cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fat mass and obesity gene and cognitive decline: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine whether 4 genetic variants in the fat mass and obesity associated gene ( FTO ) identified in genome-wide association studies of diabetes and obesity are associated with cognitive change in midlife in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Methods: ARIC is a prospective cohort study of the development of atherosclerosis in 15,792 individuals aged 45 to 64 years at baseline from 1986 to 1989. FTO is highly expressed in human fetal and adult brain, and a single nucleotide polymorphism in FTO has previously been associated with reduced brain volume in cognitively normal subjects. Since a relationship between brain atrophy and diminished cognitive function has been demonstrated in ARIC participants, general linear models were used to evaluate the association between 6-year change in scores on 3 neuropsychological tests and FTO genotype. Results: In a sample of 8,364 white and 2,083 African American men and women with no clinical history of stroke, significantly greater mean change in performance on the Delayed Word Recall Test was associated with 2 of 4 FTO single nucleotide polymorphisms examined (rs9939609, rs805136, rs17817449, and rs1421085) in whites but not in African Americans ( p ≤ 0.002). The association of the FTO polymorphisms with cognitive change was independent of potential confounding clinical and demographic variables including age, gender, education, diabetes, hypertension, and body mass index. Conclusions: Further studies will be needed to clarify the biological mechanisms and genetic pathways through which variants in FTO can increase susceptibility to decline in verbal memory detectable in middle-aged, community-dwelling adults.
The Regulated Firm and the DCF Model: Some Lessons From Financial Theory

This paper explores lessons from established financial theory for allowed rate of return calculations within the constant-growth dividend (DCF) framework. Analysts using this model have been wedded to the conventional cost-of-equity formula. We set forth equivalent alternatives which make the analysts' task easier, more precise, and more confident. What is even more important, we derive a set of consistency conditions that must be observed for the appropriate use of the model. We also use a basic capital-market principle to determine an alternative, flotation-cost adjusted, rate of return, an expression which provides useful insights for regulatory participants.
Municipal Enterprise Activities as Revenue Generators: A Different View

Enterprise funds provide one means by which cities provide municipal goods and services to their residents while generating revenues to augment cities' other revenue-generating activities or substitute for other forms of revenue. Because municipal enterprises are accounted for in separate proprietary funds, determining the extent to which the revenues they generate are actually usable by non-enterprise functions is somewhat more difficult than we have generally presumed. I use data from a recent national survey of cities to demonstrate how common measures of municipal enterprise revenue generation may be misleading and propose a measure that will provide more reliable data for both researchers and municipal decision makers.
Quantitative detection of aromatic compounds in single aerosol particle mass spectrometry.

Most laser-based aerosol mass spectrometers rely on a single ultraviolet laser to both ablate and ionize the aerosol particle. This technique produces complex and fragmented mass spectra, especially for organic compounds. The approach presented here achieves a more robust and quantitative analysis using a CO2 laser to evaporate the aerosol particle and a vacuum ultraviolet laser to ionize the vapor plume. Vacuum ultraviolet laser ionization produces little fragmentation in the mass spectra, making the identification of an aerosol particle's constituents more straightforward. An analysis of simple, three-component mixtures of aniline, benzyl alcohol, and m-nitrotoluene shows that the technique also provides a quantitative analysis for all the components of the mixture. Furthermore, the detection of predominantly parent ion signal from anthracene particles demonstrates the utility of the technique in the analysis of lower vapor pressure, solid-phase aerosols. Finally, we discuss the potential and limitation...
Small-angle inelastic scattering of 40 MeV protons by 12C, 40Ca, 56Fe and 58Ni

Abstract Angular distributions have been measured for inelastic scattering of 40 MeV protons to several states of 12C, 40Ca, 56Fe and 58Ni in the angular range of 4–20°. In a special small-angle scattering chamber, the inelastic protons were detected with a telescope consisting of three passing-geometry 3 mm Si(Li) detectors. Spurious events, produced when some of the very numerous elastic protons bombarding the detector produce nuclear reactions in it, were eliminated in a computer analysis. The experimental results are compared to DWBA and coupled-channel calculations, and to McCarthy's parity rule.
Organizational Correlates of Perceived Role Performance at the University and College Level

