cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seven Core Measures of Neuroprotective Family-Centered Developmental Care: Creating an Infrastructure for Implementation

Abstract The Neonatal Integrative Developmental Care Model utilizes neuroprotective interventions as strategies to support optimal synaptic neural connections, promote normal development and prevent disabilities. Seven neuroprotective core measures for family-centered developmental care of the premature neonate are depicted on petals of a lotus as the Healing Environment, Partnering with Families, Positioning & Handling, Safeguarding Sleep, Minimizing Stress & Pain, Protecting Skin, and Optimizing Nutrition. The overlapping petals of the model demonstrate the integrative nature of developmental care. The Developmental Care Committee in our hospital created an infrastructure around the Neonatal Integrative Developmental Care Model by forming a Steering Committee to oversee seven Neuroprotective Core Measure Committees. The following article describes the organization of this model along with each Core Measure Committee's goals, interventions, and results during their first year.
JPRS And FBIS Translations: Polycentrism At The Reference Desk

This paper discusses the potential and responsibility of the Reference Librarian to contribute a polycentric perspective to information seekers. Because our society is essentially monolingual, library users and librarians alike tend to be ethnocentric in their retrieval and digestion of information. However, through the judicious use of foreign materials in English translation our monolingual society and the narrowness that it breeds could be remediated, if not overcome.
Records management and data management: closing the gap

The other day I was at a meeting with several government officials to discuss the establishment of a retention, conservation and disposition schedule for a large, complex, automated information system. Around the table were users, systems people, the head of data administration and the departmental records manager. The first thing that intrigued me about this meeting was that the records manager and the systems people (including the data administrator) had never met each other, even though all had worked in the department for at least 2 years. For someone who was concerned with launching an initiative that would depend on the cooperation of these areas I was more than a little shaken.
Allosteric Activation of the Par-6 PDZ Via a Partial Unfolding Transition

Proteins exist in a delicate balance between the native and unfolded states, where thermodynamic stability may be sacrificed to attain the flexibility required for efficient catalysis, binding, or allosteric control. Partition-defective 6 (Par-6) regulates the Par polarity complex by transmitting a GTPase signal through the Cdc42/Rac interaction binding PSD-95/Dlg/ZO-1 (CRIB-PDZ) module that alters PDZ ligand binding. Allosteric activation of the PDZ is achieved by local rearrangement of the L164 and K165 side chains to stabilize the interdomain CRIB:PDZ interface and reposition a conserved element of the ligand binding pocket. However, microsecond to millisecond dynamics measurements revealed that L164/K165 exchange requires a larger rearrangement than expected. The margin of thermodynamic stability for the PDZ domain is modest (∼3 kcal/mol) and further reduced by transient interactions with the disordered CRIB domain. Measurements of local structural stability revealed that tertiary contacts within the ...
A global perspective on library association codes of ethics

This study of 28 countries involves comparative content analysis of the English versions of codes of ethics proposed by professional associations. It yielded an empirically grounded typology of principles arranged in twenty categories. The most frequently identified principles were professional development, integrity, confidentiality or privacy, and free and equal access to information. While confidentiality and privacy, and equal access to information, appear in all existing typologies of library and information science ethics, other principles, such as copyright and intellectual property, democracy, and responsibility toward society, which appear in almost all other typologies, were evident in fewer than half of the codes. This empirical study provides a global perspective on library association code of ethics.
Effect of beta-blockade on autonomic modulation of heart rate and neurohormonal profile in decompensated heart failure.

Background: One of the putative mechanisms for the salutary effects of beta-blockers in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) is their ability to improve autonomic dysfunction. However, patients with profound neurohumoral abnormalities derive little survival benefit from beta-blockers. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of beta-blockers on heart rate variability (HRV) in decompensated CHF. Methods: Time and frequency domain HRV indices were obtained from 24-hour Holter recordings and compared to assess the role of beta-blockade in 199 patients (mean age 60 ± 14 years) with decompensated CHF. Neurohormonal differences were assessed by measuring norepinephrine, endothelin-1, tumor necrosis factor-a, and interleukin-6 in a subset of 64 patients. Results: All HRV indices were markedly suppressed but were substantially higher in patients who were on beta-blockers. Time domain measures of parasympathetic cardiac activity, the percentage of R-R intervals with > 50 ms variation (4.9 ± 0.6 vs 7.7 ± 1.2%, P = 0.006) and the square root of mean squared differences of successive R-R intervals (22.7 ± 2.0 vs 31.6 ± 4.1 ms, P = 0.004), were higher in the beta-blocker group. Spectral analysis revealed that the total power and the ultra-low frequency power were significantly higher in patients on beta-blockers (82% and 59%, respectively). The high frequency power, a spectral index of parasympathetic modulation, was 41% higher in the beta-blocker group (121 ± 25 vs 171 ± 27 ms2, P = 0.02). Norepinephrine and interleukin-6 levels were substantially lower in patients on beta-blockers (28% and 61%, respectively). However, these differences did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: Beta-blockers improve the impaired cardiac autonomic regulation during high sympathetic stress of decompensated CHF. This effect may play an important role in protecting the myocardium and preventing arrhythmias during transient increases in sympathetic activity. A.N.E. 2001;6(2):98–106
Production of superoxide dismutases from Proteus mirabilis and Proteus vulgaris

