cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Study of the Effect of Partitioning on Parallel Simulation of Multicore Systems

There has been little research that studies the effect of partitioning on parallel simulation of multicore systems. This paper presents our study of this important problem in the context of Null-message-based synchronization algorithm for parallel multicore simulation. This paper focuses on coarse grain parallel simulation where each core and its cache slices are modeled within a single logical process (LP) and different partitioning schemes are only applied to the interconnection network. In this paper we show that encapsulating the entire on-chip interconnection network into a single logical process is an impediment to scalable simulation. This baseline partitioning and two other schemes are investigated. Experiments are conducted on a subset of the PARSEC benchmarks with 16-, 32-, 64- and 128-core models. Results show that the partitioning scheme has a significant impact on simulation performance and parallel efficiency. Beyond a certain system scale, one scheme consistently outperforms the other two schemes, and the performance as well as efficiency gaps increases as the size of the model increases - with up to 4.1 times faster speed and 277% better efficiency for 128-core models. We explain the reasons for this behavior, which can be traced to the features of the Null-message-based synchronization algorithm. Because of this, we believe that, if a component has increasing number of inter-LP interactions with increasing system size, such components should be partitioned into several sub-components to achieve better performance.
A fiber-optic sensor for CO2 measurement

A fiber-optic sensor has been prepared which responds to carbon dioxide at physiologically significant concentrations. It is based on pH modulation by dissolved carbon dioxide in a sensing layer of fluorescent dye. By use of a previously developed methodology by which the sensing chemistry is bonded directly to the glass fiber tip, the miniature size of the sensor is preserved. This method involves consecutive applications of solution polymers to the fiber tip rather than mechanical attachment of sensor reagents. Preparations of polymer-immobilized dyes and polymer membranes are described.
Shape effects in elastic scattering by orientationally random ensembles of simple model viruses.

Recent theoretical work has shown that the complete set of polarized elastic light scattering studies should yield information about particle structure that has so far hardly been utilized. We present calculations of such light-scattering properties for a number of model structures, exploring particularly the size limit at which the new effects should become visible. The particles are assumed to be randomly oriented in aqueous suspension, and all identical to each other. We compare several particle models of differing geometrical shape, but with identical forward scattering power and identical radii of gyration. We find that one of the ten observables shows particularly desirable properties as a general large-particle characterization parameter: it is nonzero for all structures, it approaches zero as particle size decreases, and it shows an angular dependence that distinguishes among models of different shape. Assuming incident light at 350 nm, it differentiates between different shaped particles with radii of gyration as small as 50 nm. Such particles are well below the optical resolution limit and about the size of many types of viruses.
Localized pneumothorax with lobar collapse and diffuse obstructive airway disease

Localized pneumothorax adjacent to a collapsed lobe has been reported in children with bronchial obstruction. We present our findings in seven children with a similar phenomenon occurring in association with diffuse obstructive airway disease. The children, aged from 3 weeks to 17 years, were admitted for diffuse obstructive airway disease and, subsequently, developed lobar collapse with adjacent localized pneumothorax. In five of the seven patients there was a paradoxical shift of the mediastinum toward the side of the pneumothorax. In six cases, the pneumothorax resolved spontaneously with lobar reexpansion. A conservative treatment approach to patients with this constellation of radiographic findings appears justified.
Predicting the probability of abnormal stimulated growth hormone response in children after radiotherapy for brain tumors.

Purpose To develop a mathematical model utilizing more readily available measures than stimulation tests that identifies brain tumor survivors with high likelihood of abnormal growth hormone secretion after radiotherapy (RT), to avoid late recognition and a consequent delay in growth hormone replacement therapy. Methods and Materials We analyzed 191 prospectively collected post-RT evaluations of peak growth hormone level (arginine tolerance/levodopa stimulation test), serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), IGF-binding protein 3, height, weight, growth velocity, and body mass index in 106 children and adolescents treated for ependymoma ( n = 72), low-grade glioma ( n = 28) or craniopharyngioma ( n = 6), who had normal growth hormone levels before RT. Normal level in this study was defined as the peak growth hormone response to the stimulation test ≥7 ng/mL. Results Independent predictor variables identified by multivariate logistic regression with high statistical significance ( p z score, weight z score, and hypothalamic dose. The developed predictive model demonstrated a strong discriminatory power with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.883. At a potential cutoff point of probability of 0.3 the sensitivity was 80% and specificity 78%. Conclusions Without unpleasant and expensive frequent stimulation tests, our model provides a quantitative approach to closely follow the growth hormone secretory capacity of brain tumor survivors. It allows identification of high-risk children for subsequent confirmatory tests and in-depth workup for diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency.
Geophysical evidence for dewatering and deformation processes in the ODP Leg 170 area offshore Costa Rica

