cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Racial Differences in Adherence to Antidepressant Treatment in Later Life

Objective Although antidepressants are an effective treatment for later-life depression, older patients often choose not to initiate or to discontinue medication treatment prematurely. Although racial differences in depression treatment preferences have been reported, little is known about racial differences in antidepressant medication adherence among older patients. Design Prospective, observational study comparing antidepressant adherence for older African American and white primary care patients. Participants A total of 188 subjects age 60 and older, diagnosed with clinically significant depression with a new recommendation for antidepressant treatment by their primary care physician. Measurement Study participants were assessed at study entry and at the 4-month follow-up (encompassing the acute treatment phase). Depression medication adherence was based on a well-validated self-report measure. Results At the 4-month follow-up, 61.2% of subjects reported that they were adherent to their antidepressant medication. In unadjusted and two of the three adjusted analyses, African American subjects (n = 82) had significantly lower rates of 4-month antidepressant adherence than white subjects (n = 106). African American women had the lowest adherence rates (44.4%) followed by African American men (56.8%), white men (65.3%), and white women (73.7%). In logistic regression models controlling for demographic, illness, and functional status variables, significant differences persisted between African American women and white women in reported 4-month antidepressant adherence (OR: 3.58, 95% CI: 1.27–10.07, Wald χ 2 = 2.42, df = 1, p Conclusions The results demonstrate racial and gender differences in antidepressant adherence in older adults. Depression treatment interventions for older adults should take into account the potential impact of race and gender on adherence to prescribed medications.
Uncertainty Underground: Yucca Mountain and the Nation's High-Level Nuclear Waste (Macfarlane, A. and Ewing, R.C.; 2006) [Book Review]

This book examines the plans by the US Department of Energy to store nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain in the Nevada desert.
The McDonald Observatory faint comet survey: Gas production in 17 comets

The complete Intensified Dissector Scanner data set on 17 comets is presented, and production rates are derived and analyzed. It is shown that there is a strong degree of homogenization in the production rate ratios of many comets. It also appears that the ratio of the production rates of the various species has no heliocentric distance dependence, except for the case of NH2. When speaking of the gas in the coma of a comet, it appears that comets must have been formed under remarkably uniform conditions, and that they must have evolved and formed their comae in a similar manner. The data presented here constitute strong evidence that the minor species must be bound up in a lattice and that the interior of a comet must be reasonably uniform.
Response of Broiler Breeder Females to Feed Restriction Below Recommended Levels. 2. Economic Analysis

Abstract An economic analysis of the growth and production response to feed restriction was made for broiler breeder females. Experimental response data were used 1) to examine the effect of feed restriction on pullet rearing, breeder hen, and hatching egg cost components, 2) to evaluate the effect of feeding program on the average total cost of rearing a pullet (TCP), maintaining a breeder hen (TCB) and producing a dozen hatching eggs (TCE), 3) to test the sensitivity of the TCP to changes in component costs, and 4) to estimate the change in TCP and TCE, to changes in pullet rearing density. Each week of delayed maturity increased TCP by approximately 1%. Reduced pullet feed costs resulting from feed restriction did not offset increased service and grower payment costs at 5% production. Increased pullet rearing costs were offset by breeder feed savings and increased production by approximately 67 wk of age. Projected TCE beyond 67 wk indicates severe feed restriction to be more economical (lower TCE) than standard feeding practices. The TCP was most sensitive to changes in chick, feed, and grower payment costs. Projected increased pullet housing density lowered TCP, which lowered the TCE even further for the more restricted feeding programs.
Electronic Structures of Transition Metal Phosphorus Monoxide Complexes

Density functional theory calculations were carried out on the transition metal phosphorus monoxide complexes (NH2)3MoPO, [η5-C5H5Mo(CO)2]3PO, [η5-C5H5W(CO)2]3PO, [Ru4(CO)12PO]-, [Os4(CO)12PO]-, and [Ru5(CO)15PO]-. The results indicate that π-bonding dominates the interaction of PO with transition metal clusters and that electrostatic effects, as well as orbital interactions, have a significant influence on the PO bond strength and can lead to IR frequencies above that of free PO.
PERMANENT PACING INDICATIONS FOLLOWING MUSTARD OPERATION FOR TRANSPOSITION OF THE GREAT ARTERIES

Sick sinus syndrome is a frequent complication following Mustard operation. Between October 1971 and May 1985, we performed the Mustard operation on 78 patients with transposition of the great arteries. Sixty-six patients were followed long-term for up to 10 years after surgery. We reviewed patient records and Holter monitor recordings in these latter 66 patients to determine if the degree of bradycardia predicted symptoms requiring permanent pacing. A total of 8/66 patients received pacemakers. Indications for pacing included asymptomatic bradycardia during the first postoperative month, symptomatic bradycardia (seizures and syncope) late following surgery, and use of antiarrhythmic drugs other than digoxin for the control of symptomatic atrial flutter or supraventricular tachycardia. The mean minimal heart rates documented by Holter monitor recordings did not differ significantly between the asymptomatic and symptomatic patients (p 0.15). We conclude that the degree of bradycardia is not a reliable predictor of symptoms or the need for pacing in postoperative Mustard patients during early and intermediate duration follow-up.
Low profile CSP (LP-CSP) technology for ultra-thin IC packaging applications

