cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vortex characterization and identification by ultrasound Doppler

The detection of vortices is of potential interest in physiology (e.g. the detection of weak stenoses), and in fluid mechanics. In this paper a non-invasive method of detecting vortices in channel flows using pulsed RF Doppler ultrasound is described. A novel approach involving hybrid operation is taken in implementing a directional Doppler system. A scattering model of a vortex crossing an ultrasound beam is presented and theoretical simulations of the Doppler signals show good agreement with experiment. Experimental results showing the detection of both periodic and isolated vortices in channel flows are given. The Autoregressive or Maximum Entropy Method of spectral estimation is used to obtain the spectral estimates of the Doppler signals over short time intervals. It is shown that these spectral estimates can be used to estimate the velocity profiles of the detected vortices.
The spatial dimension in biological data mining

The beginning of the 21st century has witnessed the generation of spectacular amounts of new information, ranging from marketing data to genomic sequences. As traditional statistical methods are gradually being defeated by both the amount of data and the general absence of underlying hypotheses, data mining procedures are becoming increasingly popular and user-friendly. By combining statistical-, artificial intelligence- and database management tools, those methods are tailored for processing large quantities of information and extracting interesting patterns. Since their first application, data mining procedures have progressively been tweaked to accommodate various types of information, including social science- and biological data. However, a number of features characteristic of biological data, including high levels of measurement variability and correlation between variables, represent an additional challenge and call for specific methods. The goal of this editorial is to highlight the spatial dimension of biological data mining.
Stem imaging of prior austenite grain boundaries

The problem of temper embrittlement of low-alloy steels used in steam-turbine generators was thought to have been solved by the introduction of clean steels with low levels of certain impurities. However, even these steels exhibit temper embrittlement at turbine operation temperatures >400 C. Initial studies of temper embrittlement of clean steels used Auger electron spectrometry (AES) of fracture surfaces. The failure was found to occur along the prior austenite grain boundaries (PAGBs) where P segregation was found. A better way to relate P segregation to boundary crystallography is to use the analytical scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) since, in this technique, the boundaries are not fractured and direct comparison can be made between the boundary chemistry and the crystallography. Clean steels have a very large variation in precipitation densities often making density measurements impossible, diffraction contrast is poor in the STEM image and etching may change the boundary chemistry. This paper presents an alternative simple method to identify the PAGB in a STEM prior to chemical and crystallographic analysis.
Alternate pathway of entry of budded Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus: fusion at the plasma membrane.

Abstract Recently we reported that the budded phenotype of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AeNPV BV) functionally entered IPLB-SF-21 cells by adsorptive endocytosis and that neutralizing monoclonal antibody AcV1 acted by preventing AcNPV BV from using this entry pathway ( L. E. Volkman and P. A. Goldsmith (1985) , Virology 143, 185–195). Not all infectivity could be neutralized by AcV1, however, and in the study reported herein we investigated the nature of the particles responsible for this residual infectivity, and obtained evidence for an alternate entry pathway for both AcNPV BV and AcV1 treated BV. Residual infectivity was shown to be due to AcV1 linked AcNPV BV and not aberrant particles lacking the AcV1-reactive BV epitope. We obtained evidence that entry by fusion at the plasma membrane, but not phagocytosis, appeared to be an additional, functionally less efficient entry pathway. Fusion was indicated by the detection of viral envelope antigen in the host cell plasma membrane by immunoelectron microscopy. Fusion occurred even at 4°, which was unexpected and highly unusual. Treatment of cells with cytochalasin B inhibited phagocytosis but did not reduce BV infectivity.
Biosynthesis of Cartilage Procollagen

Cells were isolated by controlled enzymic digestion of sternal cartilages from chick embryos and the cells were studied immediately after isolation for up to 4 h in vitro. The cells isolated under the conditions employed had a high degree of viability, they remained in suspension for 2 to 4 h in vitro and during this time they synthesized and secreted collagen in the precursor form which has been called “transport form” or “procollagen”. The cells also incorporated [35S]sulfate into macromolecules which were secreted into the medium. Continuous labeling of the cartilage cells demonstrated a lag of about 33 min between the time at which the rate of synthesis of collagen [14C]hydroxyproline became linear and the time at which the secretion of collagen [14C]hydroxyproline into the medium became linear. Gel filtration and polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecylsulfate indicated that all the secreted collagen was in the precursor form. The procollagen differed from the procollagen previously isolated from bone, tendon and cultured fibroblasts in that it apparently consisted of a single type of polypeptide chain. Isotopic studies suggested that the NH2-terminal extension on the cartilage procollagen contained cystine and tryptophan and appeared therefore to be similar in this respect to that of other procollagens.
Strings with dimension-dependent intercept

By changing the boundary conditions of the relativistics string in extra dimensions, the intercept α(0) is lowered to 1 − 116 (26 −D0) in the modified orbital model, where D0 is the dimensionality of the Poincare-invariant subspace of space-time. In the modified model of the spinning string, the boson intercept becomes 12 − 18 (10 − Do), while the fermion intercept stays at zero. The projective invariance of the ground state is broken, giving the “photon” mass by a Higgs-like mechanism. Unfortunately, the strings have a negative “G parity”, so the usual, unshifted strings appear as intermediate states in the scattering amplitudes. Also, some of the amplitudes are not dual.
Necrotizing granulomatous hepatitis as an unusual manifestation of Lyme disease.