Abstract We use a combination of borehole data from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 170 and multichannel seismic reflection (MCS) data to quantify thickness changes in underthrust sediments away from the boreholes. Sediments thrust beneath the upper plate at convergent margins may be more rapidly loaded than in any other environment. Depending on the porosity and permeability of the available fluid pathways, these sediments can compact and dewater very rapidly, as observed in this area offshore the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. Rapid thinning and dewatering was previously interpreted in this area from MCS data, but the lack of velocity data in this deep-water environment caused ambiguity in the estimates of thickness change. We employ a non-linear inversion technique using detailed density data, primarily logs and some laboratory measurements and coincident MCS data to create 1D synthetic seismograms and detailed velocity functions at three ODP drill sites. Because only a small part of one hole was logged with a sonic tool and the laboratory measurements significantly underestimate in situ velocities, these results provide the most accurate estimate of the velocity profiles. We used these velocity functions to depth-migrate seven MCS lines in the vicinity of the trench and lower slope spanning a distance of ∼9 km along strike. Analysis of the depth-migrated images shows that there is significant variation along strike in how the underthrust section compacts, which appears to be related to the distribution of normal faults on the Cocos Plate. We interpret that preferentially rapid dewatering in the upper part of the underthrust section may lead to deformation below the original decollement and detachments at deeper stratigraphic levels.
Postnatal expressions of non-phosphorylated and phosphorylated neurofilament proteins in the rat hippocampus and the Timm-stained mossy fiber pathway

Neurofilament proteins (NFPs), the cytoskeletal proteins that are essential for axogenesis and maintenance of neuron shape in the nervous system, were studied for their spatial distributions at nine postnatal days (PN 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 28, and 120). Simultaneously non-phosphorylated (SMI-32; 150/200 kDa; Sternberger) and phosphorylated (SMI-31; 200 kDa) NFP immunoreactivity in the entire developing rat hippocampus was studied, quantified, and compared to that of mossy fiber (MF) axons and terminals using Neo-Timm's histochemistry, the most selective, sensitive, and reproducible technique. Differential developmental expressions were observed between the two NFP states. SMI-32 was initially expressed on PN 3 only in the perikarya of pyramidal neurons in CA3. As early as PN 5, SMI-31 appeared in the MF pathway, in parallel to the growth of MF axons. By contrast, SMI-32 did not appear at any age in the MF pathway, including the MF terminal zone of stratum lucidum. At PN 14, the distribution of both NFPs in the MF system (MFs and their target neurons, i.e., CA3/CA4 pyramidal neurons and hilar neurons) was nearly complete; however, the peak densities of SMI-32 and SMI-31 were later at PN 21 and statistically equal to the most adult level (PN 120). The temporal regulation and maximal levels of SMI-32 and SMI-31 expressions on MF target neurons (CA3: SMI-32) and in the MF terminal zone (stratum lucidum: SMI-31) were nearly parallel to the progressive and rapid PN growth of the MF axons and terminals occurring between PN 14 and PN 17, suggesting that the mechanisms for maturation of MF synaptogenesis occur after PN 17.
Barbital-induced changes in sensitivity to the behavioral effects of narcotics.

Abstract Twelve male (Sprague-Dawley) rats were trained to respond under a variable-interval 15 sec schedule of sweetened-milk reinforcement. Rats were tested with doses of morphine and methadone, both before and after the development of tolerance to barbital (100 mg/kg, IP). Barbital-tolerant rats were tolerant to the effects of methadone on VI responding but were not tolerant to the effects of morphine. These data demonstrate that tolerance to some narcotics can develop after chronic exposure to drugs other than those of the same pharmacologic class. Furthermore, this investigation demonstrates the necessity of considering changes in the pharmacokinetics of a narcotic as a possible explanation for the development of tolerance to the behavioral effects of the drug.
The role of the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of antiphospholipid syndrome.

Infectious triggers are associated with the induction of transient antiphospholipid antibodies. One therefore wonders if microbes that permanently colonize us play a role in the pathogenesis of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). The microbiota represents the collection of all microorganisms colonizing humans and is necessary for normal host physiology. The microbiota, however, is a constant stress on the immune system, which is tasked with recognizing and eliminating pathogenic microbes while tolerating commensal populations. A growing body of literature supports a critical role for the commensal-immune axis in the development of autoimmunity against colonized barriers (e.g., gut or skin) and sterile organs (e.g., pancreas or joints). Whether these interactions affect the development and sustainment of autoreactive CD4+ T cells and pathogenic autoantibodies in APS is unknown. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of the commensal-immune axis in autoimmunity with a focus on the potential relevance to APS. Additionally, we discuss emerging findings supporting the involvement of the gut microbiota in a spontaneous model of APS, the (NZW × BXSB)F1 hybrid, and formalize hypotheses to explain how interactions between the immune system and the microbiota may influence human APS etiopathogenesis.
Using Humor to Move Away From Abjection