Miniaturization of mobile electronics and consumer devices has resulted in a three dimensional (3D) scaling trend for Wafer Level Chip Scale Packaging (WLCSP) technology. Horizontal scaling and the impact on device reliability have been described in detail in many previous publications. Horizontal scaling typically implies reduction in the I/O pitch leading to a smaller die size. The device reliability measured with respect to temperature-cycling tests and drop tests, improves as the I/O pitch reduces. Scaling rules have been developed for horizontal scaling. In this paper, we discuss the vertical scaling of WLCSP technology that does not follow conventional scaling rules. Aggressive scaling is implemented in the vertical dimension to arrive at a low form factor package technology. Such a packaging technology is extremely useful in space constrained, ultra-thin, consumer electronics products. We discuss the fabrication technology and then present the reliability results. A simple RC filter circuit is used as a test vehicle to compare the performance and reliability of the new LP-CSP process with the conventional CSP process.
Nonlinear Mean Reversion in the Short-Term Interest Rate

Using a new Bayesian method for the analysis of diffusion processes, this article finds that the nonlinear drift in interest rates found in a number of previous studies can be confirmed only under prior distributions that are best described as informative. The assumption of stationarity, which is common in the literature, represents a nontrivial prior belief about the shape of the drift function. This belief and the use of ‘‘flat’’ priors contribute strongly to the finding of nonlinear mean reversion. Implementation of an approximate Jeffreys prior results in virtually no evidence for mean reversion in interest rates unless stationarity is assumed. Finally, the article documents that nonlinear drift is primarily a feature of daily rather than monthly data, and that these data contain a transitory element that is not reflected in the volatility of longermaturity yields. The drift of the short-term interest rate is an important determinant of a wide variety of asset prices, both inside and outside the boundaries of what is often called fixed income. While volatilities may be estimated relatively accurately using high-frequency observations of the short rate, the short rate’s extreme persistence makes identifying the true shape of the drift function a particularly elusive goal. If our goal is merely to fit prices, then the difficulty in estimating a drift function can be avoided by backing out implied drifts using a no-arbitrage approach such as Hull and White (1990) or Heath, Jarrow, and Morton (1992). These methods bypass the true distribution entirely, focusing on solving for the risk-neutral drift function that is consistent with the cross section of bond prices. If our goal, however, is to learn from prices and to be able to assess theories, such as the expectations hypothesis, that link short and long rates, then estimating the drift function under the true measure is unavoidable. In several recent articles, a variety of sophisticated econometric techniques have been brought to bear on the problem. In particular, :
Abstract 3521: Alleviation of cancer chemotherapeutic agent-induced toxicity by the synthetic panaxytriol analogues of Panax Ginseng

Therapeutic index (TI) of cancer therapeutic agent is the ratio of maximal tolerated dose (MTD) and the optimal therapeutic dose (OTD). “Reduction in toxicity” and/or “increasing efficacy” by augmentation or synergy will invariably lead to improved TI and patient9s well-being during therapy. We found a series of polyacetylene small molecules that is promising just to do that. Through total synthesis, we designed the panaxytriol (PXT) analogs of panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, such as PXTA, PXTAI, PXTAEI and its isomers that are biologically more active than their parent natural ingredient, PXT. At sub-toxic doses, the PXT-compounds, as a single entity (e.g., not an extract, mixture or preparation), are found to process the following intriguing pharmacological properties that have potential applications in cancer chemotherapy or radiation therapy. They are: (i) Exhibited moderate anti-tumor effect in the absence of any toxicity, and slightly augment or synergize anti-tumor effect of taxol or epothilones, in xenograft tumor bearing nude mice; (ii) Significantly or markedly reduced cancer therapeutic agent-induced toxicity such as body-weight losses (e.g., by Taxol, iso-oxazole fludelone, iso-oxazole dehydelone, 5-FU, cyclophosphamide), lethality (e.g., high dose 5-FU) and neurotoxicity (e.g., peripheral neuropathy induced by Taxol); (iii) Showed moderate anti-inflammatory effect in foot-paw-carrangreenan assays in CD-1 mice; (iv) Improved the hematological parameters following high dose 5-FU; (v) The alleviation of body-weight loss also manifested by the oral administration; (vi) Reduced the radiation-induced body-weight loss in CD-1 mice; (vii) Reduced the lethality of radiation; and (viii) Induced the cancer preventive phase II enzyme, quinone reductase (NQ01). PXT-analogs also stimulated human PBMC proliferation in a biphasic and delayed manner in vitro and stimulated splenocyte proliferation of CD-1 mice in delayed manner, suggesting the immuno-enhancing effect. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that co-administration of PXT-based agent with a range of cancer chemotherapeutic agents or radiation therapy will decrease various therapy-associated toxicities and thus increase the therapeutic index. These findings indicate a promising improvement for the cancer chemotherapeutic or radiation therapeutic strategies. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3521. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3521
GraphicsMentor: a tool for learning graphics fundamentals

