cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Volunteer Spotlight: Shaping the future direction of CPNP through volunteer service

HOW I BENEFIT FROM VOLUNTEERING WITH CPNP • Opportunities for networking and professional growth through collaboration with fellow committee members and the CPNP Board of Directors • Ability to gain leadership experience • Opportunity to share my interest and enthusiasm for psychiatric pharmacy with students across the United States • Professional satisfaction in helping to develop future leaders of our organization and so much more!
The influence of maternal employment on gender role attitudes of men and women

The effects of maternal employment on young adults' gender role attitudes were assessed. A random sample of 111 males and 131 females was surveyed [179 Whites (74.0%), 35 Blacks (14.5%), and 28 “others” (typically Asian-Americans, 11.5%)]. Results varied depending on which gender role attitudes were being examined. With respect to approval of mother working outside the home, only the respondent's age when his or her mother began working was significant. However, this relationship was not found when assessing attitudes about the separate spheres ideology. Thus, it appears that attitudes toward women working depend on whether the respondent's mother worked, whereas beliefs about adult male—female equality do not appear to be as closely related to childhood experiences. Mothers' occupations were unrelated to all of the attitudes examined, as were her children's perceptions of how satisfied she was with her primary work role (employed or nonemployed). Finally, the only significant predictors of gender role attitudes to be discovered were the sex of respondent and attendance at religious services. Females expressed more egalitarian gender role attitudes, and those who reported frequent attendance at religious services were more likely to endorse traditional gender roles.
Classifying Asthma: Disagreement Among Specialists

Objective The asthma practice guidelines developed by the National Institutes of Health include a system for classifying asthma severity. The goal of the present study was to assess the interrater reliability of this classification system by measuring agreement among pediatric asthma specialists. Design A survey containing eight case summaries was mailed to 24 board-certified pediatric allergists and pulmonologists, who were asked to classify each case according to the national guidelines. The case summaries included the patient's medical history, physical examination, and chest radiograph and pulmonary function test results. Physicians were also asked to interpret the pulmonary function tests, to indicate the main factors used to classify each case (daytime symptoms, nighttime symptoms, pulmonary function testing, or various combinations), and to make treatment recommendations. κ statistics were used to measure agreement. Results Fourteen of 24 surveys mailed (58%) were completed and returned. Agreement was poor for classifying asthma (κ = 0.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.25 to 0.33) and for the main factors used to make the classifications (κ = 0.19; 95% CI, 0.14 to 0.23). Specialists exhibited higher agreement in their interpretation of pulmonary function tests (no asthma, κ = 0.66; asthma on baseline, κ = 0.53; exercise-induced asthma, κ = 0.65). While physicians' treatment recommendations were consistent with their severity classifications, the low level of agreement in those classifications led to substantial variability in the treatments recommended. Conclusions The low level of agreement among pediatric asthma specialists in classifying asthma severity suggests the need to refine the classification system used in the national guidelines to help ensure the consistent application of those guidelines.
Interleukin-1 regulation of procollagenase mRNA and protein in periodontal fibroblasts in vitro

An in vitro model is used to investigate the hypothesis that activated fibroblasts produce collagenolytic activity in inflammatory sites. Interleukin-1, a cytokine present in the gingiva and crevicular fluid of periodontitis patients, has multiple biologic activities including the ability to stimulate collagenase in dermal and synovial fibroblasts. In this report IL-1 is tested on gingival (GF) and periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PLF) for its ability to increase collagenolytic activity and procollagenase mRNA and protein. GF produce a 3- to 7-fold increase in collagenase activity, while PLF collagenase activity is rarely increased above control amounts by IL-1 treatment. In contrast, both cell types demonstrate an increase in procollagenase protein production with IL-1 treatment. RNA from both GF and PLF contain procollagenase mRNA as demonstrated when northern blots of fibroblast total RNA are hybridized with the cDNA for human procollagenase. Treatment with IL-1 increases the steady-state levels of this message in GF by up to 10-fold in 48 hours when measured with dot blot analysis standardized for poly-A RNA. PLF also produce up to 7 times more message at the same dose and time. Since fibroblasts present in the lesion are exposed to inflammatory cell products it is possible that the production of collagenase by these cells could result in the destruction of the periodontal fibrous attachment.
Measurement of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyadenosine in DNA by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

