cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology of Histoplasmosis

Histoplasma capsulatum is an environmental fungus that contributes significant morbidity and mortality throughout the globe, especially in immunocompromised hosts. This review presents current data on the understanding of histoplasmosis epidemiology, including changing incidence among geographic regions and patient populations with increased risk. Global cases are more frequently identified due to the HIV epidemic, an increasing number of immunocompromised patients, and improved diagnostic capabilities. The global distribution of histoplasmosis extends to several countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean, as well as southern and sub-Saharan Africa, India, China, and Southeast Asia. Cases are also seen throughout Europe and non-endemic regions of the USA often due to migration and travelers. The changing epidemiology of histoplasmosis underlines the importance of continued surveillance and reporting to better understand the regions which place patients at a higher risk for infection.
Energy Aware Driving: Optimal Electric Vehicle Speed Profiles for Sustainability in Transportation

This paper investigates the benefits of exploiting weather conditions for energy optimal driving. Optimization approaches are introduced that are based on the fact that weather-dependent speed profiles can save transportation energy, especially for electric transportation systems. Optimization models for both minimum transportation energy with travel time constraints and minimum travel time with transportation energy constraints are introduced and the resulting speed profiles are analyzed. Infinite dimensional optimization models are proposed for exact problem descriptions and approximate discretized convex models are derived for highly efficient solutions. The optimization tasks are formulated as a deterministic as well as a robust optimization problem, where weather conditions such as wind speed and rolling resistance effects are assumed to be known exactly or within uncertainty bounds. Simulations illustrate the utility of the proposed optimization models and demonstrate achievable efficiency improvements.
αβ T Cell Receptor Mechanosensing Forces out Serial Engagement

T lymphocytes use αβ T cell receptors (TCRs) to recognize sparse antigenic peptides bound to MHC molecules (pMHCs) arrayed on antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Contrary to conventional receptor–ligand associations exemplified by antigen–antibody interactions, forces play a crucial role in nonequilibrium mechanosensor-based T cell activation. Both T cell motility and local cytoskeleton machinery exert forces (i.e., generate loads) on TCR–pMHC bonds. We review biological features of the load-dependent activation process as revealed by optical tweezers single molecule/single cell and other biophysical measurements. The findings link pMHC-triggered TCRs to single cytoskeletal motors; define the importance of energized anisotropic (i.e., force direction dependent) activation; and characterize immunological synapse formation as digital, revealing no serial requirement. The emerging picture suggests new approaches for the monitoring and design of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-based immunotherapy.
Population Size and Fluctuations

To determine the effect of fishing on a stock, some estimate of the size of the stock that is being exploited is necessary. The weight or numbers of fish removed therefrom (fishing mortality) can be obtained from landing statistics. The question then is what portion of the total stock is not being harvested by the fishery? That is, how many are uncaught, or have escaped the fishery, remain to breed, and sustain the stock. Also, the remaining fish that survive predation and disease will grow to a larger size and thereby increase the biomass available to fishermen in subsequent fishing seasons. The amount that can be taken without harm to the fishery will be discussed in Chapter 12 and is generally called “surplus stock.” It is the amount that can be removed without harming the level of reproductive potential. At an extremely low level of fishing, many fish are unavailable for use by humans and are considered “wasted”; alternately, at extremely high levels of exploitation, the reproductive potential of the population is greatly reduced and recruitment failures can occur. What is sought in management plans is a suitable level of exploitation that is somewhere between the two extremes.
Slavery and the Democratic Conscience: Political Life in Jeffersonian America. By Padraig Riley. (Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2016. Pp. 319. $45.00.)

This book on the politics of slavery in the early American republic ought to surpass and replace previous works on this subject. Broadly synthetic and, at the same time, well researched and well wr...
Hypothalamic response to cocaine cues and cocaine addiction severity

The dopaminergic motive system is compromised in cocaine addiction. Abundant research has examined the roles of the dopaminergic midbrain and ventral striatum (VS) in cue-induced craving and habitual drug consumption. Interconnected with the dopaminergic circuits, the hypothalamus is widely implicated in motivated behavior, including food and drug seeking. However, very few studies have investigated how the hypothalamus responds to drug cues and whether hypothalamic responses are related to clinical features such as craving and addiction severity. Here, in 23 cocaine-dependent individuals (CD) exposed to cocaine vs neutral cues during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we examined regional responses using established routines. At a corrected threshold, CD demonstrated increased activation to cocaine vs neutral cues in bilateral visual cortex, inferior parietal and middle frontal gyri, and the hypothalamus. The extent of hypothalamus but not other regional response was correlated with craving and cocaine addiction severity, each as assessed by the Cocaine Craving Questionnaire (CCQ) and Cocaine Selective Severity Assessment (CSSA). In contrast, subjective "acute" craving as elicited by cocaine cues during fMRI involved deactivation of bilateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and angular gyri (AG), and the OFC and AG responses were not related to CCQ or CSSA score. These findings distinguished tonic craving as a critical factor in capturing cocaine addiction severity and substantiated a role of the hypothalamus in motivational dysfunction in cocaine addiction.
Colorism and U.S. Immigration: Considerations for Researchers:

Research on colorism in the United States frequently focuses on people of color who were born in the country such as African Americans. Globalization, however, requires social scientists to conside...
Neurologic Conditions in Individuals with Intellectual Disability

Individuals with intellectual disabilities (IDs) often suffer from co-occurring neurologic conditions, which can greatly affect their quality of life. These individuals are more likely to suffer from conditions such as seizure disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, dementia, delirium, and motor disorders (e.g., tics, antipsychotic-induced disorder). ID is commonly comorbid with other neurodevelopmental disorders, often before the child enters grade school. Sometimes ID is associated with the development of neurocognitive disorders later in life. ID may be associated with a known environmental factor (e.g., prenatal alcohol exposure) or genetic condition that can predispose to other neurologic problems (e.g., Down syndrome is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s dementia). Neurologic disorders can be difficult to diagnose in those with ID due to barriers in communication. Because these disorders increase impairment of personal, social, academic, or occupational functioning, identification can help clinicians improve assessment and treatment.
Optimization of the Fuzzy MPPT Controller by PSO for the Single-Phase Grid-Connected Photovoltaic System Controlled by Sliding Mode

This paper focuses on the performance of a single-phase inverter coupled to the grid in terms of optimal photovoltaic transfer, using the concept of sliding-mode variable structure systems. Moreover, a fuzzy logic control technique optimized by particle swarm algorithm (PSO) associated with a boost converter is used to extract the Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT).The validation of the results using Matlab/Simulink software is carried under different environmental and operating conditions to verify the satisfactory performance of the proposed control strategies.
Financial Incentives to Increase Cardiac Rehabilitation Participation Among Low-Socioeconomic Status Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract Objectives This study sought to examine the efficacy of financial incentives to increase Medicaid patient participation in and completion of cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Background Participation in CR reduces morbidity, mortality, and hospitalizations while improving quality of life. Lower-socioeconomic status (SES) patients are much less likely to attend and complete CR, despite being at increased risk for recurrent cardiovascular events. Methods A total of 130 individuals enrolled in Medicaid with a CR-qualifying cardiac event were randomized 1:1 to receive financial incentives on an escalating schedule ($4 to $50) for completing CR sessions or to receive usual care. Primary outcomes were CR participation (number of sessions completed) and completion (≥30 sessions completed). Secondary outcomes included changes in sociocognitive measurements (depressive/anxious symptoms, executive function), body composition (waist circumference, body mass index), fitness (peak VO2) over 4 months, and combined number of hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) contacts over 1 year. Results Patients randomized to the incentive condition completed more sessions (22.4 vs. 14.7, respectively; p = 0.013) and were almost twice as likely to complete CR (55.4% vs. 29.2%, respectively; p = 0.002) as controls. Incentivized patients were also more likely to experience improvements in executive function (p Conclusions Financial incentives improve CR participation among lower-SES patients following a cardiac event. Increasing participation among lower-SES patients in CR is critical for positive longer-term health outcomes. (Increasing Cardiac Rehabilitation Participation Among Medicaid Enrollees; NCT02172820)
Low Orbiting Satellite and Small UAS-Based High-Resolution Imagery Data to Quantify Crop Lodging: A Case Study in Irrigated Spearmint

Conventional methods for crop lodging assessments need accurate ground observations and tend to be laborious. Lodging assessment methods and accuracy can thus be improved using remote sensing data from small unmanned aerial systems (UASs) and low orbiting satellites (LOSs). With such aim, imagery to assess spearmint crop lodging was acquired using a small UAS at two ground sample distances (GSDs) of 0.01 and 0.03 m. Crop surface model (CSM) and six image color features were extracted from small UAS-based data. These features were then classified into not lodged (NL), partially lodged (PL), and lodged (L) groups. Mean and majority feature classes were obtained for 50 regions of interest (ROI) of size 1 m2 each. Features were compared with visual crop lodging ratings using Pearson correlation ( ${r}$ ) and Cohen’s kappa (CK) coefficients. CSM showed higher assessment accuracy with ${r}~\approx $ 0.85 and CK > 0.60. Mean percentage red (%R) was observed to have the strongest correlation with visual ratings ( $r= 0.75$ and CK = 0.40–0.59) followed by mean percentage blue (%B), both at 0.01-m GSD. The percentage of lodging calculated from %R and %B maps was also contrasted with similar estimates from LOS-based imagery at 3.00-m GSD with no statistical differences found at 5% level.
Enslaved Agents: Business Transactions Negotiated by Slaves in the Antebellum South

