cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Repetitive ser-gly sequences enhance heparan-sulfate assembly in proteoglycans

We showed previously that the synthesis of heparan sulfate on betaglycan occurs at a Ser-Gly dipeptide flanked by a cluster of acidic residues and an adjacent tryptophan (Zhang, L., and Esko, J. D.(1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 19295-19299). A survey of the protein data base revealed that most heparan sulfate proteoglycans contain repetitive (Ser-Gly)n segments (n ≥ 2) and a nearby cluster of acidic residues. To study the role of these amino acid sequences in controlling heparan sulfate synthesis, we have examined the assembly of glycosaminoglycans on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell syndecan-1. The glycosylation sites were mapped by making chimeric proteoglycans containing segments of CHO syndecan-1 cDNA fused to Protein A. Two sites near the transmembrane domain (-EGS205GEQ- and -ETS215GEN-) were used solely for chondroitin sulfate synthesis, whereas three sites near the N terminus (-DGS35GDDSDNFS45GS47GTG-) supported both heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate synthesis. The strongest sites for heparan sulfate synthesis consisted of the repeat unit, -S45GS47G-. An unusual coupling phenomenon occurred across the adjacent SG dipeptides, leading to a greater proportion of heparan sulfate than predicted by the behavior of each site acting independently. The clusters of acidic residues adjacent to the heparan sulfate sites play important roles as well. These sequence motifs suggest a set of rules for predicting whether heparan sulfate assembles at glycosylation sites in proteoglycan core proteins.
Host response to tissues placed in the anterior chamber of the eye: Demonstration of migration inhibition factor and serum blocking activity

Abstract Allograft immunity of rats to transplantation antigens was demonstrated by in vitro migration inhibition procedures. Spleen cell suspensions from rats sensitized to histocompatibility antigens by skin graft or anterior chamber implants failed to migrate normally in vitro when incubated in the presence of appropriate donor tissue extracts. Tissue grafts transplanted across both major and minor histocompatibility barriers had prolonged survival within the anterior chamber. However, 2 weeks after implantation, the recipient rats showed detectable sensitization to their implants. Serum from 14- to 32-day implant-bearing rats blocked the migration inhibition found in the implanted rats in the presence of corresponding tissue antigen. Such blocking activity was undetectable in the serum from rats which had implants for 7 days or after rejection of the implant was evident. MIF production in implanted and skin-grafted rats was evident at significantly different times in relation to the graft rejection. The asynchrony of MIF synthesis observed in these experimental animals leads us to postulate that the graft rejection and MIF production may be mediated by distinct lymphocyte populations. In addition, the route of the antigen presentation may account in part for the observed differences.
Wideband-tunable high-power radiation by SRS of a XeF(C to A) excimer laser

Efficient wavelength shifting by means of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) in hydrogen and liquid nitrogen of the blue-green XeF(C to A) excimer laser was demonstrated. Energy conversion into the first Stokes line with an efficiency of 38% was achieved. Continuously tunable radiation of 523-579 nm and of 578-650 nm with pulse energies ranging from 100 to 210 mJ was generated in liquid nitrogen and hydrogen, respectively. A peak power of 35 MW at 549.0 nm was obtained. >
Tensile Physiology: Measuring Force and Conduction in Peripheral Nerves Undergoing Controlled Stretch

Tensile loading is a common physiological condition for peripheral nerves, but can also induce pathologic effects upon electrophysiological conduction. Functional deficits resulting from nerve elongation are not thoroughly understood. Using a computerized micromanipulator, load cell, and grease gap- recording chamber, a new system for tensile electrophysiology is proposed and demonstrated. This paper examines the effects of tension on conduction through guinea pig sciatic nerves. Nerves were stretched at 0.15 mm/s to 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% beyond their physiological maximum. Results indicate minimal changes in conduction for 5% elongation. Further strain resulted in approximately linear increases in recorded force and decreases in conduction amplitude.
Severe obesity in children: prevalence, persistence and relation to hypertension.

Newer approaches for classifying gradations of pediatric obesity by level of body mass index (BMI) percentage above the 95th percentile have recently been recommended in the management and tracking of obese children. Examining the prevalence and persistence of severe obesity using such methods along with the associations with other cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension is important for characterizing the clinical significance of severe obesity classification methods. This retrospective study was conducted in an integrated healthcare delivery system to characterize obesity and obesity severity in children and adolescents by level of body mass index (BMI) percentage above the 95th BMI percentile, to examine tracking of obesity status over 2–3 years, and to examine associations with blood pressure. Moderate obesity was defined by BMI 100-119% of the 95th percentile and severe obesity by BMI ≥120% × 95th percentile. Hypertension was defined by 3 consecutive blood pressures ≥95th percentile (for age, sex and height) on separate days and was examined in association with obesity severity. Among 117,618 children aged 6–17 years with measured blood pressure and BMI at a well-child visit during 2007–2010, the prevalence of obesity was 17.9% overall and was highest among Hispanics (28.9%) and blacks (20.5%) for boys, and blacks (23.3%) and Hispanics (21.5%) for girls. Severe obesity prevalence was 5.6% overall and was highest in 12–17 year old Hispanic boys (10.6%) and black girls (9.5%). Subsequent BMI obtained 2–3 years later also demonstrated strong tracking of severe obesity. Stratification of BMI by percentage above the 95th BMI percentile was associated with a graded increase in the risk of hypertension, with severe obesity contributing to a 2.7-fold greater odds of hypertension compared to moderate obesity. Severe obesity was found in 5.6% of this community-based pediatric population, varied by gender and race/ethnicity (highest among Hispanics and blacks) and showed strong evidence for persistence over several years. Increasing gradation of obesity was associated with higher risk for hypertension, with a nearly three-fold increased risk when comparing severe to moderate obesity, underscoring the heightened health risk associated with severe obesity in children and adolescents.
Not Whether But When: The U.S. Decision to Enlarge NATO. By James M. Goldgeier. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press, 1999. 218p. $42.95 cloth, $18.95 paper.

