cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Geomorphic change in high mountains: a western Himalayan perspective

Abstract Globally significant interactions between climate, surface processes, and tectonics have recently been proposed to explain climate change and mountain building. Assessing climate-driven erosion processes and geomorphic change in high-mountain environments, however, is notoriously difficult. In the western Himalaya, the coupling of climate, surface processes, and tectonics results in complex topography that frequently records the polygenetic nature of topographic evolution over the last ∼100 ka. Depending upon the erosional history of a particular landscape, temporal overprinting of geomorphic events can produce unique topographic properties which define the spatial complexity of the topography. Field work coupled with analysis of the topography using digital elevation models (DEMs) enable low- and high-frequency spatial patterns and scale-dependent properties of the topography to be detected and associated with geomorphic events caused by climate and tectonic forcing. We conducted spatial analysis of the topography at Nanga Parbat in northern Pakistan to demonstrate the utility of geomorphometry and to characterize dramatic geomorphic change over the past 100 ka. Results indicate rapid river incision, extensive glaciation, and variable denudation rates by mass movement, glaciation, and catastrophic flood flushing. Furthermore, topographic and chronologic evidence indicate that glaciation is strongly controlled by the southwestern monsoon, and that modern fluvial systems are still responding to tectonic forcing and deglaciation. Scale-dependent analysis of the topography revealed that different erosion processes uniquely alter the spatial complexity of the topography, such that the greatest mesoscale relief appears to be caused by glaciation. Collectively, our results indicate that topographic development in the western Himalaya is inherently polygenetic in nature, with glaciation, fluvial and slope processes all playing important roles at different times, and that they can do so sequentially on the same portion of the landscape. Given the rapidity of major changes in climate and glaciation over the last ∼100 ka, the landscape cannot be in steady-state.
Spatial buffering of extracellular potassium by Müller (glial) cells in the toad retina.

We examined the role of Muller (glial) cells in buffering light-evoked changes in extracellular K+ concentration, [K+]o, in the isolated retina of the toad, Bufo marinus. We found evidence for two opposing Muller cell current loops that are generated by a light-evoked increase in [K+]o in the inner plexiform layer. These current loops, which are involved in the generation of the M-wave of the electroretinogram (ERG), prevent the accumulation of K+ in the inner plexiform layer by transporting K+ both to vitreous and to distal retina. In addition, under dark-adapted conditions, we found evidence for a Muller cell current loop that is generated by a light-evoked decrease in [K+]o in the receptor layer. This current loop, which is involved in the generation of the slow PIII component of the ERG, helps to buffer the light-evoked decrease in [K+]o throughout distal retina by transporting K+ from vitreous. The spatial buffering fluxes of K+ can be abolished by blocking Muller cell K+ conductance with 200 microM Ba2+. The separate contributions of the M-wave and slow PIII currents to Muller cell spatial buffering were isolated by various pharmacological treatments that were designed to enhance or suppress light-evoked activity in specific retinal neurons. Our results show that Muller cell K+ currents not only buffer light-evoked increases in [K+]o, but also buffer light-evoked decreases in [K+]o, and thereby diminish any deleterious effects upon neuronal function that could arise in response to large changes in [K+]o in the plexiform layers. Moreover, our results emphasize that spatial buffering currents generate many components of the electroretinogram.
The hybrid cardiac catheterization laboratory for congenital heart disease: From conception to completion.

There has been a recent trend toward hybrid cardiac catheterization procedures for the treatment of patients with various forms of congenital heart disease. Hybrid procedures offer the combined advantages of outstanding imaging in a full operating room environment, allowing direct access onto the heart or the great vessels for access or procedure completion, or complementary imaging before, during, or after surgical correction when necessary. With the increase in frequency of hybrid procedures, more medical centers are contemplating the conversion of standard cardiac catheterization rooms to hybrid facilities, or de novo construction. In this report, we detail a single-center experience of conversion from a standard catheterization facility into a hybrid suite. The strategic planning, design, system integration, and the challenges inherent to this project are discussed. Many of the solutions to these challenges are likely to be applicable to other institutions planning on similar hybrid conversion or construction. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The role of non‐linear deformation analyses in the design of a reinforced soil berm at Red River U‐frame lock No. 1

This paper describes a design application of non-linear deformation analysis to a complex soil-structure-foundation interaction problem through use of a finite element analysis. The problem consists of a proposed renovation to an existing soil-founded U-frame lock structure consisting of construction of a densely reinforced soil berm adjacent to an existing lock wall. Major questions facing the designer involve reduction of the earth pressure on the lock wall, layout of the reinforcing in the soil berm, and collateral effects of berm construction on the U-frame lock structure. A non-linear deformation analysis played a central role in addressing all of these questions. Berm construction and four operational load cases were used to understand the performance of the reinforced berm and to discern interactions among the lock, the backfill, the foundation strata of the U-frame lock, the reinforced berm, and the foundation strata of the reinforced berm. Insight gained from the soil-structure-foundation interaction analyses led to an alteration to the proposed reinforcement layout to enhance the performance of the reinforced soil berm.
Group B streptococci adhere to a variant of fibronectin attached to a solid phase