The absence of discourses on death makes it difficult for those dealing with loss to communicate about their experiences. Our emotions vary even more when we see the corpse of a loved one at the funeral. It is overwhelming; a family member is gone, death, and you are faced with your own mortality, abjection. The author recently experienced the death of her grandmother and confronted her own abjection. The author writes this story as a third way of knowing. The author wants to share her experience by offering a narrative blueprint of how her family used humor to more effectively cope. In addition, this story fills a gap in the current literature; humor has been studied minimally in regard to dealing with death. Humor can be an effective way to ease tensions, reduce stress, and open lines of communication among family members when they are faced with death and abjection.
The effects of background music on word processed writing

College students often listen to music while they use a computer. This experiment investigated whether background music disrupts their ability to word process fluently and effectively. Forty-five psychology undergraduates wrote brief expository essays. Background music significantly disrupted writing fluency (words generated per minute controlling for typing speed and including those words deleted before the final draft) even though no response to the music was required. Those with some musical training and high working memory span wrote better essays with longer sentences and were also more likely to pause at clause boundaries. Even unattended music places heavy demands on working memory and disrupts word processed writing.
Radioimmunoassay for anaphylatoxins: a sensitive method for determining complement activation products in biological fluids.

Abstract Activation of the blood complement system generates bioactive fragments called anaphylatoxins. The three anaphylatoxins C3a, C4a, and C5a are released during “classical pathway” activation while only C3a and C5a are released when the “alternative pathway” of complement is activated. Radioimmunoassays were designed to individually detect and quantitate the activation fragments C3a, C4a, and C5a in biological fluids without interference from the precursor molecules C3, C4, and C5. Kinetics of complement activation in fresh human serum exposed to the activators zymosan, heat-aggregated immunoglobulin, or cobra venom factor were monitored using the radioimmunoassay technique. For the first time, activation of components C3, C4, and C5 was followed simultaneously in a single serum sample. Analysis of the patterns and extent of anaphylatoxin formation during activation in serum may be used to screen for deficiencies or defects in the complement cascade. Levels of the anaphylatoxins in freshly drawn serum were much higher than levels detected in EDTA-plasma. Detection limits of anaphylatoxins in plasma are governed by background levels of 152 ± 69, 155 ± 33, and 5.4 ± 6.6 ng/ml for C3a, C4a, and C5a, respectively. Detection of low-level complement activation in patient's blood, urine, or synovial fluid, using anaphylatoxin formation as an indicator, may prove useful in signaling numerous forms of inflammatory reactions. The demonstration of anaphylatoxins in clinical samples is being recognized as a valuable diagnostic tool in monitoring the onset of immune disease.
The four-compartment thermodynamic energy-level diagram for isothermal seed germination

Abstract 1. 1. The autocatalytic reaction rate equation describes the first 12h of seed germination for red clover (Trifolium pratense). 2. 2. The two best-fit parameters [A]0 and [F]0 for the integrated germination rate equation obey the Arrhenius equation. 3. 3. The low-temperature inhibitor controls the reaction from 2.2 to 14.5°C; the active state of the enzyme dominates the reaction from 20.2 to 28.0°C; and the high-temperature inhibitor controls the reaction above 36.5 to 42.0°C. 4. 4. For several steps in the germination process the changes in enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy are calculated. 5. 5. An energy-level diagram is proposed to describe the germination process from the initial substrate to the plant or denatured states.
At the interface of phylogenetics and population genetics, the phylogeography of Dirca occidentalis (Thymelaeaceae)

Dirca occidentalis is a rare shrub indigenous to only six counties near the San Francisco Bay in California, United States. We used intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers and automated genotyping to probe 29 colonies of D. occidentalis from four geographically disjunct populations (East Bay, North Bay, Salmon Creek, and Peninsula) and used methods of phylogenetics and population genetics to model variation across the species. Results show that the four disjunct populations are genetically isolated and have undergone divergence. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that the East Bay population was the first to diverge, followed by the North Bay, then the Salmon Creek and Peninsula populations. This order of divergence suggests an intriguing natural history for D. occidentalis that is explained by the dynamic geological and climatic history of the Bay Area. Spatial genetic structure detected for the species suggests an interaction of four factors: limited seed dispersal, clonal regeneration, distances traveled by pollinators, and genetic isolation of the four populations. Genetic diversity within the North Bay and Salmon Creek populations is low, indicating poor ecological fitness and risk of decline. ISSRs resolved phylogeographic structure within D. occidentalis, results unattainable with ITS methods, and the integration of tools of phylogenetics and population biology led to an enhanced understanding of this endemic species.
Distributed control of reactive power from photovoltaic inverters

As new devices and technologies enter the electrical distribution grid, decentralized control algorithms will become increasingly important. Unlike centralized control where standard optimization procedures can ensure optimal system performance, control algorithms for distributed systems may take a variety of forms. This paper derives a decentralized algorithm that regulates the reactive power output from highly distributed photovoltaic (PV) sources. An objective function is constructed that minimizes voltage deviations and line losses. It is shown that this objective function is minimized by a local control law that regulates the reactive power output of PV inverters. Optimality of the derived control law is tested against central optimization solutions.
Epidermolysis bullosa: a review of anaesthetic problems and case reports.