James M. Goldgeier makes a major contribution to the contemporary case study literature concerning American foreign policy formation. Based on extensive interviews with more than 75 key participants (William Perry, Richard Holbrooke, John Shalikashvili, Leon Panetta, Anthony Lake, Strobe Talbott, and so forth), Goldgeier reconstructs a richly detailed account of the policy process that culminated in the decision to expand the NATO alliance eastward. The study illuminates the complex interplay of political considerations, bureaucratic interests, and individual preferences and skills (even chutzpah) that led to the admission of the first tier of new NATO member nations in Eastern/Central Europe.
The molecular clock of neutral evolution can be accelerated or slowed by asymmetric spatial structure.

Over time, a population acquires neutral genetic substitutions as a consequence of random drift. A famous result in population genetics asserts that the rate, K, at which these substitutions accumulate in the population coincides with the mutation rate, u, at which they arise in individuals: K = u. This identity enables genetic sequence data to be used as a “molecular clock” to estimate the timing of evolutionary events. While the molecular clock is known to be perturbed by selection, it is thought that K = u holds very generally for neutral evolution. Here we show that asymmetric spatial population structure can alter the molecular clock rate for neutral mutations, leading to either K u. Our results apply to a general class of haploid, asexually reproducing, spatially structured populations. Deviations from K = u occur because mutations arise unequally at different sites and have different probabilities of fixation depending on where they arise. If birth rates are uniform across sites, then K ≤ u. In general, K can take any value between 0 and Nu. Our model can be applied to a variety of population structures. In one example, we investigate the accumulation of genetic mutations in the small intestine. In another application, we analyze over 900 Twitter networks to study the effect of network topology on the fixation of neutral innovations in social evolution.
Laboratory-Based Maximum Slip Rates in Earthquake Rupture Zones and Radiated Energy

Laboratory stick-slip friction experiments indicate that peak slip rates increase with the stresses loading the fault to cause rupture. If this applies also to earthquake fault zones, then the analysis of rupture processes is simplified inasmuch as the slip rates depend only on the local yield stress and are independent of factors specific to a particular event, including the distribution of slip in space and time. We test this hypothesis by first using it to develop an expression for radiated energy that depends primarily on the seismic moment and the maximum slip rate. From laboratory results, the maximum slip rate for any crustal earthquake, as well as various stress parameters including the yield stress, can be determined based on its seismic moment and the maximum slip within its rupture zone. After finding that our new equation for radiated energy works well for laboratory stick-slip friction experiments, we used it to estimate radiated energies for five earthquakes with magnitudes near 2 that were induced in a deep gold mine, an M 2.1 repeating earthquake near the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (SAFOD) site and seven major earthquakes in California and found good agreement with energies estimated independently from spectra of local and regional ground-motion data. Estimates of yield stress for the earthquakes in our study range from 12 MPa to 122 MPa with a median of 64 MPa. The lowest value was estimated for the 2004 M 6 Parkfield, California, earthquake whereas the nearby M 2.1 repeating earthquake, as recorded in the SAFOD pilot hole, showed a more typical yield stress of 64 MPa.
Adaptive filtering algorithms for promoting sparsity

We provide a mathematical framework for developing adaptive filtering algorithms for exploiting/enforcing sparsity. The approach is based on minimizing a regularized mean squared error criterion with sparsity being promoted by the regularizing term which consists of a diversity measure. A steepest descent algorithm (SDA) is developed to minimize the regularized cost function. Then we extend the algorithm to the adaptive environment and develop a class of algorithms, which we term the pLMS algorithm class and which incudes important variants - pLLMS (leaky pLMS) and pNLMS (normalized pLMS). The framework is quite general and encompasses a broad range of adaptive algorithms with the pNLMS having similarity with the proportionate normalized least-mean-squares (PNLMS) algorithm. Computer simulations have been conducted using the echo canceller application as an example of a sparse environment. The simulations clearly show the ability of the developed algorithms to exploit the inherent sparsity structure, thereby outperforming conventional algorithms like the NLMS algorithm in this application.
Connochaetes taurinus albojubatus (White-bearded gnu)

Skin biopsies of one male and one female animal were kindly provided by the Zoological Parks of San Diego and San Francisco, respectively. Pairing is arbitrary but preliminary G-banding of the male suggests it can be achieved with better preparations. The X and the Y were identified by autoradiography. The karyotype is essentially the same as that of the white-tailed gnu (Connochaetes gnou, Folio 292) and of the blue wildebeest (brindled gnu, Connochaetes (Gorgon) taurinus taurinus; Gerneke 1967). The latter will therefore not be depicted in this Atlas.
Influence of male gonadal hormones and familiarity on pregnancy interruption in prairie voles.