An empirical study relates the perceived role performance of 155 faculty members in ten business schools of medium-sized universities and colleges in the Pacific Northwest to the organic system of ...
Events that have become central to identity: Gender differences in the centrality of events scale for positive and negative events

Past research has demonstrated that the extent to which a negative event has become central to one's identity using the centrality of events scale (CES) is associated with depression, dissociation and PTSD symptoms. The combined results from two studies that collectively examined nominated negative and positive personal events and the 2004 Presidential election found that females are more likely than males to construct a negative event as central to their identity. In addition, higher CES scores for a negative event were associated with higher ratings of vividness, emotional intensity, visceral emotional reactions, depression, dissociation, PTSD symptoms and worse physical health outcomes. In contrast, CES scores for positive events were not related to the measures of mental or physical health, although this finding was ambiguous in Study 2. The tendency for females to construct a negative event as central to their identity may help explain gender differences in mental health outcomes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The action option and a Feynman quantization of spinor fields in terms of ordinary c-numbers

Abstract The Feynman sum represents a convenient formulation of quantum mechanics for Bose fields, but, to secure a similar formulation applicable to Fermion fields, it has been necessary to use “anticommuting c -number” field histories to insure the anticommutivity of the quantum field operators. Here, a method is presented to sum over histories for spinor fields which (1) employs the familiar classical c -number expression for the action, (2) predicts anti-commutation rules and Fermi statistics, and (3) retains the invariance of the theory under a change in phase of the complex ψ field. The Feynman procedure demands a numerical action value for histories outside the domain for which the action integral was intended, for example, for histories which are discontinuous with respect to space or time. One is therefore presented with an “action option”, i.e., the action value for such “unruly” histories may be defined in various ways. Depending on the choice made, the resulting quantum theory can be made to manifest either Bose or Fermi statistics. This ambiguity is inherent in the formalism itself. However, the proper choice to extend the classical information is most readily determined by constructing the sum over histories by a summation over multiple products of matrix elements of the unitary operator which advances the state an infinitesimal time. This summation need not be limited to the familiar discrete basis vectors; instead a “generalized representation” can be employed which involves, for each Fermion degree of freedom, continuously many, nonindependent vectors. When a suitable parameterization is chose for this “overcomplete family of states” the multiple product of matrix elements for a given history reduces to the exponential of the appropriate action functional evaluated for that history. A unified formulation of both statistics for the Schrodinger field is presented which includes a detailed account of the necessary properties of the overcomplete family of states and a derivation of the functional measure for Fermion fields. The propagator and a functional expression for the ground state of the neutrino field are presented as applications of the method to relativistic spinor fields.
A typology of intimate relationships

A typology of marriages and other intimate relationships is offered based on seven behavioral profiles that partners can exhibit in their interactions with one another. The typology is relatively simple, based upon the main thrust of each partner's behavior in their dyadic system. The intrapsychic and biological factors that are forces in each partner's marriage contract differ for each behavioral profile. The profiles are subject to change as the couples' interactions change. There are 28 possible combinations of the two partners' profiles. These are determined by putting together the two terms that best describe each partner's behavior. The prognosis for the quality of each type of relationship in the typology is discussed.
Information relationships: the source of useful and usable content

Effective communication requires more than what the content says and how it's formatted and instead requires focusing on the interrelationships between information elements and how those interrelationships fit together to help a person understand the situation. The design presented to readers must be an integrated presentation that supports achieving their goals within their situational context. For an integrated presentation to help people find and use content, it must provide the cross-references and interconnections between different information elements to form the highly interconnected structures that typify most complex problems. Unfortunately, this integrated presentation varies between each audience group and normally involves connections between information elements which have little in common with a conventional information hierarchy or architecture.
Design of multifunctional non-viral gene vectors to overcome physiological barriers: Dilemmas and strategies