8-Hydroxyadenine (8-OH-Ade) is one of the major lesions, which is formed in DNA by hydroxyl radical attack on the C-8 position of adenine followed by oxidation. We describe the measurement of the nucleoside form of this compound, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyadenosine (8-OH-dAdo) in DNA by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). The developed methodology enabled the separation by LC of 8-OH-dAdo from intact and modified nucleosides in enzymic hydrolysates of DNA. Measurements by MS were performed using atmospheric pressure ionization-electrospray process. Isotope-dilution MS was applied for quantification using a stable isotope-labeled analog of 8-OH-dAdo. The level of sensitivity of LC/MS with selected-ion monitoring (SIM) for 8-OH-dAdo amounted to approximately 10 femtomol of this compound on the LC column. This level of sensitivity is similar to that previously reported using LC-tandem MS (LC/MS/MS) with multiple-reaction monitoring mode (MRM) (7.5 femtomol). This compound was quantified in DNA at a level of approximately one molecule/106 DNA bases using amounts of DNA as low as 5 μg. The results suggested that this lesion may be quantified in DNA at even lower levels, when more DNA is used for analysis. In addition, gas chromatography/isotope-dilution mass spectrometry with SIM (GC/IDMS-SIM) was applied to measure 8-OH-Ade in DNA following its removal from DNA by acidic hydrolysis. The background levels of 8-OH-dAdo and 8-OH-Ade measured by LC/IDMS-SIM and GC/IDMS-SIM, respectively, were nearly identical. In addition, DNA samples, which were exposed to ionizing radiation at different radiation doses, were analyzed by these techniques. Nearly identical results were obtained, indicating that both LC/IDMS-SIM and GC/IDMS-SIM can provide similar results. The level of sensitivity of GC/MS-SIM for 8-OH-Ade was also measured and found to be significantly greater than that of LC/MS-SIM and the reported sensitivity of LC/MS/MS-MRM for 8-OH-dAdo. The results show that the LC/MS technique is well suited for the measurement of 8-OH-dAdo in DNA.
MEASUREMENT OF GLUCOSE TURNOVER IN THE HUMAN NEWBORN WITH GLUCOSE-1-13C

Abstract Systemic glucose production rates were measured in 6 normal newborn infants by dilution of glucose-l-13c tracer according to the prime constant-rate infusion technique. Glucose production rates were 4.4 ± 0.39 mg/kg. min. (Mean ± S.D.) in 4 infants at 2 hours of age, and were 3.83 and 3.86 mg/kg. min. in 2 infants at 1 day of age. Systemic glucose production accounts for 50% of the substrate utilized for oxidative metabolism in newborn infants.
Some errors in macroscopic traffic models based on car following models

Abstract The macroscopic traffic flow models developed from the car following models of Gazis et al. (1961) are shown to have a flaw in that they do not meet certain of the boundary conditions that researchers have said that they do. This does not affect many existing models but, nevertheless, should be cleared up.
Increasing the magnetic helicity content of a plasma by pulsing a magnetized source.

By operating a magnetized coaxial gun in a pulsed mode it is possible to produce large voltage pulses of duration $\ensuremath{\sim}500\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{s}$ while reaching a few kV, giving a discrete input of helicity into a spheromak. In the sustained spheromak physics experiment (SSPX), it is observed that pulsing serves to nearly double the stored magnetic energy and double the temperature. We discuss these results by comparison with 3D MHD simulations of the same phenomenon.
Binding of actinomycin D to DNA oligomers of CXG trinucleotide repeats.

Actinomycin D (ACTD) binding propensities of DNA with CXG trinucleotide repeats were investigated using oligomers of the form d[AT(CXG)n = 2-4AT] and their corresponding heteroduplexes, where X = A, C, G, or T. These oligonucleotides contain -CXGCXG-, -CXGCXGCXG-, and -CXGCXGCXGCXG- units that can form homoduplexes containing one, two, and three GpC binding sites, respectively, with flanking X/X mismatches. The corresponding heteroduplexes contain these same sites with flanking Watson-Crick base pairs. It was found that oligomers with X = G exhibit weak ACTD affinities whereas those with X not equal to G and n = 3 exhibit unusually strong ACTD binding affinities with binding constants ranging from 2.3 x 10(7) to 3.3 x 10(7) M-1 and binding densities of approximately 1 drug molecule/strand (or 2/duplex). These binding affinities are considerably higher than those of their shorter and longer counterparts and are about 2- and 10-fold stronger than the corresponding CAG.CTG and CGG.CCG heteroduplexes, respectively. The CTG-containing oligomer d[AT(CTG)3AT] stands out as unique in having its ACTD dissociation kinetics being dominated by a strikingly slow process with a characteristic time of 205 min at 20 degrees C, which is 100-fold slower than d[AT(CAG)3AT], nearly 10-fold slower than the corresponding heteroduplex, and considerably slower than d[AT(CTG)2AT] (63 min) and d[AT(CTG)4AT] (16 min). The faster dissociation rate of the n = 4 oligomer compared to its n = 2 counterpart is in apparent contrast with the observed 10-fold stronger ACTD binding affinity of the former. It was also found that d[AT(CCG)3AT] exhibits the slowest dissociation rate of the CGG/CCG series, being more than an order of magnitude slower than that of its heteroduplex (tau slow of 43 vs 2 min). The finding that a homoduplex d[AT-CXG-CXG-CXG-AT]2 can bind two ACTD molecules tightly is significant since it was thought unlikely for two consecutive GpC sites separated by a single T/T mismatch to do so.
Gimme shelter: how Vibrio fischeri successfully navigates an animal's multiple environments.