Abstract Pregnancy interruption (PI) was examined in female prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster, exposed to stimuli from males 7 to 12 days after pairing. Urine from unfamiliar males interrupted pregnancy when placed directly on the external nares of newly mated females, but urine from familiar stud males was without effect. Castration of males did not reduce the efficacy of unfamiliar male urine in interrupting pregnancy. The neuroendocrine system of female prairie voles responded selectively to male urine as a function of its familiarity; the efficacy of male stimuli leading to PI was not dependent on gonadal hormones.
Socio-Economic Aspects of Ion Beam Therapy

Ion beam therapy (IBT) has the promise to improve outcome in cancer patients. IBT facilities are more expensive to build and maintain as compared to conventional radiotherapy facilities. There have been relatively few economic analyses comparing IBT to conventional radiotherapy. Some have argued for randomized clinical trial data prior to adopting IBT as standard of care because of the greater incremental cost without similar improvement in outcome.
Alternative Forms of Mortgage Finance: What Can We Learn From Other Countries?

There were impressive gains in low income and minority rates of homeownership. The system was characterized by low mortgage interest rates, robust competition, particularly from non-bank lenders, buoyant house prices and low default rates. While the government role was significant, the major government supported institutions were losing market share. There were, however, ample warning signals that this rosy picture was about to end. Affordability was falling, concerns about predatory lending abounded, delinquencies in subprime lending were rising and numerous commentators warned of unsustainable house prices. Fast forward to the 2007-2010 time period. Mortgage originations, while still relatively high by historical standards, are down significantly and only prime borrowers can obtain loans. The homeownership rate has fallen to 67.4 percent erasing all the gains since 2000. Conforming mortgage rates are relatively low but spreads to Treasury rates and non-conforming rates are much higher. There is reduced competition as most non-bank lenders have failed and the large banks dominate the market. House prices have been falling for three years and are off more than 30 percent nationwide. The country is experiencing record post-war default and foreclosure rates. The government role has expanded considerably – in fact the government backs nearly all mortgage lending. There is considerable uncertainty about when the recovery in the housing and mortgage markets will begin. The economic recession that was sparked by the implosion of the U.S. subprime mortgage has been global in dimension. As such it has affected the housing and mortgage markets of many countries. Most developed countries had also experienced robust growth in their housing and mortgage markets during the first half of the decade. Many countries experienced record levels of house price inflation, increased competition and relaxed mortgage underwriting. But no major developed market has experienced the severity of the house price decline, rate of mortgage default and foreclosure and change in its mortgage finance system as the US. What have these countries done differently? This paper will review the major characteristics and performance of a number of OECD country mortgage markets. The paper will compare and contrast the structure, principal features and performance of the primary and secondary market with that of the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Improving Patient Satisfaction in a Midsize Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Outpatient Clinic

Patient satisfaction was improved in a mid-size pediatric hematology-oncology outpatient clinic by implementing provider- and staff-driven initiatives.
Increasingly Complex Rules for the Alternative Tax on Capital Gain

Professor Steven C. Dilley reviews the complex rules for the alternative tax on net long-term capital gain for 2001 and calls for simplification.
Percentage Utilization and Supplementary Relationships of Certain Protein Concentrates in Semi-Purified Basal Diets for Growing Chickens

Abstract RELATIVELY little information is available on the nutritive value of protein in protein-rich feeds when fed singly and in combination as practically the sole source of protein in the diet of growing chickens. In the case of rats, fundamental studies on protein have led to many important discoveries with regard to the essential and non-essential amino acids required for maintenance and growth. Biological values also have been determined with rats in evaluating many of the proteins from single sources as well as their supplementary values when fed in various combinations. Recent information reviewed by Almquist (1941) indicates that the amino acid requirements of the chick may be different from those of the rat and that data obtained in the evaluation of protein with rats cannot be applied unqualifiedly to the chick. The lack of fundamental knowledge on the nutritive value of proteins for chickens is due partly to the lack . . .
Underwater Superoleophobic Surfaces Prepared from Polymer Zwitterion/Dopamine Composite Coatings