Abstract Gene-based therapeutics hold great promise for medical advancement and have been used to treat various human diseases with mixed success. However, their therapeutic application in vivo is limited due largely to several physiological barriers. The design of non-viral gene vectors with the ability to overcome delivery obstacles is currently under extensive investigation. These efforts have placed an emphasis on the development of multifunctional vectors able to execute multiple tasks to simultaneously overcome both extracellular and intracellular obstacles. However, the assembly of these different functionalities into a single system to create multifunctional gene vectors faces many conflicts that largely limit the safe and efficient application of lipoplexes and polyplexes in a systemic delivery. In the review, we have described the dilemmas inherent in the design of a viable, non-viral gene vector equipped with multiple functionalities. The strategies directed towards individual delivery barriers are first summarized, followed by a focus on the design of so-called smart multifunctional vectors with the capability to overcome the delivery difficulties of gene medicines, including the so-called the “polycation dilemma”, the “PEG dilemma” and the “package and release dilemma”.
Spot diameters for scanning photorefractive keratectomy: a comparative study

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare with computer simulations the duration, smoothness and accuracy of scanning photo-refractive keratectomy with spot diameters ranging from 0.2 to 1 mm. Methods: We calculated the number of pulses per diopter of flattening for spot sizes varying from 0.2 to 1 mm. We also computed the corneal shape after the correction of 4 diopters of myopia and 4 diopters of astigmatism with a 6 mm ablation zone and a spot size of 0.4 mm with 600 mJ/cm 2 peak radiant exposure and 0.8 mm with 300 mJ/cm 2 peak radiant exposure. The accuracy and smoothness of the ablations were compared. Results: The repetition rate required to produce corrections of myopia with a 6 mm ablation zone in a duration of 5 s per diopter is on the order of 1 kHz for spot sizes smaller than 0.5 mm, and of 100 Hz for spot sizes larger than 0.5 mm. The accuracy and smoothness after the correction of myopia and astigmatism with small and large spot sizes were not significantly different. Conclusions: This study seems to indicate that there is no theoretical advantage for using either smaller spots with higher radiant exposures or larger spots with lower radiant exposures. However, at fixed radiant exposure, treatments with smaller spots require a larger duration of surgery but provide a better accuracy for the correction of astigmatism.
ON OPEN RECTANGLE-OF-INFLUENCE AND RECTANGULAR DUAL DRAWINGS OF PLANE GRAPHS

Irreducible triangulations are plane graphs with a quadrangular exterior face, triangular interior faces and no separating triangles. Fusy proposed a straight-line grid drawing algorithm for irreducible triangulations, whose grid size is asymptotically with high probability 11n/27 × 11n/27 up to an additive error of $O$($\sqrt{n})$. Later on, Fusy generalized the idea to quadrangulations and obtained a straight-line grid drawing, whose grid size is asymptotically with high probability 13n/27 × 13n/27 up to an additive error of $O$($\sqrt{n})$. In this paper, we first prove that the above two straight-line grid drawing algorithms for irreducible triangulations and quadrangulations actually produce open rectangle-of-influence drawings for them respectively. Therefore, the above mentioned straight-line grid drawing size bounds also hold for the open rectangle-of-influence drawings. These results improve previous known drawing sizes. In the second part of the paper, we present another application of the resul...
The Search for Common Ground: Developing Emergency Medicine in Iran

Academic ties between Iran and the United States were extensive before the 1979 revolution in Iran. After 20 years of negligible academic exchanges, there has been a growing trend of professional contacts between the two countries over the past few years. The genuine warmth of friendship and commitment to excellence in emergency medicine (EM) among Iranians has transcended the political barriers to allow international contribution of EM development in the country. Since 1999, there has been a successful academic collaboration between Iranian and U.S. universities to help develop EM in Iran. Today, remarkable progresses have been achieved through recognition of EM as a distinct profession, developing EM residency programs, improving emergency medical services, establishing qualified emergency departments, training faculty and staff, starting physician exchange programs, and building mutual contributions with professionals throughout the world. A supportive policy environment and a high-quality health care system have had incredible impacts on EM development in the country.
A COMPARISON OF DESIGN APPROACHES TO MESO-STRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