Nous presentons une revue de desordres cutanes peu frequents; ľepidermolyse huileuse et ses implications avec ľanesthesie; nous rapportons egalement ľhistoire de trois cas cliniques. Nous proposons un modele de ligne de conduite a tenir pour ľanesthesie et nous insistons sur la necessite ďeviter tout traumatisme sur la peau et sur les muqueuses.
Cytologic diagnosis of herpes simplex virus infection

Abstract Alterations in epithelial cells infected with herpes simplex viruses (HSV) have been described repeatedly 1–7 since Tzank, 8 in 1947, advocated the use of cytology for the diagnosis of these infections. In spite of successful use of this technique in the following years by Blank and his collaborators, 9,10 enthusiasm for this diagnostic method gradually waned because of the emergence of other, more sophisticated, laboratory tests for viral diagnosis (culture, serology, antibody determination, animal inoculation, electron microscopy, etc.). 11 For the last 20 years, with the use of the Papanicolaou staining method, cytology has proven to be a fairly reliable, rapid, and simple method of diagnosis of HSV infections. The Pap stain gives better nuclear detail of the alcohol-fixed cells than the original Tzank smear, which was air-dried and Giemsa stained. This cytologic diagnosis has been and continues to be especially significant in detecting cervical herpetic infections through the use of Papanicolaou smears for cancer screening of asymptomatic women. 12
Heating of hygroscopic aerosol in moist air

Abstract Heat generating mechanisms in hygroscopic aerosols exposed to moist air were theoretically analyzed using magnesium chloride as a model system. The cause of heating was identified to be condensation of water vapor followed by hydration, dissolution and dilution of the particles. Under the restriction of available environment and mass concentration of anhydrous particles it was shown that the heating could be described by the phase equilibrium between the particles and their environment, by-passing kinetic processes of growth due to a short system relaxation time. A method to quantitatively describe the final state of the system and the associated heating was developed. The maximum temperature increase achievable by anhydrous magnesium chloride aerosol in saturated air at 20°C and 1000 mbar was estimated to be 67°C.
Wireless sensor node localization by multisequence processing

Wireless Sensor Networks have been proposed for use in many location-dependent applications. Most of these need to identify the locations of sensor nodes, a challenging task because of severe constraints on cost, energy and effective range of sensor devices. To overcome limitations in existing solutions, we present a Multi-Sequence Positioning (MSP) method for large-scale stationary sensor node localization in outdoor environments. The novel idea behind MSP is to reconstruct and estimate two-dimensional location information for each sensor node by processing multiple one-dimensional node sequences, easily obtained through loosely guided event distribution. Starting from a basic MSP design, we propose four optimizations that work together to increase localization accuracy. We address several interesting issues such as incomplete (partial) node sequences and sequence flip, found in the Mirage test-bed we built. We have evaluated the MSP system through theoretical analysis, extensive simulation as well as two physical systems (an indoor version with 46 MICAz motes and an outdoor version with 20 MICAz motes). Evaluation demonstrates that MSP can achieve an accuracy within one foot, requiring neither additional costly hardware on sensor nodes nor precise event distribution. In fact, it provides a nice tradeoff between physical cost (anchors) and soft cost (events) while maintaining localization accuracy.
A Comparison of Black and White Social Distance

(1999). A Comparison of Black and White Social Distance. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 139, No. 4, pp. 536-539.
Cause and course of acute myocardial infarction

A complete discussion of factors involved in causing acute myocardial infarcts is contained in this review, and a detailed discussion of various complications of acute myocardial infarction is also provided. Interventions that are capable of reducing infarct size in animal models with experimentally produced acute myocardial infarcts are discussed, and factors that might alter infarct size in patients are reviewed. Prognostic factors that allow one to identify high risk patients with acute myocardial infarction following their hospital admission and in the follow-up period after hospital discharge are identified. The need to develop more accurate measurements of the extent of myocardial infarction and myocardial ischemia, and to develop additional prognostic markers that allow one to separate patients most at risk for sudden death and new myocardial infarction from those with ongoing chronic ischemic heart disease and those without additional complications from their ischemic heart disease is also emphasized in this review.
Copyists' Final Jingles in Mediaeval Manuscripts

