and 20.5 cm d 21 for a recharge site and 1.5 6 0.4 cm d 21 for a discharge site near Levee 39 in the Everglades. Strong gradients in 223 Ra and 224 Ra usually occurred at the base of the peat layer, which avoided the problems of other tracers (e.g., chloride) for which greatest sensitivity occurs near the peat surface—a zone readily disturbed by processes unrelated to groundwater flow. This technique should be easily applicable to any wetland system with different production rates of these isotopes in distinct sedimentary layers or surface water. The approach is most straightforward in systems where constant pore-water ionic strength can be assumed, simplifying the modeling of radium exchange.
Role of microstructure on contact damage and strength degradation of micaceous glass-ceramics

Abstract Objectives. This study examines the hypothesis that microstructure plays a critical role in the accumulation of strength-degrading damage in dental ceramics. A series of micaceous glass-ceramics crystallized from a common glass composition, using heat treatments to increase the diameter and aspect ratio of mica platelets, is used as a model ceramic system. Methods. Damage modes are investigated by Hertzian contact testing. Four-point bend tests on indented specimens quantify the influence of single-cycle and multi-cycle damage on strength. Results. Two competing damage modes are observed: fracture, by tensile-induced cone cracking at the macroscopic level; and quasi-plastic deformation, by shear-induced yield at the microscopic level. The quasi-plastic mode becomes more dominant as the microstructures become coarser and more elongate. Bend tests show severe strength losses in the finer grain structures where cone cracking dominates, but relatively small losses in the coarser grain structures where quasi-plasticity dominates. Whereas natural strengths decline with increasing crystallization temperature, the strengths after indentation damage attain a maximum at intermediate crystallization temperatures. Multiple-cycle contact loading reduces strengths even further, and at relatively low indentation loads, indicating susceptibility to fatigue. Finite element modelling is carried out to evaluate the stress components that drive the damage modes. Significance. Microstructure is confirmed to be a controlling factor in determining the nature and degree of strength-impairing damage accumulation in dental ceramics. The Hertzian test provides a means of characterizing such damage in the context of clinical function.
COCCIDIOIDIN SENSITIVITY IN SAN DIEGO SCHOOLS

San Diego is located within the geographic distribution of known occurrence of Coccidioides immitis contamination of the soil. Forty-five to fifty-five cases are diagnosed in San Diego hospitals each year. Skin tests were administered to one thousand and twenty-seven ninth grade students in five selected San Diego schools. Coccidioidin 1:100 was administered by Mantoux technique, intradermally. Induration was measured at forty-eight hours. Greater than 5 mm of induration was noted in 9·7% of students tested. Among 378 students who had been lifelong residents of San Diego County, 7% had greater than 5 mm of induration. Coccidioidomycosis is endemic in San Diego but the level of endemicity is rather modest.
Isolation, Purification, and Characterization of Pipecolic Acid-containing Actinomycins, Pip 2, Pip 1α, and Pip 1β

Abstract Streptomyces antibioticus synthesizes several new actinomycins when dl-pipecolic acid is provided in the culture medium. Three of the compounds (Pip 2, Pip 1α, and Pip 1β) were isolated, purified, and characterized. Amino acid hydrolysates revealed that these antibiotics contain threonine, valine, sarcosine, and N-methylvaline but differ from actinomycins normally synthesized in the imino acid site of the molecule. The data reveal that: actinomycin Pip 2 contains 2 residues of pipecolic acid, actinomycin Pip 1β possesses 1 residue each of pipecolic acid and proline, and actinomycin Pip 1α contains pipecolic acid and 4-oxopipecolic acid per mole of actinomycin. 4-Oxopipecolic acid is a normal constituent of a number of peptide antibiotics, e.g. ostreogrycin, vernamycin Bα, and staphylomycin.
Late Archean structural and metamorphic history of the Wind River Range: Evidence for a long-lived active margin on the Archean Wyoming craton