The design protocols of meso-structures to satisfy given properties have been an interesting area in material science. Having various mechanical properties by modifying the topology of unit cells is a major issue in developing new meso-structures. This paper reviews different design methodologies to design meso-structures. For each method, an algorithm is presented and compared. Computational methods including topology optimization, parametric optimization, and synthesis methods are among the most popular methods for design meso-structures. Ultimately, it is found that there is a gap in systematic design methods for developing new meso-structure architectures as the current methods are limited to parametric sizing and selection. This gap will be addressed in future research.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
A study of the properties and NMR spectra of amorphous and crystalline ZrPd hydrides

Abstract Results of a study of the hydrides of Zr65Pd35 and Zr67Pd33 metallic glasses are presented. It was found that these alloys absorb hydrogen at temperatures ranging from 150°C to 225°C to a final hydrogen concentration of Zr67Pd33H≈95. X-ray diffraction, density measurements, and measurements of electrical resistivity and superconducting transition temperature were carried out on these samples. Results of NMR studies of amorphous Zr67Pd33H≈95 alloys as well as the corresponding single-phase crystalline hydrides Zr2PdH1.94 and Zr2PdH2.90 are also reported. The amorphous hydrides exhibit enhanced hydrogen mobility, compared with the corresponding crystalline hydrides, as determined by motional line narrowing (T 2 ∗ measurements ) of the NMR spectra. The apparent activation energy for diffusion in the amorphous hydride was studied by both T 2 ∗ and T1π measurements over an extended temperature range and found to depend strongly on temperature. Proton Knight shift and spin-lattice relaxation time measurements suggest that the electronic density of states at EF is significantly lower in the amorphous hydride than in the corresponding crystalline hydride.
Kinetics of 1,1,1-Trichloroethane Transformation by Iron Sulfide and a Methanogenic Consortium

To evaluate the effect of potential interactions between methanogenic bacteria and iron sulfide minerals during transformation of 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA), we measured the kinetics of 1,1,1-TCA transformation by mackinawite (FeS (1-x) , but abbreviated as FeS) and a methanogenic consortium enriched on lactate (termed LEC). Results from batch kinetic experiments show that 1,1,1-TCA transformation by FeS and resting LEC can be described by second-order rate expressions, with rates depending on 1,1,1-TCA concentration (M), FeS surface area concentration (m 2 L -1 ), and LEC concentration (as measured by mg L -1 volatile suspended solids (VSS)). In reactors containing FeS alone, 1,1-dichloroethane (1,1-DCA) and 2-butyne were identified as products, but only accounted for 6% of the 1,1,1-TCA transformed. In reactors containing LEC alone, the only identified product was 1,1-DCA, which accounted for 46 ± 8% of the 1,1,1-TCA transformed. Supernatant from LEC-alone reactors also transformed 1,1,1-TCA, suggesting that 1,1,1-TCA may be transformed by some non-cell component (such as a extracellular compound excreted by the organisms) that either reacts directly with 1,1,1-TCA or with the abiotic media to form a reactive species. Comparison of 1,1,1-TCA transformation rates from experiments with combinations of FeS (varying surface area concentrations) and LEC (varying VSS concentrations) to those with just FeS alone or LEC alone suggests some synergism occurs between the two reactive species. Observed enhancements took the form of faster 1,1,1-TCA transformation and faster 1,1-DCA appearance but less production of 1,1-DCA per unit of 1,1,1-TCA transformed. These observations suggest that the faster 1,1,1-TCA transformation in the combined systems (compared to the FeS-alone and LEC-alone experiments) is due to increased reactivity of both FeS and LEC, possibly due to production of soluble microbial products that make the FeS more reactive or less inhibition of LEC by 1,1,1-TCA due to FeS transformation of 1,1,1-TCA.
Delayed ventricular changes in the hypothalamus of the weanling rat following electrolytic lesions of the ventromedial nucleus.

Sections from weanling rats sacrificed seven days after receiving small electrolytic lesions in the ventromedial hypothalamus show extensive ventricular dilatation and diminution of the hypothalamic tissue between the wall of the third ventricle and the medial border of the lesion. No comparable changes are evident one to three days after the placement of such lesions. It is suggested that the delayed dissolution of periventricular tissue is due to circulatory impairment elicited by the electrolytic lesion. The question is raised whether the effects of lesions in the ventromedial nucleus could not be due in part at least to such indirect involvement of the periventricular zone.
Diffusion of an Educational Innovation in Trinidad and Tobago The Role of Teacher Attitudes and Perceptions toward Computers in the Classroom

New communication technologies, such as computers, are particularly beneficial to several development initiatives including education. In an attempt to ascertain the feasibility of successfully dif...
Contribution of alpha- and beta- adrenoceptors and neuropeptide-Y to autonomic dysreflexia.