Curses upon any one stealing the book are also of course common. The following particular case of the two combined struck me as more novel, though it may be familiar to others. It occurs at the close of a very neat and legible, though only partial copy (Book 1 and part of Book 2 seem missing) of the De mineralibus of Albertus Magnus in a manuscript of perhaps the thirteenth century in the collection formerly belonging to the Elector Palatine and now in the Vatican.
DEVELOPMENT AND GERMINATION OF AKINETES OF APHANIZOMENON FLOS‐AQUAE1

SUMMARY Flakes of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae collected from an ice-covered lake were found to contain all developmental stages from vegetative cells to mature akinetes. Changes during development include increase in cell size, gradual disappearance of gas vacuoles (clusters of gas vesicles), narrowing of intrathylakoidal spaces, and increase in cytoplasmic density. Development of akinetes is accompanied by proliferation of ribosomes, including polyribosomes, cyanophycin granules (structured, granules), and glycogen granules. The lipid bodies of vegetative cells are reduced in size and number in mature akinetes. Akinetes may occur singly or as multiples in sequence in a filament, either terminal or intercalary. Loss of flotation by increase in cytoplasmic density permits filaments to sink and overwinter in bottom sediments. The sequence was found to be reversed during germination of akinetes. Cyanophycin granules are reduced in size and staining density in the sporelings, and very few glycogen granules are seen. Gas vesicles reappear and increase in number, and intrathylakoidal spaces become wider. These changes then would permit the sporelings to rise from the bottom and begin another season's bloom.
Two Kinds of Commitments (And Two Kinds of Social Groups)

In this paper, I draw a distinction between two fundamentally different kinds of commitments by highlighting some previously unnoticed subtleties in the pragmatics of “commissive” utterances. I argue that theories which seek to model all commitments on promises, or to ground them all on voluntary consent, can account only for one sort of obligation and not for the other. Since social groups are most perspicuously categorized in terms of the sorts of commitments that bind their members together, this puts me in a position to distinguish two importantly different kinds of social groups, which I call aggregations and associations. I try to show that this position can account for features of the normative structure of social groups that are overlooked by those theorists (e.g. Margaret Gilbert) who have attempted to offer a unitary, voluntarist account of the phenomena under investigation.
Detection of viral infections using colloidal quantum dots

Fluorescence is a tool widely employed in biological assays. Fluorescent semiconducting nanocrystals, quantum dots (QDs), are beginning to find their way into the tool box of many biologist, chemist and biochemist. These quantum dots are an attractive alternative to the traditional organic dyes due to their broad excitation spectra, narrow emission spectra and photostability. Quantum dots were used to detect and monitor the progession of viral glycoproteins, F (fusion) and G (attachment), from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in HEp-2 cells. Additionally, oligo-Qdot RNA probes have been developed for identification and detection of mRNA of the N(nucleocapsid) protein for RSV. The use of quantum dot-FISH probes provides another confirmatory route to diagnostics as well as a new class of probes for monitoring the flux and fate of viral RNA RSV is the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infection in children worldwide and the most common cause of hospitalization of infants in the US. Antiviral therapy is available for treatment of RSV but is only effective if given within the first 48 hours of infection. Existing test methods require a virus level of at least 1000-fold of the amount needed for infection of most children and require several days to weeks to obtain results. The use of quantum dots may provide an early, rapid method for detection and provide insight into the trafficking of viral proteins during the course of infection.
Language and imitation in development

Noting the central role accorded imitation in the origins of symbolic functioning, language development, and identity formation, as well as its relationship to aspects of individuation, the authors have reviewed the problem of imitation from both cognitive developmental and psychoanalytic perspectives. They have specifically delineated piagetian views regarding the origins of imitation and traced its relationship to the emergence of language, while attempting to clarify various psychoanalytic formulations on this topic. This dual theoretical perspective is then reconsidered within the framework of the current empirical infancy literature. Pathological sequelae of imitation are also reviewed in relation to their impact upon ego formation and the process of socialization. Tracing a cognitive developmental line, the authors then discuss the relationship between imitation and the emergence of language; language is also considered as an important vehicle of communication which furthers and enhances ego development and object relations. The authors conclude with a partial integration of piagetian and psychoanalytic hypotheses regarding imitation and identity formation with the aim of stimulating further discussion on this topic.
Web-based software contracting: an experimental study of deception identification across two different media

This study analyses choices made by subjects who were asked to accept or reject each of 20 clauses of a web-based software-purchasing contract, of which six clauses were deceitful. The subjects were split into two media conditions. In the text condition, the clauses were presented as text in a web browser window. In the video condition, web browser-embedded video clips were used. No significant differences were found across media conditions. Surprisingly though, the subjects did 18% and 14% worse than chance in terms of rejecting deceitful clauses through the text and video conditions, respectively.
Immunolocalization of cytoplasmic and myelin mcalpain in transfected Schwann cells: II. Effect of withdrawal of growth factors.