Bacteria successfully colonize distinct niches because they can sense and appropriately respond to a variety of environmental signals. Of particular interest is how a bacterium negotiates the multiple, complex environments posed during successful infection of an animal host. One tractable model system to study how a bacterium manages a host’s multiple environments is the symbiotic relationship between the marine bacterium, Vibrio fischeri, and its squid host, Euprymna scolopes. V. fischeri encounters many different host surroundings ranging from initial contact with the squid to ultimate colonization of a specialized organ known as the light organ. For example, upon recognition of the squid, V. fischeri forms a biofilm aggregate outside the light organ that is required for efficient colonization. The bacteria then disperse from this biofilm to enter the organ, where they are exposed to nitric oxide, a molecule that can act as both a signal and an antimicrobial. After successfully managing this potentially hostile environment, V. fischeri finally establish their niche in the deep crypts of the light organ where the bacteria bioluminesce in a pheromone-dependent fashion, a phenotype that E. scolopes utilizes for anti-predation purposes. The mechanism by which V. fischeri manages these environments to outcompete all other bacterial species for colonization of E. scolopes is an important and intriguing question that will permit valuable insights into how a bacterium successfully associates with a host. This review focuses on specific molecular pathways that allow V. fischeri to establish this exquisite bacteria-host interaction.
Thermodynamic evaluation of the titanium-hydrogen system

Abstract Thermodynamic constraints, together with a modified form of Sieverts law, are used to evaluate the partial and integral thermodynamic functions of the TiH system from 400 to 1010 K. Satisfactory pCT relationships for each phase have been developed, even in regions where no data are available. The results are presented as hydrogen isobars superimposed on the phase diagram. The discrepancies in the Sieverts law constant for αTi and the standard free energy of formation of TiH2 have been resolved.
Faster acquisition of an olfactory discrimination following septal lesions in male albino rats.

Abstract Normal rats and rats with septal lesions were maintained on a 23.5-hr water deprivation schedule and trained to bar press for water reinforcement, which was available during the presentation of one odor (SD) but not another (SΔ). Vanilla and vinegar were the olfactants. Both groups showed evidence of discrimination within the first 2-hr of training and reached asymptotic discrimination ratios greater than 90 percent, but the rats with septal lesions reached successively higher levels of discrimination faster than the controls. The results suggest a septal inhibitory influence on the olfactory bulbs.
Study of an On-Line Crack Compliance Technique for Residual Stress Measurement Using 2D Finite Element Simulations of Fatigue Crack Growth

There are several methods available to measure residual stress fields present within a structural component. Recently a new so called on-line crack compliance technique has been proposed, which is based on linear elastic fracture mechanics. This experimental method uses incremental crack mouth opening displacements measured during fatigue crack growth testing to generate information on the existing residual stresses along the crack line. The present study employs two dimensional (2D) plane stress finite element simulations of fatigue crack growth from a cold worked hole to investigate the performance of this technique. Using the simulation results, the stress intensity factors due to the residual stress field normalized by the maximum applied stress intensity factor KIrs/KImax were obtained from the on-line crack compliance method. For validation, the J-integral approach was used to calculate KIrs/KImax values from fatigue crack growth simulations in an elastic material. The two methods generated nearly identical results. Fatigue crack growth was also simulated in an elastic-plastic material. Even though the stress intensity factor is not the appropriate crack tip characterizing technique for elastic-plastic material conditions, it is still investigated here to approximate the actual testing conditions, where plastic deformation near the crack tip is unavoidable. The KIrs/KImax solutions are presented for different cold work levels and applied loadings. Results indicate that the agreement between the elastic and elastic-plastic crack growth solutions is dependent on the maximum applied loading level, as might be expected.
High intracellular pH in CFPAC: a pancreas cell line from a patient with cystic fibrosis is lowered by retrovirus-mediated CFTR gene transfer.

Expression of CFTR from a retroviral vector in CFPAC, a pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line derived from a patient with Cystic Fibrosis, causes a decrease in the average intracellular pH (pH 1 ) in these transduced clones (PLJ-CFTR), as compared to CFPAC or CFPAC transduced with control virus (PLJ clones). Whereas the average pH, calculated based on results obtained in two PLJ-CFTR clones, PLJ-CFTR-20 (n=2) and PLJ-CFTR-6 (n=5), was 7.46±0.07, the average pH, calculated from results obtained in CFPAC (n = 13), PLJ-6 (n = 11) and PLJ-10 (n = 3) was pH 7.83±0.11. This finding suggests that CFTR may be involved, directly or indirectly, in the regulation of pH, in the pancreas.
Self-assembled Electroactive Phosphonic Acids on ITO : Maximizing Hole-Injection in Polymer Light-Emitting Diodes

In order to fulfill the promise of organic electronic devices, performance-limiting factors, such as the energetic discontinuity of the material interfaces, must be overcome. Here, improved performance of polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) is demonstrated using self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of triarylamine-based hole-transporting molecules with phosphonic acid-binding groups to modify the surface of the indium tin oxide (ITO) anode. The modified ITO surfaces are used in multilayer PLEDs, in which a green-emitting polymer, poly[2,7-(9,9-dihexylfluorene)-co-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)] (PFBT5), is sandwiched between a thermally crosslinked hole-transporting layer (HTL) and an electron-transporting layer (ETL). All tetraphenyl-diamine (TPD)-based SAMs show significantly improved hole-injection between ITO and the HTL compared to oxygen plasma-treated ITO and simple aromatic SAMs on ITO. The device performance is consistent with the hole-transporting properties of triarylamine groups (measured by electrochemical measurements) and improved surface energy matching with the HTL. The turn-on voltage of the devices using SAM-modified anodes can be lowered by up to 3 V compared to bare ITO, yielding up to 18-fold increases in current density and up to 17-fold increases in brightness at 10 V. Variations in hole-injection and turn-on voltage between the different TPD-based molecules are attributed to the position of alkyl-spacers within the molecules.
Reconstruction of Pharyngeal Defects Using AlloDerm and Sternocleidomastoid Muscle Flap

