cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spatio-temporal network analysis for studying climate patterns

A fast, robust and scalable methodology to examine, quantify, and visualize climate patterns and their relationships is proposed. It is based on a set of notions, algorithms and metrics used in the study of graphs, referred to as complex network analysis. The goals of this approach are to explain known climate phenomena in terms of an underlying network structure and to uncover regional and global linkages in the climate system, while comparing general circulation models outputs with observations. The proposed method is based on a two-layer network representation. At the first layer, gridded climate data are used to identify “areas”, i.e., geographical regions that are highly homogeneous in terms of the given climate variable. At the second layer, the identified areas are interconnected with links of varying strength, forming a global climate network. This paper describes the climate network inference and related network metrics, and compares network properties for different sea surface temperature reanalyses and precipitation data sets, and for a small sample of CMIP5 outputs.
Nature of nicotine binding to rat brain P2 fraction

(−)-Nicotine may bind to as many as 5 sites in the rat brain P2 preparation: A very high affinity site (KD∼2.2×10−11 M); a positive cooperativity site; a high affinity site (KD∼5.2×10−9 M); a low affinity site (KD∼4.5×10−5 M) and a very low affinity site. The curvilinear nature of both Scatchard plots and kinetic curves indicates the presence of multiple binding sites. Evidence for a positive cooperativity site includes: (1) The configuration of Scatchard plots (at low concentrations) of saturation as well as inhibition curves for (−)- and (+)-nicotine. (2) The Hill number of 1.37 for the binding of low concentrations of (±)-[3H]nicotine. (3) Selectivity among cholinergic drugs for producing positive cooperativity. (4) Markedly different specificities of drugs for the positive cooperativity site. Thus while only (+)- and (−)-nicotine interacted with the very high affinity site, acetylcholine, atropine, mecamylamine, lobeline, carbachol, (+)-nicotine and (−)-nicotine enhanced the binding of (±)-[3H]nicotine and cytisine, anabasine, cotinine and choline selectively inhibited binding at the high affinity site. Several lines of evidence indicate that there is stereospecificity. (+)-Nicotine was more potent than (−)-nicotine in inducing positive cooperativity whereas (−)-nicotine was 80 times more potent than (+)-nicotine in inhibiting binding at the high affinity site. Further, the specificity of the binding sites can be altered by changing the concentration of the buffer which gives additional evidence for the lability of the nicotine binding site. Although the pharmacologic significance of the different binding sites has not been determined, these data taken together indicate that (±)-[3H]nicotine binds with specificity to multiple sites in the rat brain P2 preparation with a complexity not addressed heretofore.
Incidence of myelodysplastic syndromes in patients receiving concurrent myelosuppressive chemotherapy and pegfilgrastim

Background. The World Health Organization classifies myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) as a group of hematologic malignancies where at least one myeloid lineage contains ≥10% cells with myelodysplasia. Therapy-related MDS (t-MDS) may result from treatment with myelosuppressive chemotherapy and/or radiation. Myeloid growth factors, such as pegfilgrastim, have also been investigated as a possible risk factor for development of t-MDS. National guidelines and myeloid growth factor prescribing information recommend administering myeloid growth factors after a minimum of 24 h following myelosuppressive chemotherapy. Some evidence suggests that administering myeloid growth factors and myelosuppressive chemotherapy concurrently may increase the risk of developing t-MDS.Objective. To evaluate the incidence of t-MDS in patients who received pegfilgrastim and chemotherapy on the same day compared to patients receiving pegfilgrastim at least 1 day following completion of their chemotherapy.Methods. A retrospective char...
44-kDal bone phosphoprotein (osteopontin) antigenicity at ectopic sites in newborn rats: kidney and nervous tissues.

Previous immunohistochemical data have shown that the 44-kDal bone phosphoprotein (44K BPP, also called sialoprotein I or oestopontin) recently isolated in our laboratory was synthesized by osteoblasts and osteocytes and was expressed early during differentiation of boneforming cells. We report here the presence of 44K BPP antigenicity at certain ectopic sites, namely, the proximal-convoluted tubule of the kidney, neurons, sensory and secretory cells in the internal ear. To insure specificity and reproducibility, different immunohistochemical methods were used and affinity-purified antibodies against two separate preparations of pure 44K BPP were tested. In the cells of the proximal-convoluted tubule, 44K BPP immunoreactivity was observed within apical endocytotic vacuoles and within lysosomes. This staining thus correlates with the degradation of the 44K BPP epitope which we previously demonstrated to occur in serum. On the other hand, in the neurons of the acoustic ganglion and the sensory cells of the macula, 44K BPP immunoreactivity was associated with the Golgi apparatus indicating synthesis and secretion by these cells. The finding that the 44K BPP (or a structurally related molecule) is synthesized by neurons and neuroepithelial cells deserves further investigation with respect to a possible embryologie relationship between neuroectodermal cells and the precursors of some bone forming-cells of the skull.
Crotalus adamanteus phospholipase A2-α: Subunit structure, NH2-terminal sequence, and homology with other phospholipases☆