We have examined the reversal of the regulatory effect of growth factors on calpain/calpastatin activity in transfected Schwann cells (tSc) after their subsequent withdrawal. Removal of nerve growth factor (NGF) or cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) from tSc resulted in a smaller loss of μcalpain (37%) and mcalpain (36.5%) activity compared to treated cells from which the growth factors were not withdrawn. The μcalpain activity increased approximately 12% following withdrawal of acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) at 24 hr, while the increased mcalpain activity was more than 30–40% compared with that of cells that were continuously treated. The activity of both isoforms returned to their normal levels (untreated) at 48–72 hr following withdrawal of various growth factors, including NGF, cAMP, aFGF, bFGF, platelet-derived growth factor aa (PDGFaa), and PDGFbb. The inhibitory activity of calpastatin was greater than control following withdrawal of NGF, cAMP, PDGFaa, or PDG-Fbb at 24 hr and this inhibitory activity was less with treatment by aFGF and bFGF. The control activity was restored at 48 hr following withdrawal of these factors. The intensity of the cytoplasmic calpain immunoreactivity was significantly decreased in the nuclear and non-nuclear regions of the cytoplasm, respectively, following withdrawal of cAMP at 144 hr. Removal of bFGF from the medium resulted in an increase of cytoplasmic calpain immunoreactivity in the nuclear regions and cytoplasm, while there was dramatic loss of myelin calpain immunoreactivity from both the nuclear region and cytoplasm. The changes in calpain activity and immunoreactivity in tSc following withdrawal of growth factors suggest that release of calpain from membrane to cytosol may be regulated by these factors. J. Neurosci. Res. 47:609–616, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Copolymerization of multi-methacrylate derivatives of styrene-allyl alcohol copolymer with styrene and methyl methacrylate monomers

Multi-methacrylate derivatives of styrene-allyl alcohol copolymer (SAA) were obtained by esterification reaction with methyl methacrylate (MSAA). Thermal polymerizations of MSAA with styrene and methyl methacrylate (MMA) were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. The content of MSAA and the methacrylate groups pendant on SAA strongly affected the polymerization behavior. The results of thermal analysis and extraction studies suggested that the cured PS-MSAA mixtures were stable, crosslinked networks, and the polymerized MAA-MSAA formulations exhibited semi-IPNs structure. The PS-MSAA semi-IPNs showed potential for improving the toughness modification of polystyrene.
Effects of Physical Training on Exertional S-T-Segment Depression in Coronary Heart Disease

Symptom-limited maximal oxygen intake (VOO2 S-L) and electrocardiographic responses to multistage treadmill test were determined before and after 3 months of physical training in 14 patients with coronary heart disease. Six patients also had hemodynamic studies done at several submaximal work loads in the upright position before and after training. S-T-segment responses were measured by computer averaging of 100-beat samples. After physical training, the heart rate (P < 0.01) and the product of heart rate and systolic blood pressure (P < 0.02) at submaximal exercise were lower and attended by significantly less S-T-segment depression. At maximal exercise, however, the heart rate (P < 0.01) and the product of heart rate and systolic blood pressure (P < 0.02) were higher after training, and the S-T-segment depression was more pronounced (P < 0.005). The quantitative relationships of S-T-segment depression to either exercise heart rate, product of heart rate and systolic blood pressure, or to pressure-rate p...
MBD family proteins: reading the epigenetic code

Methylation of DNA in mammalian cells serves to demarcate functionally specialized regions of the genome and is strongly associated with transcriptional repression. A highly conserved family of DNA-binding proteins characterized by a common sequence motif is widely believed to convert the information represented by methylation patterns into the appropriate functional state. This family, the MBD family, has been characterized at both the biochemical and genetic levels. A key issue, given their highly similar DNA-binding surfaces, is whether the individual MBD proteins bind differentially to distinct regions within the genome and, if so, by what mechanism. Somewhat surprisingly, some MBD family members, such as MeCP2, have considerable selectivity for specific sequences. Other family members, such as MBD2, appear to bind with somewhat relaxed specificity to methylated DNA. Recent genetic and molecular experiments have shed considerable light on these and other issues relevant to the chromosomal biology of this interesting protein family.
Assessing the Quality of Care for Urinary Tract Infection in Office Practice A Comparative Organizational Study

As part of a comprehensive evaluation of care received by enrollees in a prepaid community health care project, we studied the process of care for enrollees reported to have a urinary tract infection. The care given to 98 patients enrolled in a large prepaid group practice (PGP) and 69 patients seen by 45 physicians in the independent practice setting (IPP) was analyzed. We found the process of care to be significantly better in the PGP, with a large part of the difference due to more appropriate utilization of urine cultures. This occurred despite a higher visit rate to internists in the IPP, and suggests that the organization of practice strongly affects the process of care received by patients even when all care is fully prepaid. THE ASSESSMENT of the quality of care as reflected by medical records has received a great deal of attention in recent years. Quality assessment has developed considerably since Lembke's pioneering efforts at "medical auditing."6 This attention has grown due to such social forces as concern with accountability and resulting regulatory mechanisms such as the Professional Standards and Review Organization. However, there have been relatively few largescale studies concerning the quality of care in the ambulatory setting, as practiced by well-established providers for defined population groups. Furthermore, even less is
First passage time problems for a class of master equations with separable kernels