Summary Group B streptococci (GBS) are the leading cause of neonatal pneumonia and meningitis. Adherence of GBS to host tissues may play an important role in the pathogenesis of infection. The host molecules which mediate GBS adherence to host tissues are unknown. Many bacterial pathogens adhere to fibronectin, an important component of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Some pathogens adhere to both immobilized and soluble fibronectin, while others adhere to immobilized fibronectin, but not to soluble fibronectin. Previous data indicated that GBS do not adhere to soluble fibronectin. We studied the ability of GBS to adhere to immobilized fibronectin. Forty-five per cent of the input inoculum of COH1, a virulent GBS isolate, adhered to fibronectin immobilized on polystyrene. COH1 did not adhere to the other ECM proteins tested (laminin, type I collagen, vitronectin, and tenascin). Nine out of nine GBS strains from human sources tested adhered specifically to fibronectin at levels varying from 4–60%. We considered the possibility that GBS were adherent to a contaminant in the fibronectin preparation. Properties of fibronectin, including the presence of an immunologic epitope of fibronectin and binding to collagen, were verified to be properties of the molecule to which GBS adhere. COH1 adhered to fibronectin captured by a monoclonal antibody to fibronectin (FN-15), confirming that the molecule to which GBS adhere bears immunologic determinants of fibronectin. Adherence of COH1 to fibronectin was inhibited by collagen, confirming that the molecule to which GBS adhere binds to collagen. These data strongly suggest that GBS adhere to fibronectin, and not to a contaminant. Protein blot analysis revealed that GBS were adherent to a high-molecular-weight variant of non-reduced fibronectin monomers and dimers. GBS did not adhere to reduced fibronectin monomers. We conclude that GBS adhere to a variant of plasma fibronectin when attached to a solid phase.
Degraded aqueous glycol solutions: pH values and the effects of common ions on suppressing pH decreases

Abstract Aqueous solutions of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol are used as heat transfer liquids in flat-plate solar collector systems. Both of the glycols are susceptible to thermal oxidative reactions, which produce organic acids with a resulting decrease in pH of the solutions. The effects of temperature, metals, common ions and oxidation conditions (aeration/deaeration) on the thermal stability of the glycol solutions were evaluated based on measuring changes in pH. Aerated heated glycol solutions produced acidic solutions within 3360 h (140 d) of testing, when in contact with either metallic aluminum or copper. Common ions (anions of the acid degradation products) were effective in suppressing decreases in pH, especially when aluminum was present.
Diel Relationships of Microbial Trophic Groups and In Situ Dissolved Carbohydrate Dynamics in the Caribbean Sea

Dissolved total carbohydrate (TCHO), polysaccharide (PCHO), monosaccharide (MCHO) and organic carbon (DOC) were determined at 3-h intervals over 5 diel cycles in the mixed layer of the northwestern Caribbean Sea while following a drogued buoy. These data have been compared to populations of phototrophic (PNAN) and heterotrophic (HNAN) nanoplankton (2–20 μm diameter) and heterotrophic bacteria (HBAC) (0.2–2.0 μm diameter) estimated by epifluorescence counts, as well as to ΣCO2, phosphate, chlorophyll a and phaeopigment data determined simultaneously. Two different types of apparent diel dissolved carbohydrate (CHO) patterns were found. On 3 d when no sustained net ΣCO2 uptake was evident, TCHO and PCHO generally declined during the afternoon and early evening while MCHO tended to increase. On two other days when apparent sustained ΣCO2 uptake occurred during the day, there were large evening TCHO and PCHO peaks with constant or declining MCHO levels. These accumulations probably resulted from the release of recently produced PCHO from phototrophs. As was found earlier in the Sargasso Sea, PNAN populations were inversely related to PCHO concentrations. The sample to sample fluctuations of PNAN also were inversely related to the apparent rates of change of TCHO and PCHO, possibly due to an inverse relation between the rates of PNAN cell division and CHO excretion. Fluctuations in HBAC populations were inversely correlated with PCHO dynamics and directly related to MCHO variations, possibly due to extracellular hydrolysis of PCHO to MCHO during periods of rapid bacterial growth as well as to net heterotrophic PCHO uptake. A direct relationship between HNAN and TCHO fluctuations suggests the importance of HNAN excretion in the release of dissolved organics. The combined PNAN and HBAC fluctuations accounted for a more significant fraction of the variance in the apparent rates of change of PCHO than did any single population parameter indicating that intimate interactions between the microbial plankton groups are important in the in-situ regulation of CHO dynamics. Total system net TCHO release and uptake rates for 5 d averaged 56 and 53 μg C l-1 d-1 respectively, assuming that the observed fluctuations resulted from temporal planktonic processes in homogeneous water masses. While the data contain indications that this was the case, this assumption is not definitive.
A tri-fold hybrid classification approach for diagnostics with unexampled faulty states