Modest increases in urinary bladder pressure result in acute hypertensive episodes in humans with spinal cord lesions above T5. The underlying mechanisms of this condition, referred to as autonomic dysreflexia, are not well understood. The aim of this study was to characterize the contribution of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors as well as circulating neuropeptide-Y (NPY) to the pressor response to bladder distension in conscious cervical spinal rats. Rats were chronically instrumented with arterial and venous catheters. After 2–3 days, a complete spinal transection (C7) was performed, and the urinary bladder was catheterized: 24 h later, mean arterial pressure (MAP) responses to 5 min bladder distensions (+40) were measured under control conditions and after administration of specific autonomic antagonists. To assess the contribution of alpha and beta adrenergic mechanisms the α antagonist prazosin (0.45mg/kg i.v.) and β antagonist propranolol (4 mg/kg i.v.), were administered individually or together. Blood samples were taken before, during and after bladder distension for determination of plasma NPY by radioimmunoassay. The pressor response to bladder distension was approximately 30 mmHg under control conditions. The response was attenuated (−38%), but not abolished, by prazosin. A similar attenuation (−41%) was observed with propranolol. There were no changes in plasma NPY in response to bladder distension. Finally, the pressor response was completely abolished by combined alpha- and beta-adrenergic blockade. These results suggest that autonomic dysreflexia is mediated exclusively by adrenergic receptors in the spinal rat. Moreover, both α and β adrenergic receptors contribute to the pressor response induced by bladder distension in the conscious cervical spinal rat.
Nucleolar dominance in polytene cells of Drosophila

Abstract Previous studies indicate that genes from only one of the cell's nucleolus organizers undergo multiple rounds of DNA replication in polytene cells of Drosophila. This report presents evidence that this effect is mediated by a function that is associated with the ribosomal genes of the dominant or replicating X chromosome. This function can act in trans to result in replication of the ribosomal genes on the recessive X chromosome in flies that are bobbed for the dominant X chromosome. In these cases, ribosomal genes from both chromosomes undergo polytenization. Heterochromatic regions that flank the nucleolus organizer have little or no effect on nucleolar dominance. In addition, deletion of the compensatory response (cr+) locus does not affect the dominance, suggesting that ribosomal gene compensation and nucleolar dominance in polytene cells of Drosophila are separate genetic phenomena.
Cardiovascular therapies in the 1990s : an overview

Cardiovascular medicine has evolved steadily over the past two decades. Inspired by progressive declines in the overall incidence and mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases, emphasis has been placed on 3 specific areas: prevention, early diagnosis, and aggressive intervention
Perfectionism, Procrastination, and Psychological Distress

Using a cross-panel design and data from 2 successive cohorts of college students (N = 357), we examined the stability of maladaptive perfectionism, procrastination, and psychological distress across 3 time points within a college semester. Each construct was substantially stable over time, with procrastination being especially stable. We also tested, but failed to support, a mediational model with Time 2 (mid-semester) procrastination as a hypothesized mechanism through which Time 1 (early-semester) perfectionism would affect Time 3 (end-semester) psychological distress. An alternative model with Time 2 perfectionism as a mediator of the procrastination-distress association also was not supported. Within-time analyses revealed generally consistent strength of effects in the correlations between the 3 constructs over the course of the semester. A significant interaction effect also emerged. Time 1 procrastination had no effect on otherwise high levels of psychological distress at the end of the semester for highly perfectionistic students, but at low levels of Time 1 perfectionism, the most distressed students by the end of the term were those who were more likely to have procrastinated earlier in the semester. Implications of the stability of the constructs and their association over time, as well as the moderating effects of procrastination, are discussed in the context of maladaptive perfectionism and problematic procrastination.
μSR investigation of magnetism and superconductivity in (Y1−xPrx)Ba2Cu3O7