Abstract Automated Edman degradation of reduced and carboxymethylated phospholipase A2-α from Crotalus adamanteus venom revealed a single amino acid sequence extending 30 residues into the protein from the amino terminus. The singularity of the sequence and the yields of the phenylthiohydantoin amino acids thus obtained indicate that the subunits comprising the phospholipase dimer are identical. Further chemical evidence in support of subunit identity was obtained by cleavage of phospholipase A2-α with cyanogen bromide. Compositional analysis of the protein revealed one residue of methionine per monomer and the sequence determination placed this amino acid at position 10 in the sequence of 133 amino acids. Cyanogen bromide cleavage of the protein, followed by reduction and carboxymethylation afforded the expected 2 fragments: an NH2-terminal decapeptide (CNBr-1) and a larger COOH-terminal fragment of 123 residues (CNBr-II). Automated Edman degradation of the latter has extended the sequence analysis to 54 residues in the NH2-terminal segment of the monomer chain. Comparison of this sequence with those derived for phospholipases from other snake venoms, from bee venom, and from porcine pancreas has revealed striking homologies in this region of the molecules. As expected on the basis of their phylogenetic classification, the phospholipases from the pit vipers C. adamanteus and Agkistrodon halys blomhoffii are more similar to one another in sequence than to the enzyme from the more distantly related viper, Bitis gabonica. Furthermore, the very close similarities in sequence observed among all of these phospholipases in regions corresponding to residues 24 through 53 in the C. adamanteus enzyme suggest that this segment of the polypeptide plays an important role in phospholipase function and probably constitutes part of the active site.
GM-CSF AND M-CSF MODULATE Β-CHEMOKINE AND HIV-1 EXPRESSION IN MICROGLIA

Significant numbers of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) develop CNS infection primarily in macrophages and microglial cells. Therefore, the regulation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection and activation of the brain mononuclear phagocytes subsequent to infection are important areas of investigation. In the current report, we studied the role of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and macrophage-CSF (M-CSF) in the expression of antiviral β-chemokines and HIV-1 p24 in cultures of primary human fetal microglia. We found that stimulation with GM-CSF or M-CSF induced macrophage inflammatory proteins (MIP-1α and MIP-1β) and augmented RANTES expression, after HIV-1 infection of microglia. This was not due to the effect of GM-CSF on viral expression because GM-CSF was neither necessary nor stimulatory for viral infection, nor did GM-CSF enhance the expression of env-pseudotyped reporter viruses. Blocking GM-CSF-induced microglial proliferation by nocodazole had no effect on β-chemokine or p24 expression. The functional significance of the GM-CSF-induced β-chemokines was suggested by the finding that, in the presence of GM-CSF, exogenous β-chemokines lost their anti-HIV-1 effects. We further show that although HIV-1-infected microglia produced M-CSF, they failed to produce GM-CSF. In vivo, GM-CSF expression was localized to activated astrocytes and some inflammatory cells in HIV-1 encephalitis, suggesting paracrine activation of microglia through GM-CSF. Our results demonstrate a complex interplay between CSFs, chemokines, and virus in microglial cells and may have bearing on the interpretation of data derived in vivo and in vitro. GLIA 39:174–183, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Leaving the Parental Home: An Overview of the Current State of Genocide Studies

This article examines current developments in genocide studies, focusing specifically on three main areas of conflict and debate between different perspectives: the question of how to define genocide, causal models and comparative studies, and prevention. Further, this article presents an analysis of Eurocentrism in the field, arguing that genocide studies needs a broader scope to include new and unique perspectives from all areas of the world. What is needed, in fact, is genuine intercultural dialogue, which can transform the field of genocide studies into a broad, culturally diverse field.
Loss of Control, Attributions, and Helplessness in the Homeless

Control has emerged as an important psychological variable. The purpose of this project was to extend the concept of environmental control to the homeless shelter environment. Data from interviews conducted with residents of a homeless shelter supported the hypothesis that perceived loss of control over the shelter environment would be positively related to giving up on finding a home and employment. The hypothesis that the helplessness created by low control environments is consistent with the external, stable attributional style of “universal” helplessness was partially supported. Suggestions for future research are provided. Changes in the shelter environment are recommended for the treatment of helplessness in the homeless though helplessness is expected to persist as long as poverty, expensive housing, and prejudice against the homeless make efforts and outcomes noncontingent.
Densest local sphere-packing diversity. II. Application to three dimensions.