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne infection in the United States and is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a spirochete that is transmitted from the ixodid tick. Abnormal liver chemistry is a rare, but well-described phenomenon in Lyme disease infection [1]. There have been several postulated theories as to the cause of hepatitis with B. burgdorferi infection. These include direct toxicity from the spirochete, systemic cytokine release, and, possibly, an immune-mediated event [2]. Although elevated aminotransferase has been seen, there has been only one case reported of granulomatous hepatitis from Lyme infection [3]. We describe here the first case of a patient with acute Lyme disease who was found to have necrotizing granulomatous hepatitis with eosinophilic infiltration of the liver.
Inhibitory synapses between striatal projection neurons support efficient enhancement of cortical signals: A computational model

The function of lateral inhibitory synapses between striatal projection neurons is currently poorly understood. This paper puts forward a model suggesting that inhibitory collaterals can be used to enhance the incoming cortical signals. In particular, we propose that lateral inhibition between projection neurons performs a signal-enhancing process that resembles the image processing technique of "unsharp masking", where a blurred copy is used to enhance and sharpen an input image. The paper also presents the results of computer simulations deomsntrating that the proposed mechanisms is compatible with known properties of striatal projection neurons, and outperforms alternative models of lateral inhibition. Finally, this paper illustrates the advantages of the proposed model and discusses the relevance of these conclusions for existing computational models of the basal ganglia and their role in cognition.
FOLLICLE-STIMULATING HORMONE AND LUTEINIZING HORMONE CONTENT OF POOLED HUMAN MENOPAUSAL PLASMA AND OF SUBFRACTIONS PREPARED BY COHN METHODS 6 AND 9.

Pooled human menopausal plasma was fractionated according to a modification of Cohn's methods 6 and 9 and assayed for FSH and LH activity against a human menopausal urine preparation, Pergonal 23, employed as a standard. The Steelman-Pohley method was employed for the estimation of FSH and the method of Greep et al. for the estimation of LH content. FSH activity was demonstrable in all the Cohn subfractions but was concentrated mainly in Fractions V and VI. LH activity was likewise demonstrable in all the subfractions but was concentrated mainly in Fraction II+III. The indices of discrimination for these fractions depart sufficiently from unity to suggest that a partial separation of the 2 gonadotropic hormones has been accomplished.
Transonic turbulent flow predictions with new two-equation turbulence models

Solutions of the Favre-averaged Navier-Stokes equations for two well-documented transonic turbulent flows are compared in detail with existing experimental data. While the boundary layer in the first case remains attached, a region of extensive flow separation has been observed in the second case. Two recently developed k-epsilon, two-equation, eddy-viscosity models are used to model the turbulence field. These models satisfy the realizability constraints of the Reynolds stresses. Comparisons with the measurements are made for the wall pressure distribution, the mean streamwise velocity profiles, and turbulent quantities. Reasonably good agreement is obtained with the experimental data.
The series resistance component of hot carrier degradation in ultra-short channel devices

Our measurements reveal that, similar to much larger power device geometries, hot carrier degradation in ultra-short channel devices involves (1) presumably defect generation-based parametric shifts in threshold voltage/transconductance and (2) an enhancement in series resistance. We show that the series resistance component, which has been seemingly overlooked for ultra-short channel devices, cannot be ignored.
Evidence that the intrinsic membrance protein LHCII in thylakoids is necessary for maintaining localized $$\Delta \tilde \mu _{H^ + } $$ energy coupling