Hydration is central to mitigating surface fouling by oil and microorganisms. Immobilization of hydrophilic polymers on surfaces promotes retention of water and a reduction of direct interactions with potential foulants. While conventional surface modification techniques are surface-specific, mussel-inspired adhesives based on dopamine effectively coat many types of surfaces and thus hold potential as a universal solution to surface modification. Here, we describe a facile, one-step surface modification strategy that affords hydrophilic, and underwater superoleophobic, coatings by the simultaneous deposition of polydopamine (PDA) with poly(methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (polyMPC). The resultant composite coating features enhanced hydrophilicity (i.e., water contact angle of ~10° in air) and antifouling performance relative to PDA coatings. PolyMPC affords control over coating thickness and surface roughness, and results in a nearly 10 fold reduction in Escherichia coli adhesion relative to unmodified glass. The substrate-independent nature of PDA coatings further promotes facile surface modification without tedious surface pretreatment, and offers a robust template for codepositing polyMPC to enhance biocompatibility, hydrophilicity and fouling resistance.
Robotic Simulation Experiments Demonstrating Docking Proximity Operations and Contact Dynamics

Hardware-in-the-loop experiments with realistic emulation of the performance of aerospace systems for the evaluation of Guidance, Navigation, and Control techniques have the potential to improve the reliability, while reducing the development cost associated with experimental systems and methods. The Land, Air, and Space Robotics Laboratory (LASR) has been investigating methods for experimentally evaluating missions involving proximity operations and contact dynamics. To provide the capability for these experiments two robotic systems have been developed, the Holonomic Omni-directional Motion Emulation Robot (HOMER) and the Suspended Target Emulation Pendulum (STEP). This paper contains a brief description of these two robotic motion emulation platforms, discusses the potential experimental use of these systems, and presents preliminary experimental results using the STEP system in conjunction with HOMER simulating a impact event between a capture vehicle and a defunct upper stage rocket booster.
Immunological Studies of Duck Myoglobin

SummaryPurified duck myoglobin was prepared by ammonium sulfate precipitation and ion-exchange chromatography. Its sedimentation constant was estimated to be approximately 1.75. A specific precipitating antiserum to duck myoglobin was prepared in rabbits. This antiserum did not form precipitates with duck plasma, hemoglobin, liver extract or with components of crude muscle extracts other than myoglobin. No immunologic differences were detectable between duck cardiac or skeletal muscle myoglobin, and none were noted between myoglobins of goose, duck, or chicken present in muscle extracts. Chicken pectoral muscle lacked myoglobin. Precipitin data suggest that three regions on the duck myoglobin molecule act as combining sites or determinants for the rabbit serum. The myoglobin content of several avian muscles was measured immunologically. Skeletal muscle of newly hatched ducklings was deficient in myoglobin content, while cardiac muscle of these immature birds contained almost one-half the adult amount 2 da...
Linking Multicultural Counseling and Social Justice Through Advocacy

The concepts of multicultural counseling, social justice, and advocacy may be utilized without a clear sense of how best to operationalize them in counselor training. In this article, the authors offer a perspective on how advocacy and social justice interrelate and share strategies for infusing advocacy into counselor training to achieve social justice goals. The authors provide six experiential activities counselor educators may use to provide counselors-in-training experience in a range of advocacy skills.
Co7Se8 Nanostructures as Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction with High Methanol Tolerance

Co7Se8 nanostructures electrodeposited on glassy carbon (GC) electrodes show high efficiency for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) with high methanol tolerance as compared to Pt electrocatalysts. In the presence of methanol, the onset potential for the ORR at Pt/GC is shifted from 0.931 V (vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)) to 0.801 V (vs RHE), whereas it remains the same (0.811 V vs RHE) at Co7Se8/GC in the presence and absence of methanol in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution. The Co7Se8/GC electrodes also showed high cyclability in the presence of methanol, with no degradation of catalytic performance. It is also noteworthy that the Co7Se8/GC exhibited exclusively a four-electron reduction pathway for ORR and very low H2O2 yield in acidic electrolyte. The admirable performance of Co7Se8/GC catalyst along with its cost-effective nature holds great potential for application in direct methanol fuel cells.
Community College Faculty: Attitudes toward Guns on Campus.

ABSTRACTThis exploratory research surveyed faculty who instruct in community colleges from 18 states about their attitudes toward the concealed carry gun policies that allow appropriately licensed citizens to carry a handgun in public places such as college campuses. Building upon previous research involving 4-year institutions, we surveyed 1,889 community college faculty who work in states that allow some flexibility in determining concealed carry policies and practices. Descriptive statistics, background characteristics, exposure to the use and ownership of firearms, and attitudinal questions about safety concerns, victimization history, and opinions about allowing concealed carry on community college campuses were analyzed. Our analyses revealed that the majority of community college faculty felt safe on their campuses, were not supportive of having students, faculty, or visitors conceal carry on their campuses, and they believed anyone granted a concealed carry permit should have to first pass a firea...
Investigation of cerebrospinal fluid nitric oxide and endothelin 1 levels in neonatal anoxic ischemic encephalopath.