Abstract We discuss first passage time problems for a class of one-dimensional master equations with separable kernels. For this class of master equations the integral equation for first passage time moments can be transformed exactly into ordinary differential equations. When the separable kernel has only a single term the equation for the mean first passage time obtained is exactly that for simple diffusion. The boundary conditions, however, differ from those appropriate to simple diffusion. The equations for higher moments differ slightly from those for simple diffusion. Analysis is presented, of a generalization of a model of a random walk with long-range jumps first investigated by Lindenberg and Shuler. Since the equations can be solved exactly one can study the behavior of boundary conditions in the continuum limit. The generalization to a larger number of terms in the separable kernel leads to higher order equations for the first passage time moments. In each case, boundary conditions can be found directly from the original master equation.
Residual Limb Complications and Management Strategies

Major extremity amputations due to any cause are fraught with potential and overt complications, ranging from infection and heterotopic ossification to phantom neuropathic pain and symptomatic neuromata. Prevention of issues such as bursa formation and skin irritation or ulceration through intimate, comfortable prosthetic socket fit, and diligent skin care are crucial and vastly preferred to managing the sequelae of same. For most issues other than deep infection, a trial of non-operative modalities is indicated prior to any operative intervention, as conservative management is often successful. For patients with persistently symptomatic residual limbs and an identifiable cause, focal or complete operative revision can be highly successful at alleviating symptoms and improving patient prosthetic tolerance and function. A multi-disciplinary approach from an integrated rehabilitation team is critical to the successful management of these challenging and rewarding patients.
Dynamic disorder and the energetic costs of information transduction

We study a model of dynamic disorder relevant for signal transduction pathways in which enzymatic reaction rates fluctuate over several orders of magnitude. For the simple networks we consider, dynamic disorder drives the system far from equilibrium and imposes an energetic burden for high fidelity signaling capability. We study how the dynamics of the underlying stochastic behavior in the reaction rate process is related to the energetic cost of transmitting information through the network.
Raman and IR studies of surface metal oxide species on oxide supports: Supported metal oxide catalysts

Abstract Raman and infrared spectroscopy provide complementary information about the nature of the surface metal oxide species present in supported metal oxide catalysts. This paper reviews the type of fundamental information that is typically obtained in Raman and IR characterization studies of supported metal oxide catalysts. The molecular structures of the surface metal oxide species are reflected in the terminal M=O and bridging M-O-M vibrations. The location of the surface metal oxide species on the oxide supports is determined by directly monitoring the specific surface hydroxyls of the support that are being titrated. The surface coverage of the surface metal oxide species on the oxide supports can be quantitatively obtained since at monolayer coverage all the reactive surface hydroxyls are titrated and additional metal oxide results in the formation of crystalline metal oxide particles. The nature of surface Lewis and Bronsted acid sites present in supported metal oxide catalysts are determined by adsorbing basic probe molecules like pyridine. Information about the behavior of the surface metal oxide species during catalytic reactions are provided by in situ characterization studies. Such fundamental information is critical for the development of molecular structure-reactivity relationships for supported metal oxide catalysts. This paper will be limited to supported metal oxide catalysts containing group V-VII transition metal oxides (e.g., V, Nb, Cr, Mo, W and Re) on several different oxide supports (alumina, titania, zirconia, niobia and silica).
Graduate Research Completed in Family and Consumer Sciences During 2008 and Arranged by Topic

In an effort to create a compendium of graduate-level research completed in Family and Consumer Sciences during 2008, contacts were made with 35 colleges and universities known to have graduate programs. More than 50 individuals were contacted by e-mail, and college and university websites were consulted to identify new contacts when e-mail was returned as undeliverable. Nineteen universities reported 154 theses and 75 dissertation titles for inclusion in this listing. These research efforts are reported by topic and as master’s theses and doctor’s dissertations. The collection of this information should be of value to graduate students who are contemplating their research focus and by researchers seeking to identify unpublished graduate research within program areas.
T-cell lymphopenia associated with infliximab and cyclophosphamide.