This article explores the law of agency as applied to enslaved workers in the antebellum South between 1798 and 1863. In particular, I examine legal disputes involving the delegation of agency power to enslaved workers. Southern courts generally accepted that an enslaved worker could serve as business agent for his or her slaveholder, which often meant binding a third party to a transaction negotiated or performed by an enslaved person. These cases provide a window into business practices in slave states, where enslaved workers conducted business on behalf of slaveholders in a variety of contexts. While agency law served the economic interests of individual slaveholders – who could then avoid hiring paid labor for the same work – it also at times conflicted with the ideology of white supremacy and the associated southern laws meant to enforce racial dominance. Agency law bestowed the slaveholder’s power on an enslaved worker in transactions with third parties, often white businessmen who later sought to unwind the deal. The law of agency also conflicted at times with state laws that prohibited sales and business dealings with slaves. Nevertheless, southern courts frequently sided with slaveholders, who insisted that their powers could be delegated to enslaved workers. Agency-related jurisprudence also illustrates the economic exploitation of slavery, which allocated all of the proceeds from an enslaved person’s labor, talent and expertise to the slaveholder.
Empirical methods in business location research

A frequent theme in regional science is exploring the determinants of business establishment locations. We briefly review the theoretical perspectives motivating several frameworks underpinning loc...
Assessing the Influence of Secondary Electron Emission Characteristics on Multipactor in Rectangular Waveguides

Multipactor in a rectangular waveguide is studied using numerical simulations. Particular attention is given to the secondary electron emission characteristics including their energy spectrum (hence velocity spread) and angular distribution. Elastically scattered, rediffused and true secondary electrons are all comprehensively included based on the Furman-Pivi model [1] for the TE 10 mode. The focus is on small waveguides and lowest order resonance conditions.
Pseudoabuse—The Misdiagnosis of Child Abuse

When a patient's problem is judged to be the result of child abuse and it is not, considerable harm may be done to the child, his parents, and the doctor-parent relationship. The case histories of 15 children who were thought to be abused are reviewed and their correct diagnoses are presented. Overdiagnosing the battered child syndrome can be as harmful as failing to consider it.
Array Beamforming Synthesis for Point-to-Point MIMO Communication

While transmit and receive beamforming for the multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) point-to-point channel is a well-studied topic, existing algorithms cannot specify effective beamformers for certain situations. To address this deficiency, we present an iterative algorithm that can establish beamformers based on different channel information available to the transmitter and receiver, different receiver architectures, and different constraints on the power radiated by the transmit array. Simulation results based on modeled and measured channels demonstrate that the algorithm effectively accommodates a wide range of conditions and that the performance achieved with the approach matches that obtained using existing algorithms that are applicable only to specific conditions.
Comparison of methods for searching protein sequence databases

We have compared commonly used sequence comparison algorithms, scoring matrices, and gap penalties using a method that identifies statistically significant differences in performance. Search sensitivity with either the Smith-Waterman algorithm or FASTA is significantly improved by using modern scoring matrices, such as BLOSUM45-55, and optimized gap penalties instead of the conventional PAM250 matrix. More dramatic improvement can be obtained by scaling similarity scores by the logarithm of the length of the library sequence (In()-scaling). With the best modern scoring matrix (BLOSUM55 or JO93) and optimal gap penalties (-12 for the first residue in the gap and -2 for additional residues), Smith-Waterman and FASTA performed significantly better than BLASTP. With In()-scaling and optimal scoring matrices (BLOSUM45 or Gonnet92) and gap penalties (-12, -1), the rigorous Smith-Waterman algorithm performs better than either BLASTP and FASTA, although with the Gonnet92 matrix the difference with FASTA was not significant. Ln()-scaling performed better than normalization based on other simple functions of library sequence length. Ln()-scaling also performed better than scores based on normalized variance, but the differences were not statistically significant for the BLOSUM50 and Gonnet92 matrices. Optimal scoring matrices and gap penalties are reported for Smith-Waterman and FASTA, using conventional or In()-scaled similarity scores. Searches with no penalty for gap extension, or no penalty for gap opening, or an infinite penalty for gaps performed significantly worse than the best methods. Differences in performance between FASTA and Smith-Waterman were not significant when partial query sequences were used. However, the best performance with complete query sequences was obtained with the Smith-Waterman algorithm and In()-scaling.
Plant phospholipids: III. Identification of diphosphatidyl glycerol

Abstract A linear polyglycerophosphate has been identified among the deacylated phosphatides from Chlorella, Rhodospirillum rubrum and higher plants. It was identified as 1,3-diglycerophosphorylglycerol by comparison of its chemical and physical properties with those of the synthetic 32 P labeled compound. The original plant lipid appears to be identical with cardiolipin from animal tissues, indicating that both are diphosphatidyl glycerols.
Suramin Inhibits Growth and Yet Promotes Insulin-like Growth Factor II Expression in HepG2 Cells