Objective To study the change of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) nitric oxide(NO) and endothelin 1 (ET 1) levels in neonatal hypocic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE),and explore the role of NO and ET 1 in pathogenesis of neonatal HIE and the relationship of each other. Methods CSF NO and ET 1 levels were measured in 24 newborn infants with HIE,and 8 neonates served as controls. Results CSF NO and ET 1 levels were much higher in newborn infants with HIE compared with the control group( P 0.05);and the severe,and the moderate HIE higher than the mild HIE( P 0.05);CSF ET 1 levels were significantly elevated in HIE of abnormal CT,in comparison with the normal CT group( P 0.01). Conclusion NO and ET 1 are significant to the pathgeresis of neonatal HIE.CSF NO and ET 1 levels are the important index for brain damage.
Liver transplantation for chronic hepatitis C viral infection.

SUMMARY HCV infection is a common cause of both liver disease in patients undergoing liver transplantation and postoperative damage to the allograft. Emerging techniques to diagnose this infection have enabled us to understand the relation between pretransplantation and post-transplantation infection and to study the consequences of infection in these immunocompromised patients. The use of anti-HCV-positive donors is highly controversial and will remain so until the natural history of post-transplantation HCV infection is known. Study of the relation between histologic damage and levels of HCV replication will likely provide insights into the biology of this virus and mechanisms of hepatic damage.
Zinc concentration and progestin receptor in human benign hyperplastic prostate.

AbstractThe effect of cationic zinc on the specific binding of the synthetic progestin, promegestone (17α-21-dimethyl-19-nor-pregna-4,9-diene-3,20-dione, R5020), has been investigated in cytosols from human benign hyperplastic prostate. Zinc was analyzed using flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. Progestin specific binding was assayed using sucrose density gradient centrifugation in a vertical tube rotor. The concentration of endogenous zinc in benign hyperplastic prostate cytosols was 0.53mM ± 0.26 (range 0.15mM to 0.88mM). No significant relationship was observed between zinc concentration in cytosols and the amount of progestin specific binding in the 7-8S peak in sucrose density gradients. Addition of excess zinc to cytosols (1.6mM) in the presence or absence of monothioglycerol had no effect on the total amount of 7-8S progestin specific binding observed. Removal of free zinc by gel filtration of cytosols on Sephadex G-25 did not change the amount of 7-8S cytosolic receptor binding observed. The...
The Energy of Data

The energy of data is the value of a real function of distances between data in metric spaces. The name energy derives from Newton's gravitational potential energy, which is also a function of distances between physical objects. One of the advantages of working with energy functions (energy statistics) is that even if the data are complex objects, such as functions or graphs, we can use their real-valued distances for inference. Other advantages are illustrated and discussed in this review. Concrete examples include energy testing for normality, energy clustering, and distance correlation. Applications include genome studies, brain studies, and astrophysics. The direct connection between energy and mind/observations/data in this review is a counterpart of the equivalence of energy and matter/mass in Einstein's E=mc2.
Efficacy of Ketogenic Diet Again Re-Visited

A prospective multicenter study of the efficacy of the ketogenic diet in treatment of 51 children with intractable seizures is reported from 6 large institutions, including Johns Hopkins, Montefiore and Boston, USA, and Halifax, Canada, and 1 private practice setting.
Undignified Dignity: Using Humor to Manage the Stigma of Mental Illness and Homelessness

Research on stigma has generally focused on either how stigmatized individuals manage their stigmatizing traits, how stigmatizing messages are communicated, or on how education and contact campaigns reduce the degree of stigma. This article seeks to expand on the communication stigma literature by arguing that stigmatized and unstigmatized individuals are able to co-manage stigmatizing traits through the cocreation of a culture of individualized dignity. Specifically, this ethnographic study examines the use of humor at a homeless shelter that caters to individuals with severe mental illness to create a culture of “undignified dignity.” The findings highlight how even complex stigmas may be ameliorated through a focus on dignity as a bridging medium between stigmatized and unstigmatized individuals.
Visual Discrimination in the Cat As a Function of Test Item Complexity and Method of Training

Three experiments were performed to determine the effect of figure complexity on discrimination performance. In Experiment 1, domestic cats were trained using a successive training method to discriminate vertical mirror image pairs of asymmetric 4-, 8-, and 12-sided figures. In Experiment 2, the same subjects were trained using a concurrent training method to discriminate novel pairs of figures similar to those of Experiment 1. Test results from both experiments showed that (a) visual discrimination performance of the cat was facilitated with test items of greater figure complexity and (b) the concurrent training method was more efficient. In Experiment 3, experimentally naive cats were trained using a concurrent training method to discriminate seven test item pairs. The test items were vertical mirror image pairs of asymmetric 4-, 8-, 12-, 16-, and 22-sided figures as well as horizontal versus vertical stripes and upright versus inverted equilateral triangles. Percentages of correct performance for the figures composed an inverted U function with a peak at the 8-sided figure pair. Furthermore, supportive evidence was found for the common assumption that equilateral triangle and stripe discriminations are relatively easy tasks for the cat.
MULTIMODALITY NON-INVASIVE ASSESSMENT OF TRICUSPID REGURGITATION: COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT IMAGING PARAMETERS