This paper discusses the functionality of GraphicsMentor. GraphicsMentor permits a student to modify many parameters of the camera, objects, and light sources interactively, and to visualize the rendered result on-the-fly. It also supports basic keyframe animation. With GraphicsMentor, a student should be able to grasp the fundamentals of computer graphics quickly and easily in a learning-by-doing way.
Synthesis of aminothiazole derived morphinans

Two aminothiazole derived morphinans 9 and 11 were prepared for our ongoing opioid ligands study. The synthesis was initiated from levorphanol 1, which was first triflated, and then subjected to Pd-catalyzed reduction followed by nitration. The resulting two nitrated isomers were characterized by analogy to known compounds. The formation of the aminothiazole ring occurred highly selectively to yield only one product from each of the anilines 6 and 7.
Nursing Advocacy in a Postgenomic Age

The Human Genome Project will change how health is defined and how disease is prevented, diagnosed, and treated. As the largest group of health care providers in contact with patients, nurses need to be competent in the science of genetics. Beyond this, nurses need to understand the complexities that arise in genomic health care. Ethical, legal, and social issues are integral to the delivery of genomic health care, and nurses must have an astute understanding of such complexities. What it means to know, to reason, and to act in this postgenomic age is explored.
Small “Non-velocity” Redshifts in Galaxies

THE question of whether or not the small excess redshifts observed in some companion galaxies1,2 have a non-velocity origin has recently been raised. The de Vaucouleurs3 have pointed out that small, systematic errors in the redshifts of E and SO galaxies might arise because the lines in the low dispersion spectra on which they are measured do not have well-determined effective wavelengths. The data reported here support this possibility. In the three cases I present, systematic differences arise between velocities derived from measurements of CA II, H(λ3968.5) and K(λ3933.7) carried out “classically” (with a visually positioned, two coordinate measuring engine) and velocities derived from either “classical” measurements of other spectral lines in the same object or measurements of the same H and K lines using numerical techniques.
An open system model of leadership performance

Abstract This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between a manager's rated effectiveness, the level of open communication which exists between himself and his subordinates, and the manager's ability to accept differences (to differentiate) between people. Forty-one managers, their superiors, and subordinates were surveyed. As hypothesized, a manager's rated effectiveness is highest in those cases where both a high level of open communication exists and the manager is a high differentiator. No direct relationships were found between a manager's effectiveness and the ability to differentiate or level of open communication. These results are felt to be consistent with previous research by Fiedler but conclusions somewhat different from Fiedler's are drawn.
Chronicle of US/PRC interactions in insect pest management.

After the signing of the Shanghai Communique in 1972 by representatives of governments of the USA and the People's Republic of China, there has been some interaction between the entomology communities of the two countries. After the establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 1979,new momentum was started in exchanges in science and technology, including insect pest management. The following is a chronicle of the interactions in this area of which the author is aware.
Agonist activity of antiestrogen-receptor complexes to regulate urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) endogenous gene expression in breast cancer cells

Abstract We have shown that 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT) has estrogen-like effects on induction of TGF α mRNA in estrogen receptor (ER)-negative MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells, transfected with either wildtype (S30 cells) or a codon 351 asp→tyr mutant ER (BC-2 cells). The mutant receptor used to produce the stable transfectants was identified in a tamoxifen-stimulated human breast tumor. We have also demonstrated that raloxifene exhibits a gene-specific estrogen-like effect with mutant ER (BC-2 cells) but not with wildtype ER (S30 cells) (Levenson, A.S., Catherino, W.H. and Jordan, V.C. (1997) Estrogenic activity is increased for an antiestrogen by a natural mutation of the estrogen receptor. J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol., 60, 261–268). We now describe the regulation of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) endogenous gene expression by estradiol (E2) and different antiestrogens in BC-2 cells. Northern blot analyses revealed that 4-OHT and raloxifene have concentration-dependent agonistic (E2-like) effects on the regulation of these genes. In contrast, the pure antiestrogen ICI 182780 alone had no effect but could block the action of E2, 4-OHT and raloxifene. The E2-like effects of non-steroidal antiestrogens in this model system cannot be explained by the mutation in the ER alone because 4-OHT acts as an agonist with wildtype receptor as well. We propose that the clear cut biological expression of estrogen-like qualities with different antiestrogens will in the future serve as an important model to dissect the signal transduction pathway.
Bayesian updating on price elasticity of uncertain demand