The densest local packings of $N$ three-dimensional identical nonoverlapping spheres within a radius ${R}_{\mathrm{min}}(N)$ of a fixed central sphere of the same size are obtained for selected values of $N$ up to $N=1054$. In the predecessor to this paper [A. B. Hopkins, F. H. Stillinger, and S. Torquato, Phys. Rev. E 81, 041305 (2010)], we described our method for finding the putative densest packings of $N$ spheres in $d$-dimensional Euclidean space ${\mathbb{R}}^{d}$ and presented those packings in ${\mathbb{R}}^{2}$ for values of $N$ up to $N=348$. Here we analyze the properties and characteristics of the densest local packings in ${\mathbb{R}}^{3}$ and employ knowledge of the ${R}_{\mathrm{min}}(N)$, using methods applicable in any $d$, to construct both a realizability condition for pair correlation functions of sphere packings and an upper bound on the maximal density of infinite sphere packings. In ${\mathbb{R}}^{3}$, we find wide variability in the densest local packings, including a multitude of packing symmetries such as perfect tetrahedral and imperfect icosahedral symmetry. We compare the densest local packings of $N$ spheres near a central sphere to minimal-energy configurations of $N+1$ points interacting with short-range repulsive and long-range attractive pair potentials, e.g., 12--6 Lennard-Jones, and find that they are in general completely different, a result that has possible implications for nucleation theory. We also compare the densest local packings to finite subsets of stacking variants of the densest infinite packings in ${\mathbb{R}}^{3}$ (the Barlow packings) and find that the densest local packings are almost always most similar as measured by a similarity metric, to the subsets of Barlow packings with the smallest number of coordination shells measured about a single central sphere, e.g., a subset of the fcc Barlow packing. Additionally, we observe that the densest local packings are dominated by the dense arrangement of spheres with centers at distance ${R}_{\mathrm{min}}(N)$. In particular, we find two ``maracas'' packings at $N=77$ and $N=93$, each consisting of a few unjammed spheres free to rattle within a ``husk'' composed of the maximal number of spheres that can be packed with centers at respective ${R}_{\mathrm{min}}(N)$.
Declines in the energy content of yearling non‐native alewife associated with lower food web changes in Lake Michigan

Juveniles of non-native alewife, Alosa pseudoharengus (Wilson), were collected in Lake Michigan in 1998, 1999, 2010, 2011 and 2013 to evaluate changes in energy content during a period of major ecosystem changes. Consistent with historical data, energy content of yearling alewife declined from late winter into late spring and was at its lowest point in June. Energy density and length-adjusted, entire-body energy were lower in 2010, 2011 and 2013 than in 1998 and 1999. Energy losses over the first winter in the lake were more severe for the 2010 year class (56% decrease) than for the 1998 year class (28% decrease). Alewife diets in late spring of 2010–2013 reflected the loss of major prey such as Diporeia spp. and a shift towards lower energy prey. The recent decline in energy content of yearling alewife can be linked to recent changes in productivity and abundance of key components of the lower food web of Lake Michigan following the dreissenid invasion.
Composition, Solubility, and Stability of Whey Powders

Abstract Eleven samples of acid and sweet whey powders from a wide geographical area were analyzed for general and amino acid composition. Acid whey powders from standard cottage cheese processes averaged 11.4% total protein. One acid whey powder from high heated cottage cheese milk and another from lactic acid casein manufacture contained only 8.8 and 9.3% total protein. The lysine in commercial acid whey proteins was slightly higher than in whole casein. Compositionally, acid and sweet whey powders differed in protein, lactic acid, mineral elements, and lecithin. Calcium and phosphorus in eight acid whey powders averaged 1.78 and 1.13% and in three sweet whey powders .62 and .77%. Acid whey powders had a higher zinc content, 41.7ppm, than sweet whey powders, 9ppm. Sodium and potassium and most phospholipids and vitamins (riboflavin, thiamine, and ascorbic acid) did not vary appreciably between acid and sweet whey powders, but lecithin was higher in sweet whey powders. Solubility of whey powders in water and in 5% ethanol in water ranged from 91.4 to 99.7% and in 5% sodium chlorine solutions, 72.8 to 98.2%. Acid whey powders generally were more stable to storage at room temperature than sweet whey powders. Microorganisms in acid whey powders were few.
Secondary organic aerosol production from aqueous photooxidation of glycolaldehyde: Laboratory experiments

Organic particulate matter (PM) formed in the atmosphere (secondary organic aerosol; SOA) is a substantial yet poorly understood contributor to atmospheric PM. Aqueous photooxidation in clouds, fogs and aerosols is a newly recognized SOA formation pathway. This study investigates the potential for aqueous glycolaldehyde oxidation to produce low volatility products that contribute SOA mass. To our knowledge, this is the first confirmation that aqueous oxidation of glycolaldehyde via the hydroxyl radical forms glyoxal and glycolic acid, as previously assumed. Subsequent reactions form formic acid, glyoxylic acid, and oxalic acid as expected. Unexpected products include malonic acid, succinic acid, and higher molecular weight compounds, including oligomers. Due to (1) the large source strength of glycolaldehyde from precursors such as isoprene and ethene, (2) its water solubility, and (3) the aqueous formation of low volatility products (organic acids and oligomers), we predict that aqueous photooxidation of glycolaldehyde and other aldehydes in cloud, fog, and aerosol water is an important source of SOA and that incorporation of this SOA formation pathway in chemical transport models will help explain the current under-prediction of organic PM concentrations.
Prevalence of pathological gambling in Switzerland after the opening of casinos and the introduction of new preventive legislation