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is increasingly recognized as a significant predictor of adverse cardiovascular events. With the emergence of various interventional options, an accurate quantification of TR becomes fundamental for decision-making. In this study we aim to compare echocardiographic (echo
Health and Health Access Among Urban Immigrants

It has been estimated that the U.S. has almost 34.5 million immigrants, comprising 8% of its population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2002), and that, on average, an additional three quarters to a million new immigrants enter the country each year. Census data indicate that between 1990 and 2000, the U.S. attracted 27% of the world’s migrants (U.S. Census Bureau, 2002). A portion of these individuals enter with permanent resident status (“green card” or mica holders), by virtue of their relationship to a U.S. citizen spouse, parent, child, or sibling or a permanent resident spouse or child or on the basis of a specified employment offer, enabling them to remain and work in the United States indefinitely. In 2002 alone, a total of 1,064,318 individuals received permanent resident status in the U.S. (Office of Immigration Statistics, 2003). Others enter on a temporary basis as legal nonimmigrants, holding statuses as students, tourists, journalists, sports players, and so on. Still others enter seeking refuge in the form of asylum from persecution due to their religion, political beliefs, nationality, or membership in a social group. For many, the process of gaining legal admission is not an easy one. In recent years, the process has been rendered increasingly difficult as a result of visa quotas that result in extended delays to obtain a permanent resident status, income requirements excluding from the U.S. persons earning below a certain income level, healthrelated criteria barring individuals with certain conditions, such as HIV infection, sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, and certain mental illnesses, among others from entering, and fears of terrorism, resulting in the exclusion of those who may have any connection to groups viewed suspiciously. Yet another portion of these individuals, known variously as “undocumented” or “illegal,” enter without legal authorization, often in search of a better life for themselves and their families. These individuals are at particularly high risk of
Automated cognitive modeling

In this paper we describe an approach to automating the construction of cognitive process models. We make two psychological assumptions: that cognition can be modeled as a production system, and that cognitive behavior involves search through some problem space. Within this framework, we employ a problem reduction approach to constructing cognitive models, in which one begins with a set of independent, overly general condition-action rules, adds appropriate conditions to each of these rules, and then recombines the more specific rules into a final model. Conditions arc determined using a discrimination learning method, which requires a set of positive and negative instances for each rule. These instances are based on inferred solution paths that lead to the same answers as those observed in a human subject. We have implemented ACM, a cognitive modeling system that incorporates these methods and applied the system to error data from the domain of multi-column subtraction problems.
Seizures in Elderly Patients With Dementia: Epidemiology and Management

Epileptic seizures occur in patients with dementia at a higher prevalence than among healthy elderly individuals. The incidence of seizures among patients with dementia varies with the aetiology of the dementing illness. In patients with Alzheimer's disease (the most common form of dementia), approximately 10-22% have at least one unprovoked seizure. Seizures usually occur in later stages of Alzheimer's disease, on average, > or =6 years into the course of the disease. Seizures in Alzheimer's disease are more likely to occur with early-onset disease, particularly if there is a familial presenilin I mutation. The incidence of seizures in other dementing diseases is less clear. There are special considerations regarding the management of seizures in the elderly with dementia. First, the presence of cognitive impairment may impede an accurate diagnosis of seizures. Clinicians may also mistake seizure manifestations for symptoms of the underlying dementia. Second, since most dementia patients are elderly, there are pharmacokinetic changes with aging that affect the use of antiepileptic drugs. Third, antiepileptic drugs have potential cognitive adverse effects that may worsen dementia. Although few studies are available, extrapolations from research in young people and elderly patients without dementia provide several recommendations for the management of seizures in patients with dementia: exclude symptomatic causes of seizures before committing to antiepileptic drug therapy; treat after a first seizure if there is evidence of focal neurological involvement or a risk of recurrent seizures; use antiepileptic drugs with minimal cognitive adverse effects, such as carbamazepine, valproic acid, gabapentin and lamotrigine; and use the lowest possible dosage and monitor antiepileptic drug levels, where possible.
Optimization and maintenance of soluble methane monooxygenase activity in Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b

Soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) maximization studies were carried out as part of a larger effort directed towards the development and optimization of an aqueous phase, multistage, membrane bioreactor system for treatment of polluted groundwater. A modified version of the naphthalene oxidation assay was utilized to determine the effects of methane:oxygen ratio, nutrient supply, and supplementary carbon sources on maximizing and maintaining sMMO activity inMethylosinus trichosporium OB3b.Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b attained peak sMMO activity (275–300 nmol of naphthol formed h−1 mg of protein−1 at 25°C) in early stationary growth phase when grown in nitrate mineral salts (NMS) medium. With the onset of methane limitation however, sMMO activity rapidly declined. It was possible to define a simplified nitrate mineral salts (NMS) medium, containing nitrate, phosphate and a source of iron and magnesium, which allowed reasonably high growth rates (μmax 0.08 h−1) and growth yields (0.4–0.5 g cells/g CH4) and near maximal activities of sMMO. In long term batch culture incubations sMMO activity reached a stable plateau at approximately 45–50% of the initial peak level and this was maintained over several weeks. The addition of d-biotin, pyridoxine, and vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) increased the activity level of sMMO in actively growing methanotrophs by 25–75%. The addition of these growth factors to the simplified NMS medium was found to increase the plateau sMMO level in long term batch cultures up to 70% of the original peak activity.
Yoginīs in the Flesh: Power, Praxis, and the Embodied Feminine Divine