One of the most important aspects in the job of a design engineer is to choose the design alternative with the highest expected utility for the firm. In a profit-maximizing setup, the expected utility at a given price is determined by the demand for the product at that price as well as the utility function over profit. This paper provides a mechanism for characterizing the uncertainty about demand as a function of its price. We characterize the demand distribution using a scaled Poisson process. We then show how to estimate demand by fitting its expectation and variance at a given price to the Poisson process. Finally, we provide an approximate analytic solution for the optimal price of a product that offers the highest expected utility for the design firm. Our results indicate that the more risk averse firm has a lower optimal price than the less risk averse firm. We also calculate the expected value of perfect information on the demand at any price via Bayesian updating.
Photoacoustic imaging of prostate brachytherapy seeds with transurethral light delivery

ABSTRACT We present a novel approach to photoacoustic imaging of prostate brachytherapy seeds utilizing an existingurinary catheter for transurethral light delivery. Two canine prostates were surgically implanted with brachyther-apy seeds under transrectal ultrasound guidance. One prostate was excised shortly after euthanasia and xed ingelatin. The second prostate was imaged in the native tissue environment shortly after euthanasia. A urinarycatheter was inserted in the urethra of each prostate. A 1-mm core diameter optical ber coupled to a 1064 nmNd:YAG laser was inserted into the urinary catheter. Light from the ber was either directed mostly parallel tothe ber axis (i.e. end- re re) or mostly 90  to the ber axis (i.e. side- re ber). An Ultrasonix SonixTouchscanner, transrectal ultrasound probe with curvilinear (BPC8-4) and linear (BPL9-5) arrays, and DAQ unit wereutilized for synchronized laser light emission and photoacoustic signal acquisition. The implanted brachytherapyseeds were visualized at radial distances of 6-16 mm from the catheter. Multiple brachytherapy seeds were si-multaneously visualized with each array of the transrectal probe using both delay-and-sum (DAS) and short-lagspatial coherence (SLSC) beamforming. This work is the rst to demonstrate the feasibility of photoacousticimaging of prostate brachytherapy seeds using a transurethral light delivery method.Keywords: optoacoustic imaging, side- re probe, side-looking probe, beamforming, prostate cancer
Profits on the Move: The Economics of Collective Migration among the Raika Shepherds in India

This article examines the question why raika migrant shepherds in Western India travel collectively during the annual movement cycles rather than as individual households. The answer hinges on economies of scale that collective mobility makes available to shepherds, but even more significantly on the ways in which collective movement allows shepherds to address security risks in an uncertain and transient environment. In exploring the economic benefits of collective migration, the article presents fresh evidence on the ways in which participation in markets is crucial to the survival of migrant pastoralism among the raikas. The substantial literature on mobility among pastoralists has enhanced our understanding of the many reasons behind mobility. This article addresses an important aspect of migratory strategies by focusing on why and under what conditions mobile populations might select a collective strategy rather than one that is individually oriented.
Congenital myasthenic syndromes: Experiments of nature

Abstract Congenital myasthenic syndromes CMS can arise from presynaptic, synaptic, or postsynaptic defects. Recent studies indicate that mutations in the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) subunit genes are a common cause of the postsynaptic CMS. The mutations, which increase or decrease the response to acetylcholine, are experiments of nature that highlight functionally significant domains of the AChR.
Spectroscopic investigation of the thermal decomposition of europium oxalate

Abstract The mechanism associated with the thermal decomposition of europium oxalate remains enigmatic, despite the fact that considerable attention has been given to it. Various Eu(II) and Eu(III) intermediates have been invoked to explain experimental observations of the decomposition. We have used Raman and luminescence spectroscopies in conjunction with differential thermal analysis to pursue further the thermal decomposition of europium oxalate. Our results are consistent with the sequential formation of two trivalent, oxycarbonate intermediates; evidence for a divalent europium intermediate was not obtained.
A differentiation factor required for the expression of cytotoxic T-cell function.

Effector cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are induced from resting precursors (small lymphocytes) which do not express cytotoxic activity. The process of CTL activation, which occurs in 2–7 days following mitogen or antigen stimulation, thus involves a differentiation event and normally also involves proliferation. These events in CTL activation seem to be induced, at least in part, by soluble, antigen-nonspecific mediators which reach the CTL precursor as a consequence of cell–cell interactions during the immune response. The initial evidence for this was the finding that in addition to CTL precursors, la-positive macrophage-like accessory cells1–4, and helper T cells5–10 are required for the induction of CTL activity in vitro. Furthermore, the requirement for accessory cells can be replaced with factors present in concanavalin A (Con A)-induced cultures of spleen cells11. There is evidence that T-cell products such as interleukin-2 (IL-2, formerly T-cell growth factor)11–15 as well as accessory cell products, such as inter-leukin-1 (IL-1, formerly lymphocyte activating factor)4,15, are involved in T-cell activation, although the precise roles of these factors in CTL activation are poorly understood. Here we provide evidence for a factor, different from IL-1 and IL-2, which is present in supernatants of Con A-activated mouse spleen cells and is required for the differentiation of CTL precursors into active CTLs.
Effects of thyroid hormone on light/dark melatonin synthesis and release by young and maturing rat pineal glands in vitro.