OBJECTIVE: This survey aimed to evaluate the prevalence of pathological gambling (PG) in the Swiss population in 2005 and the link between PG and alcohol abuse. This replication study made it possible to compare the prevalence rates of PG measured before and after the introduction of casinos and new preventive legislation. METHOD: A total of 2803 telephone interviews were completed using standardized assessment instruments for identifying gamblers (South Oaks Gambling Screen) and alcohol abuse (CAGE). RESULTS: The past-year prevalence rates were 0.8% for problem and 0.5% for PG. No relationship was found between alcohol abuse and gambling behaviour. The past-year prevalence of disordered gambling did not change between 1998 and 2005. CONCLUSION: Despite widespread openings of casinos in Switzerland since 2002, the prevalence estimates of past-year disordered gambling have remained stable. The discussion focuses on different factors (social measures, legal obligations and social adaptational capacities) that may account for the stabilization of prevalence estimates.
Design of fabricated static structures for long cyclic life

High-performance, lightweight jet engines, which are designed for relatively low cost production and long life requirements, place stringent restrictions on material utilization. Static structure design criteria require that tensile, creep, and cyclic life limits be met. However, the long operational lifetimes require increased accuracy and reliability of material data and analysis methods. In addition, the widespread use of welded sheet fabricated structures has emphasized the need for quality control of manufacturing processes and for a viable defect-tolerance approach to cyclic life prediction. A design method which is based on the fracture mechanics approach is presented. Both material and geometric imperfections are considered, and guidelines are presented to achieve safe lifetimes for lightweight welded structures.
Redistributive state aid to local communities

Abstract State aid to communities is used for redistribution and is limited by self-selection – a wealthy household in the taxed community must not benefit from migration into the community of poor households which receives the transfer. In the community of poor households, I show that state aid should subsidize the public services for which an in-migrating wealthy household would buy a private substitute, and should tax housing; it is likely that other public services should also be taxed. However, all aid to the community of wealthy households should be lump-sum. I use these predictions to qualitatively explain the New York State educational aid formula.
The effect of Eimeria nieschulzi infection on leukocyte levels in the rat

SYNOPSIS. Rats inoculated with 10,000 sporulated oocysts of Eimeria nieschulzi had significantly higher total leukocyte counts on postinoculation days (PI) 1, 5, 6 and 7 when compared to control rats. Relative and absolute neutrophil counts increased concomitantly with a decrease in the relative lymphocyte levels in E. nieschulzi-infected rats on PI day 7. Absolute and relative neutrophil counts in infected rats on PI days 7 and 8 were closely correlated with the host's total oocyst discharge. The E. nieschulzi infection had no significant effect on the relative or absolute levels of monocytes or eosinophils. The described changes in leukocyte levels were not paralleled by a significant change in the erythrocyte count.
A simplified radioimmunoassay of plasma nortriptyline in depressed patients compared with high-pressure liquid chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography.

Antiserum to nortriptyline was generated in male New Zealand rabbits innoculated with n-succinylnortriptyline-bovine serum albumin conjugates. The antiserum was used at a final dilution of 1∶4000 and tritiated imipramine was used as the label antigen. An accurate, sensitive, and specific radioimmunoassay of depressed patients' plasma or serum nortriptyline is described. The accuracy was good with a recovery range of 90–100% with a mean of 94%. The method can be used to measure nortriptyline concentration in the range of 0.1 μg/liter to 100 μg/liter without prior extraction and purification of plasma or serum. Results of this method correlate well with those obtained by high-pressure liquid chromatography (r=0.979) and by gas-liquid chromatography (r=0.98). The specificity of the antiserum was examined by studying the cross-reactivity of 20 different psychopharmacological compounds, including nortriptyline's metabolites.
Five transmembrane helices form the sugar pathway through the Na+/glucose cotransporter.