The word yoginī is an ambivalent term, generally defined as a female yogin. For the purposes of the University of Hawai′i′s Center for South Asian Studies’ Symposium on the Ineffable in Religion and Ritual, I envisioned the ambivalence of the yoginī as characterized by semantic ineffability. This ineffability is seen in the divergence of definitions and descriptions of the yoginī in text and ethnography. The tantras portray her as flying, blood thirsty, and the object of tantric sex rites; she is rarely portrayed as a yoga practitioner. Human yoginīs in India, by in contrast, often identify themselves as sannyāsinī (renunciate), practice some form of yoga, and are often celibate. To address the question of why textual and human yoginīs bear little in common, I render a polythetic definition of the yoginī by first looking at the many modes of definition and classification used to render meaning of the concepts that are integral to the formation of the yoginī. I then problematize the categorical construction of the yoginī and the disjunction between textual references to the yoginī in tantras of the Vidyāpīṭha (“Wisdom Mantra Corpus” or “Seat of Wisdom”), the Śaiva and Śākta Purāṇas, and ethnographic accounts of embodied yoginīs. These three sources, which emerge from various sectarian, historical, and social milieus offer interrelated yet distinct descriptions of the yoginī and as such provide a broad base of signification upon which to render a polythetic definition.
Effect of Chronic Ethanol Administration on Adenyl Cyclase and Cyclic 3′,5′-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterase Activities of Mouse Brain

Adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) has been implicated as an intracellular mediator of the action of a large number of amine and polypeptide hormones (Robison et al. 1968).
Designing Knowledge Sharing Interfaces with Improved Interaction: Haptics and Web3D

As human beings, from an early age, learning and discovery are enabled by senses: visually exploring the 3D world around, holding and touching objects or listening to others and asking questions. In a traditional education environment, training setup or collaborative work, the majority of the interaction modalities and written materials are still designed for a 2D visual space (e.g., books, course web pages, articles, videos, and images). With the rapid advances in technology, new interaction modalities become widely available and have the potential to improve, and often revolutionize the way we interact, learn and cooperate with each other. The chapter explores new interaction paradigms and systems enabling the shift from a 2D visual space to 3D user interfaces, as well as the addition of a new interaction modality, the tactile or touch modality, through haptic user interfaces. The International Standards Organization’s extended 3D (X3D) open standard provides a considerable opportunity to design and implement innovative and revolutionary Web-based interfaces to support and augment engineering courses and design activities. Haptics devices and associated APIs are enabling a revolution in engineering interaction design and engineering education. Several use-cases and example Web3D applications are presented to provide an overview of the existing trends. A concise presentation of the human tactile system, followed by a survey on current haptics hardware accompanied by several successful implementations for engineering education, highlights the near future trends.
To Glue or Not to Glue? Analysis of Fibrin Glue for Split-thickness Skin Graft Fixation.

Background Split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) is a commonly used tool in the plastic surgeon's reconstructive armamentarium. Fibrin glue (FG) consists of a combination of clotting factors and thrombin whose key properties include adherence and hemostasis. This preliminary study aimed to assess clinical outcomes and cost of FG for STSG fixation in a general wound reconstruction. Methods A retrospective review was conducted in all patients undergoing STSG placement by a single surgeon (JPF) from January 2016 to March 2018. Twenty patients were identified and matched by wound location and wound size. Patients were then divided into 2 groups based on the method of STSG fixation: FG (n = 10) or suture only (SO) (n = 10). Results In patients with FG fixation, we observed trends of decreased adjusted operative times (34.9 versus 49.4 minutes, P = 0.612), a similar length of stay (2.8 versus 3.5 days, P = 0.306), and liberation from the use of negative pressure wound therapy (0 versus 10 wounds, P < 0.0001). There were no observed differences between the 2 groups in terms of graft-related complications at 180 days (1 complication FG versus 0 complications SO). Time to 100% graft take was also not different (20.2 versus 29.4 days, P = 0.405). Additionally, total direct cost ($16,542 FG versus $24,266 SO; P = 0.545) and total charges ($120,336 FG versus $183,750 SO; P = 0.496) were not statistically different between the FG and SO groups. Conclusions In this preliminary comparative assessment, FG for STSG fixation has shown no difference in clinical outcomes to SO fixation, trends of decreased operative time, and afforded complete liberation from negative pressure wound therapy dressings.
Precious Time: The Role of Time and Temporal Thought in Managing Death Awareness