ABSTRACT We report the first case of T-cell lymphopenia in a woman with rheumatoid arthritis who developed molluscum contagiosum with infliximab and cyclophosphamide. She presented in July 2000 with optic neuropathy and arthritis refractory to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. After starting prednisone and cyclophosphamide, she became leukopenic (1.8 × 10 3 cells/ μ L), a condition that resolved with decreasing of the cyclophosphamide dose. In June 2002, the patient continued to have synovitis despite treatment with prednisone, cyclophosphamide, gabapentin, and celecoxib; blood counts were normal and infliximab was started. Her symptoms improved, but leukocyte counts declined (nadir of 1.5 × 10 3 cells/ μ L) despite discontinuing cyclophosphamide. She developed molluscum contagiosum after 8 months on infliximab (CD4 count, 492; HIV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot negative). Her symptoms flared after 10 months on infliximab; after the dose of infliximab was increased, her CD4 count fell to 114. Infliximab was discontinued and her leukocyte and CD4 count increased. This is the first reported case of leukopenia and T-cell suppression associated with infliximab and cyclophosphamide.
Inelastic alpha scattering studies of the low-energy octupole resonance

Beams of 96 and 115 MeV $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particles have been used to study the distribution of isoscalar octupole strength in 18 nuclei from $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$ to $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$. A prominent broad peak ($\ensuremath{\Gamma}\ensuremath{\sim}2.5$ MeV) is observed at ${E}_{x}\ensuremath{\sim}\frac{30}{{A}^{\frac{1}{3}}}$ MeV in nuclei from $^{66}\mathrm{Zn}$ to $^{197}\mathrm{Au}$. No broad peak is observed in this excitation energy range in $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$ or $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$ and lighter nuclei. The oscillatory angular distributions of the ($\ensuremath{\alpha}, {\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) reaction exciting this peak are in excellent agreement with $l=3$ distorted-wave Born approximation calculations. Studies of the angular range from ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{lab}}=3.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} \mathrm{to} 6\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ in $^{116}\mathrm{Sn}$ indicate very little contribution from $l=1$ strength. Energy- weighted sum rule fractions for this low-energy octupole resonance are generally in the range from 15% to 20%; this corresponds to \textonehalf{} to $\frac{2}{3}$ of the expected $1\ensuremath{\hbar}\ensuremath{\omega}$ octupole strength. The overall distribution of octupole strength in spherical nuclei, including the absence of the low-energy octupole resonance in $^{40}\mathrm{Ca}$ and $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$, is in very good agreement with random-phase approximation calculations. The low-energy octupole resonance undergoes a pronounced change in structure in soft-vibrational and deformed nuclei. Theoretical calculations for the low-energy octupole resonance in $^{154}\mathrm{Sm}$ account qualitatively for the data.
Tableaux Vivants: Their structure, themes, and rhetorical function

Tableaux Vivants were stationary, temporary structures built along the processional routes of royal entries during the Renaissance. Within these structures live actors portrayed silent scenes which were revealed to the ruler as he reached each tableau along the route of the procession. Tableaux Vivants were a unique means of communication between the citizens and the monarch and had a direct bearing on current issues and events. The use of religious, mythological and symbolic themes in Tableaux Vivants were a means of acting rhetorically upon the minds and hearts of the rulers through the medium of art. Existing research has for the most part treated Tableaux Vivants as architectural forms but has not explored their significance as an important means of expression and persuasion.
Cinema's Darkest Vision: Looking into the Void in John Carpenter's The Thing (1982)

Abstract The aim of this essay is to account for the uneven critical trajectory of John Carpenter's 1982 film The Thing—the hostility that it faced in the early 1980s and the growing fascination it has engendered in subsequent decades.
The Optical Extragalactic Background Light: Revisions and Further Comments

We revise the measurements in our previous work of foreground zodiacal light (ZL) and diffuse Galactic light (DGL) that were used to measure the extragalactic background light (EBL). These changes result in a decrease of 8 and an increase of 0.3 in units of 10-9 ergs s-1 cm-2 sr-1 A-1 ("cgs" units) in the ZL and DGL flux, respectively. We therefore obtain revised values for the EBL of 6 ± 4, 10 ± 5, and 7 ± 4 cgs in the HST WFPC2 U (F300W), V (F555W), and I (F814W) bands, respectively, from sources fainter than mV ~ 23 AB mag. The revisions are dominated by the details of the tropospheric scattering models used to measure the ZL. We discuss these results in the context of faint number counts and diffuse EBL measurements at other wavelengths. In particular, we note that unless the slope of the galaxy counts increases beyond mV ~ 30 AB mag, unresolved sources will contribute <0.2 cgs, which is far below the uncertainties achievable for any diffuse EBL measurement in the foreseeable future. Therefore, the best constraints on faint sources come from the resolved sources themselves. As in our earlier work, models are still required to derive the bolometric EBL (0.1-1000 μm) due to uncertainties in the mid-infrared; consequently, our previous discussions of the bolometric EBL are not affected by the revisions presented here. Finally, we discuss the nature of the extended point-spread function (PSF) of ground-based telescopes and its impact on surface brightness measurements. In particular, we show that the slope and amplitude of extended PSFs vary considerably between telescopes and with time. We find no conclusive, single cause of extended PSFs, although atmospheric scattering is ruled out.