Proteus mirabilis and Proteus vulgaris expressed a combination of superoxide dismutase (Sod) activities, which was assigned to FeSod1, FeSod2 and MnSod for P. mirabilis, and FeSod, MnSod and CuZnSod for P. vulgaris. Production of the Sod proteins was dependent on the availability of iron, whether cells were grown under anaerobiosis or aerobiosis and growth phase. Nalidixic acid and chloramphenicol inhibited cell growth and the iron- and dioxygen-dependent production of Sod. These results support the involvement of metal ions and redox status in the production of Proteus Sods.
Stability of Metal−Glutathione Complexes during Oxidation by Hydrogen Peroxide and Cu(II)-Catalysis

Thiol-containing ligands such as glutathione (GSH) are expected to degrade in the presence of oxygen; however, complexation by Hg, Ag, and other trace metals may protect free thiol functional groups (R−S-) from oxidation, leading to persistence in surface water environments. In this study, the stability of GSH complexes with Hg2+, Ag+, and other metals including Cd2+, Zn2+, and Pb2+ was assessed during exposure to two potential environmental oxidants: H2O2 and Cu2+. The results indicated that Hg(GSH)2 and Ag(GSH) complexes were completely stable for at least 2 days in the presence of either H2O2 or Cu2+. In contrast, free GSH oxidized within minutes to hours. Complexation by Cd, Zn, and Pb slightly decreased or did not significantly affect the oxidation rate of GSH, depending upon the pH (tested between pH 6 and 9). Thermodynamic modeling of GSH speciation demonstrated that the observed oxidation rates were not consistent with predicted free GSH3- concentration. These results indicated that Cd−, Zn−, and...
Weight and Moisture Content of Carcasses from Poults Fed Added Sodium Chloride

Abstract It is well known that an increase in weight gain occurs with high dietary sodium chloride intake. Bressler et al. (1951) observed such an increase in weight gain in poult experiments at this station. A similar increase has been noted during other work by the authors. The objective of this experiment was to investigate the carcass moisture content of poults fed 0% and 2% added sodium chloride. Ten poults were selected at random at 25 days of age from each of two groups of White Hollands for carcass moisture determinations. One of the groups of poults had been fed the 1952 Pennsylvania State University turkey starter without added sodium chloride and the other group had been fed the same diet with 2% added sodium chloride. The poults were killed by dislocating their necks so as not to break the skin and result in loss of blood. Carcasses were skinned. The …
Cross-spouse correlates of blood pressure in hypertension-prone families in Utah

Abstract This study used a subsample of 543 married couples from a large group of families in Utah, who were originally studied to assess the genetic and environmental determinants of hypertension. Excluding individuals on medication and controlling for the major risk factors for hypertension, evidence was obtained for cross-spouse blood pressure associations equal in magnitude to self- psychosocial and demographic measures. Observed spouse-spouse similarity for blood pressures remained significant after adjustment for shared psychological factors. It is speculated that different aspects of each spouse's nonmarital environments (e.g. work, social support) have differential impacts on the marital environment and on physiologic indicators of health.
Ram epididymitis: A clinical report.

Two hundred and five ram lambs originating from several sources were assembled for a ram performance trial. All rams were immunized with a commercial Brucellaovis bacterin. Four rams developed clinical evidence of epididymitis during the 150 day trial. Actinobacillusseminis was identified as the causative agent.
Mechanism of Plasma Catecholamine Increases During Surgical Stress in Man

In order to determine whether the sympathetic nervous system participates in the neuroendocrine response to surgical stress in man, plasma levels of norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) were measured by enzymatic assay in eight patients undergoing elective abdominal operations. Basal NE levels (pre-anesthesia) were comparable to those of 11 normal controls: 180 ± 20 pg/ml, ± sem (patients), vs. 180 ± 20 (controls), but basal E levels were higher: 70 ± 10 (patients) vs. 20 ± 5 (controls), P < .001. Halothane anesthesia caused no changes of plasma NE (Δ NE = +50 ± 40 pg/ml, p = NS), but suppressed plasma E (Δ E = −50 ± 10 pg/ml, P < .01). During the operation plasma catecholamines rose above anesthesia levels in all patients: Δ NE = +380 ± 60, Δ E = +250 ± 100, both P < .01. Plasma catecholamines remained elevated through 2 h after surgery: Δ NE (vs. pre-anesthesia baseline) = +290 ± 60, P < .01, Δ E = +200 ± 60, P < .05. Throughout the procedure Δ NE correlated with Δ E (r = .75, P < .001). These findin...
Field Trial of the 1959 CIE Supplementary Standard Observer Proposal