Abstract System health diagnostics provides diversified benefits such as improved safety, improved reliability and reduced costs for the operation and maintenance of engineered systems. Successful health diagnostics requires the knowledge of system failures. However, with an increasing system complexity, it is extraordinarily difficult to have a well-tested system so that all potential faulty states can be realized and studied at product testing stage. Thus, real time health diagnostics requires automatic detection of unexampled system faulty states based upon sensory data to avoid sudden catastrophic system failures. This paper presents a trifold hybrid classification (THC) approach for structural health diagnosis with unexampled health states (UHS), which comprises of preliminary UHS identification using a new thresholded Mahalanobis distance (TMD) classifier, UHS diagnostics using a two-class support vector machine (SVM) classifier, and exampled health states diagnostics using a multi-class SVM classifier. The proposed THC approach, which takes the advantages of both TMD and SVM-based classification techniques, is able to identify and isolate the unexampled faulty states through interactively detecting the deviation of sensory data from the exampled health states and forming new ones autonomously. The proposed THC approach is further extended to a generic framework for health diagnostics problems with unexampled faulty states and demonstrated with health diagnostics case studies for power transformers and rolling bearings.
Accuracy of dobutamine stress echocardiography in detecting coronary artery disease

The diagnostic accuracy of dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) (incremental infused doses of 5, 10, 20 and 30 micrograms/kg/min) was evaluated in 141 patients who underwent coronary arteriography within 2 weeks of DSE. All patients were being evaluated for known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). DSE was interpreted blindly as normal or showing evidence of CAD, depending on the presence of resting or inducible wall motion abnormalities. Coronary arteriograms were reviewed in a blinded, quantitative fashion. DSE had a sensitivity of 96% for detecting patients with CAD, and a specificity of 66%. For the 53 patients with normal resting wall motion, sensitivity was 87% and specificity 91%. The protocol was well-tolerated by all patients. In comparison with wall motion analysis, 12-lead electrocardiograms during dobutamine infusion revealed ischemic changes in only 17% of patients with CAD. It is concluded that DSE is a clinically useful and accurate means for detecting CAD, its specificity is hindered in patients with resting wall motion abnormalities, and it can safely be used in patients with known cardiac disease.
Metabolic programming in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance

This review focuses on different animal models of nutrient perturbations, inclusive of restrictive and excessive states mimicking human situations during pregnancy and lactation that cause aberrations in the offspring. These aberrations consist of diminished insulin sensitivity in the presence of defective insulin production. These phenotypic changes are due to altered peripheral tissue post-insulin receptor signaling mechanisms and pancreatic β-islet insulin synthesis and secretion defects. While these changes during in utero or postnatal life serve as essential adaptations to overcome adverse conditions, they become maladaptive subsequently and set the stage for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Pregnancy leads to gestational diabetes with trans-generational propagation of the insulin resistant phenotype. This is in response to the metabolically aberrant maternal in utero environment, and tissue specific epigenetic perturbations that permanently alter expression of critical genes transmitted to future generations. These heritable aberrations consisting of altered DNA methylation and histone modifications remodel chromatin and affect transcription of key genes. Along with an altered in utero environment, these chromatin modifications contribute to the world-wide epidemic of type 2 diabetes mellitus, with nutrient excess dominating in developed and nutrient restriction in developing countries.
Monte Carlo calculations of electron transport in GaAs/AlGaAs superlattices

Electron transport in GaAs/AlGaAs superlattices was investigated by means of Monte Carlo simulations. The sources of scattering considered are acoustic and polaroptical phonons and ionized impurities. Collision broadening of the extended states is taken into account and its effect on the transport parameters is assessed.
Growth and nitrogen fixation activity of soybeans in the presence of bean pod mottle virus.

Pathological and physiological responses associated with the host-microsymbiont interaction of soybeans (Glycine max‘Franklin’, ‘Dyer’, ‘Centennial’, ‘Marshall’, ‘Williams’, ‘Bedford’, and ‘Peking’), which were nodulated with Rhizobium japonicum (USDA strain 3I1b-110) and inoculated with bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) in the greenhouse, varied with the cultivar and the substrate in which the plants were grown. In plants grown in a soil mixture, the virus significantly reduced canopy growth, nodulation, total N, and ureide-N content of most cultivars but symbiotic N2 fixation was significantly reduced only for ‘Centennial’ and ‘Peking’. In vermiculite, in which the plants depended almost exclusively on symbiotically fixed N,2, the virus reduced canopy and nodule mass of some cultivars but these reductions were significant only for ‘Franklin’. In plants grown in this substrate, however, the virus had little effect as increases or decreases in measured components of symbiotic N metabolism were nonsignificant except for the increase in leaf ureides in ‘Marshall’. Results suggest that in either soil or vermiculite the symbiotic process in certain soybean cultivars can function at nearly a normal level despite root noduleinfection with this virus.
Video personalization and summarization system for usage environment