This work tested the hypothesis that thylakoid localized proton-binding domains, suggested to be involved in localized $$\Delta \tilde \mu _{H^ + } $$ -driven ATP formation, are maintained with the involvement of several membrane proteins, including the LHCII (Laszlo, J. A., Baker, G. M., and Dilley, R. A. (1984) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 764, 160–169), which comprises about 50% of the total thylakoid protein. The concept we have in mind is that several membrane proteins cooperate to shield a localized proton diffusion pathway from direct contact with the lumen, thus providing a physical barrier to H+ equilibration between the sequestered domains and the lumen. A barely mutant,chlorina f 2, that lacks Chl b and does not accumulate some of the LHCII proteins, was tested for its capacity to carry out localized-proton gradient-dependent ATP formation. Two previously developed assays permit clear discrimination between localized and delocalized $$\Delta \tilde \mu _{H^ + } $$ gradient-driven ATP formation. Those assays include the effect of a permeable buffer, pyridine, on the number of single-turnover flashes needed to reach the energetic threshold for ATP formation and the more recently developed assay for lumen pH using 8-hydroxy-1,3,6-pyrene trisulfonic acid as a lumenally loaded pH-sensitive fluorescent probe. By those two criteria, the wild-type barley thylakoids revealed either a localized or a delocalized energy coupling mode under low- or high-salt storage conditions, respectively. Addition of Ca++ to the high-salt storage medium caused those thylakoids to maintain a localized energy-coupling response, as previously observed for pea thylakoids. In contrast, thechlorina f 2 mutant thylakoids had an active delocalized energy coupling activity but did not show localized $$\Delta \tilde \mu _{H^ + } $$ energy coupling under any conditions, and added Ca++ to the thylakoid storage medium did not alter the delocalized energy coupling mode. One interpretation of the results is that the absence of the LHCII polypeptides produces a “leaky” pathway for protons which allows the $$\Delta \tilde \mu _{H^ + } $$ gradient to equilibrate with the lumen under all conditions. Another interpretation is possible but seems less likely, that being that the absence of the LHCII polypeptides in some way causes the proposed Ca++ -gated H+ flux site on the membrane sector (CF0) of the energy coupling complex to lose its gating function.
Mentors By Choice, Not Design: Help-Seeking by Beginning Teachers:

This paper focuses on the informal help or advice that beginning teachers seek. The data reported in this study, gathered from 128 first-year teachers, suggest that beginning teachers are selective in whom they ask for help. They seek help from experienced teachers they perceive as friendly and caring, independent of whether the teachers are formally recognized as their mentors. Most of the teachers in the sample reported that they would seek help from someone other than their mentor if they had a serious problem in teaching. Satisfaction with help from other sources, an unwillingness to seek formal help, and organizational factors are explored as possible reasons why these beginning teachers reported that they would seek help from others rather than from their assigned mentors. Issues of teacher socialization are also discussed.
Effect of strake geometry and centerbody on the lift of swept wings

Abstract : Modern fighter/attack aircraft rely on vortex flow to increase lift at moderate to high angle of attack alpha. Therefore, a great deal of interest exists in understanding and predicting the vortical flow structure generated by swept wings. One form of vortex control uses small geometry modifications ( fillets) at the strake-wing junction to alter the vortex dynamics. Fillets are also possible candidates for roll control devices, being deployed symmetrically for enhanced lift and longitudinal control or asymmetrically for lateral-directional control. Various studies have looked at the effect of fillets on the interaction of the wing and strake vortices. The primary objective of the present experiment was to investigate the lift characteristics of fillets on a three-dimensional model and compare the results to a flat-plate model with the same platform. It was also hoped to experimentally validate and quantify the increase in lift as a result of fillets on flat-plate models with the same planform as the three-dimensional model. A secondary objective was to evaluate the effect of a simple centerbody on the lift of flat-plate models with and without fillets as a means for comparison to the full three-dimensional model.
Disassembly of Son-of-sevenless Proteins from Grb2 during p21ras Desensitization by Insulin

Insulin receptor signaling acutely stimulates GTP loading of p21ras, apparently by mobilizing complexes of Grb2 and the guanine nucleotide exchangers Son-of-sevenless (Sos) 1 and 2 to associate with tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins in the plasma membrane. Here we show that in 32P-labeled 3T3-L1 adipocytes the elevated cellular concentrations of [32P]GTP-bound p21ras in response to insulin return to near basal levels after 20-30 min of hormone stimulation, while insulin receptors remain activated. Lysates of such desensitized cells were quantitatively immunoprecipitated with an antiserum recognizing both Sos1 and Sos2 proteins or a specific anti-Sos2 antiserum. Immunoblot analysis of these precipitates revealed that insulin causes a marked hyperphosphorylation of Sos1 and a 50% decrease in Grb2 associated with Sos proteins under these conditions. Similarly, anti-Grb2 immunoprecipitates of such lysates revealed the presence of decreased Sos1 protein due to insulin action. The disassembly of Grb2 from Sos proteins slightly precedes the time course of p21ras deactivation in response to insulin. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that the dissociation of Grb2 from Sos proteins caused by insulin in 3T3-L1 cells mediates p21ras deactivation and desensitization.
Effects of inbreeding on economic traits of channel catfish