Objective: To report our experience in reconstructing pharyngeal defects that cannot be closed primarily, using acellular dermal matrix (AlloDerm, LifeCell Corp., Branchburg, NJ) and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle flap. Study Design: Prospective, nonrandomized, nonblinded study in the setting of an academic tertiary care medical center. Methods: Fourteen patients underwent reconstruction of through-and-through defects of partial pharyngectomy for squamous cell carcinoma using AlloDerm graft. Primary closure of the defects was not possible because of substantial loss of pharyngeal tissue. The graft was reinforced with superiorly based SCM muscle flap in 10 patients. The remaining four patients did not receive any flap. Eleven lesions involved the lateral pharyngeal wall, and three were piriform sinus lesions. Patients were followed for a period ranging from 3 to 20 months. Outcome measures were determined on several parameters including graft take rate, evidence of graft contracture, postoperative complications, resumption of diet, intelligibility of speech, and decannulation. All patients were evaluated by a speech pathologist by means of a bedside swallowing examination. Five patients had videofluoroscopic studies. The three patients with piriform sinus lesions underwent videostroboscopic examination to assess vocal cord function. Results: There was a high success rate for graft take. Two patients developed postoperative fistulas that resolved with conservative management. One of the 10 patients with SCM flap and one of the 4 patients without SCM flap developed fistulas. Clinically significant graft contracture or pharyngeal stenosis was not observed in any patients. All patients resumed oral intake. Ten patients d a normal diet, two tolerated a soft diet, and two could take purees. Decannulation was successful in all patients. Two of the three patients with piriform sinus lesions had vocal cord palsies after surgery resulting in breathy dysphonia. They underwent type I thyroplasty for vocal rehabilitation. All patients had intelligible speech. Conclusions: Thick AlloDerm, reinforced with SCM muscle or cervical soft tissue, provides a useful alternative option for reconstruction of pharyngeal defects that cannot be closed primarily. It is safe and effective and provides excellent functional outcomes.
The 100-kyr ice-age cycle: internal oscillation or inclinational forcing?

The ice-age hypothesis of Muller and MacDonald (1995, 1997a, 1997b) has two parts: (a) The 100-kyr cycle does not owe its existence to Milankovitch forcing; and (b) variations in inclination of Earth's orbit (i.e., the orbit's angle with the solar system invariable plane) provide the mechanism sought. In support of the first proposition, Muller and MacDonald point to the paradox that the spectrum of oxygen isotope series from deep-sea sediments contains no power for two prominent eccentricity cycles, 125 and 400 kyr. In support of the second proposition, they offer a match between the SPECMAP record (Imbrie et al. 1984) and a plot of the amplitude of orbital inclination, shifted by 33 kyr. The hypothesis of Muller and MacDonald is rejected in both parts, although an influence of inclination forcing is not precluded entirely. The paradox of the missing eccentricity cycles (125 and 400 kyr) is explained by suppression of the two longer cycles, and enhancement of the one near 96 kyr, as a result of internal oscillation. A Muller–MacDonald machine for making the 100-kyr ice-age cycles, however conceived, would have to have a memory near 30 kyr to provide for phase shift between input and output. Precisely this amount of memory is sufficient to produce the needed oscillation in Milankovitch machine here applied; thus, there is no advantage, from the point of view of either necessity or simplicity, in replacing Milankovitch forcing, with its precise phasing (despite the fuzzy physics), with inclination forcing, and with its severe problems in phasing (and, thus far, no physics at all).
GM-CSF safety and effects in the management of advanced/refractory multiple myeloma patients: a phase I trial.

Purpose: Some limitations of effective therapy in multiple myeloma include the low growth fraction of the malignant plasma cells, multi-drug resistance, and the presence of other concurrent diseases in this patient population. A phase I study was conducted to evaluate the toxicity of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in myeloma patients as well as the potential effect on the plasma cell labeling index (PCLI). Relapsed patients with multiple myeloma were eligible. Methods: The first phase of this trial assessed the toxicity (including the effect on disease progression) of escalating doses (125–500 μg/m2 SC, days 1–5) of GM-CSF, and the effects of this cytokine on PCLI. Patients whose PCLI doubled and increased to ≥1.7% were treated with chemotherapy including cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, and GM-CSF. Twenty-two patients were enrolled. Results: The toxicity of GM-CSF was mild, and no dose-limiting side effects were seen. Twenty-five percent of patients (5/20) achieved the target PCLI, and 4/5 proceeded to receive chemotherapy. No relationship of GM-CSF dose to increases of the PCLI was noted. All patients who received chemotherapy responded. Conclusions: GM-CSF has acceptable toxicity in patients with multiple myeloma and produced increases of PCLI in selected individuals. Further studies of GM-CSF alone or in combination with chemotherapy are indicated.
Pharmacological Inhibition of ε-Protein Kinase C Attenuates Cardiac Fibrosis and Dysfunction in Hypertension-Induced Heart Failure