The field trials of the 10°-field supplementary standard observer proposal performed by W. S. Stiles and G. Wyszecki on the National Research Council three-primary Donaldson colorimeter have been repeated on the National Bureau of Standards Donaldson colorimeter. Only the least selective 11 of the 18 NRC filters were used in the NBS repetition, which employed 11 observers each making two sets of matches. The NBS Donaldson colorimeter with a 10°-field of view was calibrated both in terms of the 1931 CIE standard observer system and in terms of the 1959 supplementary proposal. As expected, visual matches with a 10° field compared quite unsatisfactorily with predictions made by the 1931 standard observer. The results are in general agreement with the Stiles–Wyszecki field-trial data. The agreement with the predictions by the 1959 proposal is improved when the results of the two field trials are combined, because the resulting arrays of individual-observer data encompass the predicted chromaticities of all of the filters but the red one. It is concluded that, although the proposal is not completely satisfactory, it does yield a significant improvement over the agreements achieved between predictions by the 1931 observer and observations.
A look at nano-antennas, nano-sensors and nano-radios-promises and potentials

The objective of this presentation is to review the topic of Nanoantennas, which find primary applications in the optical and terahertz frequency range, from the point of view of a microwave engineer. We begin by reviewing some of the proposed applications of nanoantennas, such as optical sensors, receptors of infrared energy in solar cells, lenses for terahertz radiation, and directed energy devices at infrared frequencies. Next, we point out some of the similarities as well as differences between optical and microwave antennas.
Growth hormone and the skeleton in pediatric renal allograft recipients.

Recombinant human growth hormone has been utilized to augment linear growth in pediatric renal allograft recipients. The skeletal changes that accompany growth hormone therapy have not been described in children. Thus, 23 stable prepubertal pediatric kidney recipients, aged 10±3 years, with a mean transplant time of 3.4±2.5 years and histological findings of normal bone formation and adynamic bone on bone biopsies were prospectively randomized into two groups. These comprised a treated group that received 12 months of growth hormone and a control group that did not receive any treatment. Anthropometric measurements and blood for serum calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone (PTH), osteocalcin, and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) were obtained every 3 months. Measurements of bone mass by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were performed at the beginning and end of the study period. All patients underwent an initial and final bone biopsy procedure after double tetracycline labeling. Annual growth velocity increased and standard deviation scores for height improved in the treated group. Serum IGF-I levels increased in the treated group and the increase was evident in patients with normal bone formation who received growth hormone but not in patients with adynamic bone. Serum calcium, phosphorus, osteocalcin, and PTH levels did not differ between the treated and control groups. Bone mass did not change in the treated group, but declined after 12 months in the control group. Bone formation rates did not increase with growth hormone treatment. Thus, growth hormone therapy improves linear growth and maintains bone mass, but does not favorably affect bone formation rates in stable pediatric renal allograft recipients.
The calculation of high-temperature equilibrium and nonequilibrium specific heat data for N2, O2 and NO

Specific heat data for high-temperature air species are needed to compute the temperature and enthalpy of gas mixtures in aerothermodynamics flowfield calculations. Accurate data are known only for temperatures under 6000 K, but are required for temperatures exceeding 25,000 K. In the present study, CP data are computed for N2, O2 and NO. The calculations are based on summations over all the vibration-rotation energy levels for all known bound electronic states. Estimates are made for the error introduced by the neglect of possible additional high-lying electronic states. In addition, a scheme for the partitioning of the internal energy into vibrational, rotational and electronic contributions is presented which consistently accounts for the nonseparable nature of the various energy modes. The multitemperature specific heat data are recommended for use in nonequilibrium flowfield models.
Line edge roughness (LER) mitigation studies specific to interference-like lithography

Line edge roughness (LER) is a common problem to most lithography approaches and is seen as the main resolution limiter for advanced technology nodes1. There are several contributors to LER such as chemical/optical shot noise, random nature of acid diffusion, development process, and concentration of acid generator/base quencher. Since interference-like lithography (IL) is used to define one directional gridded patterns, some LER mitigation approaches specific to IL-like imaging can be explored. Two methods investigated in this work for this goal are (i) translational image averaging along the line direction and (ii) pupil plane filtering. Experiments regarding the former were performed on both interferometric and projection lithography systems. Projection lithography experiments showed a small amount of reduction in low/mid frequency LER value for image averaged cases at pitch of 150 nm (193 nm illumination, 0.93 NA) with less change for smaller pitches. Aerial image smearing did not significantly increase LER since it was directional. Simulation showed less than 1% reduction in NILS (compared to a static, smooth mask equivalent) with ideal alignment. In addition, description of pupil plane filtering on the transfer of mask roughness is given. When astigmatism-like aberrations were introduced in the pupil, transfer of mask roughness is decreased at best focus. It is important to exclude main diffraction orders from the filtering to prevent contrast and NILS loss. These ideas can be valuable as projection lithography approaches to conditions similar to IL (e.g. strong RET methods).
Cyclic ADP-Ribose and Calcium Signaling in Eggs