Abstract Suramin, a drug shown to inhibit the growth of some tumor cell types in vivo and in vitro, was found to strongly inhibit the proliferation of the human hepatoma cell line, HepG2, grown in either serum-supplemented medium or a serum-free, hormonally defined medium tailored for hepatoma cells. In parallel, suramin induced the expression of the 6.0-kilobase transcript of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF II) but had no significant effect on transforming growth factor β1 mRNA levels in these cells. The induction in the abundance of IGF II mRNA was posttranscriptionally regulated. The growth-inhibitory effect of suramin was not mediated through IGF II, since addition of IGF II directly to the medium mildly stimulated the growth of HepG2 cells in a dose-responsive manner. Treatment of cells with suramin for 24 h resulted also in increased albumin mRNA levels in both HepG2 cells and normal rat hepatocytes. Suramin9s effect on albumin occurred only in cells in medium supplemented with serum and in freshly plated cells, i.e., cells that had not been in culture long enough to form their own extracellular matrix substratum. We hypothesize that, as for heparin, suramin can bind serum factor(s), adversely affecting the stability of albumin mRNA. Addition of either IGF I or IGF II directly to cells resulted in an increase in albumin mRNA in HepG2 cells after 4 days in culture, implicating a role for these factors in differentiation. Yet they showed no effect unless the cells were grown for 2 days in serum-supplemented medium and then switched to a hormonally defined medium. Thus, both mitogenic and differentiation effects of IGFs were observed, and the qualitative responses of the cells to IGFs were dictated by other variables. Neither suramin nor IGF II had an effect on total sulfation levels in cells or medium conditioned by HepG2 cells and rat hepatocytes, suggesting that they have few, if any, effects on glycosaminoglycan synthesis or the extent of sulfation. Therefore, at present, suramin9s potent biological effects on the growth and differentiation of HepG2 cells and rat hepatocytes are clearly complex and mediated through as yet unclear mechanisms.
MECHANISMS IN THE INHIBITION OF MICROORGANISMS BY SORBIC ACID.

York, George K. (University of California, Davis), and Reese H. Vaughn. Mechanisms in the inhibition of microorganisms by sorbic acid. J. Bacteriol. 88:411–417. 1964.—Oxidative assimilation of glucose, acetate, succinate, and fumarate by washed cells of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae was inhibited by concentrations of sorbic acid ranging from 15 to 105 mg per 100 ml. At higher concentrations, the oxidation of these substrates was inhibited. Oxidative phosphorylation by submicroscopic particles of E. coli was reduced by about 30% by 37 mg per 100 ml of sorbic acid. The sulfhydryl enzymes fumarase, aspartase, and succinic dehydrogenase were inhibited by sorbic acid. The loss of activity of sorbic acid after reacting with cysteine suggested that a thiol addition occurred, which is believed to be the mechanism of action against sulfhydryl enzymes or cofactors.
Genetics of childhood disorders: XXXVI. Stem cell research, part 1: New neurons in the adult brain.

Until recently, it was assumed that neurogenesis, or the production of new neurons, occurs only during development and never in the adult organism. The famous neuroanatomist Cajal stated that “Once development was ended, the fonts of growth and regeneration of the axons and dendrites dried up irrevocably. In adult centers, the nerve paths are something fixed and immutable: everything may die, nothing may be regenerated.” This statement holds true for most of the regions of the adult brain. However, there are two adult brain areas in which neurogenesis is observed: the subventricular zone of the anterior lateral ventricles gives rise to cells that become neurons in the olfactory bulb, and the subgranular zone in the dentate gyrus generates new granule cell neurons in the hippocampus, a brain region that is important for learning and memory. The initial studies that suggested that the adult brain could generate new neurons were largely ignored. In the 1960s Joseph Altman and coworkers published a series of papers reporting that some dividing cells in the adult brain survived and differentiated into cells with morphology similar to neurons. They used tritiated thymidine autoradiography to label the cells. Tritiated thymidine is incorporated into the DNA of dividing cells. They found that the highest density of labeling was in the subventricular zone and in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. It was known that the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus is essentially devoid of glia. Therefore, Altman attributed the labeling in this region to the uptake of thymidine by dentate granule cells. However, he could not prove that the adult-generated cells were neurons rather than glia, since no phenotypic markers were available that could be used in conjunction with thymidine autoradiography. The absence of specific markers for neurons and glia and continued skepticism surrounding the novel concept of adult neurogenesis limited further development of the research. In the mid 1970s and the early 1980s, Michael Kaplan and his colleagues reexamined the initial observations using the electron microscope and added substantial confidence that neurogenesis could occur in the adult brain. Combining electron microscopy and tritiated thymidine labeling, they showed that
Partially Restricted Antitoxins of Tetanus and Diphtheria in Man

Summary: Antibodies of restricted specificity have been identified in the human in response to certain antigens. The present study analyzed tetanus and diphtheria antitoxins isolated from selected human sera and suggested a restricted response in antibody production to each of these antigens. Purified antibodies from eight serum specimens with elevated hemagglutination titers to tetanus and four to diphtheria yielded only IgG proteins in concentrations of 160–500 μg/ml. Although some of the tetanus specimens were derived from cord sera and tetanus immunoglobulin, none of the total group had antibodies of the IgA and IgM classes. Utilizing immunoelectrophoresis against heavy chain subclasses, genetic markers, and κ and λ quantitations, a predeliction for the κ IgG1 subclass was established for both tetanus and diphtheria antibodies. The λ light chains were present in diminished quantities, IgG2 heavy chains were absent, and the IgG3 and IgG4 chains were variably identified.
Five-year outcome with gastric bypass: Roux limb length makes a difference.