Inbred channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were produced from two generations of full-sib matings to study the effect of inbreeding on reproduction, growth and survival. A randomly mated control line was propagated from the same base population to be used for the evaluation of the inbred fish. First generation inbred (I1) and control (C1) lines comprised five full-sib families each. Second generation inbred (I2) and control (C2) lines were produced by mating each male catfish from the I1 or C1 line to two females in sequence, one from the I1 and one from the C1 line. The design also produced two reciprocal outcross lines to be compared to their contemporary inbred and control lines. The coefficient of inbreeding for the inbred line increased from 0.25 in generation 1 to 0.375 in generation 2. The inbreeding coefficient was zero for all other lines. The resulting fish were performance tested in two locations, Tifton, Georgia and Auburn, Alabama and no genotype-environment interactions occurred. Results indicated that one generation of inbreeding increased number of days required for eggs to hatch by 21%, but did not significantly influence spawn weight or hatchability score. However, inbred females produced more eggs/kg body weight than control females. Two generations of full-sib mating in Georgia did not depress weight when expressed as a deviation to random controls but was depressed 13-16% when expressed as a deviation to half-sib out-crosses. Second generation inbreds produced in Alabama exhibited a 19% depression for growth rate when compared to either random or half-sib outcross controls. Survival rates at various age intervals was not decreased by inbreeding. The amount of inbreeding depression varied among families and between sexes.
A TECHNIQUE FOR PREVENTING INACTIVATION AT THE CUT SURFACE IN AUXIN DIFFUSION STUDIES

THE INACTIVATION OF AUXIN at the cut surfaces of plant organs and in crushed tissue extracts has long been a well-known phenomenon. Thimann (1934) reported that water extractions of many plants yield little or no auxin, whereas chloroform extractions of the same plants give good yields. He showed that crushed leaf extracts inactivate added auxin rapidly and concluded that the reduced yields obtained from water extractions were the result of auxin inactivation in aqueous solution by an oxidative enzyme system in the tissues. Later Kornmann (1935) described the ability of basal parts of Avena coleoptiles, and also their tips, cylinders of Helianthus hypocotyl, buds of Pisuwn, Tradescantia, and Ephedra, and petioles of Lup,inus to inactivate auxin in agar blocks. Van Overbeek (1935) has reported the inactivation of growth substances in agar blocks by cylinders from the "mesocotyls" of maize and also by coleoptile tips of the same plant from which the auxin had previously been removed by diffusion. In both cases he found the inactivation to be greater in the dwarf nana variety than in the normal variety which he studied, and he associated the inactivation with catalase-peroxidase activity in the tissues. He showed (Van Overbeek, 1938) that increased yields from the coleoptile tips of normal maize seedlings could be obtained if the tips were given a preliminary diffusion on wet filter paper. This, he reported, reduced peroxidase activity at the cut surface. Larsen (1936) obtained similar auxin inactivation with epicotyls of Phaseolus multiflorus, both in diffusions and in the juice of the plant. He was able to trap the inactivating substance in agar blocks and subsequently to inactivate auxin freshly added to the blocks. He determined that the substance was thermolabile and later concluded (Larsen, 1940) that it was an oxidative enzyme. Fiedler (1936) also brought forward evidence to suggest cut-surface inactivation by showing that in some cases, the disappearance of auxin from roots could largely be prevented by coating the cut surfaces of roots with gelatin or lanolin. Several other workers, including De Haan and Gorter (1936), Gorter and Funk (1937), Van Raalte (1937) and Syre (1938) have recorded the ability of various plant organs to inactivate growth substances, both
Development of a multiplex immunocapture-RT-PCR for simultaneous detection of BMYV and BChV in plants and single aphids.

Abstract A multiplex immunocapture-reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction protocol (mIC-RT-PCR) was successfully developed to improve the detection of Beet mild yellowing virus (BMYV) and Beet chlorosis virus (BChV) in plants and aphids in single and mixed infections. Viral particles from plant and aphid extracts were enriched by antibody-capture and lysed by heating to release the viral RNA. During the RT-PCR step, 5′ end sequences specific to each virus were amplified and the products analysed by gel electrophoresis; the PCR products corresponding to BMYV and BChV were 440 and 348 bp respectively. The test was evaluated on single aphids carrying BMYV, BChV or both viruses and the results demonstrated that the mIC-RT-PCR is specific and sensitive. Its sensitivity was found to be 105 times higher than the TAS-ELISA routinely used for detecting BMYV and BChV and 104 times better than RT-PCR when both viruses were present. Eliminating the antibody-capture step to simplify the technique did not affect the sensitivity of the test and a procedure using microtitre plates was developed to allow simultaneous processing of large numbers of samples.
Some partitions associated with a partially ordered set

Abstract For any partially ordered set P, let d k (P)( d k (P)) denote the cardinality of the largest subset of P obtained by taking the union of k antichains (chains). Then there exists a partition Δ = {Δl ⩾ Δ2 > … ⩾ Δl} of | P | such that dk(P) = Δ1 + Δ2 + … + Δk and d k (P) = Δ 1 ∗ + Δ 2 ∗ + … + Δ k ∗ for each k, where Δ ∗ denotes the partition conjugate to Δ. This result can be used to prove a general class of “Dilworth-type” theorems for subfamilies of P.
The oxide chemistry of plutonium in molten fluorides and the free energy of formation of PuF3 and PuF4