Abstract Muon spin rotation and relaxation techniques have been used to study the superconductivity and magnetism in (Y 1− x P x )Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7 (0⩽ x ⩽1) and PrBa 2 Cu 3 O 6 . Clear evidence for magnetic ordering of the Cu moments within the Cu-O planes is seen. Additionally, a lower magnetic transition is observed which, based upon previous work, has been associated with the ordering of Pr moments on the Y sublattice of the YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 structure. For x = 1, the upper Neel temperature T N1 is ∼270 K and the magnitude of the fully developed local magnetic field is ∼16 mT. Below the lower Neel temperature T N2 = 17 K, the magnitude of the static field is reduced to ∼ 12mT. For 0.4⩽ x ⩽0.54, there appears to be a coexistence region of long range magnetism and superconductivity.
Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Senior Centers: Comparing Participant Characteristics in More and Less Multicultural Settings

The 2008 Health Indicators Project surveyed a probability sample (N = 1,870) of New York City senior center participants. Attendees of racially and ethnically diverse and nondiverse senior centers were compared across 5 domains: demographics; health and quality of life; social support networks; neighborhood perceptions and engagement; health service access/utilization. Although homogeneous and diverse center participants demonstrate similar health and quality-of-life outcomes, those from diverse centers demonstrate greater risk of social isolation, receive less family support, and more likely seek medical care from hospitals or community clinics. Implications and future directions for research, practice and policy are discussed.
Spirometric reference equations for older adults

The objective of this study was to develop spirometric reference equations for healthy, never-smoking, older adults. It was designed as a cross-sectional observational study consisting of 1510 Seventh Day Adventists, ages 43-79 years enrolled in a study of health effects of air pollutants. Individuals were excluded from the reference group (n = 565) for a history of current respiratory illness, smoking, or chronic respiratory disease, and for a number of 'non-respiratory' conditions which were observed in these data to be related to lower values of FEV1. Gender-specific reference equations were developed for the entire reference group and for a subset above 65 years of age (n = 312). Controlling for height and age, lung function was found to be positively related to the difference between armspan and height, and in males was found to be quadratically related to age. The predicted values for this population generally fell within the range of those of other population groups containing large numbers of adults over the age of 65 years. Individuals with lung function below the 5th percentile in this sample, however, could not be reliably identified by using the lower limits of normal predictions commonly used in North America and Europe.
User Response Data: The Potential for Errors and Biases

Surveys that require users to evaluate or make judgments about information systems and their effect on specific work activities can produce misleading results if respondents do not interpret or answer questions in the ways intended by the researcher. This paper provides a framework for understanding both the cognitive activities and the errors and biases in judgment that can result when users are asked to categorize a system, explain its effects, or predict their own future actions and preferences with respect to use of a system. Specific suggestions are offered for wording survey questions and response categories so as to elicit more precise and reliable responses. In addition, possible sources of systematic bias are discussed, using examples drawn from published IS research. Recommendations are made for further research aimed at better understanding how and to what extent judgment biases could affect the results of IS surveys.
Making Meaning in Life

The annals of global exploration are peppered withamusing stories about seafaring captains who wereconvinced they had discovered some new world, ora new route to a well-known world. A ﬂotilla of shipswould drop anchor and the explorer would row ashoreand declare to the perplexed local inhabitants that theyhad been discovered. As in the case of ChristopherColumbus and North America, it seems that the narra-tive and purpose of the voyage neatly and resilientlyframed his experience. The comedian Louis CK jokesabout the ﬁrst meeting between Columbus—who in-tended to reach India—and the Caribbean inhabitantswho greeted him:
Ethanol Metabolism in Plant Tissues