Abstract To test the hypothesis that the C-terminal half of the Na+/glucose cotransporter (SGLT1) contains the sugar permeation pathway, a cDNA construct (C5) coding for rabbit SGLT1 amino acids 407–662, helices 10–14, was expressed inXenopus oocytes. Expression and function of C5was followed by Western blotting, electron microscopy, radioactive tracer, and electrophysiological methods. The C5 protein was synthesized in 20-fold higher levels than SGLT1. The particle density in the protoplasmic face of the oocyte plasma membrane increased 2-fold after C5-cRNA injection compared with noninjected oocytes. The diameters of the C5 particles were heterogeneous (4.8 ± 0.3, 7.1 ± 1.2, and 10.3 ± 0.8 nm) in contrast to the endogenous particles (7.6 ± 1.2 nm). C5 increased the α-methyl-d-glucopyranoside (αMDG) uptake up to 20-fold above that of noninjected oocytes and showed an apparent K 0.5 αMDGof 50 mm and a turnover of ∼660 s−1. Influx was independent of Na+ with transport characteristics similar to those of SGLT1 in the absence of Na+: 1) selective (αMDG >d-glucose > d-galactose ≫l-glucose ≈ d-mannose), 2) inhibited by phloretin, K i PT= ∼500 μm, and 3) insensitive to phlorizin. These results indicate that C5 behaves as a specific low affinity glucose uniporter. Preliminary studies with three additional constructs, hC5 (the human equivalent of C5), hC4 (human SGLT1 amino acids 407–648, helices 10–13), and hN13 (amino acids 1–648, helices 1–13), further suggest that helices 10–13 form the sugar permeation pathway for SGLT1.
A Test for Aliasing Using Bispectral Analysis

Abstract Aliasing is a signal-confounding problem that arises when a continuous-time signal is sampled at a rate slower than twice the highest frequency component of a Fourier series representation of the signal. Aliasing can be especially serious for social-science time series applications, since the sampling designs used to construct most social-science data bases are fixed by considerations other than the nature of the underlying continuous-time mechanisms. After collecting sampled data, it is of value to test the observations for the presence of aliasing. It is shown that the nature of the support set of a sampled band-limited stationary signal can be used to motivate an amended version of the Hinich bispectrum test for Gaussianity (Hinich 1982) as a test for aliasing.
Molecular set theory: II. An aspect of the biomathematical theory of sets

In an earlier paper (Molecular Set Theory: I.Bull. Math. Biophysics,22, 285–307, 1960) the author proposed a “Molecular Set Theory” as a formal mathematical meta-theoretic system for representing complex reactions not only of biological interest, but also of general chemical interest. The present paper is a refinement and extension of the earlier work along more formal algebraic lines. For example the beginnings of an algebra of molecular transformations is presented. It also emphasizes that this development, together with the genetical set theory of Woodger's and Rashevsky's set-theoretic contributions to Relational Biology, points to the existence of a biomathematical theory of sets which is not deducible from the general mathematical, abstract theory of sets.
Asymptotic behavior of a reaction-diΘusion equation in higher space dimensions

On considere l'equation de reaction-diffusion U t =Δu+f(u) ou u∈R, x=(x 1 ,...,x u )∈R n ; f: R→R est reguliere et a une forme de type cubique. On montre qu'une certaine classe de solutions de cette equation approche celle de l'onde de propagation a une dimension
Implicit internalization of the thin ideal as a predictor of increases in weight, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating

The freshman year of college has been identified as a time when some students experience large changes in their eating behaviors, body image, and weight. One factor that is predictive of changes in these variables is internalization of the thin ideal (i.e., the degree to which an individual has accepted societal values of thinness and applies these values to herself). However, given the limitation of self-report and previous research demonstrating the additional predictive validity implicit measurement provides, it may be important to develop an implicit paradigm for assessing internalization of the thin ideal. The Implicit Association Test is the most common implicit measurement technique. However this test is associational in nature, which reflects only one aspect of human cognition. The current study evaluates a newly-created implicit measure of internalization of the thin ideal that utilizes the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP). In particular, the study investigates concurrent and prospective associations between internalization of the thin ideal and disordered eating, body image dissatisfaction, and weight in a group of women at the beginning and end of their freshman year in college. Results of the study indicate that weight, disordered eating and body image dissatisfaction increased during the freshman year, and that these were predicted by implicit internalization of the thin ideal at the beginning of the year. Moreover, the new implicit measure was predictive above and beyond any predictive ability of the explicit measure. Results indicate that the thin ideal IRAP can successfully predict changes in many variables of interest at the freshman year of college, and suggest it may be a beneficial screening tool to assess at-risk freshman. This study also highlights the need for additional implicit measures in the realm of body image and disordered eating.
Correlation of end plate shape on MRI and disc degeneration in surgically treated patients with degenerative disc disease and herniated nucleus pulposus