Abstract Background Surgical reports have indicated that longer Roux limbs (150 cm) have greater or no effect on long-term weight loss in super-obese patients (body mass index [BMI] ≥50 kg/m2) and little effect in less obese patients. Methods The weight loss outcomes through 5 years were compared in 3 sequential groups of patients, who underwent gastric bypass by 1 surgeon, and in whom the Roux limb lengths were different. Comparisons were made between 2 cohorts: those with a BMI of Results A comparable number of patients were in each group, and the average preoperative weights were similar; however, more than twice as many patients in groups 2 and 3 were SO than MO. The BMI loss and weight loss were similar in each group. The greater BMI cohort (SO) lost more weight than did the MO cohort (P Conclusion The results of this study have shown that longer Roux limbs improve weight loss outcomes both early and late in SO patients but not in MO patients. Clinically used long lengths of Roux limbs are close enough to one third of the total small bowel length such that the weight outcomes were not different, and total length should not need to be measured operatively. The eventual changes attributed to recidivism were not affected by the Roux limb length.
Spatio-temporal regulation of Wnt and retinoic acid signaling by tbx16/spadetail during zebrafish mesoderm differentiation.

Background A complex network of signaling pathways and transcription factors regulates vertebrate mesoderm development. Zebrafish mutants provide a powerful tool for examining the roles of individual genes in such a network. spadetail (spt) is a mutant with a lesion in tbx16, a T-box transcription factor involved in mesoderm development; the mutant phenotype includes disrupted primitive red blood cell formation as well as disrupted somitogenesis. Despite much recent progress, the downstream targets of tbx16 remain incompletely understood. The current study was carried out to test whether any of the five major signaling pathways are regulated by tbx16 during two specific stages of mesoderm development: primitive red blood cell formation in the intermediate mesoderm and somite formation in the tail paraxial mesoderm. This test was performed using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis, which identifies coordinated changes in expression among a priori sets of genes associated with biological features or processes.
Using virtual environments to assess time-to-contact judgments from pedestrian viewpoints

This paper describes the use of desktop and immersive virtual environments to study judgments that pedestrians make when deciding to cross a street. In particular, we assess the ability of people to discriminate and estimate time-to-contact (TTC) for approaching vehicles under a variety of conditions. Four experiments observing TTC judgments under various conditions are described. We examine the effect of type of vehicle, viewpoint, presentation mode, and TTC value on TTC judgments. We find no significant effect of type of vehicle or of viewpoint, extending prior work to cover all views typically encountered by pedestrians. Discrimination of short values for TTC judgments is generally consistent with the literature, but performance degrades significantly for long TTC values. Finally, we find no significant difference between judgments made in a desktop environment versus a head-mounted display, indicating that tracking the approaching vehicle with one's head does not aid discrimination. In general, people appear to use strategies similar to those that pedestrians use to make real-world, street-crossing decisions.
Modulation of EAG Channel Inactivation by ICA105574

Ether-a-go-go (EAG) family potassium channels, including hEAG1 and hERG1 play an important role in the heart, CNS, cell cycle regulation and cancer. ICA-105574 (ICA) was previously reported to activate hERG1 current by causing a large depolarizing shift in the V0.5 for P-type inactivation (Gerlach et al, Mol. Pharmacol. 2010, 77: 58). The related hEAG1 channel exhibits little or no inactivation; however, in the presence of ICA (2 μM) channels exhibit pronounced inactivation (V0.5 = −74 mV). Voltage dependence of inactivation and activation for WT hEAG1 with and without ICA is shown in the figure. At 10 μM ICA, inactivation reduces maximum current by >80%. Mutation of a single Tyr residue in S6 (Y464A) of hEAG1 also induces prominent inactivation which is accentuated by ICA. Combined mutation of two residues located near the selectivity filter (T432S and A443S) induces a rapid P-type inactivation similar to hERG1 that is removed by ICA. Modulation of inactivation by ICA can result in either activation or inhibition of EAG1/ERG1 channels.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
Efficient Synthesis of ω-(p-Vinylbenzyl)polystyrene by Direct Functionalization of Poly(styryl)lithium with p-Vinylbenzyl Chloride in Hydrocarbon Solvent with Lithium 2,3-Dimethyl-3-pentoxide