The Archean rocks of the Wind River Range in western Wyoming record a Late Archean history of plutonism that extends for more than 250 m.y. The range is dominated by granitic plutons, including the 2.8 Ga Native Lake gneiss, the 2.67 Ga Bridger batholith, the 2.63 Ga Louis Lake batholith, and late 2.54 Ga granites. These plutons provide a means of distinguishing the complex metamorphism and deformation that affected the range in the Late Archean. Five deformation events are recorded. D1 is a penetrative deformation that occurred during the earliest granulite-facies metamorphism; D2 is a folding event, probably in amphibolite facies, that deforms porphyritic dikes that cut the D1 fabrics. Both D1 and D2 predate the intrusion of the ca. 2.8 Ga Native Lake gneiss. D3 is a folding event, accompanied by upper amphibolite to granulite metamorphism, that deformed the Medina Mountain sequence, a sequence of rocks that was either deposited or thrust upon the Native Lake gneiss. D4 is a fabric-forming event associated with the Mount Helen structural belt (MHSB). It is represented by mylonites in the MHSB, a penetrative fabric in the Bridger batholith, and folding of the D3 structures in the Medina Mountain sequence. We consider D3 and D4 to be coeval with the emplacement of the Bridger batholith, and hence to date at ca. 2.67 Ga. The latest structures (D5) are fabrics associated with the folding and thrusting of the 2.65 Ga South Pass sequence. We recognize at least four metamorphic events. M1 is associated with the D1 fabrics and occurred at high T (>750°C) and high P (∼7–8 kilobars). M2 (650–750 °C and 4–5.5 kilobars) is associated with the intrusion of the Bridger batholith and formation of the D3 and D4 structures. The D5 structures of the South Pass sequence record M3, which is low P (∼2–3 kilobars) and low T (∼500°C). The final metamorphism, M4, is a contact metamorphism around the Louis Lake batholith. In the south against the South Pass sequence, the metamorphism occurred at ∼3 kilobars and at temperatures <700 °C. In contrast, in the north where the Louis Lake batholith is charnockitic, the metamorphism occurred at 6 kilobars and 800°C. This pressure gradient is probably a reflection of tilting of the Wind River block during the Laramide orogeny. The composition of the plutons and the structural and metamorphic history of the Wind River Range indicate that during the Late Archean this area occupied the active margin of the Wyoming province. This tectonic environment is similar to the long-lived Phanerozoic margins of North America. The Wind River Range represents the best-documented active margin of Archean age.
Contesting histories and nationalist geographies: a comparison of school textbooks in India and Pakistan

This article examines selected high school textbooks from India and Pakistan to see how they craft two different histories out of a shared past. Central to this endeavour, the article suggests, is ...
A MONTE CARLO STUDY OF ITEM SAMPLING (VERSUS TRADITIONAL SAMPLING) FOR NORM CONSTRUCTION1

Using a computer-based model of an item trace line, a random sampling experiment concerned with comparing item sample estimates to traditional (examinee) sample estimates of the mean and variance of a distribution of test scores was conducted. The results indicated that the optimal method for estimating a test's parameters may depend on several conditions. As expected, item sampling proved superior to traditional sampling in estimating test means under all conditions. However, with certain test lengths, ranges of item difficulty, and discrimination, traditional sampling provided better estimates of test variance than did item sampling.
A continuous, fluorescent, high-throughput assay for human dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase-1.

Inhibitors of human dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase-1 (DDAH-1) are of therapeutic interest for controlling pathological nitric oxide production. Only a limited number of biologically useful...
Floorplanning optimization with trajectory piecewise-linear model for pipelined interconnects

Interconnect pipelining has a great impact on system performance, but has not been considered by automatic floorplanning. Consid-ering interconnect pipelining, we study the floorplanning optimiza-tion problem to minimize system CPI (cycles per instruction) and in turn maximize system performance. We develop an efficient table-based model called trajectory piece-wise linear (TPWL) model to estimate CPI with interconnect pipelining. Experiments show that the TPWL model differs from cycle-accurate simulations by less than 3.0%. We integrate this model with a simulated-annealing based floorplan optimization to obtain CPI-aware floorplanning. Compared to the conventional floorplanning to minimize area and wire length, our CPI-aware floorplanning can reduce CPI by up to 28.6% with a small area overhead of 5.69% under 100nm technol-ogy and obtain better results under 70nm technology. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first in-depth study on floorplan-ning optimization with consideration of interconnect pipelining.
Maximum power estimation for CMOS circuits using deterministic and statistical approaches