Abstract Background context The sagittal profile of the lumbar end plates on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has not been investigated in patients with degenerative disc disease (DDD) or herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP). Purpose To examine the shape of the end plates in patients treated surgically for a) low back pain or b) radiculopathy with HNP. Furthermore, to investigate the correlation between end plate shape and disc degeneration on the one, and end plate shape and symptoms on the other. Study design/setting Retrospective review of charts and radiographs. Methods The charts, operative reports, preoperative lateral plain radiographs, and MRI scans of 178 patients (85 with low back pain and 93 with HNP) were reviewed. End plate shape was determined on midsagittal MRI cuts, disc degeneration was graded on T2 sequences, and disc height was measured on lateral plain radiographs from L1 to S1 in all patients. Student t -test and χ 2 test were used to detect significant differences and associations. Results Flat and irregular levels were most common in the lower lumbar spine. The L5/S1 segment was flat in most cases, due to a flat sacral end plate. In DDD patients, disc degeneration on MRI and plain radiographs worsened from concave to flat, to irregular levels. In HNP patients, MRI demonstrated concave levels to be less degenerated, whereas no difference was detected between flat and irregular levels. Disc height of irregular levels was well preserved in HNP patients. Comparing the two groups, flat levels were more degenerated on MRI in HNP patients. Despite similar degrees of degeneration on MRI, concave and irregular levels in DDD patients had lower disc heights. A higher frequency of symptoms was found in flat and irregular levels for both patient groups. Conclusions The sagittal profile of end plates in the lumbar spine was described for patients with DDD on the one and HNP on the other. A higher association with symptoms was observed for flat and irregular levels in both patient groups. In DDD patients, disck degeneration on both MRI and plain radiographs increased from concave to flat, to irregular levels. In HNP patients, MRI demonstrated concave levels to be less degenerated, whereas no difference was detected between flat and irregular levels. Disc height of irregular levels was well preserved in HNP patients. Comparing the two groups of patients, flat levels were more degenerated on MRI in HNP patients. Despite similar degrees of degeneration on MRI, concave and irregular levels in DDD patients had lower disc heights. The correlation of symptoms and disc degeneration with the end plate shapes is not definitive evidence of end plate remodeling around degenerated discs. It may simply represent the higher rate of disc degeneration in the lower lumbar levels. This analysis did not provide any hints as to which degenerated discs are more likely to herniated and cause leg symptoms or cause predominantly low back pain.
Computed Spin−Spin Coupling Constants (1JX-Y) in Molecules HmX−YHn for X and Y = 13C, 15N, and 31P: Comparisons with Experiment and Insights into the Signs of 1JX-Y

One-bond X-Y spin-spin coupling constants ( 1 J X - Y ) for 18 H m X-YH n molecules, with X and Y = 1 3 C, 1 5 N, and 3 1 P, have been computed using the equation-of-motion coupled-cluster singles and doubles method. The molecules investigated include all possible combinations of these three elements bonded with single, double, and triple bonds. The computed coupling constants are in good agreement with experiment over a range that extends from -250 to +200 Hz. With only two exceptions, the sign of the Fermi-contact (FC) term is the same as the sign of 1 J X - Y , but the FC term may or may not be a good quantitative estimate of 1 J X - Y . When reduced spin-spin coupling constants ( 1 K X - Y ) are used for comparing coupling constants involving different atoms, a linear relationship is observed between 1 K X - N and 1 K X - P . The signs of 1 J X - Y for approximately half of the molecules included in this study are exceptions to the Dirac vector model. The recently proposed NMR triplet wave function model has been used to provide insight into the variation of the signs of these one-bond spin-spin coupling constants.
Predictors of Kidney Disease in a Cohort of Pediatric Patients with Lupus

IntroductionChildren with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have an increased prevalence of kidney disease compared to their adult counterparts. Our goal was to identify potential clinical and laboratory predictors of renal disease.MethodsWe performed a cohort study of incident and prevalent patients with SLE aged ≤19 years. Retrospective data from initial presentation until study enrollment was also collected. Laboratory and clinic data were recorded from each clinic visit including disease activity indices, autoantibodies, urinalyses, blood counts, and metabolic profile. Kidney disease was defined as the presence of abnormal renal biopsy or by American College of Rheumatology case definition for lupus nephritis. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between clinical and laboratory data with kidney disease in those who had renal involvement within 30 days of SLE diagnosis. We also performed a time to event analysis to identify antecedents of renal disease.ResultsForty-seven...
Process and Properties Control in Laser Aided Direct Metal/Materials Deposition Process

Laser aided direct metal/material deposition (DMD) process, one of the technologies based on laser cladding, has demonstrated the ability to make a metal component directly from a 3-D CAD model. DMD process is achieved with a laser system combined with a NC machine tool or laser-robot system. Making metallic parts directly, designer can reduce unnecessary steps such as mock-up and molding. In the sense, DMD process is rather a rapid production technique than a rapid prototyping process. With continued advancement, DMD process, one of the leading solid freeform fabrication techniques, has demonstrated the ability to make a metal part with heterogeneous components directly from a CAD model. One unique advantage of the process is that building different metallic parts in same object can be achieved alternating metal powders. The advantage gives designers better quality of products than others can offer. Another attractive point is that some features such as cooling channel, heat sinks, sensors, fibers, and even hard phases for composites can be embedded during the process. This paper summarizes the fundamentals of the process, process control and influence of process parameters, and reports some examples produced utilizing the technique with the characteristics of fabricated parts.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Increased Basal cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase Activity Inhibits the Formation of Mesoderm-derived Structures in the Developing Mouse Embryo