Many plant tissues are known to produce ethanol when they are subjected to experimental stresses such as low oxygen supply or a variety of respiratory inhibitors (2). Ethanol production has also been observed under natural conditions in such tissues as germinating seeds, fruits, and root tips (10). The question whether ethanol, particularly that accumulated in periods of natural or imposed anaerobiosis, can be metabolized when the tissue subsequently gains better access to 02 is still unanswered (10). In earlier experiments, Cossins and Turner (5, 7) showed that in a variety of germinating seedlings, previously accumulated ethanol was consumed by the tissues, and by providing ethanol-2-C14 (6) to pea cotyledons they were able to show extensive conversion to a variety of products, including acetaldehyde, acids of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and amino acids. In this investigation, some twelve tissues, including storage organs, parts of seedlings, coleoptiles, fruits, roots, stems, and leaves have been examined for their ability to metabolize ethanol-C14 and the products of its utilization. Without exception, these materials converted part of the added ethanol to Co2, organic acids, amino acids, and other products in periods of 4 hours or less. Distinctive differences in the patterns and rates of utilization were observed; in some tissues the rates of utilization were sufficiently high that the added ethanol (15 /Lmoles) was completely metabolized.
Estimation for the distribution of BOD and DO

Abstract A nonparametric probability estimator, having a uniform kernel, is utilized to obtain the joint probability density function of BOD and DO along the stretch of a stream when the velocity is distance dependent. The stochastic model is used to obtain probabilistic confidence bounds for BOD and DO. An example and computations are presented which illustrate the usefulness of the model.
Parameter set selection for estimation of nonlinear dynamic systems

A new approach is introduced for parameter set selection for nonlinear systems that takes nonlinearity of the parameter-output sensitivity, the effect that uncertainties in the nominal values of the parameters have and the effect that inputs and initial conditions have on parameter selection into account. In a first step, a collection of (sub)optimal parameter sets is determined for the nominal values of the parameters using a genetic algorithm. These parameter sets are then further analyzed for uncertainty in the parameters and changes in the initial conditions and inputs using differential analysis as well as a sampling-based approach to determine the key factors influencing sensitivity and the likelihood of a parameter set to be the optimal set under these varying conditions. The outcome of this procedure is a collection of parameter sets, which can be used for parameter estimation and additional information about how likely it is that a set is optimal for parameter estimation. Additionally, the size of the region in parameter space in which a certain set of parameters will remain optimal is determined. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2007
Dose-response relationships between physical activity, social participation, and health-related quality of life in colorectal cancer survivors.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between physical activity (PA), social participation, and health-related quality of life (HQOL) in older, long-term colorectal cancer survivors. Male and female colorectal cancer survivors (n = 1,768), aged ≥65 and ≥5 years post-diagnosis, completed surveys on their current PA, social participation, HQOL, health history, and relevant covariates. Analysis of covariance was used to evaluate the cross-sectional relationship between PA and social participation with the SF-36 subscales, as well as the physical component summary score (PCS) and mental health component summary score (MCS). The final analytic sample (n = 832) was 81.5 ± 5.8 years and 8.2 ± 1.7 years post-diagnosis (mean ± SD). Meeting the current recommendation of 150 min/week of PA was associated with higher PCS (p < 0.001) but not MCS (p = 0.30). Engaging in any social participation, vs. none, was associated with MCS (p = 0.003), but not PCS (p = 0.13). There was a dose–response relationship between moderate–vigorous-intensity PA and PCS (p trend 0.05), but in survivors performing no higher-intensity PA, it was associated with both (p < 0.01, p = 0.02, respectively). Participants reporting greater amounts of both planned exercise and non-exercise PA had significantly higher PCS (p trend<0.01, p trend < 0.01, respectively). Individuals participating in greater weekly hours of social participation had higher PCS and MCS (p trend<0.05) than those participating in less. Among older, long-term colorectal cancer survivors, PA is related to their physical health, while social participation is predominantly related to their mental health. Older colorectal cancer survivors who participate socially and are engaged in PA, even non-exercise and light-intensity activities, have higher levels of physical and mental health.
Nutrition Review: Lifestyle Approaches to Promoting Healthy Eating for Children:

Healthy eating habits are vital to establish during childhood and sustain thereafter. Nourishing, well-balanced diets are essential for proper growth, immunity, physical and mental development, hea...
Real-Time Animation Software for Customized Training to Use Motor Prosthetic Systems