Abstract The behaviour of plutonium in molten fluorides in the presence of oxide ion has been studied in order to establish, in a molten salt reactor (MSR) fuel salt, the conditions of redox potential and oxide concentration necessary to avoid the precipitation of plutonium oxides. Three salt mixtures, LiFBeF2 (66·7−33·3 mole %), LiFBeF2ZrF4 (65·7−29·3−5·0 mole %), and LiFBeF2ThF4 (72−16−12 mole %), containing PuF3 have each been equilibrated with the oxide that is stable in that media (BeO, ZrO2, and ThO2, respectively) under various redox conditions and different temperatures. Only in the ThF4− containing melt, equilibrated with ThO2 and NiO, did the PuF3 concentration decrease. This was confirmed to be the result of the following reaction: 1 2 NiO(c)+ 3 4 ThO 2 (ss)+PuF 3 (d)⇌PuO 2 (ss)+ 3 4 ThF 4 (d)+ 1 2 Ni°(c) where c, ss, and d denote respectively pure crystalline and solid solution phases, and components dissolved in the molten fluoride phase. The free energy of formation of PuF3 was determined from the measured equilibria quotient of Reaction (1), the solubility of PuF3, and the formation free energies available for ThO2(c), NiO(c), PuO2(c and ThF4(d): δGfPuF4(c)=−334·7±2·6 and −333·1±2·6kcal/mole at 615° and 715°C. By combining this with literature data on the reaction of O2 with PuF3 we have obtained: δGfPuF4(c)=−385·4+8·7(T/1000)±2·8kcal/mole. From the results obtained we may conclude that no plutonium oxide would precipitate from the fuel of an MSR under normal operating conditions.
Normal forms for real linear Hamiltonian systems with purely imaginary eigenvalues

This note gives a concise algorithm for computing a normal form for a real linear Hamiltonian differential equatin which has purely imaginary eigenvalues. This algorithm is then applied to the differential equation which comes from the quadratic terms of the Hamiltonian of the restricted three body problem at a Lagrange equilateral triangle equilibrium point.
Control of Southern House Mosquito Larvae in Louisiana Papermill Log Ponds

Concentrations of 1.0 and 0.5 ppm Dursban® (O, O- diethyl O-3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl phosphorothioate) in total water volume provided 100% control of Culex pipiens quinque/asciatus Say for 120 days in papermill log ponds. At 0.25 and 0.0015 ppm concentrations, 90 and 30 days of 100% control were obtained, respectively. Laboratory bioassays showed that the 1.0 ppm concentration caused 10.070 mortality to 4th-instar colony C. p. quinque/asciatus larvae for 120 days, while the 0.5 ppm concentration caused 81% mortality after 120 days. The 0.25 ppm concentration caused 94% mortality at 60 days and 63% mortality at 120 days. The 0.0015 ppm concentration caused 100% mortality at 30 days but had lost its effectiveness by 45 days. Bioassay tests to determine the effects of dilution on residual effectiveness of Dursban in pond water showed that the 1.0-ppm treatment contained a concentration that was between 0.00068 (known LO90) and 0.00136 ppm 90 days after application. The 0.5- and 0.25-ppm treatments retained a concentration that was between 0.00068 (known LD90)and 0.00136 ppm 30 days after application. At 14 days after application the 0.0015-ppm treatment contained a concentration of Dursban that was between 0.00068 and 0.00136 ppm. First-instar C. p. quinque/asciailis larvae had an LD90 = 0.000021 ppm and LD90 = 0.000052 ppm while the 4th-instar larvae had an LD50= 0.000135 ppm and LD90= 0.00068 ppm. These data indicate that effective control of 1st-instar larvae could be expected in th field for some time after laboratory bioassay indicated a forthcoming loss of control to 4th-instar larvae. The lengthy success in the field could be attributed to the effectiveness of the treatments in controlling the reinfest in 1st-instar larvae which require a lower concentration of toxicant.
MUSCLE ABNORMALITIES IN SCLERODERMA

Skeletal muscle abnormalities occur in some patients with scleroderma and manifestations can vary from mild to severe. The incidence or prevalence of muscle involvement has been documented in several published series of patients. 10,25,41 In the evaluation of the incidence of muscle abnormalities in scleroderma, careful consideration must be given to clinical overlaps with other connective tissue diseases, especially inflammatory myositis, 24 and also myoadenylate deaminase deficiency 18 and inclusion body myositis, 5 all of which have been described to coexist with scleroderma. The clinical manifestations and laboratory findings for the muscle abnormalities in scleroderma patients have been well characterized by a number of investigators. Many scleroderma patients, however, do not undergo complete evaluations for muscle dysfunction because the symptomatic weakness may be mild or because of concerns over severe skin involvement, which can complicate procedures such as electromyography or muscle biopsy. New noninvasive procedures such as MR imaging, P-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and near infrared spectroscopy provide unique quantitative data that may be useful not only in the characterization of the disease but also in therapeutic decisions and long-term management of these patients. Although muscle involvement in scleroderma is usually described as mild, 40 some patients develop a debilitating or even life-threatening course. Therefore, muscle abnormalities and their substantial consequences for scleroderma patients warrant serious consideration.
What is epilepsy? Clinical perspectives in the diagnosis and treatment.