Synthesis and release of melatonin were studied in pineal expiants from 14- (young) and 60-day-old (‘maturing’) male Long-Evans rats with or without added thyroid hormone, triiodothyronine (T3), at or near physiological levels and under light and dark conditions. Incubation for 6 hr (1200–1800) was in a synthetic medium; melatonin was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). In light, T3 increased melatonin levels in pineal and medium of cultures from either young or maturing animals. In dark, T3 decreased melatonin levels in the pineals of either age, but was without significant effect on levels in the medium. Since it is known from other work that 14-day-old rat pineal glands do not yet have a complete sympathetic innervation system, it is here doubly evident that T3 can modulate directly pineal synthesis and release of melatonin, and may not depend upon a mature sympathetic innervation. Light in the studied conditions was permissive from the stimulatory action of T3 on pineal synthesis and release of melatonin in vitro.
Near-road air pollution impacts of goods movement in communities adjacent to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach

A mobile platform was outfitted with real-time instruments to spatially characterize pollution concentrations in communities adjacent to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, communities heavily impacted by emissions related to dieselized goods movement, with the highest localized air pollution impacts due to heavy-duty diesel trucks (HDDT). Measurements were conducted in the winter and summer of 2007 on fixed routes driven both morning and afternoon. Diesel-related pollutant concentrations such as black carbon, nitric oxide, ultrafine particles, and particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were frequently elevated two to five times within 150 m downwind of freeways (compared to more than 150 m) and up to two times within 150 m downwind of arterial roads with significant amounts of diesel traffic. While wind direction was the dominant factor associated with downwind impacts, steady and consistent wind direction was not required to produce; high impacts were observed when a given area was downwind of a major roadway for any significant fraction of time. This suggests elevated pollution impacts downwind of freeways and of busy arterials are continuously occurring on one side of the road or the other, depending on wind direction. The diesel truck traffic in the area studied was high, with more than 2000 trucks per peak hour on the freeway and two- to six-hundred trucks per hour on the arterial roads studied. These results suggest that similarly-frequent impacts occur throughout urban areas in rough proportion to diesel truck traffic fractions. Thus, persons living or working near and downwind of busy roadways can have several-fold higher exposures to diesel vehicle-related pollution than would be predicted by ambient measurements in non-impacted locations.
The Censored Curriculum: The Problem with Textbooks Today:

To meet the curriculum challenge of the future, we must generate new horizons and new visions that reach across group interests. We must put aside racial, ethnic, and gender issues to achieve a more unified set of interests and collective direction.
Microstructural Characterization of U-Nb-Zr, U-Mo-Nb, and U-Mo-Ti Alloys via Electron Microscopy

Ternary uranium molybdenum alloys are being examined for use as dispersion and monolithic nuclear fuels in research and test reactors. In this study, three such ternary alloys, with compositions U-10Nb-4Zr, U-8Mo-3Nb, and U-7Mo-3Ti in wt.%, were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with high angle annular dark field (HAADF) imaging via scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). These alloys were homogenized at 950 °C for 96 h and were expected to be single-phase bcc-γ-U. However, upon examination, it was determined that despite homogenization, each of the alloys contained a small volume fraction precipitate phase. Through SEM and XRD, it was confirmed that the matrix retained the bcc-γ-U phase. TEM specimens were prepared using site-specific focused ion beam (FIB) in situ lift out (INLO) technique to include at least one precipitate from each alloy. By electron diffraction, the precipitate phases for the U-10Nb-4Zr, U-8Mo-3Nb, and U-7Mo-3Ti alloys were identified as bcc-(Nb,Zr), bcc-(Mo,Nb), and bcc-(Mo,Ti) solid solutions, respectively. The composition and phase information collected in this study was then used to construct ternary isotherms for each of these alloys at 950 °C.
Blow-up for solutions of some linear wave equations with mixed nonlinear boundary conditions

This paper deals with the blow-up in solutions of some linear wave equations with mixed nonlinear boundary conditions. The finite time blow-up in solutions are caused from the nonlinear boundary conditions even if the initial data are smooth and well defined for all times. The pointwise blow-up in exact solution and blow-up in energy solution are investigated.
Combination gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The direct combination of gas-liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry represents one of the most powerful techniques available for the analysis of complex mixtures of lipids. Principal advantages are the extremely small amounts of material required, the relative speed of analysis, and the wealth of molecular structural information available. The ability to record rapidly several mass spectra of one emerging chromatographic peak may also frequently be of use in detecting impurities, unresolved mixtures, or thermal decomposition of the sample. In the development of new gas chromatographic analytical procedures, the combination instrument may frequently prove highly useful for following chemical reactions in the preparation of new types of derivatives for GLC.
Cytochrome oxidase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. I. Purification and some properties.