Excessive instantaneous power consumption may reduce the reliability and performance of VLSI chips. Hence, to synthesize circuits with high reliability, it is imperative to efficiently obtain a precise estimation of the maximum power dissipation. However, due to the inherent input-pattern dependence of the problem, it is impractical to conduct an exhaustive search for circuits with a large number of primary inputs. Hence, the practical approach is to generate a tight lower bound and an upper bound for maximum power dissipation within a reasonable amount of central processing unit (CPU) time. In this paper, instead of using the traditional simulation-based techniques, we propose a novel approach to obtain a lower bound of the maximum power consumption using automatic test generation (ATG) technique, Experiments with MCNC and ISCAS-85 benchmark circuits show that our approach generates the lower bound with the quality which cannot be achieved using simulation-based techniques. In addition, a Monte Carlo-based technique to estimate maximum power dissipation is described. It not only serves as a comparison version for our ATG approach, but also generates a metric to measure the quality of a lower bound from a statistical point of view.
Tropheryma whippelii DNA is rare in the intestinal mucosa of patients without other evidence of Whipple disease.

Background: Little is known about the pathogenesis of Whipple disease, the reservoirs of Tropheryma whippelii, and the proportion of persons harboring the bacterium without classic intestinal abnormalities. Objective: To assess the presence of T. whippelii in patients undergoing upper endoscopy for a variety of indications. Design: Prospective and routine diagnostic examination of patients. Setting: Three academic medical centers in California; Minnesota; and Heidelberg, Germany. Patients: 342 patients undergoing endoscopy for evaluation of dyspepsia or possible peptic ulcer (group A, 173 patients), malabsorption (group B, 37 patients), or clinical suspicion of Whipple disease (group C, 132 patients). Measurements: Small-intestinal biopsy specimens were tested by polymerase chain reaction for T. whippelii DNA and examined for histopathologic abnormalities. Results: All patients with negative histologic findings also had negative results for T. whippelii DNA. Conclusions: T. whippelii occurs only rarely in intestinal mucosa that lacks histopathologic evidence of Whipple disease. The human small intestinal mucosa is an unlikely reservoir for this organism.
Crossed molecular beam study of collision-induced dissociation of alkali halides

Abstract The collision-induced dissociation process of alkali halides to ion pairs by high energy Xe was studied by crossed molecular beam method. The dependence of the dissociation cross section on relative kinetic energy and alkali halide internal energy was investigated.
Bitline contacts in high density SRAMs: design for testability and stressability

Process scaling and the need for smaller SRAM cells challenges process technologies to make millions of robust and reliable bitline contacts on a single chip. Another challenge is to identify marginal, resistive and unreliable bitline contacts given the inherent electrical characteristics of the SRAM cell. This paper describes two design techniques that improve the screenability and stressability of bitline contacts in high-density SRAMs. These techniques are developed to overcome the lack of detectability of resistive bitline contacts in SRAM cells.
Ice-driven CO 2 feedback on ice volume

Abstract. The origin of the major ice-sheet variations during the last 2.7 million years is a long-standing mystery. Neither the dominant 41 000-year cycles in δ18O/ice-volume during the late Pliocene and early Pleistocene nor the late-Pleistocene oscillations near 100 000 years is a linear ("Milankovitch") response to summer insolation forcing. Both responses must result from non-linear behavior within the climate system. Greenhouse gases (primarily CO2) are a plausible source of the required non-linearity, but confusion has persisted over whether the gases force ice volume or are a positive feedback. During the last several hundred thousand years, CO2 and ice volume (marine δ18O) have varied in phase at the 41 000-year obliquity cycle and nearly in phase within the ~100 000-year band. This timing rules out greenhouse-gas forcing of a very slow ice response and instead favors ice control of a fast CO2 response. In the schematic model proposed here, ice sheets responded linearly to insolation forcing at the precession and obliquity cycles prior to 0.9 million years ago, but CO2 feedback amplified the ice response at the 41 000-year period by a factor of approximately two. After 0.9 million years ago, with slow polar cooling, ablation weakened. CO2 feedback continued to amplify ice-sheet growth every 41 000 years, but weaker ablation permitted some ice to survive insolation maxima of low intensity. Step-wise growth of these longer-lived ice sheets continued until peaks in northern summer insolation produced abrupt deglaciations every ~85 000 to ~115 000 years. Most of the deglacial ice melting resulted from the same CO2/temperature feedback that had built the ice sheets. Several processes have the northern geographic origin, as well as the requisite orbital tempo and phasing, to be candidate mechanisms for ice-sheet control of CO2 and their own feedback.
Contour Design Techniques for Super/Hypersonic Wind Tunnel Nozzles