A video personalization and summarization system is designed and implemented incorporating usage environment to dynamically generate a personalized video summary. The personalization system adopts the three-tier server-middleware-client architecture in order to select, adapt, and deliver rich media content to the user. The server stores the content sources along with their corresponding MPEG-7 metadata descriptions. Our semantic metadata is provided through the use of the VideoAnnEx MPEG-7 Video Annotation Tool. When the user initiates a request for content, the client communicates the MPEG-21 usage environment description along with the user query to the middleware. The middleware is powered by the personalization engine and the content adaptation engine. Our personalization engine includes the VideoSue Summarization on Usage Environment engine that selects the optimal set of desired contents according to user preferences. Afterwards, the adaptation engine performs the required transformations and compositions of the selected contents for the specific usage environment using our VideoEd Editing and Composition Tool. Finally, two personalization and summarization systems are demonstrated for the IBM Websphere Portal Server and for pervasive PDA devices.
Succession in a microbial mat community: A gaian perspective

The contribution of prokaryotes to Gaian control systems is discussed. The survival of the Microcoleus-dominated stratified microbial community at Laguna Figueroa, after heavy rains flooded the evaporite flat with up to 3 m of water and deposited 5-10 cm of allocthonous sediment, demonstrates the resiliency of these communities to short-term perturbations while the microbial fossil record attests to their persistence over geologic time. It is shown that the great diversity of microbial species and their short generation time make them uniquely suited for Gaian mechanisms.
Texture versus Shape Analysis for Lung Nodule Similarity in Computed Tomography Studies

With the aim of reducing the radiologists' subjectivity and the high degree of inter-observer variability, Content-based Image Retrieval (CBIR) systems have been proposed to provide visual comparisons of a given lesion to a collection of similar lesions of known pathology. In this paper, we present the effectiveness of shape features versus texture features for calculating lung nodules' similarity in Computed Tomography (CT) studies. In our study, we used eighty-five cases of thoracic CT data from the Lung Image Database Consortium (LIDC). To encode the shape information, we used the eight most commonly used shape features for pulmonary nodule detection and diagnosis by existent CAD systems. For the texture, we used co-occurrence, Gabor, and Markov features implemented in our previous CBIR work. Our preliminary results give low overall precision results for shape compared to texture, showing that shape features are not effective by themselves at capturing all the information we need to compare the lung nodules.
A Comment on “Measuring the Agreement between Sequences”

In commenting on Dijkstra and Taris, the author sketches three main topics. First, he discusses the general concept and nature of alignment algorithms for sequence data. He then talks about the character and utility of the Dijkstra/Taris algorithm, a particular implementation of the alignment approach to sequence analysis. The article closes with a discussion of the general types of algorithms appropriate to stage theories, to career patterns, to common subsequences, and to continuous data.
Genetic relatedness and partner preference in a monogamous, wood-dwelling termite

Abstract A mate preference study on adult dampwood termites, Zootermopsis nevadensis subspecies nuttingi , supports the hypothesis that mate-seeking adults avoid forming partnerships with nestmates. The observed proportion of nestmate pairs formed from all potential pairs was significantly less than expected. In addition, fewer pairs formed when there was a higher availability of nestmates versus non-nestmates. Genetic relatedness estimates, obtained from multilocus fingerprints of overwintering pairs, showed that relatedness between partners was not significantly different from background relatednesses of members chosen randomly from the population. Thus, nest-founding reproductive adults typically do not breed incestuously in this wood-dwelling termite. Furthermore, relatedness estimates between adult breeding males and between adult breeding females coinhabiting each log showed that there was a low probability of genetic relatedness among adults of neighbouring pairs, indicating that adults are typically dispersing in ways that minimize contact with relatives. Relatedness between laboratory-reared full siblings produced by field-collected pairs showed that relatedness was not significantly higher than r =0.50, which is expected if sustained incestuous breeding does not occur, or if cycles of inbreeding occur with negligible frequency among breeding adults. These findings do not support arguments that selection favours inbreeding because it confers disease resistance in termites. They also indicate that the level of genetic relatedness between nest-founding adults and among siblings cannot, by itself, explain the high levels of altruism within colonies of this single-site, wood-dwelling termite. Ecological pressures and the benefits of group living, together with ordinary genetic relatedness characteristics of outbred families appear sufficient to explain the advantages of kin-based altruism in wood-dwelling termites like Zootermopsis .
Retinal Hemorrhage Associated with Thrombasthenia