A targeted disruption of the RIalpha isoform of protein kinase A (PKA) was created by using homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells. Unlike the other regulatory and catalytic subunits of PKA, RIalpha is the only isoform that is essential for early embryonic development. RIalpha homozygous mutant embryos fail to develop a functional heart tube at E8.5 and are resorbed at approximately E10.5. Mutant embryos show significant growth retardation and developmental delay compared with wild type littermates from E7.5 to E10.5. The anterior-posterior axis of RIalpha mutants is well developed, with a prominent head structure but a reduced trunk. PKA activity measurements reveal an increased basal PKA activity in these embryos. Brachyury mRNA expression in the primitive streak of RIalpha mutants is significantly reduced, consistent with later deficits in axial, paraxial, and lateral plate mesodermal derivatives. This defect in the production and migration of mesoderm can be completely rescued by crossing RIalpha mutants to mice carrying a targeted disruption in the Calpha catalytic subunit, demonstrating that unregulated PKA activity rather than a specific loss of RIalpha is responsible for the phenotype. Primary embryonic fibroblasts from RIalpha mutant embryos display an abnormal cytoskeleton and an altered ability to migrate in cell culture. Our results demonstrate that unregulated PKA activity negatively affects growth factor-mediated mesoderm formation during early mouse development.
A Developmental Approach to Delineate Components of Cognitive Dysfunction in Schizophrenia

Two developmentally based tests were devised to study the nature of schizophrenic cognitive dysfunction within a psychopharmacological framework and to relate the data to developmental and psychophysiological models. The Colour-Form Preference Test was designed to evaluate cognitive style in terms of early maturational stages and provided a subscale for assessing arousal-related cognitive disturbance. The Egocentricity of Thought Test, adapted from Piaget's developmental study of right-left positional concepts, enabled investigation in terms of the later stages of cognitive growth. These and other clinical measures were taken of schizophrenic patients at various points of treatment and also administered to a non-psychotic comparison group. Test results supported their validity, reliability, longitudinal sensitivity and capacity for nosological and prognostic discriminations. The data also suggested a distinction between two components of schizophrenic cognitive dysfunction -one drug-sensitive, which could be considered as arousal-related, and the other drug-resistant, which might best be described as developmental. A two-factor model encompassing the psychophysiological and developmental hypotheses is thus offered as a more comprehensive representation of the cognitive disorder.
Synthesis of taurine‐13C2. A potential probe for human 13CO2 breath tests

The synthesis of a 2% mixture of taurine-13C2, in nonlabelled taurine is presented. Using 1, 2-dibromoethane-13C2, labelled taurine was prepared in two steps as a new and potentially useful probe for 13CO2 breath tests in the diagnosis of intestinal malabsorption. Unique analytical data are presented, including gas chromatographic and mass spectral data of a derivative of taurine, N-carbobenzyloxytaurine amide. These new results were essential for the characterization and determination of isotopic enrichment of the 2% labelled taurine probe. Considerations for human feeding experiments with this stable, isotopically labelled mixture are also discussed.
DESIGN OF AN ASYMMETRICAL FLOW FIELD-FLOW FRACTIONATION CHANNEL FOR UNIFORM CHANNEL FLOW VELOCITY

A new design for an asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (FFF) channel, having a breadth that decreases exponentially along its length, is presented. It is shown that such a channel may be operated under certain flow conditions to obtain a constant mean channel flow velocity throughout its effective length. This is not possible with trapezoidal channels, which were themselves introduced with the objective of reducing the variation of mean flow velocities along the channel length. It is also shown that when operated under other flow conditions, the resulting variation in mean flow velocity is reduced in comparison to that predicted for trapezoidal channels. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Micro Sep9: 459–467, 1997
Biomedical and Environmental Ethics Alliance: Common Causes and Grounds

In the late 1960s Van Rensselaer Potter, a biochemist and cancer researcher, thought that our survival was threatened by the domination of military policy makers and producers of material goods ignorant of biology. He called for a new field of Bioethics—“a science of survival.” Bioethics did develop, but with a narrower focus on medical ethics. Recently there have been attempts to broaden that focus to bring biomedical ethics together with environmental ethics. Though the two have many differences—in habits of thought, scope of concern, and value commitments—in this paper we argue that they often share common cause and we identify common ground through an examination of two case studies, one addressing drug development, the other food production.
Why Graphic Organizers Facilitate Search Processes: Fewer Words or Computationally Efficient Indexing?

Abstract Three experiments investigated how quickly and accurately students could locate information contained in different types of displays. Undergraduates read multiple-choice questions and then searched either texts, outlines, or graphic organizers to find information needed to answer the questions. In Experiments 1 and 2, students who searched either graphic organizers or outlines found answers to fact questions more quickly than those who searched text, and students who searched graphic organizers found answers to comparison questions more quickly than those who searched either outlines or text. In Experiment 3, all three displays contained the same number of words to remove a potential confound in Experiments 1 and 2. Results indicated that those who searched graphic organizers found the answer to a pattern question more quickly than those who searched either outlines or text. These findings suggest that the facilitative advantage of graphic organizers in locating information is attributable to computationally efficient indexing rather than fewer words.
Cellular responses of Periplaneta americana to acanthocephalan larvae.