Summary:The CINNR International Conference, “An Overview of Epilepsy Research: What, Where, When, and Why?,” was designed to introduce epilepsy to the nonclinician interested in epilepsy research. This article discusses the clinical aspects of epilepsy, defines clinical terms associated with epileps
Are behavioral asset-pricing models structural? $

The recent increase in interest in so-called behavioral models of asset-pricing is motivated partly by the desire to have models that appear realistic in light of experimental evidence, and partly by their success in moment-matching exercises. This paper argues that the attention given to these two criteria misses perhaps the most important aspect of the modeling exercises. That is, the search for parameters that are invariant to changes in the economic environment. It is precisely this invariance that motivates the use of a tightly parameterized general equilibrium model. Assessing a model on this dimension is difficult and, as the paper argues through the use of suggestive examples, will undoubtedly require strong subjective judgments about the reasonableness of preference assumptions. Such judgments are routinely made about the reasonableness of assumptions about stochastic endowments. The paper suggests that more effort be applied to understanding aggregation in these models and to the exploration of behavioral assumptions in a less flexible but less corruptible time-stationary recursive class of preferences. r 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. JEL classification: B41; E44; G12
People with mobility impairments: Physical activity and quality of participation

Abstract Background We sought to describe the characteristics of physical activity levels, health, community integration, and social participation of people with mobility impairments. Methods Based on responses to a participation survey, respondents, located primarily in the Midwestern United States, were divided into 3 physical activity groups: high, low, and inactive. We chose a purposeful sample of 604 people with mobility limitations who had a diagnosis of spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke, or poliomyelitis. The Participation Survey/Mobility (PARTS/M) was used to measure participation in 6 domains and 20 different activities, the Physical Activity and Health Status (SF-36) was used to measure health and quality of life, and the Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNL) was used to measure integration into the community. Results People with mobility impairments who were identified as having a high level of physical activity reported greater participation, better health, and a higher level of reintegration to normal community living compared with participants who described their physical activity level as low or inactive. Conclusion Positive health status and superior community participation were found in a high physical activity group compared with low active or inactive groups of people with mobility impairments and limitations.
Position summary: the Lana approach to wireless computing

The goal of the Lana project is to develop system support for short-distance wireless applications. We chose a language-based approach: mechanisms like scoping and typing are used to enforce system properties. The Lana language is strongly influenced by Java-it contains interfaces, packages, single inheritance etc.-though is designed with support for disconnected operation, coordination and security. Lana supports concurrent programs. The language semantics states that all memory locations transitively reachable from a program object must be moved along with the program. Further, the set of programs is organized into a hierarchy. When a program moves between nodes then all of its sibling programs are moved along with it. This feature is used by applications to specify hoarding policies: all related programs and objects are grouped under a common umbrella program which is moved. Method calls between programs are asynchronous; thus, a caller is never blocked awaiting a reply that might never come. Each method call generates a unique key object that is used by a program to locate the reply message or exception if ever the program momentarily leaves the network. Return messages-or security or mobility exceptions provoked by the call-have this key value bound to them. Any program that is delegated the key by the caller may therefore service the reply message. Thus a node may leave a network yet safely delegate its pending jobs to other nodes.
An improved formula for the frequency shift due to a variable phase speed

The mathematical problem of linear wave propagation in a medium with slowly spatially-varying phase speed is examined by means of the multiple-scale perturbation technique. Specifically, the propagation of electromagnetic waves in a gravitational field, when the speed of light is a function of the strength of the potential, is considered. A new solution is found, which improves the well-known formula, based on a 'quasi-constant' assumption. The latter is compared to the new expression for the gravitational redshift of light emitted from the surface of a massive body, and it is shown to deviate up to 20% in the region around a few radii from the emitting surface.
Pioglitazone and metformin in obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome not optimally responsive to metformin