A brief tutorial is offered on several techniques for designing nozzle contours for supersonic and hypersonic wind tunnels. A set of conditions sufficient for the existence of a contour that will deliver a uniform test section flow is proposed. A specific iterative second-order-accurate algorithm for solution by the method of characteristics (MOC) is described along with its use in contour design. A widely distributed design code, the CONTUR code by J. C. Sivells, is discussed in some detail, and recommendations for application procedures based on CONTUR are given. Design examples from CONTUR are shown. With MOC as a starting point, a brief description of design-by-analysis methods is presented along with a sample design.
Determination of Hydrogen in Semiconductors and Related Materials by Cold Neutron Prompt Gamma-ray Activation Analysis

A reliable nondestructive method for measuring trace amounts of hydrogen in semiconductors and related materials has long been needed. Cold neutron capture prompt γ-ray activation analysis (CNPGAA) is a nondestructive, multielement technique which has found application in the measurement of trace amounts of hydrogen. The sample is irradiated by a beam of “cold” neutrons; the presence of hydrogen is confirmed by the detection of a 2223 keV gamma-ray. The technique gives bulk analyses (the neutron and gamma radiation penetrate the sample), the hydrogen peak is free of interferences, and the results are independent of the chemical form of hydrogen present. The instrument is capable of detecting less than 10 mg/kg of hydrogen in many matrices. We have used the technique to measure hydrogen levels in a dielectric film on a silicon wafer, semiconductor grade germanium, and quartz.
Influence of extracts of adult crabs on molting of fiddler crab megalopae ( Uca pugnax )

Larvae of many benthic invertebrates metamorphose in response to habitat cues, which include the presence of adult conspecifics. Prior research showed that fiddler crab [Uca pugnax (Smith)] megalopae advance molting to the first crab stage in seawater in which conspecific adult crabs were maintained. In the present study, extracts of adult crabs were prepared and the specificity and protein content were characterized. U. pugnax megalopae were reared in the laboratory to minimize their prior exposure to potential molting cues. Then they were presented with extract solutions (in 1995, 1996, 1997, and 2000) to determine the specificity of the molting response to extracts of several crab species and the effects of the protein concentration of the extract, age of the megalopae at exposure to extract, and the duration of exposure on the molting response. Megalopae of U. pugnax molted sooner in seawater containing extract from adult conspecifics than in filtered seawater without extract or in seawater containing extract from the congener U. minax. Extract from the mud crab Dyspanopeus sayi retarded molting of U. pugnax megalopae. The stimulatory effect of U. pugnax extract on molting of megalopae was dependent on extract concentration. U. pugnax megalopae did not respond to extract until 6 days after molting, and only 1 day of exposure was sufficient to stimulate molting. The boiled extract was effective after being frozen (−15°C) for 2 years. The preparation of stable extract provides a uniform stimulus for multiple experiments examining the specificity of molting cues for brachyuran crustacean larvae and the onset of receptivity to cues.
Incorporating Network Connectivity Analysis in Maintenance Planning

This study is motivated by the unexpected failure of a network-based system during the performance of corrective maintenance. This incident highlights the importance of incorporating network connectivity analysis in maintenance planning. This study shows that it is crucial to consider network connectivity when planning maintenance. Procedures to conduct maintenance planning with network connectivity consideration is proposed and discussed.
Preventing Unwanted Social Inferences with Classification Tree Analysis