Abstract The cellular responses of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana , to the larvae of the acanthocephalans Moniliformis dubius and Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus have been studied. M. dubius acanthors penetrate the gut and reach the hemocoel 1 to 14 days after infection. Acanthors undergoing normal development are surrounded by several layers of hemocytes for 4–6 days then hemocyte numbers decline. M. hirudinaceus acanthors induce extensive but temporary changes in histologic structure of gut around the site of penetration, including some destruction of epithelial cells, aggregation of hemocytes, and hyperplasia of adjacent tissues. The acanthors are soon melanized. Following injection into the hemocoel, acanthors of M. dubius develop normally but acanthors of M. hirudinaceus and eggs of both species are rapidly encapsulated and melanized. Envelope removal from later larval stages of M. dubius before injection leads to encapsulation and melanization.
Organ Characterization with nuclear-medicine tomography

A method is described for performing in vivo analyses of the time-varying absolute radioactivity of selected human organs, following intravenous injection or oral administration of a radiopharmaceutical. It may be employed to quantitate the absolute activities of a physiologically important radioactive isotope within an organ over a predetermined test period. The time-activity relationship can in turn be used to analyze physiological factors-that is, the functions and activity of an organ, including the physical and chemical processes involved-so as to give the regional blood flow to the organ, and the metabolic function of the organ as represented by its organification of the radioactively labeled drug. The method can also be used to determine the morphological factors-that is, the form and structure-of an organ, such as its depth within the patient. It is directly applicable, for example to the diagnosis of diseases of the thyroid, the liver, and the kidneys, and to the localization of tumors using labeled antibodies. The method is based on the recording, analysis and interpretation of photon emissions (@c-, x-, and coincidence photons) observed during specific tomographic scans of the organ interest. Its practical implementation is disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,682,604 dated 28 July 1987, granted to the authors.
Cryptic Neogene vicariance and Quaternary dispersal of the red-spotted toad (Bufo punctatus): insights on the evolution of North American warm desert biotas.

We define the geographical distributions of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineages embedded within a broadly distributed, arid-dwelling toad, Bufo punctatus . These patterns were evaluated as they relate to hypothesized vicariant events leading to the formation of desert biotas within western North America. We assessed mtDNA sequence variation among 191 samples from 82 sites located throughout much of the species’ range. Parsimony-based haplotype networks of major identified lineages were used in nested clade analysis (NCA) to further elucidate and evaluate shallow phylogeographic patterns potentially associated with Quaternary (Pleistocene–Holocene) vicariance and dispersal. Phylogenetic analyses provided strong support for three monophyletic lineages (clades) within B. punctatus . The geographical distributions of the clades showed little overlap and corresponded to the general boundaries of the Peninsular Desert, and two continental desert regions, Eastern (Chihuahuan Desert–Colorado Plateau) and Western (Mojave–Sonoran deserts), geographically separated along the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Madre Occidental. The observed divergence levels and congruence with postulated events in earth history implicate a late Neogene (latest Miocene–early Pliocene) time frame for separation of the major mtDNA lineages. Evaluation of nucleotide and haplotype diversity and interpretations from NCA reveal that populations on the Colorado Plateau resulted from a recent, likely post-Pleistocene, range expansion from the Chihuahuan Desert. Dispersal across historical barriers separating major continental clades appear to be recent, resulting in secondary contacts in at least two areas. Given the observed contact between major clades, we speculated as to why the observed deep phylogeographic structure has not been eroded during the multiple previous interglacials of the Pleistocene.
Numerical simulations of cloaking problems using a DPG method

The paper reviews the construction of cloaks for 2D acoustic or electromagnetic waves using the Piola transform, and shows how the knowledge of the transform leads to the construction of a quasi-optimal test norm for the Discontinuous Petrov---Galerkin (DPG) method with optimal test functions for this class of problems. Numerical experiments for cylindrical and square cloaks illustrate the discussed concepts and demonstrate the effectiveness of the DPG method in cloak simulations.
WebScout: Development of a graphical interface for a new scouting software

This paper describes the development of a graphical interface for a new soccer scouting software that enables to integrate data and information from distinct sources, including other software and analog data. The advantages of a web platform and of the aggregation system implemented when compared with the traditional approach are also presented. The solution proposed is based on web programming languages such as HTML5, CSS3, Ruby On Rails, BootStrapp, enabling to achieve the quality patterns expected by the users. The system developed was based on a detailed related work analysis, analysis of commercial and scientific software available and a survey and joint design of the interface together with soccer professionals.