Cyclic ADP-ribose is a cyclic nucleotide with Ca2+ signaling functions. It was first discovered in sea urchin eggs and has since been shown to be active in a variety of cells. Another Ca2+ release mechanism recently described in the eggs is mediated by nicotinic acid dinucleotide phosphate, a derivative of NADP+. This article summarizes current results on these two novel Ca(2+)-mobilizing pathways that are independent of inositol trisphosphate.
Sp1, USF, and GAL4 activate transcription independently of TFIID-downstream promoter interactions

One way specific transcription factors are thought to activate transcription initiation is by facilitating interactions between the general transcription factor TFIID and DNA sequences downstream of the TATA element. Examples supporting this model include transcription activation from the core adenovirus E4 promoter by either the human gene-specific transcription factor ATF or the acidic-domain fusion protein GAL4-AH. In these cases, appearance of downstream promoter binding by TFIID correlated directly with transcription activation by these proteins. Previously we had shown that downstream promoter binding by TFIID involved recognition of the initiator DNA control element and that the extent of this binding correlated directly with initiator-dependent transcription activation in vitro. We now report our use of DNase I footprinting and in vitro transcription to investigate the effects of various stimulatory transcription factors on TFIID binding and transcription efficiency from different initiator-containing promoters. Transcription factors investigated included Sp1, USF, and several GAL4-acidic domain fusion proteins. We found that none of these transcription factors appreciably affected downstream promoter binding by TFIID, whether qualitatively or quantitatively. In fact, all of these transcription factors stimulated transcription in vitro regardless of the strength of the initiator element present. When both elements were present, transcription stimulation mediated by proximally bound transcription factors and by TFIID-initiator interaction seemed to be synergistic. Taken together, our data would suggest that transcription activation by these two means occurs through different steps within the transcriptional process.
Analysis of elastic beams on nonlinear foundations

Abstract The midpoint difference method is organized for solving the basic differential equation for the elastic deformation of a beam supported on an elastic, nonlinear foundation with rigid or elastic descrete supports. An iterative approach is used in solving the nonlinear problem; a weighted averaging scheme is employed to speed up the convergence to a solution. The method of analysis, as programmed for a computer solution, considers the continuous elastic, nonlinear foundation to be active only when the beam is pressing against the foundation; the foundation is assumed to be inactive in the regions where the beam has displaced away from the foundation. Two examples are presented to illustrate the application of the method of analysis.
A parametric study of multichannel molten cladding motion under unprotected loss-of-flow accident conditions in LMFBR's

Abstract One of the key assumptions of the present multichannel clad motion model was that the total pressure drop over the voided channel could be supplied as a boundary condition. The incoherency effect on cladding motion can be significant for a full-scale subassembly, and therefore parametric studies of the total pressure drop and oscillatory pressure effect due to sodium chugging were examined using the multichannel model. There is an axial blanket region in demonstration plant or commercial-power-plant designs instead of a reflector in FFTF design above the top of fuel. It was shown that due to the difference in the thermal conductivities between the blanket material and reflector, significant changes in the timings of various events of the cladding relocation might occur. It is also noted that depending on the effect of the sodium voiding on the reactivity, the fuel may become molten when the molten cladding is still around. The possibility of the occurrence of this situation is studied by increasing the power in the present model.
Cyclin E is a target of WT1 transcriptional repression.

WT1 was originally identified as a Wilms' tumor suppressor gene, but it may have oncogenic potential in leukemia and in some solid tumors. WT1 is a transcription factor that has been implicated in the regulation of target genes related to apoptosis, genitourinary differentiation, and cell cycle progression. Because induction of WT1 leads indirectly to increased p21 expression in osteosarcoma cells, we investigated the possibility that other genes involved in the G1/S phase transition might also be WT1 targets. Cyclin E plays a crucial role in the cell cycle by activating cyclin-dependent kinase 2, which phosphorylates Rb, leading to progression from G1 into S phase. We identified several WT1 binding sites in the cyclin E promoter. We demonstrate that WT1 binds to these sites and that in transient transfection assays WT1 represses the cyclin E promoter. This activity is dependent on the presence of a binding site located downstream of the transcription start site. In intact cells, induction of WT1 expression down-regulates cyclin E protein levels. These results provide the first demonstration that WT1 can directly modulate the expression of a gene involved in cell cycle progression.
On modeling the micro-indentation response of an amorphous polymer