A serious threat to user privacy in new mobile and web2.0 applications stems from ‘social inferences’. These unwanted inferences are related to the users’ identity, current location and other personal information. We have previously introduced ‘inference functions’ to estimate the social inference risk based on information entropy. In this paper, after analyzing the problem and reviewing our risk estimation method, we create a decision tree to distinguish between high risk and normal situations. To evaluate our methodology, test and training datasets were collected during a large mobile-phone field study for a location-aware application. The classification tree employs our two inference functions, for the current and past situations, as internal nodes. Our results show that the achieved true classification rates are significantly better than approaches that employ other available features for the internal nodes of the trees. The results also suggest that common classification tools cannot accurately capture the information entropy for social applications. This is mostly due to the lack of enough training data for high-risk, low-entropy situations and outliers. Thus, we conclude that estimating the information entropy and the relevant inference risk using a pre-processor can yield a simpler and more accurate classification tree.
Overwintering of Corn Leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis (Homoptera: Cicadellidae), and Spiroplasma kunkelii (Mycoplasmatales: Spiroplasmataceae) in California’s San Joaquin Valley

Abstract A 3-yr study was conducted in California’s southern San Joaquin Valley to determine the overwintering survival of the corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis (DeLong and Wolcott), and the mollicute, Spiroplasma kunkelii, the causal agent of corn stunt disease. Corn leafhopper populations were sampled from November to March using yellow sticky cards, D-vac suction samples, and inspection of volunteer corn plants and spring planted corn. S. kunkelii presence was determined by sampling sentinel plants placed in the field during the winter, leafhoppers collected throughout the winter, and evaluation of volunteer plants over the winter and spring planted corn. Leafhoppers were collected on yellow sticky cards throughout the winter during all 3 yr. They were also regularly recovered from alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., winter forage (wheat, Triticum aestivum L., and triticale, Triticale hexaploide Lart. and riparian areas by D-vac suction sampling. Females constituted the majority of leafhoppers (>80%) recovered...
Community violence, children's development, and mass media: In pursuit of new insights, new goals, and new strategies

Community violence that victimizes children is an unmitigated evil that is exacerbated by vast economic and social forces that leave people in central cities and the rural countryside adrift on seas of rolelessness, hopelessness, group disintegration, and alienation. The contemporary drug scene and the easy availability of guns greatly intensify violence on a local scale, while crimes of violence, especially with guns, appear to be level or declining in the nation as a whole. Claims that the persistently high levels of violence in mass media, mostly television, are largely responsible for violence in society represent narrow views of very large issues. These narrow views overlook essential elements of both phenomena--violence and media. Direct models of interpersonal violence in families and in the community probably give rise to more violent behavior than indirect models in media. Disinhibitory and provocative aspects of media probably do as much or more to trigger violent behavior than violent narratives and violent actions. Comprehensive meta-analysis indicates that prosocial messages on television can have greater effects on behavior than antisocial messages. These data support the contention that mass media can play a strong and positive role in alleviating some of the distress of victims of community violence, and in redirecting the behavior of some of its perpetrators so as to protect the children.
Retinoic acid-induced spina bifida: evidence for a pathogenetic mechanism

Treatment of C57Bl/6J mice with three successive doses of all-trans retinoic acid (28 mg kg-1 body weight) on 8 day, 6 h (8d,6h), 8d,12h, and 8d,18h of gestation resulted in a high incidence (79%, 31/39 fetuses) of spina bifida with myeloschisis (spina bifida aperta) in near term fetuses. Twelve hours following the last maternal dose (9d,6h), the caudal aspects of treated embryos, were abnormal, with eversion of the neural plate at the posterior neuropore, as compared to its normal concavity in comparably staged control specimens. This eversion persisted in affected embryos through the time that the posterior neuropore should normally close. The distribution of cell death in control and experimental embryos was determined using vital staining with Nile blue sulphate and with routine histological techniques. Twelve hours following the maternal dosing regimen, experimental embryos showed evidence of excessive cell death, predominantly in the mesenchyme associated with the primitive streak and in the endoderm of the tail gut, both of which are readily identifiable sites of physiological cell death at this stage of development. In addition, the presumptive trunk neural crest cells located in the dorsal midline, cranial to the posterior neuropore, exhibited a marked amount of cell death in the experimental embryos. We propose that the major factor in the generation of spina bifida in this model is excessive cell death in the tail gut and mesenchyme ventral to the neuroepithelium of the posterior neuropore.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Mass Spectrometric Immunoassays in Characterization of Clinically Significant Proteoforms