A healthy 20-year-old man presented with a spontaneous unilateral retinal hemorrhage. Because of a history of easy bruisability, we obtained hematologic studies and diagnosed thrombasthenia, a hereditary hemorrhagic disorder. The association of retinal hemorrhage and thrombasthenia is rare. Thrombasthenia and other platelet functional disorders are becoming better defined as tests for these abnormalities become more reliable and available. Patients with apparent spontaneous retinal hemorrhages of unknown origin should be questioned about hemorrhagic tendencies, and the various tests for hemorrhagic disorders should be obtained. The hematologic survey should include the more sophisticated tests of platelet function. Patients with thrombasthenia should avoid aspirin intake.
Phenology of coastal upwelling in the California Current

[1] Changes in the amplitude and phasing of seasonal events (phenology) can affect the functioning of marine ecosystems. Phenology plays a particularly critical role in eastern boundary ecosystems, which are driven largely by the seasonal cycle of coastal upwelling. Here we develop and describe a set of indicators that quantify the timing, evolution, intensity, and duration of coastal upwelling in the California Current large marine ecosystem (CCLME). There is significant interannual variability in upwelling characteristics during 1967–2007, with extended periods of high (1970s, 1998–2004) and low (1980–1995) seasonally-integrated upwelling and a trend towards a later and shorter upwelling season in the northern CCLME. El Nino years were characterized by delayed and weak upwelling in the central CCLME. Understanding the causes and ecosystem consequences of phenological changes in coastal upwelling is critical, as climate models project significant variability in the amplitude and phase of coastal upwelling under varying climate change scenarios.
Folate depletion and increased glutamation in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients treated with methotrexate.

Objective Folates exist as a fluctuating pool of polyglutamated metabolites that may serve as a clinical marker of methotrexate (MTX) activity. This study was undertaken to evaluate circulating folate content and folate polyglutamate distribution in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients and in a cell culture model based on MTX exposure and folate supply. Methods Blood, plasma, and red blood cell (RBC) measurements of MTX and folates were obtained from previously published data sets and an additional analysis of JIA patients receiving MTX (n = 98) and those not receiving MTX (n = 78). Erythroblastoid cells maintained in culture were exposed to MTX and grown under varying levels of folic acid supplementation. Samples were analyzed for cellular folate and MTX content. Results Circulating folate levels were lower in JIA patients receiving MTX, with reduced levels of blood, plasma, and RBC 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate (5mTHF) (P < 0.0001). Average polyglutamate chain length (Gluavg) of RBC 5mTHF was elevated in JIA patients receiving MTX (median ± interquartile range 5.63 ± 0.15 versus 5.54 ± 0.11 in those not receiving MTX; P < 0.001) and correlated with both RBC MTX accumulation (P = 0.02) and reduced plasma 5mTHF levels (P = 0.008). MTX exposure and folate deprivation in erythroblastoid cells resulted in a depletion of bioactive folate species that was associated with a shift to higher Gluavg values for several species, most notably tetrahydrofolate (THF) and 5,10-methylene-tetrahydrofolate (CH2THF). Increased Gluavg resulted from the depletion of short-chain and the accumulation of long-chain glutamate species. Conclusion Our findings indicate that folate content and polyglutamate distribution are responsive markers of MTX activity and folate supply in vivo and in vitro, and may provide novel clinical markers of pharmacologic activity of MTX.
The role of QSAR in dopamine interactions

Abstract Dopamine receptor blockers have been used for the treatment of schizophrenia for many years. We have developed 22 quantitative structure activity relationships (QSAR) for different sets of compounds to understand chemical–biological interactions governing their activities toward dopamine receptors.
International confederation for cleft lip and palate and related craniofacial anomalies task force report: holistic outcomes.

Objective: This paper describes the process and outcomes of the 2013 American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association task force on Holistic Outcomes. The goals and membership of the task force are presented. Methods: Using internet communication, the group introduced themselves, shared ideas and information related to holistic assessment and implementation of using a validated holistic measure, the Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP) at participating international sites. Results: Data from the sites were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Administration of the COHIP was successful. It varied from self-completion as well as verbal presentation due to language differences and a function of the short time period to complete collection. Additionally qualitative comments were reported by the task force site directors. Conclusions: Future directions for holistic assessment and communication among task force members and sites were discussed at the Congress and are presented in this report.
Hitting the jackpot: Product proliferation by multiproduct firms under uncertainty

This paper presents a model of product proliferation by multiproduct firms under uncertainty. Firms introduce new differentiated products because they want to hit as many jackpots as possible - products with high profits and long lives. There is uncertainty about the success of new products. As the probability of hitting a jackpot increases, product proliferation increases: more products are introduced and expected in equilibrium. The expected number of products in equilibrium is always less than at the optimum. But, in industries with multiple firms, as the probability of hitting a jackpot increases, rivalry intensifies and that gap shrinks.
RNA transport in oligodendrocytes from the taiep mutant rat