Abstract Humans have the cognitive capability to comprehend the passage of time. With this temporal understanding comes the awareness that death is inevitable. This chapter discusses the link between temporal consciousness and mortality awareness from the perspective of terror management theory. First, we review evidence that reminders of the passage of time arouse death-related thoughts and that the threat of death motivates people to avoid reminders of the passage of time. Second, we consider the ways in which temporal awareness is implicated in managing the threat of death awareness. Specifically, we review research that people manage the potential for death-related anxiety by structuring time to make its progression feel more certain and purposeful, by engaging in mental time travel to gain a sense that life is meaningful and significant, and by embracing the present to focus on internally rewarding experiences.
Use of reactive nanostructured chemicals for refinement of Si eutectic in an aluminum casting alloy

Trisilanol phenyl polyhedral silsesquioxane (phenyl TSP) was added to a commercial aluminum alloy, AlSi10MnMg, to investigate its influence on microstructure, mechanical properties, and solidification behavior. Addition of phenyl TSP was successful in refining the morphology of the eutectic Si into an ultrafine lamellar structure. Furthermore, this refined as-cast morphology can be obtained even when the molten aluminum alloy was held for 96 h in a furnace set at around 1000 K. This no fading phenomenon is of a significant processing benefit to the current use of Sr for refining the eutectic morphology. The ductility of phenyl TSP-refined AlSi10MnMg alloy was consistent with Sr-modified alloy at room, 423 K, and 573 K elevated temperature while maintaining similar strength. Cooling curve analysis showed the Al–Si eutectic arrest temperatures during solidification were decreased with the phenyl TSP addition, suggesting phenyl TSP bonds with Al to slow down the Al segregation from Al–Si melt during the eutectic reaction, leading to the microstructural refinement of Al–Si eutectic.
Crystal structures of four dimeric manganese(II) bromide coordination complexes with various derivatives of pyridine N-oxide.

Four manganese(II) bromide coordination complexes have been prepared with four pyridine N-oxides, viz. pyridine N-oxide (PNO), 2-methyl­pyridine N-oxide (2MePNO), 3-methyl­pyridine N-oxide (3MePNO), and 4-methyl­pyridine N-oxide (4MePNO). The compounds are bis­(μ-pyridine N-oxide)bis­[aqua­dibromido­(pyridine N-oxide)manganese(II)], [Mn2Br4(C5H5NO)4(H2O)2] (I), bis­(μ-2-methyl­pyridine N-oxide)bis­[di­aqua­dibromido­manganese(II)]–2-methyl­pyridine N-oxide (1/2), [Mn2Br4(C6H7NO)2(H2O)4]·2C6H7NO (II), bis­(μ-3-methyl­pyridine N-oxide)bis­[aqua­dibromido­(3-methyl­pyridine N-oxide)manganese(II)], [Mn2Br4(C6H7NO)4(H2O)2] (III), and bis­(μ-4-methyl­pyridine N-oxide)bis­[di­bromido­methanol(4-methyl­pyridine N-oxide)manganese(II)], [Mn2Br4(C6H7NO)4(CH3OH)2] (IV). All the compounds have one unique MnII atom and form a dimeric complex that contains two MnII atoms related by a crystallographic inversion center. Pseudo-octa­hedral six-coordinate manganese(II) centers are found in all four compounds. All four compounds form dimers of Mn atoms bridged by the oxygen atom of the PNO ligand. Compounds I, II and III exhibit a bound water of solvation, whereas compound IV contains a bound methanol mol­ecule of solvation. Compounds I, III and IV exhibit the same arrangement of mol­ecules around each manganese atom, ligated by two bromide ions, oxygen atoms of two PNO ligands and one solvent mol­ecule, whereas in compound II each manganese atom is ligated by two bromide ions, one O atom of a PNO ligand and two water mol­ecules with a second PNO mol­ecule inter­acting with the complex via hydrogen bonding through the bound water mol­ecules. All of the compounds form extended hydrogen-bonding networks, and compounds I, II, and IV exhibit offset π-stacking between PNO ligands of neighboring dimers.
Prototype Resilient Command and Control (C2) of C2 Architecture for Power Outage Mitigation

Distribution utilities within the energy ecosystem have struggled with implementing more resilient architectures amidst new resilience compliance mandates. Their traditional command and control (C2) architectures are hierarchical in nature, so the challenge is to transition to more resilient architectures, which will continue to provide requisite capabilities amidst system failures, anthropogenically-induced failures, and nature-induced failures. This paper presents a pilot case study of a mission-critical system, which utilizes a unique C2 of C2 architecture to successfully incorporate certain resiliency qualities. Accordingly, it is found that an elastic architecture, with concomitant elastic continuous function underpinnings, can prove invaluable for resilient C2 of C2 architectures.
A Determinant Proof of a Generalized Pythagorean Theorem

A generalized Pythagorean theorem is an equation relating the squares of the volumes of faces of a particular k-simplex in n-dimensional Euclidean space. There are many proofs of this theorem. This...