Proteins can exist as multiple proteoforms in vivo, as a result of alternative splicing and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), as well as posttranslational processing. To address their clinical significance in a context of diagnostic information, proteoforms require a more in-depth analysis. Mass spectrometric immunoassays (MSIA) have been devised for studying structural diversity in human proteins. MSIA enables protein profiling in a simple and high-throughput manner, by combining the selectivity of targeted immunoassays, with the specificity of mass spectrometric detection. MSIA has been used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of single and multiple proteoforms, distinguishing between normal fluctuations and changes related to clinical conditions. This mini review offers an overview of the development and application of mass spectrometric immunoassays for clinical and population proteomics studies. Provided are examples of some recent developments, and also discussed are the trends and challenges in mass spectrometry-based immunoassays for the next-phase of clinical applications.
Concentration Dependence of Boron-Interstitial Cluster (BIC) Formation in Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI)

The effect of boron concentration on boron-interstitial cluster (BIC) dissolution was studied in separation by implantation of oxygen (SIMOX) and SOITEC silicon-on- insulator (SOI) materials. SOI substrates having surface silicon thickness of 750 A and 1450 A were ion implanted with 11B+ at a energy of 15 keV. The dose of the implant was varied from 3×1014 cm−2 to 1×1015 cm−2 to provide different boron peak concentrations. Anneals were performed at 825 °C in a nitrogen ambient using RTA for short times and furnace anneals for longer times. The retained dose of boron in the surface silicon layer was estimated using simulations from UT-Marlowe 5.0. Hall Effect was used to measure the sheet resistance, mobility, sheet number, and fraction of active boron. At lower concentrations, SOI exhibited significantly lower sheet numbers. As the boron concentration was increased SOI began to approach bulk Si. However, degraded mobility and sheet resistance was observed at all concentrations. Truncating the boron profile over the surface Si/buried oxide interface enhanced the fraction of active boron in the 750 A SOI. This also lead to a higher fractional activation in 750 A SOI than bulk Si as the concentration increased due to a loss of interstitials, effectively reducing the BIC population.
Economic Injury Level for Contarinia texana on Guar

A theoretical economic Injury level (EIL) was devised for Contarinia texana (Felt) infesting buds of guar, Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub. Since the presence of only 1 midge larva results in the abortion of a bud, the EIL is based on number of infested buds per sampling unit rather than on the larval population. Factors affecting the EIL include projected yield, management costs, market value of seed, plant diseases, date of planting, timing and amount of precipitation, and budding phenology. Since a strong correlation between the destruction of buds and yield loss in guar was found only for 45 through 90 days post emergence of the plants, control of the midge should be restricted to that period of buckling phenology. The theoretical EILs for C. texana in guar at the peak-budding period are 52, 38, 28, and 12 infested buds/row ft for guar having projected yields of 500, 750, 1000, 1500 lb of seed/acre, respectively.
Associations Between Sexual Behavior Norm Beliefs in Relationships and Intimate Partner Rape Judgments

Using a community sample (n = 296), we investigated the associations between sexual behavior norm beliefs, acceptance of partner rape, judgments that non-consensual partner sex is “wrong not rape,” and decisions if non-consensual partner sex should be charged as rape. Sexual behavior norm beliefs were associated both directly and indirectly with latter components in the model related to acceptance of non-consensual partner sex judgments and charging rape judgments. In addition, participant gender moderated the model, such that many of the associations between the variables were stronger for males than for females. The results have implications for understanding how individuals label rape between intimate partners.
Parental coping with childhood hospitalization: a theoretical framework to guide research and clinical interventions

Topic Although previous studies have demonstrated the value of psychologically preparing parents for their children's hospitalizations, there is only speculation regarding the coping processes by which clinical interventions have exerted their effects. Objective This paper presents a long-needed theoretical framework to guide research and informational interventions with parents of hospitalized children. Source Prior work by this author has provided empirical support for the proposed theoretical framework. Conclusions Repeated testing of the proposed framework could build a scientific body of knowledge for pediatric nursing practice.
Public Service and Social Responsibility: A Role for Public Affairs in Undergraduate Business Education