The direct functionalization of poly(styryl)lithium (Mn ≈ 2000 g/mol) with p-vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC) has been investigated in hydrocarbon solvent. With a 9-fold excess of VBC and normal addition, the predominant product (55% yield) was the corresponding head-to-head dimer; the macromonomer was formed in only 20% yield as determined by 1H NMR analysis. MALDI-TOF MS analysis of the products showed that the other major side reaction products resulted from addition of PSLi to the vinyl group of VBC. However, in the presence of excess lithium halides (LiCl, LiBr) the amount of dimer formation was reduced (30%), but the yield of macromonomer was increased only slightly (27%). The principal impurity was the corresponding nonfunctional polystyrene attributed to hydrogen abstraction from VBC by PSLi. A high yield (≥98%) of ω-(p-vinylbenzyl)polystyrene macromonomer was obtained when the functionalization was effected in the presence of 10 equiv of lithium 2,3-dimethyl-3-pentoxide. No dimer formation was observed...
A new variant of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus

Abstract A variant of the baculovirus, Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus, has been isolated in Idaho during an epizootic disease in a field population of A. californica. Genotypic characterization indicates that the virus is distinct from variants previously characterized. Analysis of five clones, derived by plaque purification in cell culture, indicates relative homogeneity of the original virus isolate. Further exploration of the factors involved in natural genetic variability of baculoviruses is appropriate.
Longitudinal impact of two mutually plastically-deformable missiles

Abstract This paper develops an improved theory of large plastic deformation of metallic cylindrical flat ended missiles striking each other with prescribed launch velocities and compares results with experimental data. The groups of comparison studies which have been used for comparison with this analysis are: 1. (a) G.I. Taylor and A.C. Whiffin 2. (b) E.H. Lee, S.T. Tupper, A.C. Whiffin and H.L.D. Pugh 3. (c) N. Davids, C. Graberek, D. Raftopoulos and A. Ricchiazzi It has been found from the above comparisons that the results given in this paper show that the theory predicts large deformation of the aforesaid missiles satisfactorily for low and intermediate velocities.
Remote detection of invasive plants: a review of spectral, textural and phenological approaches

Remote sensing image analysis is increasingly being used as a tool for mapping invasive plant species. Resulting distribution maps can be used to target management of early infestations and to model future invasion risk. Remote identification of invasive plants based on differences in spectral signatures is the most common approach, typically using hyperspectral data. But several studies have found that textural and phenological differences are also effective approaches for identifying invasive plants. I review examples of remote detection of invasive plants based on spectral, textural and phenological analysis and highlight circumstances where the different approaches are likely to be most effective. I also review sources and availability of remotely sensed data that could be used for mapping and suggest field data collection approaches that would support the analysis of remotely sensed data. Remote mapping of biological invasions remains a relatively specialized research topic, but the distinct cover, morphology and/or seasonality of many invaded versus native ecosystems suggests that more species could be detected remotely. Remote sensing can sometimes support early detection and rapid response directly, however, accurately detecting small, nascent populations is a challenge. However, even maps of heavily infested areas can provide a valuable tool for risk assessment by increasing knowledge about temporal and spatial patterns and predictors of invasion.
Systematic studies of modified vocalization: effects of speech rate and instatement style during metronome stimulation.

Purpose This study introduces a series of systematic investigations intended to clarify the parameters of the fluency-inducing conditions (FICs) in stuttering. Method Participants included 11 adult...
Differential reinforcement of specific lick rates in the rat

Lick rates in rats were differentially reinforced, using an operant conditioning procedure in which specific lick rates, when maintained for specific temporal durations, were reinforced with the opportunity to run in an activity wheel. This operant conditioning paradigm is referred to as differential reinforcement of high rates of responding (DRH). Between and within Ss, lick rate variability did not exceed one lick for all DRH conditions tested in which the time base was 1 sec or less. Specific momentary lick rates were successfully reinforced for all Ss tested, but DRH conditioning did not produce higher momentary lick rates than the range of lick-rate values normally observed in baseline conditions.
Research to operations

The process of transitioning new environmental satellite products and algorithms into operations is a challenging task. Within NOAA's Office of Research and Applications, this transition process is evolving to satisfy the more stringent algorithm requirements for the next generation of satellite users. Taking algorithm research into operations means modifying old processes to suit users' increased need for more accurate, reliable and timely remotely sensed products. At the same time, the entire end-to-end process must support the processing of more complex data, higher data volumes due to increased spatial resolution and improved monitoring latencies, increased satellite coverage, increased spectral bands, and multi-disciplinary products. The products and data also need meta-data about instrument status, shifts in product accuracy, and other information that affect product quality for today's increasingly sophisticated user. These needs are stretching traditional scientific research skills into multi-disciplinary tasks that require an understanding of processes not usually equated with scientific algorithm development and include instrument operation, systems engineering, information technology approaches, data fusion, data assimilation, and related capabilities. These added capabilities require new approaches, and skills, for dealing with this multifaceted problem. Steps for improving algorithm research to operations processes will be identified, discussed and compared to past methods.
SU-E-I-180: Simulation of Arterial First Pass and Recirculation Input Functions Using a Series of Related Gamma Variate Function