The results presented here identify a new RNA trafficking phenotype in taiep oligodendrocytes that increases the frequency of reversals and restricts the extent of transport of RNA containing the A2RE transport signal from MBP mRNA. The taiep rat is a myelin mutant characterized by excessive accumulation of microtubules in oligodendrocytes and myelin deficiency in the central nervous system. The taiep RNA trafficking is developmentally correlated with the microtubule accumulation in oligodendrocytes and can be partially suppressed by reducing microtubule density with nocodazole or inhibiting dynein activity by coinjecting anti-dynein antibodies. These results suggest that RNA trafficking in taiep oligodendrocytes is inhibited by enhanced dynein activity that neutralizes or lessens the normal overriding power of the plus-end directed motor kinesin. Altered orientation of microtubules in oligodendrocyte fine processes and a physical barrier created by densely packed microtubules may also contribute to the inhibition of RNA trafficking in taiep oligodendrocytes.
Reinventing the supercomputer center at NERSC

The next generation of symmetric multiprocessors will add another level of memory hierarchy and new barriers to effective use of supercomputers. Helping scientists overcome such barriers to using high-performance computers was a key objective in the relocation of the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) to Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The relocation makes it easier for NERSC to collaborate closely with scientists at Berkeley Lab and throughout the energy research community, with scientists at the adjacent University of California's Berkeley campus, and with major computer and data communications companies throughout the San Francisco Bay area.
Heart rate variability in patients with coronary artery disease: Differences in patients with higher and lower depression scores

OBJECTIVE This study tested the hypothesis that coronary artery disease patients with higher depression scores have lower heart rate variability during daily life. METHOD Thirty-three men and nine women, ranging in age from 46 to 79, with coronary artery disease and exercise-induced ischemia were studied. The standard deviation of normal R-R intervals (SDNN) and average heart rate were obtained from 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring. Patients were grouped by a median split of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-D) score. RESULTS SDNN was lower (p = .009) and average heart rate was higher (p = .003) in patients with higher depression scores. These relationships remained substantially unaltered after statistically adjusting for the only demographic/clinical factor that varied between the groups: gender. CONCLUSIONS In comparison to the lower depression score group, those with higher depression scores had lower heart rate variability during daily life. These findings may be related to the reported relationship between depression and survival risk in patients with coronary artery disease.
Role of 8-epi PGF2α, 8-isoprostane, in H2O2-induced derangements of pulmonary artery endothelial cell barrier function

Abstract The non-enzymatic peroxidation product of arachidonic acid, 8-epi-PGF 2α or 8-isoprostane (8-IP) was measured in H 2 O 2 -exposed cultured pulmonary artery endothelial cell (PAEC) monolayers using a commercially-available enzyme immunoassay kit. H 2 O 2 (50 μM for 1–30 min) significantly increased 8-IP production in a time-dependent fashion. Treatment with higher H 2 O 2 concentrations (100 or 250 μM) failed to further increase 8-IP generation. Determinations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) were not sufficiently sensitive to detect lipid peroxidation in PAEC exposed to 50 μM H 2 O 2 for 15 min. 8-IP (100 pM–500 nM for 2 h) caused PAEC monolayer barrier dysfunction measured as the transmonolayer clearance of albumin without causing significant PAEC cytotoxicity (measured as intracellular lactate dehydrogenase release). This is the first report to provide evidence that 8-IP generated in H 2 O 2 -exposed PAEC contributes to oxidant-mediated alterations in monolayer barrier function at non-cytotoxic concentrations.
Parathyroid carcinoma: a review of 62 patients.

CARCINOMA of the parathyroid gland is a rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism, accounting for approximately 3–4% of patients with hypercalcemia and elevated parathyroid hormone levels (1, 2). In 1969, Holmes et al. (3) reviewed the data on 46 patients with parathyroid carcinoma published since the original description of the disease in 1938. The subjects of that report had, in general, marked and symptomatic hypercalcemia as well as the frequent presence of both skeletal and renal complications of hyperparathyroidism. These observations suggested that malignant parathyroid disease usually presented somewhat differently than the much more common benign form of primary hyperparathyroidism. Since the report of Holmes et al. (3) there have been additional clinical descriptions of parathyroid carcinoma but no further comprehensive reviews in English. Over this same period of time, surveys of benign primary hyperparathyroidism have documented a rather dramatic change in its incidence and clinical presentati...
Separation of basic proteins and peptides by capillary electrophoresis using a cationic surfactant

Incorporation of a low concentration of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in the running electrolyte is shown to dynamically coat the silica capillary and to reverse the direction of electroosmotic flow. The CTAB coating prevented interaction of proteins with the capillary surface and enabled sharp peaks to be obtained in the electropherograms. A systematic study of experimental parameters demonstrated the importance of selecting a suitable buffer electrolyte and an appropriate pH. Excellent separations were obtained for five proteins, three enkephalins, and six dipeptides with an efficiency of approximately 500,000 theoretical plates per meter. The method developed is very simple to perform and was found to give excellent reproducibility.
Approach to the elderly patient with gait disturbance.