A new purification procedure for the isolation of Pseudomonas cytochrome oxidase (ferrocytochrome c2:O2 oxidoreductase, EC 1.9.3.2) is described. The product is purified 16-fold over the crude cell extract and contains equimolar amounts of heme c and heme d. The molecular weight of the electrophoretically homogeneous enzyme is about 121200 as determined by sedimentation equilibrium. Acrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate results in a single proteinstaining band with a molecular weight of 58000. The minimal molecular weight on the basis of heme-iron content is 55600. With O2 as the final electron acceptor and at 30 °C in 0.1 M phosphate at the optimum pH of 6.0 the Km for reduced Pseudomonas cytochrome c-551 as substrate is 10.5 μM whereas with Pseudomonas copper protein as the electron source the Km is 17.2 μM under identical conditions. The absorption spectrum of purified Pseudomonas cytochrome oxidase shows maxima at 640, 525 and 412 nm in the oxidized state and at 625–655, 544, 549, 521, 460 and 418 nm in the reduced state. The EPR spectrum taken at 10 °K has signals with g values of 4.30, 2.93, 2.45, 2.31, 2.08, 1.71 and 1.4. Evidence indicates that those signals at g = 2.93, 2.31 and 1.4 arise from the heme c while those at g = 2.45 and 1.71 arise from heme d. No signals can be seen after reduction of the enzyme.
New Zealand Bank Vulnerabilities in International Perspective

The global financial crisis is creating stress on banking systems across the world through funding and asset quality shocks. This paper combines different stress scenarios, as well as cross-country analysis, to assess New Zealand bank vulnerabilities to the global crisis and the domestic recession. It finds that a sharp worsening of asset quality would be required to reduce bank capital below the regulatory minimum. On the funding side, a disruption to banks' offshore funding may put pressure on the exchange rate, but would not trigger a systemic liquidity problem.
Spectra of convolution operators on Lp spaces

Abstract Let 1 < p < ∞ with p ≠ 2. Let G denote the n-torus or Euclidean n-space, and let Γ be the dual group of G. We show the existence of a multiplier transformation T on Lp(G) which satisfies the following properties: (a) the transform T of T is smooth and vanishes at infinity on Γ; (b) the spectrum of T on Lp properly contains T(Γ)∪{0}.
Dynamic linear models with switching

Abstract The problem of modeling change in a vector time series is studied using a dynamic linear model with measurement matrices that switch according to a time-varying independent random process. We derive filtered estimators for the usual state vectors and also for the state occupancy probabilities of the underlying nonstationary measurement process. A maximum likelihood estimation procedure is given that uses a pseudo-expectation-maximization algorithm in the initial stages and nonlinear optimization. We relate the models to those considered previously in the literature and give an application involving the tracking of multiple targets.
Improved Substrate Protection and Self-Healing of Boundary Lubrication Film Consisting of Polydimethylsiloxane with Cationic Side Groups

The substrate protection and self-healing capability of a cationic polymer lubricant (CPL) on a silicon oxide surface were tested with a pin-on-disc tribometer and atomic force microscopy (AFM). CPL was made of low molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) containing covalently attached quaternary ammonium cations and iodide counter-anions. CPL was spin-coated on the silicon oxide surface to form a 3–4 nm thick bound-and-mobile lubricant layer. The CPL film capable of binding to the SiO2 surface through ionic interactions is superior in substrate protection than the neutral PDMS film which cannot form the bound layer. The mobile component in the CPL film readily flows into the lubricant-depleted sliding contact region from the surrounding film. The self-healing capability of CPL via lateral flow is slightly enhanced in humid environments due to water uptake in the film. The 3–4 nm thick CPL film on silicon oxide takes 30–40 s to flow into a ~50 μm wide track, which corresponds to an apparent spreading rate of 2–3 × 10−11 m2/s.
Current therapy for thymoma.

Thymoma is distinguished from other thoracic malignancies by its nonmalignant appearance cytologically. Diagnosis of malignancy is made on the basis of gross or microscopic invasion of the capsule or surrounding tissues. Recent advances may permit diagnosis with fine-needle aspiration of the tumor and immunohistochemical staining techniques, but the skill of the cyopathologist is critical. Thymoma exhibits an indolent course, and this fact may give surgeons an opportunity for a successful resection even late in the course of the disease, after radiotherapy or chemotherapy has reduced the tumor bulk.
Image mapping using local and global statistics