Studies on genetically manipulated mice suggest a role for e-protein kinase C (ePKC) in cardiac hypertrophy and in heart failure. The potential clinical relevance of these findings was tested here using a pharmacological inhibitor of ePKC activity during the progression to heart failure in hypertensive Dahl rats. Dahl rats, fed an 8% high-salt diet from the age of 6 weeks, exhibited compensatory cardiac hypertrophy by 11 weeks, followed by heart failure at ≈17 weeks and death by the age of ≈20 weeks (123±3 days). Sustained treatment between weeks 11 and 17 with the selective ePKC inhibitor eV1-2 or with an angiotensin II receptor blocker olmesartan prolonged animal survival by ≈5 weeks (eV1-2: 154±7 days; olmesartan: 149±5 days). These treatments resulted in improved fractional shortening (eV1-2: 58±2%; olmesartan: 53±2%; saline: 41±6%) and decreased cardiac parenchymal fibrosis when measured at 17 weeks without lowering blood pressure at any time during the treatment. Combined treatment with eV1-2, together with olmesartan, prolonged animal survival by 5 weeks (37 days) relative to olmesartan alone (from 160±5 to 197±14 days, respectively) and by ≈11 weeks (74 days) on average relative to saline-treated animals, suggesting that the pathway inhibited by ePKC inhibition is not identical to the olmesartan-induced effect. These data suggest that an ePKC-selective inhibitor such as eV1-2 may have a potential in augmenting current therapeutic strategies for the treatment of heart failure in humans.
Neuroleptics produce within-session response decrements : facts and theories

Acute neuroleptic administration results in within-session decrements for conditioned active avoidance, discriminated lever release (reaction time), fixed-ratio responding, lever pressing for intracranial electrical stimulation, licking, runway running, and treadmill running. Similarly, catalepsy has been shown to be increased by repeated testing. This paper briefly reviews these findings and reports new results on the effects of haloperidol on the micro-characteristics of rats' operant behavior maintained by fixed-ratio 20 food reinforcement. With these methods, within-session decrements were seen to be produced by abrupt cessation of responding and by response slowing that was evident from the first few responses in the session. It is argued that within-session decrements can be viewed as manifestations of neuroleptic-induced pseudoparkinsonism in the rat and that dynamic neurochemical changes in the nigrostriatal dopamine system mediate the behavioral changes.
Leveraging fuzzy query processing to support applications in wireless sensor networks

In this paper, we describe a fuzzy query processing approach to support application development in sensor networks. Using a fuzzy query, an application programmer can provide a linguistic and semantic specification of the desired data, eliminating the need to specify explicit and exact thresholds as part of a query. The returned fuzzy query results are each associated with a degree of membership measurement that indicates how closely each returned data value matches the semantic intent of the fuzzy query, providing applications with additional information that can be used to reason about the query result. Our approach to in-network fuzzy query processing allows for each sensor node to tailor its evaluation of a fuzzy query; this feature allows for consideration of micro-environments embedded within the sensor network that can impact how individual sensor data values should be interpreted with respect to the semantic intent of the query. To demonstrate that a fuzzy query processing approach is feasible, we use an application scenario to evaluate the implementation of our fuzzy query processing system in a simulated sensor network environment; results show that precision and overhead for our approach are comparable to traditional query processing.
Third harmonic generation spectrum of a degenerate ground state conjugated polymer. Direct evidence of simultaneous two- and three-photon resonance

Abstract We report the third harmonic generation (THG) spectrum of poly(dioctyldipropargylmalonate) (PDDPM), covering pump energies from 0.6 to 1.4 eV. Like trans-polyacetylene, PDDPM has a bond-alternated structure and a twofold degenerate ground state. The phase of the nonlinear optical susceptibility, χ (3) (3 ω ), undergoes a 2π shift, demonstrating that two nearly simultaneous resonances (at 0.7 and 0.9 eV) are traversed, as expected for degenerate ground state polymers where the two-photon mid-gap state formed by neutral soliton-antisoliton pairs plays a dominant role in χ (3) processes.
Indexing Shapes for Recognition

The visual features most important for object recognition are those having to do with the shape of an object. In one approach to recognition The image is decomposed an image into a set of relatively simple shapes (parts) and predicates that describe these parts and the relationships between them. Recognition is a matter of matching this parts-relations description to some parts-relations model in a large database of models. Matching is computationally intensive; unless the parts-relations representation is organized for efficient indexing, recognition times get intractably long. We review general requirements for such a representation as proposed by Marr and Nishihara[1]. Their prescription leaves open general questions that must be answered in any particular implementation. We offer some solutions for a simple domain of 2-D sticklike objects and point out some aspects of the implementa-tion that might be useful for shape indexing in other domains.
Distal-less Function During Drosophila Appendage and Sense Organ Development