Summary The prevalence of gait disturbances and falls increases dramatically with age, but these problems are not universal in the elderly. They should trigger a systematic search for underlying disease states, many of which can be treated medically or surgically, or significantly ameliorated through provision of physical therapy focused on gait training and aids to ambulation, removal of safety hazards in the environment, and the elimination of polypharmacy. While cardiovascular, orthopedic, and rheumatologic diseases account for the majority of gait disturbances in the elderly, the aim here is to outline an approach to the diagnosis and treatment of a broad array of neurologic conditions causing gait disturbance in the elderly.
The rat growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor gene: structure, regulation, and generation of receptor isoforms with different signaling properties.

The interaction of GHRH with membrane-bound receptors on somatotroph cells of the anterior pituitary is an important step in the regulation of GH synthesis and secretion. The identification of a G protein-coupled receptor for GHRH has made it possible to investigate the pathway by which GHRH regulates pituitary somatotroph cell function. To initiate an analysis of the mechanisms regulating expression and function of the GHRH receptor, the structure of the gene and its promoter region were analyzed. The coding sequence of the rat GHRH receptor gene is contained within 14 exons spanning approximately 15 kb of genomic DNA. Four transcription start sites are located within 286 bp upstream of the initiation codon. The 59 flanking region of the GHRH receptor gene acts as a functional promoter in rat pituitary tumor GH3 cells, and basal promoter activity is enhanced in GH3 and COS7 cells by cotransfection of an expression construct encoding the pituitary-specific transcription factor Pit-1. The rat GHRH receptor gene is subject to at least 1 alternative RNA processing event that generates 2 receptor isoforms differing by 41 amino acids within the third intracellular loop (IL) of the protein. The short isoform of the GHRH receptor is predominant in pituitary cells. The MtT/S pituitary tumor cell line was found to express the GHRH receptor, and different populations of these cells produce predominantly the long or short isoforms of the receptor messenger RNA, suggesting that the alternative splicing can be regulated. Functional analysis of the two GHRH receptor isoforms demonstrates that both bind GHRH, but only the short isoform signals through a cAMPmediated pathway. Neither receptor isoform is able to stimulate calcium mobilization from internal stores after GHRH treatment. Our findings indicate that the pituitary-specific transcription factor Pit-1 is involved in the somatotroph-specific expression of the GHRH receptor gene and that functionally distinct receptor proteins are generated by an alternative RNA processing mechanism. (Endocrinology 140: 4152‐ 4165, 1999)
On the optimum processing gain of a block-coded direct-sequence spread-spectrum system

The optimization between the processing gain and the coding gain of a constant-bandwidth direct-sequence spread-spectrum communication system operating in the presence of either a tone jammer or a Gaussian jammer such that the bit-error rate (BER) is minimized is presented. Both bipolar phase-shift keyed pseudo-noise (PN) modulation and quaternary phase-shift keyed PN modulation are considered. Binary BCH codes are used to illustrate the techniques for optimization. The exact BER and its Gaussian approximation are derived and compared. During the optimization, two different approaches are used to obtain the indicator functions of the optimum code. These indicators are tested and shown to yield good results. >
Influence of Valentine's Day and Halloween on birth timing.

Abstract It is known that cultural representations, in the form of stereotypes, can influence functional health. We predicted that the influence of cultural representations, in the form of salient holidays, would extend to birth timing. On Valentine’s Day, which conveys positive symbolism, there was a 3.6% increase in spontaneous births and a 12.1% increase in cesarean births. Whereas, on Halloween, which conveys negative symbolism, there was a 5.3% decrease in spontaneous births and a 16.9% decrease in cesarean births. These effects reached significance at p
Alcoholism Among New World Peoples

This review of the literature focuses on alcoholism among American Indian peoples. It is a critical review, aimed at elucidating methodological problems, establishing areas of relatively firm knowledge, and identifying gaps in our knowledge. The first two sections cover nonclinical areas: that is, 1) historical and anthropological studies of American Indian (AI) alcohol use, and 2) the nature and extent of alcoholism among various AI peoples. The remaining sections emphasize clinically related areas: that is, 1) clinical epidemiology, 2) intervention methods, and 3) outcomes.
Status of Freshwater Fishes of the United States: Overview of an Imperiled Fauna

Abstract Conservation biologists have begun a concerted effort to educate the public, resource administrators, and politicians about the decline of temperate ecosystems, including their fishes. The United States harbors the most diverse temperate freshwater fish fauna in the world with about 790 species represented, about 90% of which are nongame fishes. From a state-by-state perspective, diversity of fishes in the United States is concentrated in the South, primarily in Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Virginia, each of which supports at least 200 native fish species. Endemicity of fishes is high in both the South and West; in the latter region, up to 70% of fishes in some drainages (e.g., Colorado River) are endemic. Imperilment apparently is not confined to particular taxonomic groups. Of the five most diverse fish families in the United States, total imperilment ranges from 7% in the Centrarchidae to 50% in nonanadromous salmonids and indicates widespread and pervasive degradati...
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION AT THE EIGHT INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE Mainz, Germany August 25-28, 2004 The Pittsburgh Common Cold Studies: Psychosocial Predictors of Susceptibility to Respiratory Infectious Illness