We describe a set of techniques for mapping one image to another based on the statistics of a training set. We apply these techniques to the problems of image denoising and superresolution, but they should also be useful for many vision problems where training data are available. Given a local feature vector computed from an input image patch, we learn to estimate a subband coefficient of the output image conditioned on the patch. This entails approximating a multidimensional function, which we make tractable by nested binning and linear regression within bins. This method performs as well as nearest neighbor techniques, but is much faster. After attaining this local (patch based) estimate, we force the marginal subband histograms to match a set of target histograms, in the style of Heeger and Bergen. 1 The target histograms are themselves estimated from the training data. With the combined techniques, denoising performance is similar to state of the art techniques in terms of PSNR, and is slightly superior in subjective quality. In the case of superresolution, our techniques produce higher subjective quality than the competing methods, allowing us to attain large increases in apparent resolution. Thus, for these two tasks, our method is very fast and very effective.
1α,25(OH)2D3 is an autocrine regulator of extracellular matrix turnover and growth factor release via ERp60 activated matrix vesicle metalloproteinases

Abstract Growth plate chondrocytes produce proteoglycan-rich type II collagen extracellular matrix (ECM). During cell maturation and hypertrophy, ECM is reorganized via a process regulated by 1α,25(OH) 2 D 3 and involving matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), including MMP-3 and MMP-2. 1α,25(OH) 2 D 3 regulates MMP incorporation into matrix vesicles (MVs), where they are stored until released. Like plasma membranes (PM), MVs contain the 1α,25(OH) 2 D 3 -binding protein ERp60, phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ), and caveolin-1, but appear to lack nuclear Vitamin D receptors (VDRs). Chondrocytes produce 1α,25(OH) 2 D 3 (10 −8 M), which binds ERp60, activating PLA 2 , and resulting lysophospholipids lead to MV membrane disorganization, releasing active MMPs. MV MMP-3 activates TGF-β1 stored in the ECM as large latent TGF-β1 complexes, consisting of latent TGF-β1 binding protein, latency associated peptide, and latent TGF-β1. Others have shown that MMP-2 specifically activates TGF-β2. TGF-β1 regulates 1α,25(OH) 2 D 3 -production, providing a mechanism for local control of growth factor activation. 1α,25(OH) 2 D 3 activates PKCα in the PM via ERp60-signaling through PLA 2 , lysophospholipid production, and PLCβ. It also regulates distribution of phospholipids and PKC isoforms between MVs and PMs, enriching the MVs in PKCζ. Direct activation of MMP-3 in MVs requires ERp60. However, when MVs are treated with 1α,25(OH) 2 D 3 , PKCζ activity is decreased and PKCα is unaffected, suggesting a more complex feedback mechanism, potentially involving MV lipid signaling.
Scalable video transmission over wireless DS-CDMA channels using minimum TSC spreading codes

In this letter, we report results on the relative performance of scalable video transmission via a single-rate or a multirate direct sequence code-division multiple-access channel using minimum total squared correlation spreading codes. Our findings demonstrate the superiority of the multirate system on a wide range of chip rates of practical interest.
“That Wasn't Even Me They Showed” Women as Criminals on America's Most Wanted

This study examines images of female offenders on America's Most Wanted, a popular, reality-based television crime program. It is designed to identify demographic characteristics of victims and offenders and to describe the crimes, escapes, and recapture of female offenders featured on the show. It focuses on television images of female offenders—specifically sexuality, conventional gender roles, and male control—to reveal dominant interpretations of femininity. Findings indicate that female fugitives are older and more ethnically diverse than most women on television. The crimes committed by female fugitives are more violent than those normally committed by women. Female offenders are depicted as motivated by greed and invested with sexual power, and although they may violate conventional gender norms, they are not subject to the control of men.
Dietary rice protein isolate attenuates atherosclerosis in apoE-deficient mice by upregulating antioxidant enzymes

Rice-based diets may have been reported to protect against the development of atherosclerosis; however, the underlying mechanism(s) for this protection remains unknown. In this report, the mechanism(s) contributing to the atheroprotective effects of rice-based diet was addressed using the apolipoprotein E knockout (apoE-/-) mice fed rice protein isolate (RPI) or casein (CAS). Reduced atherosclerotic lesions were observed in aortic sinus and enface analyses of the descending aorta in RPI-fed apoE-/- mice compared with CAS-fed mice. Plasma total- and HDL-cholesterol levels were not different amongst the two groups, suggesting alternative mechanism(s) could have contributed to the atheroprotective effect of rice-based diets. Plasma oxLDL and anti-oxLDL IgG levels were significantly decreased in RPI-fed compared to CAS-fed animals. Plasma and aortic tissue GSH levels and GSH:GSSG ratio were higher in RPI-fed mice compared to CAS-fed group. Interestingly, RPI feeding increased mRNA and protein expression of superoxide dismutase, and mRNA expression of catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase, key antioxidant enzymes implicated inhibiting oxidative stress leading to atherosclerosis. In conclusion, these findings suggest that the reduction in atherosclerotic lesions observed in mice fed the rice-based diet is mediated in part by inhibiting oxidative stress and subsequent oxLDL generation that could result in reduced foam cell formation, an early event during atherogenesis.
Risk of Institutionalization Among Community Long-Term Care Clients With Dementia