Abstract Interest in instrumented indentation experiments as a means to estimate mechanical properties has grown rapidly in recent years. Although numerous nano/micro-indentation experimental studies on polymeric materials have been reported in the literature, a corresponding methodology for extracting material property information from the experimental data does not exist. This situation for polymeric materials exists primarily because baseline numerical analyses of sharp indentation using appropriate large deformation constitutive models for the nonlinear viscoelastic–plastic response of these materials appear not to have been previously reported in the literature. An existing, widely used theory for amorphous polymers (e.g. [Boyce, M., Parks, D., Argon, A.S., 1988. Large inelastic deformation of glassy polymers. Part 1: Rate dependent constitutive model. Mechanics of Materials 7, 15–33; Arruda, E.M., Boyce, M.C., 1993. Evolution of plastic anisotropy in amorphous polymers during finite straining. International Journal of Plasticity 9, 697–720]) has been recently found to lack sufficient richness to enable one to quantitatively reproduce the major features of the indentation load-versus-depth curves for some common amorphous polymers [Gearing, B.P., 2002. Constitutive equations and failure criteria for amorphous polymeric solids. Ph.D. thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology]. This study develops a new continuum model for the viscoelastic–plastic deformation of amorphous polymeric solids. We have applied the constitutive model to capture salient features of the mechanical response of the amorphous polymeric solid poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) at ambient temperature and stress states under which this material does not exhibit crazing. We have conducted compression-tension strain-controlled experiments, as well as stress-controlled compression-creep experiments, and these experiments are used to calibrate the material parameters in the constitutive model for PMMA. We have implemented our constitutive model in a finite-element computer program, and using this finite-element program we have simulated micro-indentation experiments on PMMA. We show that our constitutive model and finite element simulations reproduce the experimentally-measured indentation load-versus-depth response with reasonable accuracy.
Isolation of lipoprotein-acid mucopolysaccharide complexes from fatty streaks of human aortas.

Abstract Evidence is presented for the presence of lipoprotein-mucopolysaccharide (MPS) complexes in fatty streaks. The complexes were extracted from fatty streaks of human aortas with isotonic NaCl and partially characterized. In order to study the nature of lipoprotein-MPS complexes, crude extracts were fractionated by gel filtration followed by density gradient ultracentrifugation using D 2 O and analyzed by electrophoresis in agar-agarose gels and on cellulose acetate strips. These studies demonstrated that low and very low density lipoproteins were involved in the formation of complexes. The presence of chondroitin sulfate and/or heparitin sulfate was observed in the complexes.
Commercial utilization of Atlantic white cedar ( Chamaecyparis thyoides , Cupressaceae)

Utilization of Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) is examined throughout the range of the species. The most important production area is North Carolina, with New Jersey and panhandle Florida-southern Alabama as secondary centers. The wood is used where its light weight, resistance to decay, and fragrance are of value—as siding and paneling for houses, planking for small- to mediumsized boats, fencing, decking, and lawn furniture, with smaller quantities used for such specialities as shingles and duck decoys. Harvest and manufacturing strategies are examined. Wholesale value of the manufactured products is calculated at $10 to $11.5 million. Annual production is estimated as 19 million board feet. The present forest inventory of standing trees is believed to be between 170 and 180 million board feet.
Theoretical error in radionuclide ejection fraction study due to photon attenuation

The ejection fractions measured with the radionuclide method are usually lower than those measured with the X-ray contrast method in our hospitals. One of the reasons for this may be that the photon attenuation by the cardiac blood pool and soft tissue is greater for the larger end-diastolic ventricle than that for the end-systolic ventricle. Mathematically, the error due to photon attenuation in radionuclide ejection fraction study is calculated to be about 5 percentage points. Clinically, if 5 percentage points are added to the ejection fractions measured by the radionuclide method, the results would correlate better with the studies by the X-ray contrast method. The correction factors for photon attenuation may also be applied in calculation of the residual urinary bladder volume.
High performance bounded control synthesis with application to the F18 HARV

Designing high-performance controllers that do not saturate remains a challenge that cannot be addressed by linear control theory alone. This paper presents a control design methodology by which increasingly aggressive gains are used as the system converges to equilibrium. Stability of the resulting nonlinear control law is proved via the construction of a corresponding Lyapunov function. Performance and practicality is demonstrated by using the method to design a lateral-directional controller for the F18 HARV, using simulations models provided by NASA Dryden Flight Research Center.
Behavior of Electron Density Functions in Molecular Interactions

When molecules approach each other at distances typical of gas-phase complexes or condensed-phase media, it is known that the intermolecular electron density function in the region between the molecules is related to the strength of the intermolecular interaction. We explore this behavior for 50 interaction pairs, and find that, in the interaction region, the total electron density is well represented by the sum of the density functions of the isolated molecules. The minimum in the electron density function between pairs of interacting molecules is used to estimate the sizes of the molecules. Taken in conjunction with the density additivity in this region, this procedure provides a means of estimating molecular sizes without performing supermolecule calculations. For weakly interacting systems, the distances and density minima identified by this procedure are consistent with use of the 0.002 au isodensity surface to define the size and shape of a molecule in condensed media.
p53 controls both the G2/M and the G1 cell cycle checkpoints and mediates reversible growth arrest in human fibroblasts