BACKGROUND: In an observational study of 13 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) not optimally responsive to metformin diet, we assessed the efficacy and safety of addition of pioglitazone. We also compared these 13 women to 26 women with PCOS, who were responsive to metformin diet, matched by age and by pretreatment menstrual history and not different by obesity categories. METHODS: Prospectively, as outpatients, with diet constant [1500‐2000 calorie (depending on entry body mass index), 26% protein, 44% carbohydrate, 30% fat], metformin (2.55 g/day) was given for 12 months to 39 women, 13 not optimally responsive, 26 responsive to metformin diet, followed by addition of pioglitazone (45 mg/day) for 10 months in the 13 non-responders. Outcome measures included changes in sex hormones, insulin, insulin resistance (IR), insulin secretion, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, weight, and menstrual status. RESULTS: In 13 non-responders, on metformin diet, median serum insulin fell (21 to 16 mIU/ml, P 0.07). Compared with 14% pretreatment, on metformin diet, expected menses occurred 46% of the time at 3 months (P = 0.05), 38% at 6 months (P = 0.07), 27% at 9 months, and 24% at 12 months. In 26 responders, on metformin diet, median weight fell (93 to 87 kg), testosterone fell (50 to 32 ng/dl), insulin fell (26 to 16 mIU/ml), IR fell (5.32 to 3.45) and insulin secretion fell (351 to 271) (P < 0.017 for all). The occurrence of expected menses in the 26 responders was 2.5-fold higher than in the 13 non-responders (P < 0.0001). In 11 non-responders, on pioglitazone + metformin diet over 10 months versus antecedent metformin diet, DHEAS fell (211 to 171 mg/dl, P = 0.02), insulin fell (16 to 10 mIU/ml, P = 0.001), IR fell (3.37 to 1.73, P = 0.002), insulin secretion fell (217 to 124, P = 0.004), sex hormone-binding globulin rose (31 to 43 nmol/l, P = 0.006), and HDL cholesterol rose (38 to 42 mg/dl, P = 0.003). On pioglitazone + metformin diet, the occurrence of expected menses was 2-fold higher than on metformin diet (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In women with PCOS who failed to respond optimally to metformin, when pioglitazone was added, insulin, glucose, IR, insulin secretion, and DHEAS fell, HDL cholesterol and sex hormone-binding globulin rose, and menstrual regularity improved, without adverse side-effects.
UV photolysis of quinoline in interstellar ice analogs

The polycyclic aromatic nitrogen heterocycle (PANH) quinoline (C9H7N) was frozen at 20 K in interstellar ice analogs containing either pure water or water mixed with methanol or methane and exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Upon warming, the photolysis products were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and nanoscale liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. A suite of hydroxyquinolines, which were formed by the addition of oxygen atoms to quinoline, was observed as the primary product in all the ices. Quinoline N oxide was not formed, but five hydroxyquinoline isomers were produced with no clear dominance of one isomer. Reduction products, formed by hydrogen atom addition, were also created. Ices created at 20 K with H2O: quinoline ratios of 10:1 to 100:1 showed similar product distributions to those at 122 K, with no apparent temperature or concentration dependence. Increasing the UV dose led to a decrease in overall yield, indicating that quinoline and its products may be photo-destroyed. Methylquinolines were formed upon photolysis of the methanol- and methane-containing ices. In addition, possible methoxyquinolines or quinoline methylene alcohols were formed in the methanol- containing ice, while methylhydroxyquinolines were created in the methane-containing ice. This work indicates that oxidation of PANHs could occur in icy extraterrestrial environments and suggests that a search for such compounds in carbonaceous meteorites could illuminate the possible link between interstellar ice chemistry and meteoritic organics. Given the importance of oxidized and alkylated PANHs to biochemistry, the formation and delivery of such molecules to the early Earth may have played a role in the origin and evolution of life.
The Development of Vague Modifiers in the Language of Pre-School Children.

Pre-school children's comprehension of the adverbial modifiers very and sort of, when combined with two pairs of polar dimensional adjectives (big/little and tall/short) was experimentally investigated in 64 children (three, four and five years of age). The task involved the choice of an item from a graduated array of nine objects in response to questions combining the modifiers and adjectives. Results suggested that comprehension of very begins in the third year and is understood consistently by the four- and five-year-olds in combination with all four adjectives. Sort of is not understood by the three-year-olds, but appears to be available to the four- and five-year-olds. Results are interpreted as a reflection of an early appreciation that linguistic categories are not well bounded.
Gene therapy for prostate cancer. New perspectives on an old problem.

Patients with either recurrent or metastatic prostate cancer often have a very limited response to antiandrogen therapy. Despite the ability of exogenously administered hormones to elicit effectively apoptotic cell death in the short term, long-term treatment failure resulting in hormone-refractory disease is almost always inevitable. Recent advances in the understanding of the molecular biology of prostate cancer and its applications offer new hope to these patients in the form of gene therapy. Tumorigenesis is a multistep heterogeneous process that, at its core, is the result of some genetic alteration. Loss of function (tumor suppressor), gain of function (oncogene) mutations or both, affect a variety of cellular functions ranging from cell cycle regulation and immunoreactivity to angiogenesis and cell adhesion. These changes ultimately affect factors that define a cell as malignant—loss of growth regulation and differentiation and gain of metastatic potential. The goal of gene therapy for cancer is to introduce novel genetic material into the malignant cell in an attempt to bring about either restoration of normal cellular function or, more commonly, tumor cell death. For this to occur successfully, several criteria must be fulfilled. 66 First, an appropriate genetic strategy must be chosen that will bring about the desired therapeutic effect. Second, this intervention must display some selectivity for malignant cells without causing significant damage to surrounding normal tissues. Third, an appropriate vector must be chosen that will safely and effectively deliver the desired gene into the target cell. Fourth, a delivery method must be chosen that will allow maximal incorporation of the therapeutic gene into the malignant cell while minimizing systemic toxic effects. This article examines the various genetic strategies, targeting techniques, vectors, and delivery methods currently in use in gene therapy for prostate cancer.
Multifractal decompositions of Moran fractals