Purpose: Any tracer kinetic analysis requires an arterial input function (AIF) when the analysis is performed for quantitative measurements of concerned variables such as blood flow (BF) or blood volume (BV) as in the case of dynamic CT, PET or MR perfusion studies. The AIF is often measured at the middle cerebral artery (MCA) or only the first pass AIF is modeled using a single gamma variate function. However, the recirculating input, which is sometimes disregarded for the computational convenience or sometime modeled using too simplistic function (e.g. straight line), has not well been formulated. Here, a full AIF including recirculating input is modeled using a series of gamma variate functions that have related parameters, and the feasibility was tested by a computer simulation. Methods: The simulation was performed using an in‐house program developed in MATLAB. The shape of a gamma variate function was defined using two parameters (&#945;,&#61538;, reference). In addition, recirculation time (T) and fraction (f), i.e. the first arrival time and fraction after leaving the brain, were included in the simulation. A single recirculation was described as a related gamma variate function (reference), and the total recirculation was described as the sum of all related gamma variate functions. Results: The arterial input function, including the first pass and recirculating inputs, can be modeled using the sum of a series of related gamma variate functions. Conclusions: The arterial input function in its complete form can be modeled using a series of related gamma variate functions. From this modeling, the AIF can be described as its complete form, which might benefit the quantitative measurements of BF, BV or mean transit time (MTT) in those dynamic contrast based perfusion imaging technique such as in CT, PET or MRI.
Complex strict convexity of certain Banach spaces

Istratescu's characterization of complex strict convex (csc) Banach spaces is used to show that a modulared sum of a sequence ofcsc Banach spaces is again acsc Banach space. The equivalence of the Strong Maximum Modulus Property and complex strict convexity is used to show thatL 1(μ,X) iscsc whenX is (real) strictly convex and thatl 1(X n) iscsc if and only if eachX n iscsc.
New cyclic peptides from the ascidian Lissoclinum patella.

Four new cyclic peptides, patellamide G (2) and ulithiacyclamides E−G (3−5), along with the known patellamides A−C (6−8) and ulithiacyclamide B (9), were isolated from the ascidian Lissoclinum patella collected in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. The planar structures of these peptides were determined from 1D and 2D 1H and 13C NMR spectra. The absolute stereochemistries of the amino acid units, except for cysteine, were assigned by chiral GC analysis of N(O)-trifluoroacetyl isopropyl ester derivatives of amino acids obtained by acid hydrolysis of the intact and ozonized peptides. The structures of ulithiacyclamides E−G (3−5) were confirmed by chemical conversion. Patellamides B (7) and C (8) exhibited in vitro modulation of multidrug resistance in CEM/VBL100 cells.
Imaging Observations of Jupiter's Sodium Magneto-Nebula During the Ulysses Encounter

Jupiter's great sodium nebula represents the largest visible structure traversed by the Ulysses spacecraft during its encounter with the planet in February 1992. Ground-based imaging conducted on Mount Haleakala, Hawaii, revealed a nebula that extended to at least +/- 300 Jovian radii; it was somewhat smaller in scale and less bright than previously observed. Analysis of observations and results of modeling studies suggest reduced volcanic activity on the moon Io, higher ion temperatures in the plasma torus, lower total plasma content in the torus, and fast neutral atomic clouds along the Ulysses inbound trajectory through the magnetosphere. Far fewer neutrals were encountered by the spacecraft along its postencounter, out-of-ecliptic trajectory.
Treatment of hyperlipidemia in cardiac transplant recipients

Of the 60,000 patients receiving heart transplants between 1982 and 2001, approximately 12,000 are currently alive. The high incidence of hyperlipidemia and coronary disease (also known as accelerated graft atherosclerosis, or AGA) in these patients warrants early prophylaxis soon after transplantation with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG) Co-A reductase inhibitors (statins). Immunosuppressive agents such as prednisone, cyclosporine, mycophenylate mofetil, and sirolimus are associated with hyperlipidemia. Statins, in addition to lowering cholesterol levels, also benefit cardiac transplant recipients via effects on the immune system and endothelial function. Recent data have demonstrated that statins decrease AGA and mortality rates. Furthermore, greater benefits are seen when statins are started early. The 2 statins shown to decrease mortality in patients after cardiac transplantation are pravastatin and simvastatin, which differ in their metabolism (pravastatin is the only statin with non-cytochrome metabolism) and lipophilicity (pravastatin is less lipophilic). Although the benefit of simvastatin has been shown to extend to 8 years after transplantation, increased adverse effects in other studies with higher doses of simvastatin have resulted in new prescribing recommendations, which state that the dose of simvastatin should probably not exceed 10 mg with cyclosporine or gemfibrozil and 20 mg with amiodarone or verapamil. The evidence for potential benefits, interactions, and adverse effects of other potential lipid-lowering drugs for this patient population, such as fibrates, niacin, fish oil, cholestyramine, and ezetimibe, are also discussed. A summary algorithm is proposed, including approaches to patients with statin-associated musculoskeletal symptoms and patients with inadequate results after initial statin therapy.
Effects of Auditory Radio Interference on a Fine, Continuous, Open Motor Skill:

The effects of human speech on a fine, continuous, and open motor skill were examined. A tape of auditory human radio traffic was interjected into a tank gunnery simulator during each training session for 4 wk. of training for 3 hr. a week. The dependent variables were identification time, fire time, kill time, systems errors, and acquisition errors. These were measured by the Unit Conduct Of Fire Trainer (UCOFT). The interference was interjected into the UCOFT Tank Table VIII gunnery test. A Solomon four-group design was used. A 2 × 2 analysis of variance was used to assess whether interference gunnery training resulted in improvements in interference posttest scores. During the first three weeks of training, the interference group committed 106% more systems errors and 75% more acquisition errors than the standard group. The interference training condition was associated with a significant improvement from pre- to posttest of 44% in over-all UCOFT scores; however, when examined on the posttest the stand...
Regulation of the epithelial sodium channels by small G-proteins and phosphatidylinositides

The epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) plays a central role in control of epithelial surface hydration and vascular volume. ENaC activity in these epithelia is limiting for sodium reabsorption. Abnormalities in ENaC function have been linked to disorders of total body Na+ homeostasis, blood volume, blood pressure, and lung fluid balance. Recently, ion channels were recognized as physiologically important effectors of small GTP-binding proteins and phosphatidylinositides. We review here recent findings relevant to regulation of ENaC by small G proteins and phosphatidylinositides.
Prey of Deep-water Hydra in Lake Superior

Specimens of Hydra attached to a soft-substrate bottom were collected from a manned submersible at a 275-m-deep station near the Keweenaw Peninsula in Lake Superior. Near-bottom zoo-plankton were collected to assess Hydra feeding preference. We identified and counted the zooplankton samples, and identified the zooplankton prey found in the Hydra. Of 86 Hydra, 21 contained remains of 23 prey of 4 zooplankton taxa. Compared with expected numbers based on the proportions of the net samples, these Hydra appeared to be feeding selectively, with a preference for larger zooplankton. The large calanoid copepod Limnocalanus macrurus was particularly selected. A very provisional estimate of the rate of Hydra predation on the bottom of Lake Superior is one prey per 4 days. The relatively constant environmental conditions, lack of commensals and predators, and the zooplankton food source suggest that the bottom of Lake Superior is a stable habitat for Hydra.
Time-dependent effects of theophylline on myocardial reactive hyperaemias in the anaesthetized dog.

Abstract 1. The effects of a loading dose of theophylline (5 mg kg-1 i.v.) on the hyperaemias resulting from short-term (15 and 30 s) interruptions in coronary blood flow and intracoronary adenosine were studied at given intervals over a 2 h period in the anaesthetized dog. 2. These hyperaemic responses were affected differently by theophylline and each effect was time-dependent. The reactive hyperaemic response progressively decreased after drug delivery, reaching 46% of control at 2 h. In contrast, after a maximal attenuation to 23% of control 5 min after theophylline, the hyperaemia resulting from intracoronary adenosine progressively increased over the same period, reaching 64% of control 2 h after the loading dose. 3. Two-compartment model results based on plasma theophylline measurements and the time course of theophylline accumulation in pericardial infusates, suggested that complete drug distribution throughout the heart may require at least 20 min following a single intravenous dose. 4. If it is assumed that theophylline blocks coronary vascular adenosine receptors, these pharmacokinetics are consistent with the time-dependent pattern of response attenuation we observed for the adenosine-induced hyperaemias, but they cannot entirely explain the pattern of response attenuation observed for the occlusion-induced hyperaemias. The continued increase in attenuation of this response after complete drug distribution suggests an additional pharmacodynamic action of theophylline. 5. We conclude that a single therapeutic dose of theophylline results in distinct time-dependent pharmacological effects with respect to the ability of the coronary vasculature to dilate in response to temporary interruptions in oxygen supply and in response to exogenously administered adenosine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Scheduling of plant maintenance personnel

Given (i) a set of maintenance jobs to be processed over a fixed time horizon, (ii) the breakdown of each job into finite time intervals in which the skills required are known, and (iii) the pool of available manpower for each skill type over the horizon, we formulate and solve the problem of scheduling personnel and jobs to minimize personnel idle time, by integer programming.
Quantitative structure-retention relationships studies of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins on gas chromatographic stationary phases of varying polarity

Regression equations modeling gas chromatographic retention behaviour of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins were generated for non-polar, moderately polar, and polar stationary phases. Topological, electronic and geometrical structure-based descriptions were calculated and related to the molecules' retention behavior by using a variety of linear regression techniques. Descriptors focusing on the bridgehead carbons were also evaluated. Model validation techniques and outlier detection methods were integrated into the analyses. Two models with R > 0.999 and relative standard error < 1% were developed for the non-polar columns DB-5 and SP-2100. A moderately polar column, OV-1701, yielded a three-descriptor model with R = 0.996 and relative standard error = 1.1%, and a polar column, SP-2330, yielded a three-descriptor model with R = 0.988 and relative standard error = 1.0%.