Abstract Increased expression of wild-type p53 in response to DNA damage arrests cells late in the G1 stage of the cell cycle by stimulating the synthesis of inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases, such as p21/WAF1. To study the effects of p53 without the complication of DNA damage, we used tetracycline to regulate its expression in MDAH041 human fibroblasts that lack endogenous p53. When p53 is expressed at a level comparable to that induced by DNA damage in other cells, most MDAH041 cells arrested in G1, but a significant fraction also arrested in G2/M. Cells released from a mimosine block early in S phase stopped predominantly in G2/M in the presence of p53, confirming that p53 can mediate arrest at this stage, as well as in G1. In these cells, there was appreciable induction of p21/WAF1. MDAH041 cells arrested by tetracycline-regulated p53 for as long as 20 days resumed growth when the p53 level was lowered, in striking contrast to the irreversible arrest mediated by DNA damage. Therefore, irreversible arrest must involve processes other than or in addition to the interaction of p53-induced p21/WAF1 with G1 and G2 cyclin-dependent kinases.
The Relevance of Beta-Amyloid on Markers of Alzheimer’s Disease in Clinically Normal Individuals and Factors That Influence These Associations

Aberrant accumulation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) is thought to be an early event in a biological cascade that eventually leads to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Along these lines, many clinically normal (CN) older individuals have evidence of beta-amyloid (Aβ) accumulation, which may be indicative of preclinical AD. However, relationships between Aβ and “downstream” AD markers are often inconsistent across studies. These inconsistencies may be due to the presence of other age-related processes that also influence AD markers, as well as additional risk factors that interact with Aβ to influence downstream changes. For instance, it is possible that the effect of Aβ is modified by neurodegeneration, genetics, sex-differences and cognitive reserve. Thus, a multivariate approach to determining risk of AD within CN participants may be more appropriate than reliance on Aβ status alone. An understanding of how additional risk factors interact with Aβ to influence an individual’s trajectory towards AD is essential for characterizing preclinical AD and has implications for prevention trials.
A note on a conjecture concerning symmetric resilient functions

Abstract In 1985, Chor et al. conjectured that the only 1-resilient symmetric functions are the exclusive-or of all n variables and its negation. In this note the existence of symmetric resilient functions is shown to be equivalent to the existence of a solution to a simultaneous subset sum problem. Then, using arithmetic properties of certain binomial coefficients, an infinite class of counterexamples to the conjecture is obtained.
The influence of personal familiarity on object naming, knowledge, and use in dementia

Abstract Reports of semantic dementia patients have shown more accurate identification and use for personal objects than unfamiliar analogs of the same objects (e.g., personal comb versus experimenter's comb) [Bozeat, S., Lambon Ralph, M. A., Patterson, K., & Hodges, J. R. (2002). The influence of personal familiarity and context on object use in semantic dementia. Neurocase , 8 , 127–134; Snowden, J. S., Griffiths, H., & Neary, D. (1994). Semantic dementia: Autobiographical contribution to preservation of meaning. Cognitive Neuropsychology , 11 , 265–288]. Despite potential clinical implications, the personal object advantage has not been explored in various dementia populations. Sixteen mild to moderate dementia patients were tested with 12–15 of their personal objects and laboratory analog objects. Four tasks were administered: Naming, Gesture, Semantic/Script Generation, and Personal Object Decision (i.e., Is this yours?). Although 25% of the sample performed at chance in identifying personal objects as their own, participants generated more specific information ( t = 2.3, p = .03) and more accurate gestures ( t = 2.4, p = .03) for personal objects. Thus, the personal object advantage was observed for script/semantic knowledge and movement sequences, and should be considered in residential planning for various dementia patients.
Violence in the ED: how to stop it before it starts.

t was a busy Saturday night in Metropolitan Hospital's emergency department (ED). Twenty-one-yearold Steve Evans grew impatient and angry as he awaited treatment for a sprained ankle sustained in a fall during a night of heavy drinking. "Where's the doctor?" he loudly demanded of nurse Linda Jackson as she walked past. "I wanna get out of here." Linda, tired and overworked, replied, "I'm sorry, sir. We're very busy tonight. You're just going to have to wait." Security measures can
Activation of Store-Operated Ca2+ Current in Xenopus Oocytes Requires SNAP-25 but Not a Diffusible Messenger

Depletion of Ca2+ stores in Xenopus oocytes activated entry of Ca2+ across the plasma membrane, which was measured as a current I(soc) in subsequently formed cell-attached patches. I(soc) survived excision into inside-out configuration. If cell-attached patches were formed before store depletion, I(soc) was activated outside but not inside the patches. I(soc) was potentiated by microinjection of Clostridium C3 transferase, which inhibits Rho GTPase, whereas I(soc) was inhibited by expression of wild-type or constitutively active Rho. Activation of I(soc) was also inhibited by botulinum neurotoxin A and dominant-negative mutants of SNAP-25 but was unaffected by brefeldin A. These results suggest that oocyte I(soc) is dependent not on aqueous diffusible messengers but on SNAP-25, probably via exocytosis of membrane channels or regulatory molecules.
Institutional patterns favoring high fertility in underdeveloped areas

(1955). Institutional patterns favoring high fertility in underdeveloped areas. Eugenics Quarterly: Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 33-39.
A method of effort estimation for incident tickets in IT services