The public management, nonprofit, and business sectors are becoming more integrated. Governments are increasingly dependent upon businesses and nonprofit organizations to provide public services, regulation is increasing, and nonprofit organizations provide an alternative for public service delivery as well as maintain a watchful eye over businesses and governments. A solid understanding of public problems and the intersections between the sectors is critical for managers of today. Public affairs programs can play an important role in this process by expanding their focus to offer courses to undergraduate business students that bridge the gap between public affairs issues and the business sector. By developing mutually beneficial partnerships with business schools, public affairs programs will gain substantial benefit, both academically and professionally. We can pursue our mission to encourage public service in a broader arena, recruit talented undergraduates to public affairs programs and positions, expand teaching and research opportunities, and enhance our reputation as a field.
Characteristic Pulvinar Sign in Pseudo-α-galactosidase Deficiency Syndrome

Pseudo-α-galactosidase deficiency (PAGD) syndrome occurs when a mutation reduces measured enzyme activity in vitro, despite normal intracellular activity. White matter lesions have been reported infrequently in PAGD syndrome.1 Importantly, to our knowledge, no report mentions characteristic pulvinar hyperintensity on T1-weighted imaging in PAGD syndrome, a highly specific sign of Fabry disease in male patients.2,3 Although atrophy of selective brain areas occurs in a few cases, to our knowledge, no article reports diffuse cortical atrophy by imaging in Fabry disease or PAGD syndrome.1,4 We report a case of a woman in her 40s with a 3-year history of a complex progressive disorder with emotional lability, cognitive decline, generalized ataxia, and autonomic dysfunction. She denied paresthesias, dysesthesias, or loss of sensation. Metabolic testing showed reduced activity of α-galactosidase (0.056 U/L; normal range, 0.074-0.457 U/L). Autonomic testing demonstrated abnormal cardiac parasympathetic function (but no orthostatic hypotension) and a patchy decrease in sweat output on the quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test as well as a markedly abnormal thermoregulatory sweat test, with near complete global anhidrosis. Repeated magnetic resonance imaging (Figure) compared with one the prior year at an outside hospital showed unchanged global diffuse brain volume loss and bilateral mineralization of the pulvinar region of thalami (manifesting as hyperintensity in the pulvinar on T1-weighted imaging). Genetic testing showed the presence of the pseudo-α-galactosidase allele. Neuropsychological testing done in view of diffuse cortical atrophy showed mild neurocognitive and memory deficits (Table), and the patient was diagnosed with mild neurocognitive disorder. Magnetic resonance imaging of the entire spine showed no spinal cord lesions. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed elevated protein levels (95 mg/dL) but no pleocytosis (white blood cell counts: 0/μL; polymorphonucleocytes: 7%; lymphocytes: 83%; monocytes: 9%).
The Waning of Sexual Inequality

Throughout the industrialised world women are entering the labour force in unprecedented numbers: a movement that began as a trickle in the last century has become a torrent. No longer content to stay at home, impatient with the ties that bind them to the kitchen and the nursery, women are exchanging the apron and baby carriage for the business suit and computer, and now seek new experiences and rewards in paid employment. But women have done more than merely join the labour force; they have changed it. To a degree unparalleled in history, women have achieved lucrative and important positions in government, in the skilled professions, and in science and business, irreversibly changing the sexual composition of the labour force. Today, women work in all sectors of the economy and compete with men, often successfully, for advancement in fields long dominated by males, a revolutionary break with the past that is changing women and society.
Nucleic Acid and Nucleotide Turnover

Abstract: Primates and Dalmatian dogs degrade their purines to uric acid, whereas other domestic animals convert urates to the more soluble allantoin. Pyrimidines are catabolized to simpler, water-soluble forms that re-enter metabolic pathways. Chronic overproduction or underutilization of PRPP can lead to excess purine nucleotide biosynthesis. Allopurinol is a suicide inhibitor of xanthine oxidase. Purine bases are usually salvaged through a one-step reaction with PRPP, while pyrimidine bases are usually salvaged through a two-step process involving the sequential action of a nucleoside phosphorylase and a nucleoside kinase. Although animals ingest polynucleotides, survival does not require their digestion, absorption, and utilization since ample amounts of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides can be synthesized de novo.