The Drosophila Distal-less (Dll) gene was identified in the early 1980s by means of dominant and recessive mutations that caused both striking antenna-to-leg transformations and leg truncations. The gene initially was named "Bristle on arista" or "Brista" because one aspect of the phenotype is the formation of leg bristles on the antenna (Sato [1984] Drosophila Information Service 60:180-182; Sunkel and Whittle [1987] Wilhelm Roux's. Arch. Dev. Biol. 196:124-132). Subsequent studies have revealed that Dll encodes a homeodomain transcription factor (Cohen et al. [1989] Nature 338:432-434) that is expressed throughout limb development from embryogenesis on (Cohen [1990] Nature 343:173-177; Weigmann and Cohen [1999] Development 126:3823-3830). Dll is required for the elaboration of distal pattern elements in the antenna, the legs, the limb-derived gnathal structures (Cohen and Jurgens [1989] Nature 482-485), and the anal plate (Gorfinkiel et al. [1999] Mech. Dev. 868:113-123) and can initiate proximodistal axis formation when expressed ectopically (Gorfinkiel et al. [1997] Genes Dev. 11:2259-2271). Dll homologs are expressed in developing appendages in at least six coelomate phyla, including chordates (Akimenko et al. [1994] J. Neurosci. 14:3475-3486; Beauchemin and Savard [1992] Dev. Biol. 154:55-65; Bulfone et al. [1993] Mech. Dev. 40:129-140; Dolle et al. [1992] Differentiation 49:93-99; Ferrari et al. [1995] Mech. Dev. 52:257-264; Panganiban et al. [1997] Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94:5162-5166; Simeone et al. [1994] Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:2250-2254), consistent with requirements for Dlx function in normal limb development across the animal kingdom. Distal-less also has been implicated in various aspects of vertebrate neurogenesis (see reviews by Kraus and Lufkin [1999] J. Cell. Biochem. 32-33:133-140 and the accompanying review by Beanan and Sargent [2000] Dev. Dyn. 218:000-000). Here, I outline what is known about Dll function and regulation in Drosophila.
Thermal effects on real-time systems

In our research, we study how real-time systems are affected by thermal management to satisfy the temperature constraint. In temperature-constrained real-time systems, deadline guarantees must be met without exceeding safe temperature level of the processor. While processor speed control is the most popular method of thermal management of systems, it eventually makes the task delays longer. In our study, we describe how to find the worst case execution considering speed control in temperature-constrained environment. With the worst case execution scenario, we study how the simple reactive speed scaling scheme can improve the processor utilization compared with any constant-speed scheme. For aperiodic tasks, it is briefly reviewed how the naive application of slack stealing leads to missed deadlines and the design-time slack allocation is proposed. A queueing model is presented to analyze the response time provided to aperiodic jobs and validated with results from a discrete-event simulator.
Bitter and sweet saccharin preferences as a function of food deprivation.

16 rats were given 23-hr. tests with each of 2 low-concentration (sweet by human report) pairs of saccharin (.05% vs .15% and .05% vs .35%) and 2 high-concentration (bitter) pairs (1.15% vs 1.25% and 1.15% vs 1.45%). All Ss were tested under each condition while on ad lib. feeding and while on a 23-hr. food deprivation schedule. Results with the 2 low-concentration pairs showed the typical deprivation-concentration interaction, greatly increased intake for the higher concentration of a pair. There was also an interaction with the “bitter” pairs, due to Ss drinking more of the 1.15% concentration when food-deprived than when non-deprived.
Genomewide linkage scans for ocular refraction and meta-analysis of four populations in the Myopia Family Study.

PURPOSE—Genomewide linkage scans were performed in Caucasian (CAUC) and Old Order Amish (OOA) families to identify genomic regions containing genes responsible for refractive error control. We also performed a meta-analysis by combining these results with our previous linkage results from Ashkenazi Jewish (ASHK) and African American (AFRAM) families. METHODS—Two hundred seventy-one CAUC and 411 OOA participants (36 and 61 families, respectively) were recruited to participate in the Myopia Family Study. Recruitment criteria were designed to enrich the sample for multiplex myopic families. Genomewide, model-free, multipoint linkage analyses were performed separately for each population by using >370 microsatellite markers. Empirical significance levels were determined via gene-dropping simulations. A metaanalysis was performed by combining linkage results from the CAUC, OOA, AFRAM, and ASHK samples, and results were compared to previously reported loci for myopia and refraction. RESULTS—Suggestive evidence of linkage was found at 12q24 (LOD = 4.583, P = 0.00037) and 4q21 (LOD = 2.72, P = 0.0028) in the CAUC sample and at 5qter (LOD = 3.271, P = 0.0014) in the OOA. Meta-analysis linkage results were largely driven by population-specific signals from ASHK and AFRAM families. The meta-analysis showed suggestive evidence of linkage to 4q21-22 (metaP = 0.00214) adjacent to the previously reported MYP9 and MYP11 loci. CONCLUSIONS—The results showed suggestive evidence of linkage of ocular refraction to 12q24 and 4q21 in CAUC and to 5qter in OOA families. The meta-analysis supports the view that several genes play a role in refractive development across populations. In MFS families, four broad genomic regions (on 1p, 4q, 7p, and 12q) most likely contain genes that influence ocular refraction. Ocular refraction is the quantitative basis behind the common optical defects of myopia and hyperopia. Although myopia and hyperopia can generally be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or by surgical means, uncorrected refractive error is the most common cause of visual impairment worldwide. In addition, high degrees of myopia and hyperopia are associated with serious sequelae that can lead to permanent vision loss.
Enterocyte fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs): Different functions of liver and intestinal FABPs in the intestine

Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABP) are highly abundant cytosolic proteins that are expressed in most mammalian tissues. In the intestinal enterocyte, both liver- (LFABP; FABP1) and intestinal FABPs (IFABP; FABP2) are expressed. These proteins display high-affinity binding for long-chain fatty acids (FA) and other hydrophobic ligands; thus, they are believed to be involved with uptake and trafficking of lipids in the intestine. In vitro studies have identified differences in ligand-binding stoichiometry and specificity, and in mechanisms of FA transfer to membranes, and it has been hypothesized that LFABP and IFABP have different functions in the enterocyte. Studies directly comparing LFABP- and IFABP-null mice have revealed markedly different phenotypes, indicating that these proteins indeed have different functions in intestinal lipid metabolism and whole body energy homeostasis. In this review, we discuss the evolving knowledge of the functions of LFABP and IFABP in the intestinal enterocyte.
CR Runge Sets on Hypersurface Graphs

This work contains an improvement of earlier results of Boggess and Dwilewicz regarding global approximation of CR functions by entire functions in the case of hypersurface graphs. In this work, we show that if ω, an open subset of a real hypersurface in ℂn, can be graphed over a convex subset in ℝ2n−1, then ω is CR-Runge in the sense that continuous CR functions on ω can be approximated by entire functions on ℂn in the compact open topology of ω. Examples are presented to show that this approximation result does not hold for graphed CR submanifolds in higher codimension.
In Situ Cycle-by-Cycle Flash Annealing of Atomic Layer Deposited Materials

This work establishes a modified atomic layer deposition (ALD) method, adding a rapid high temperature annealing step during every cycle of deposition without adding significant time to the overall reaction. To achieve the ultrafast heating requirement, an in situ flash lamp annealing (FLA) apparatus was designed and integrated into the lid of an ALD chamber. The FLA ALD technique was applied to modify the morphology and crystallinity of as-deposited PbS quantum dot (QD) structures and thin TiO2 films. The ability to control the PbS QD size, shape, and standard deviation in size as a function of FLA conditions was observed. Furthermore, the FLA technique enabled the direct ALD growth of crystalline TiO2 thin films, which were amorphous as-deposited. This technique provides a new opportunity to facilitate diffusion and crystallization throughout the ALD growth process while maintaining the low temperatures required during the self-limiting surface reactions.
Transferable drug resistance in bacteria of coastal canal water and sediment

Abstract This study was undertaken to determine the comparative incidence of drug-resistant coliforms and salmonellae in the water and bottom sediments of six coastal canal communities which are used heavily for recreational activities. Of a total of 423 coliforms, 300 fecal coliforms and 100 salmonella isolates examined, 74.9% coliforms, 61.3% fecal coliforms and 71.0% salmonellae were resistant to one or more of the 12 antibiotics tested. Multiple resistance occurred in 48.9% coliforms, 32.7% fecal coliforms and 68.0% salmonella strains. A total of 178 coliforms, 137 fecal coliforms and 51 salmonella isolates were tested for the presence of resistance transfer factors, and 53.9%, 53.3% and 56.9% isolates, respectively, were capable of transferring their resistance patterns to Escherichia coli and/or Salmonella choleraesuis recipient strains. A significantly higher number of drug-resistant bacteria carrying R-factors (R + ) was found to occur in sediment than in surface water.
Fibrinolytic Compromise by Synthetic and Recombinant Thrombin Inhibitors: Implications in the Treatment of Thrombotic Disorders

Site-directed synthetic and recombinant antithrombin agents are widely used to prevent reocclusion during thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction and other vascular occlusive disorders. However, minimal studies have been conducted to examine the interactions between these anticoagulant and thrombolytic agents. Because of the structural homology of serine proteases, some of these newly developed antithrombin agents are also capable of inhibiting fibrinolytic enzymes, which may lead to fibrinolytic compromise during thrombolytic therapy. In addition, inhibition of thrombomodutin-bound thrombin may also result in fibrinolytic deficit. Several thrombin inhibitors were studied in in vitro systems to assess whether their inactivating properties extend to fibrinolytic and profibinolytic enzymes, such as kallikrein, plasmin, urokinase, streptokinase, and tissue plasminogen activator. The thrombin inhibitors studied included hirudin, hirulog-I, argatroban, D-MePhe-Pro-Arg-H, and Ac-D-Phe-Pro-boroArg-OH...
Cosmos, chaos: finance, power and conflict

The article explores parallels between the fragility of globalization on the eve of the First World War, in the aftermath of the financial crisis of 1907, and today's crisis of globalization following the post-2007 recession. The fragility and interconnectedness of the international economy in both cases could provide a basis for an economic–military strategy. The temptation of using economic connectedness as a substitute for conventional and costly military strategy makes this course particularly attractive to a hegemon—the UK then, the US now—that is facing powerful competition from rising powers (Germany and the US then, China now). The challengers are likely to find their own alternative strategy, and the result breeds uncertainty. In consequence, rule-based international orders are generally strained by transitions of power, even though all the parties see the desirability and need for a common system of rules.
Assessing change in quality of life using the Oral Health Impact Profile