This paper describes a method of mean effort estimation for a class of incident tickets in the IT service domain. A two-stage approach is proposed, where the attention duration is first calculated for each ticket based on a metadata model and some ticket handling priority rules; then the maximum likelihood method is used to estimate the mean effort for a ticket class using such attention information under some statistical assumptions. To validate the feasibility of the proposed approach, we have carried out a simulation study. It yields some promising results. It shows that our approach can produce a better estimation for the parameters of assumed statistical model than the naive estimates, which in turn will give us a better estimate of the mean ticket effort.
RES: Regularized Stochastic BFGS Algorithm

RES, a regularized stochastic version of the Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno (BFGS) quasi-Newton method, is proposed to solve strongly convex optimization problems with stochastic objectives. The use of stochastic gradient descent algorithms is widespread, but the number of iterations required to approximate optimal arguments can be prohibitive in high dimensional problems. Application of second-order methods, on the other hand, is impracticable because the computation of objective function Hessian inverses incurs excessive computational cost. BFGS modifies gradient descent by introducing a Hessian approximation matrix computed from finite gradient differences. RES utilizes stochastic gradients in lieu of deterministic gradients for both the determination of descent directions and the approximation of the objective function's curvature. Since stochastic gradients can be computed at manageable computational cost, RES is realizable and retains the convergence rate advantages of its deterministic counterparts. Convergence results show that lower and upper bounds on the Hessian eigenvalues of the sample functions are sufficient to guarantee almost sure convergence of a subsequence generated by RES and convergence of the sequence in expectation to optimal arguments. Numerical experiments showcase reductions in convergence time relative to stochastic gradient descent algorithms and non-regularized stochastic versions of BFGS. An application of RES to the implementation of support vector machines is developed.
DIFFERENCES IN MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM PLAQUE-FORMING TEMPERATURES AMONG SELECTED GROUP A ARBORVIRUSES.

Abstract Venezuelan equine encephalitis (V) and Eastern equine encephalitis (E) viruses show distinct plaque fronts at maximum temperatures ( t f-max ) of 46°. Two attenuated variants of V (T and A) show a t f-max of 43° and 45°, respectively. All four viruses showed indistinct plaque fronts at a minimum temperature ( t f-min ) of 24.5°; up to 1% of the inoculum formed plaques that were distributed between the t f-min and 20°. From V inoculated plates, the progeny derived from one of 31 plaques selected below the t f-min was avirulent and resembled T. T had a selective advantage over V in passage experiments in liquid cultures at low temperatures. Virulent mutants of T, resembling V, were isolated from plaques beyond the t f-max of T only after overcoming a reversible interference effect in which T interfered with plaque formation of V above the t f-max . The possible relation of t f-max and t f-min to virulence among these viruses is discussed.
Hormonal and cytogenetic studies in phenotypically female patients with gonadal dysgenesis

In 4 cases of gonadal dysgenesis the clinical, hormonal, cytogenetic, and histological findings were correlated. There were 2 patients with 46,XY karyotype, one patient with 45,X Turner's syndrome and one patient with a 46,XX chromosome complement. All patients had streak gonads with ovarian stroma. In one phenotypically female 46,XY individual an involuted gonadoblastoma was found. Her testosterone was four-fold higher in gonadal vein blood compared to peripheral blood. Cytogenetic analysis of multiple tissues in both cases with the 46,XY karyotype greatly reduced the probability of mosaicism. In the patient with 45,X Turner's syndrome and in the one with 46,XX gonadal dysgenesis only peripheral blood cells were karyotyped and mosaicism was not further excluded by analysis of other tissues. The concentrations of steroid hormones in gonadal vein blood were low. The levels ranged as follows: estrone 41-98 pg/ml, estradiol 18-90 pg/ml, testosterone 37-294 ng/100 ml, dihydrotestosterone 13-22 ng/100 ml, and progesterone 0.3-1.5 ng/ml. It was concluded that gonadal streaks were similarly deficient in biosynthesis of steroid hormones despite different chromosomal complements.
Flexible microfluidic normal force sensor skin for tactile feedback

Abstract Robotic applications often require robust tactile sensing capabilities on curved surfaces, such as artificial fingertips. Flexible tactile sensors could be conformally wrapped around curved digits and could enhance grip by cushioning impacts and increasing the effective contact area during grasp. Flexible microfabricated devices that use thin film or solid electrical components are susceptible to failure due to cracking and fatigue. Conductive fluids have been used as transduction media, electrical connections, and in resistance-based pressure and bend sensors. In this work, a flexible and multilayer capacitive microfluidic normal force sensor is developed with a 5 × 5 taxel array. The sensor uses liquid metal-filled microfluidic channels as the capacitive plates and conductive interconnects. The sensor is microfabricated using soft lithography microfabrication techniques and consists of multiple layers of PDMS microchannels filled with the liquid metal alloy Galinstan and air pockets that modify the mechanical and electrical properties of the sensor. A single taxel is calibrated for normal forces ranging from 0 to 2.5 N, is shown to provide repeatable measurements of static uniaxial loads, and follows the loading and unloading phases of low-frequency dynamic loads (0.4–4 Hz). The sensor prototype has a spatial resolution on the order of 0.5 mm, performs reliably when wrapped around a surface having a curvature similar to that of a human finger (1.575 cm−1), and has been shown to tolerate curvatures as high as 6.289 cm−1. The deformable liquid capacitive plates and heterogeneous PDMS-air dielectric medium can be designed to tune the sensor's sensitivity and range. The sensor prototype provides greater sensitivity at low loads, a feature which can be exploited for robotic applications in which light touch is important.
Mineralocorticoid receptor overexpression in basolateral amygdala reduces corticosterone secretion and anxiety