We present a rigorous construction and generalization of the multifractal decomposition for Moran fractals with infinite product measure. The generalization is specified by a system of nonnegative weights in the partition sum. All the usual (smooth) properties of the f(α) theory are recovered for the case that the weights are equal to unity. The generalized spectrum, f(α, w), is invariant to a group of gauge transformations of the weights, and, in addition, need no longer be concave. In case the fractal is a Cantor set generated by an iterated function system of similarities, α is the pointwise dimension of the measure. We discuss properties of some examples.
A linear-system operator based scheme for evaluation of multinomials

We present a radix-2 online computational scheme for evaluating multinomials in a fixed-point number representation system. Its main advantage is that it can adapt to any evaluation graph representing the multinomial. Evaluation graphs are efficient representations of multinomials in a factored form. The proposed scheme maps subgraphs of the evaluation graph using linear-system operators. These operators transform the expressions represented by the subgraphs into systems of linear equations. The linear equations are then solved in an online, most-significant-digit-first fashion. The scheme produces, after an initial delay, one output digit per iteration for inputs within range. The iteration time is equal to the sum of the delays of a redundant adder, multiplexer, register and a selection unit and is independent of the size of the multinomial and the precision of the inputs/outputs. The initial delay is proportional to the diameter of the evaluation graph and the maximum number of children of any addition node in the graph. The proposed method lends itself to implementation using simple, highly regular hardware with serial interconnections between modules.
CC3-02: Risk Factors for Short-term Virologic Outcomes Among HIV-infected Patients Undergoing Regimen Switch of Combination Antiretroviral Therapy

Abstract We investigated risk factors for unfavorable virologic responses among HIV-infected patients who recently switched antiretroviral regimens. We identified HIV-infected patients who switched antiretroviral regimens (defined as adding ≥2 new medications) between 2001 and 2008 at Kaiser Permanente California. Virological response, measured after 6 months on the new regimen, was classified as (1) maximal viral suppression (HIV RNA 5000/ml). Potential risk factors examined included (1) HIV disease factors, e.g., prior AIDS, CD4 cell count; (2) history of antiretroviral use, e.g., therapy classes of the newly switched regimen, medication adherence, and virologic failure at previous regimens; and (3) novel patient-level factors including comorbidities and healthcare utilization. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for LLV and advanced virologic failure were obtained from multivariable nominal logistic regression models. A total ...
Modulation of arachidonic acid metabolism by curcumin and related β-diketone derivatives: effects on cytosolic phospholipase A2, cyclooxygenases and 5-lipoxygenase

Aberrant arachidonic acid metabolism is involved in the inflammatory and carcinogenic processes. In this study, we investigated the effects of curcumin, a naturally occurring chemopreventive agent, and related beta-diketone derivatives on the release of arachidonic acid and its metabolites in the murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells and in HT-29 human colon cancer cells. We also examined their effects on the catalytic activities and protein levels of related enzymes: cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)), cyclooxygenases (COX) as well as 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX). At 10 micro M, dibenzoylmethane (DBM), trimethoxydibenzoylmethane (TDM), tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) and curcumin effectively inhibited the release of arachidonic acid and its metabolites in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW cells and A23187-stimulated HT-29 cells. Inhibition of phosphorylation of cPLA(2), the activation process of this enzyme, rather than direct inhibition of cPLA(2) activity appears to be involved in the effect of curcumin. All the curcuminoids (10 micro M) potently inhibited the formation of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) in LPS-stimulated RAW cells. Curcumin (20 micro M) significantly inhibited LPS-induced COX-2 expression; this effect, rather than the catalytic inhibition of COX, may contribute to the decreased PGE(2) formation. Without LPS-stimulation, however, curcumin increased the COX-2 level in the macrophage cells. Studies with isolated ovine COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes showed that the curcuminoids had significantly higher inhibitory effects on the peroxidase activity of COX-1 than that of COX-2. Curcumin and THC potently inhibited the activity of human recombinant 5-LOX, showing estimated IC(50) values of 0.7 and 3 micro M, respectively. The results suggest that curcumin affects arachidonic acid metabolism by blocking the phosphorylation of cPLA(2), decreasing the expression of COX-2 and inhibiting the catalytic activities of 5-LOX. These activities may contribute to the anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic actions of curcumin and its analogs.
Commentary to 'caregivers of children with a disorder of sex development: associations between parenting and psychological distress'.

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Cord Blood Stem Cells Inhibit Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Translocation to Mitochondria in Glioblastoma

Background Overexpression of EGFR is one of the most frequently diagnosed genetic aberrations of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). EGFR signaling is involved in diverse cellular functions and is dependent on the type of preferred receptor complexes. EGFR translocation to mitochondria has been reported recently in different cancer types. However, mechanistic aspects of EGFR translocation to mitochondria in GBM have not been evaluated to date.