UNLABELLED Traditionally, longitudinal studies of oral health have measured only disease progression and ignored improvements in health. OBJECTIVES This study examines methodological issues that arise in longitudinal assessment of change in oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL). METHODS Baseline and 2-year follow-up data were used from an observational longitudinal study of 498 people aged 60 years or more living in South Australia. Oral health-related quality of life was measured using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP). Three hypothesized risk predictors (tooth loss, problem-based dental visits and financial hardship) were selected to examine the effects of four methods of measuring change: categorical measures of improvement, deterioration and net change, and a quantitative measure of net change in OHIP scores. RESULTS Some 31.7% of people experienced some improvement and 32.7% experienced some deterioration in OHRQOL. All three high-risk groups had approximately twice the rate of deterioration in OHRQOL compared with their corresponding low-risk groups. Surprisingly, high-risk groups also had higher rates of improvement. When measured categorically, these effects did not cancel one another, indicating that improvement and deterioration in OHRQOL can be experienced simultaneously. However, quantitative analyses cause improvements and deteriorations to cancel, and analysis of mean OHIP scores created a spurious impression that change in OHRQOL did not differ between dental visit groups. Furthermore, changes in mean OHIP scores were masked by regression to the mean. CONCLUSIONS Oral health-related quality of life measures capture both improvement and deterioration in health status, creating new complexities for conceptualizing and analyzing change in longitudinal studies.
Fossil figure contribution to the lunar figure

Abstract The unusual shape of the Moon given its present rotational and orbital state has been explained as due to a fossil figure preserving a record of remnant rotational and tidal deformation (Jeffreys, H. [1915]. Mem. R. Astron. Soc. 60, 187–217; Lambeck, K., Pullan, S. [1980]. Phys. Earth Planet. Interiors 22, 29–35; Garrick-Bethell, I., Wisdom, J., Zuber, M.T. [2006]. Science 313, 652–655). However, previous studies assume infinite rigidity and ignore deformation due to changes in the rotational and orbital potentials as the Moon evolves to the present state. We interpret the global lunar figure with a physical model that takes into account this deformation. Although the Moon deforms in response to rotational and orbital changes, a fossil figure capable of explaining the observed figure can be preserved by an elastic lithosphere.
Points to consider in the development of a surrogate for efficacy of novel Japanese encephalitis virus vaccines.

Although an effective killed virus vaccine to prevent illness due to Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection exists, many authorities recognize that a safe, effective live JEV vaccine is desirable in order to reduce the cost and the number of doses of vaccine required per immunization. A large-scale clinical efficacy trail for such a vaccine would be both unethical and impractical. Therefore, a surrogate for the efficacy of JE vaccines should be established. Detection of virus-neutralizing antibodies in sera of vaccinees could constitute such a surrogate for effacy. Field studies of vaccinees in endemic areas and studies done in mice already exist to support this concept. Also, titers of virus-neutralizing antibodies are already accepted as a surrogate for the efficacy of yellow fever virus vaccines and for the efficacy of other viral vaccines as well. In developing a correlation between N antibody titers and protection from JEV infection, standard procedures must be validated and adopted for both measuring N antibodies and for testing in animals. A novel live virus vaccine could be tested in the mouse and/or the monkey model of JEV infection to establish a correlation between virus-neutralizing antibodies elicited by the vaccines and protection from encephalitis. In addition, sera of subjects receiving the novel live JEV vaccine in early clinical trials could be passively transferred to mice or monkeys in order to establish the protective immunogenicity of the vaccine in humans. A monkey model for JEV infection was recently established by scientists at WRAIR in the US. From this group, pools of JEV of known infectivity for Rhesus macaques may be obtained for testing of immunity elicited by live JE vaccine virus.
THE DISSOLUTION RATE OF Ca(OH)2 IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS

Abstract The dissolution rate of reagent grade Ca(OH)2 in aqueous solutions has been determined by means of a spinning disc method. The dissolution rate was found to be independent of disc velocity at a disc Reynold's Number above 9×l03. The dissolution rate is important for environmental applications such as flue gas desulfurization using Ca(OH)2 in wet scrubbers and spray dryer reactors, and for pH control. The lime discs were prepared under high pressure in a cylinder and determined to have similar thermogravimetric response to temperature as that of the parent lime powder. The discs were tested in a pH slat device where the dissolution rate was correlated to acid consumption required to maintain a preset value of pH. Limestone powder was used to verify the experimental system as the results could be compared with published data. Lime dissolution rate was measured as a function of disc velocity, ω (rpm), solution pH and temperature (K). The variation of dissolution rate with temperature was found to fo...
Mitochondrial Abnormalities of Liver in Primary Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency

Deficiency of hepatic ornithine transcarbamylase (EC 2.1.3.3) activity in a 17-month-old female patient is described. Enzyme activity was 11% of the mean control value. Electron microscopic examination of the liver specimen, taken by percutaneous needle biopsy, revealed striking abnormalities of the mitochondria: bud-like projections, sausage-link appearance, elongation with short cristae, or the presence of parallel arrays of tubules. The abnormalities do not resemble those seen in Reye's syndrome.