Background The amygdala plays a critical role in the development of anxiety and the regulation of stress hormone secretion. Reciprocally, stress and stress hormones can induce amygdala hypertrophy, a phenomenon related to enhanced anxiety. As such, modulating amygdaloid function can potentially reduce maladaptive features of the stress response. The amygdala contains two kind of receptor for corticosteroids, the adrenal steroid hormone released during stress: glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) and mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs). Although high-affinity MRs are heavily occupied during basal conditions, low-affinity GRs are heavily occupied only by stress levels of glucocorticoids. Prolonged and heavy occupancy of GRs tends to mediate the deleterious effects of glucocorticoids on neurons, whereas MR occupancy tends to mediate beneficial effects. Methods In this report, we overexpress MR in neurons of adult rat basolateral amygdala, with a herpes simplex viral vector coding for two copies of MR. Results Such overexpression reduced anxiety, as measured on an elevated plus-maze, and reduced the magnitude of glucocorticoid secretion after an acute stressor. Conclusions Thus, increasing MR signaling in basolateral amygdala could be valuable in management of stress disorders.
Off-line liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric studies of fluorescent β-aminothiol-o-phthalaldehyde derivatives

A liquid chromatographic separation and selective post-column derivatization of six β-aminothiols with o-phthalaldehyde is reported. The presence of both primary amine and thiol functional groups in these compounds makes it possible to derivatize with o-phthalaldehyde alone, eliminating the need for external thiol addition. The structures of the fluorescent derivatives formed in this procedure were determined by off-line liquid chromatography—gas chromatography—mass spectrometry. Spectral fluorescence characteristics for the β-aminothiol-o-phthalaldehyde derivatives are also reported.
Immunochemical studies on adrenal ferredoxin: Involvement of adrenal ferredoxin in the cholesterol side-chain cleavage reaction of mammalian adrenals

Abstract A goat antibody produced against bovine adrenal ferredoxin has been employed to establish immunochemically the involvement of adrenal ferredoxin in the cholesterol side-chain cleavage reaction catalyzed by mammalian adrenal mitochondria. When added to preparations of bovine adrenocortical mitochondria, this antibody was found to inhibit the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone and progesterone, the 11β-hydroxylation of deoxycorticosterone and the NADPH-dependent reduction of cytochrome c . These observations demonstrate that, similar to the NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and steroid 11β-hydroxylase reactions, adrenal ferredoxin is also required for the oxidative cleavage of the cholesterol side-chain catalyzed by bovine adrenocortical mitochondria. The goat antibody to bovine adrenal ferredoxin was also found to interact with the comparable iron-sulfur proteins present in mitochondria prepared from sheep, rat, mouse, cat, dog, guinea pig, rabbit, and human adrenals. The interaction of the antibody with these iron-sulfur proteins resulted in the inhibition of both the cholesterol side-chain cleavage and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activities catalyzed by these adrenal mitochondria. The NADH-dependent reduction of cytochrome c catalyzed by mammalian adrenal mitochondria was not inhibited by the goat antibody to adrenal ferredoxin. These results demonstrate the immunochemical similarity existing among mammalian adrenal ferredoxins and their involvement in the adrenal cholesterol side-chain cleavage reaction.
Seven-bit analog-to-digital converter for nanosecond pulses

Abstract The time integral of nanosecond pulses is digitized with a linearity, resolution and stability
A transfer spectral sequence for fixed point free involutions with an application to stunted real projective spaces

Abstract We show that if X is a finite CW-complex admitting a fixed point free involution then there is a singly graded spectral sequence with E ∗ 1 ≅ H ∗ (X; Z 2 ) and E ∗ ∞ = 0 . As an application we prove that for any n > 0 there is a natural number k ( n ) such that if n > k ( n ) and X is a homotopy R P n+k R P n , then X will not admit a fixed point free involution.
Interpreting Some Mortality Factor Interactions Within Mountain Pine Beetle Broods

The mix of mortality factors within Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins populations was analyzed by using crude and general probabilities of death from specific causes and from all causes, within specified life stages and for the generation as a whole. These analyses provide the basis for discussion of actual results and some hypothetical cases. Control efforts should accentuate one or more of the controllable causes of mortality or, perhaps eliminate one or more causes, if those remaining would be accentuated. The effect on total mortality of such action may depend heavily on the nature of the interactions among the causes. Knowledge of how mortality factors operate singly and particularly in mix will permit additional characterization of the population dynamics of the mountain pine beetle.