South Carolina Community Long-Term Care (CLTC) data were used to identify factors increasing the risk of institutionalization in people with dementia. Clients diagnosed with dementia and observed at least twice between June 1993 and December 1994 (N = 786) were studied. Logistic regression determined that clients with a decline in ADL function who were white, had a nonrelative or child as a caregiver, and were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease were at increased risk of institutionalization. Identifying CLTC clients at increased risk of institutionalization could be useful in designing additional interventions to prevent institutionalization or in planning the transition to institutional care.
A dynamic geographic hash table for data-centric storage in sensor networks

This paper proposes a dynamic geographic hash table for data-centric storage (DCS) in sensor networks. In DCS systems, data storage locations are determined by data name. The storage locations are obtained through the use of a geographic hash table (GHT) that maps data names to geographic locations. Traditional DCS systems use a static hash function for this purpose, resulting in a static set of nodes serving the network throughout its lifetime. Hence, these nodes may experience unbalanced resource utilization problems and the network will not be capable of dealing with network dynamics such as new sensor deployments or runtime sensor failures. We address these problems by proposing a dynamic GHT solution that relies on two schemes: 1) a temporal-based geographic hash table to achieve overall load balancing among sensor nodes over time; and 2) a location selection scheme based on node contribution potential to proactively adapt the system to network dynamics. Our performance evaluations show that the dynamic GHT can alleviate the resource utilization problem of DCS systems and can prolong the network lifetime significantly
High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of azaarenes and their metabolites in groundwater affected by creosote wood preservatives.

Polynuclear azaheterocyclic compounds (azaarenes) are nitrogen-containing analogs of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The nitrogen atom in the ring system causes these compounds to be slightly polar and considerably more water soluble than related PAHs. A method using a solid-surface sorption technique to extract and concentrate azaarenes and their principle metabolites present in groundwater that contains creosote waste is described. Analyte isolation and concentration is accomplished by solid-phase extraction on n-octadecyl cartridges followed by instrumental determination involving high-performance liquid chromatography. Separations and detection are achieved using flexible-walled, wide-bore columns with ultraviolet and fluorescence photometric detectors connected in series. Fluorescence detection alone is insufficient because the fluorescence response produced by two-ring azaarenes is limited. Short wavelength (229 nm) absorbance detection provides improved sensitivity for these compounds and peak rationing for more definitive identification. In this study, oxygen-containing metabolites of quinoline, isoquinoline, and acridine are detected in groundwater from hazardous waste sites in Pensacola, Florida and St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Concentrations ranging from mg/L to ng/L are measured. The dependence of measured octanol-water partition coefficients on pH is discussed in the context of the isolation chemistry. As a direct bacterial degradation product of acridine with a relatively long environmental persistence, 9-acridinone may servemore » as a biogenic marker signaling creosote contamination of groundwater.« less
Public Policy and Health: A Self-Affirmation Perspective

Public policies designed to improve health and well-being are challenged by people’s resistance. A social psychological perspective reveals how health policies can pose a psychological threat to individuals and result in resistance to following health recommendations. Self-affirmation, a brief psychological intervention that has individuals focus on important personal values, can help reduce resistance to behavior change and help promote health and well-being in four health-policy domains: graphic cigarette warning labels designed to get people to quit smoking, community health programs targeted at high-risk populations, alcohol intervention and prevention programs targeted at problem drinkers, and adherence to medical recommendations and treatment regimens among people coping with disease. Using self-affirmation has important strengths and limitations as a tool to help policymakers and practitioners encourage better health choices.
Endothelin has biological actions at pathophysiological concentrations.

BACKGROUNDEndothelin is an endothelium-derived peptide that produces sustained contraction of arterial and venous smooth muscle in vitro. Several studies have established endothelin as a systemic, renal, and coronary vasoconstrictor in vivo at pharmacological concentrations. Such concentrations of endothelin were antinatriuretic in association with activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Recent studies have demonstrated that endothelin is present in the plasma and that its plasma concentrations are increased in various pathological states associated with systemic and renal vasoconstriction. To date, it remains unclear if such increases in circulating endothelin are associated with biological activity. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the biological action of endothelin on cardiorenal and endocrine function through administration of exogenous endothelin, which achieves plasma concentrations that have been reported in various pathophysiological conditions.METHODS AND RESULT...
Parallel block-diagonal-bordered sparse linear solvers for electrical power system applications

Research is on-going that examines parallel direct block-diagonal-bordered sparse linear solvers for irregular sparse matrix problems derived from electrical power system applications. Parallel block-diagonal-bordered sparse linear solvers exhibit distinct advantages when compared to current general parallel direct sparse matrix solvers. Our research shows that actual power system matrices can be readily ordered into block-diagonal-bordered form, although load imbalance becomes excessive beyond 16 processors, limiting scalability for a single parallel linear solver within an application. Nevertheless, other dimensions exist in electrical power system applications that can be exploited to efficiently make use of large-scale multi-processors. >