This article provides a selected overview of 20 years of research on the role of psychosocial factors in susceptibility to upper respiratory infections. We present evidence from our laboratory that psychological stress is associated with increased risk for developing respiratory illness for persons intentionally exposed to a common cold virus, that the longer the duration of the stressor the greater the risk, and that stress association with susceptibility may be mediated by stress-induced disruption of the regulation of proinflammatory cytokines. We further provide evidence that social relationships (social integration and social support) are also associated with risk for respiratory illness: Social integration is associated with reduced risk irrespective of stress level and social support protects persons from the pathogenic influences of stress. Finally, we report recent evidence that lower levels of early childhood socio-economic status (SES) are associated with greater risk of viral-induced illness during adulthood, independent of adult SES.
On the parallel complexity of discrete relaxation in constraint satisfaction networks

Abstract Constraint satisfaction networks have been shown to be a very useful tool for knowledge representation in Artificial Intelligence applications. These networks often utilize local constraint propagation techniques to achieve local consistency (consistent labeling in vision). Such methods have been used extensively in the context of image understanding and interpretation, as well as planning, natural language analysis and truth maintenance systems. In this paper we study the parallel complexity of discrete relaxation, one of the most commonly used constraint propagation techniques. Since the constraint propagation procedures such as discrete relaxation appear to operate locally, it has been previously believed that the relaxation approach for achieving local consistency has a natural parallel solution. Our analysis suggests that a parallel solution is unlikely to improve the known sequential solutions by much. Specifically, we prove that the problem solved by discrete relaxation (arc consistency) is log-space complete for P (the class of polynomial-time deterministic sequential algorithms). Intuitively, this implies that discrete relaxation is inherently sequential and it is unlikely that we can solve the polynomial-time version of the consistent labeling problem in logarithmic time by using only a polynomial number of processors. Some practical implications of our result are discussed. We also provide a two-way transformation between AND/OR graphs, propositional Horn satisfiability and local consistency in constraint networks that allows us to develop optimal linear-time algorithms for local consistency in constraint networks.
Coherent Optical Communications: What Next?

Modulation formats for optical communication have evolved from NRZ to RZ to CSRZ, and recently to D(Q)PSK, a coherent modulation technique. Coherent optical communications, extensively investigated before the arrival of EDFA, is attracting renewed interest.
Absorption diagnostics and modeling investigations of RDX flame structure

Abstract Absorption spectroscopy has been applied to low-pressure, self-deflagrating RDX flames in an attempt to refine the database for evaluation of detailed-chemistry combustion models. Semi-empirically determined production rates of reactants from the solid propellant surface together with a detailed gas-phase elementary reaction set were used to develop a model that minimizes the effect of uncertainties in the description of solid-phase processes. The spatial profiles of two low-concentration, highly reactive, short-lived diatomic species, CN and NH, were obtained at pressures varying from 1 to 2 atm in air. Two major species, NO and OH were also profiled using this technique. Resultant absorption spectra of the B2Σ+ − X2Σ+ transitions for CN, A3Π − X3Σ− transitions for NH, and the A2Σ+ − X2Π transitions for NO and OH were least-squares fitted to obtain best values for concentration and/or temperature. Peak CN mole fractions of about 200 ppm are obtained from “snapshot” absorption spectra of RDX burning in 1 atm air, mole fractions for NH are about a factor of 2 lower. As the pressure is increased, the CN and NH species peak closer to the combusting surface and reside over a smaller spatial extent. Peak concentrations drop for these higher pressures, but may be due, at least in part, to limitations of the spatial resolution of the pressurized absorption experiment chamber. Results from high-resolution absorption measurements instituted to overcome these limitations reveal CN concentrations of 140 ppm with more consistent peak positions, widths, and CN to NH peak ratios. Measurements of the concentration of NO species show a peak concentration of 25 mole-percent occurring at a position of 0.12 mm above the surface of the propellant. In the final flame region, measured OH concentrations of 1.7 mole-percent agree well with adiabatic calculations performed with the NASA-Lewis thermochemical equilibrium code. Calculated profiles of NO and OH are in good agreement with these measurements. The model peak positions and relative concentrations of CN and NH are also in good agreement with experiment. During the course of these spectroscopic measurements, burning rates for RDX over a pressure range of 1 to 2 atm have also been determined. These values range from 0.23 mm/s at atmospheric pressure to 0.50 mm/s for 2 atm and are noticeably lower than some of the other published measurements. Calculations stemming from the proposed model predict a burning rate of 0.29 mm/s and 0.54 mm/s for the same pressure levels.