Research on control of human movement and development of tools for restoration and rehabilitation of movement after spinal cord injury and amputation can benefit greatly from software tools for creating precisely timed animation sequences of human movement. Despite their ability to create sophisticated animation and high quality rendering, existing animation software are not adapted for application to neural prostheses and rehabilitation of human movement. We have developed a software tool known as MSMS (MusculoSkeletal Modeling Software) that can be used to develop models of human or prosthetic limbs and the objects with which they interact and to animate their movement using motion data from a variety of offline and online sources. The motion data can be read from a motion file containing synthesized motion data or recordings from a motion capture system. Alternatively, motion data can be streamed online from a real-time motion capture system, a physics-based simulation program, or any program that can produce real-time motion data. Further, animation sequences of daily life activities can be constructed using the intuitive user interface of Microsoft's PowerPoint software. The latter allows expert and nonexpert users alike to assemble primitive movements into a complex motion sequence with precise timing by simply arranging the order of the slides and editing their properties in PowerPoint. The resulting motion sequence can be played back in an open-loop manner for demonstration and training or in closed-loop virtual reality environments where the timing and speed of animation depends on user inputs. These versatile animation utilities can be used in any application that requires precisely timed animations but they are particularly suited for research and rehabilitation of movement disorders. MSMS's modeling and animation tools are routinely used in a number of research laboratories around the country to study the control of movement and to develop and test neural prostheses for patients with paralysis or amputations.
High-Resolution Mapping and Characterization of Open Chromatin across the Genome

Mapping DNase I hypersensitive (HS) sites is an accurate method of identifying the location of genetic regulatory elements, including promoters, enhancers, silencers, insulators, and locus control regions. We employed high-throughput sequencing and whole-genome tiled array strategies to identify DNase I HS sites within human primary CD4+ T cells. Combining these two technologies, we have created a comprehensive and accurate genome-wide open chromatin map. Surprisingly, only 16%–21% of the identified 94,925 DNase I HS sites are found in promoters or first exons of known genes, but nearly half of the most open sites are in these regions. In conjunction with expression, motif, and chromatin immunoprecipitation data, we find evidence of cell-type-specific characteristics, including the ability to identify transcription start sites and locations of different chromatin marks utilized in these cells. In addition, and unexpectedly, our analyses have uncovered detailed features of nucleosome structure.
Effects of non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonists on reproductive and motor behaviors in female rats.

Abstract MK-801 and dextrorphan, selective non-competitive antagonists atN-methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptors, were used to evaluate the effect of NMDA receptor blockade on sexual and motor behaviors in female rats. Ovariectomized rats were treated with estradiol benzoate (EB) for 48 or 72 h followed by progesterone (P) 3.5–4 h before testing the animals for sexual receptivity. After testing for estrous responsiveness, the effect of NMDA antagonists on several motor behaviors was also assessed. Lordosis frequency and intensity were inhibited in animals that received 0.5 mg/kg MK-801 30 min before EB; the same dose of MK-801 was relatively ineffective when administered 24 h after EB. In neither case did MK-801-treated females differ from controls when motor behaviors were assessed after mating tests. When 30 mg/kg dextrorphan, a short-acting NMDA antagonist, was administered 15 min before P, sexual behavior was not blocked. However, both 0.05 mg/kg MK-801 and 30 mg/kg dextrorphan suppressed ongoing female sexual behavior within 30 min in animals made receptive with EB and P. These deficits in sexual behavior were associated with changes in motor performance. MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg) and dextrorphan (30 mg/kg) abolished movement in the vertical dimension (e.g. jumping and rearing). By contrast, the drugs increased movement in the longitudinal (locomotion) and lateral (circling) dimensions. At 0.2 mg/kg, MK-801 blocked movement in both the vertical and longitudinal dimensions; however, it failed to block circling. Only at 0.4 mg/kg did MK-801 inhibit lateral movements and righting reflexes. It is likely that the acute inhibition of sexual behavior by NMDA antagonists is related to changes in sensorimotor processing and/or motor performance.
Metal–organic hybrids involving the [UO2Cl3(NO3)]2− tecton and the role of halogen polarizability

The reaction of uranyl nitrate hexahydrate with 4-halopyridinium ions (X = Cl, Br, I) in high chloride media has resulted in three novel compounds, each of which is based around the [UO2Cl3(NO3)]2− tecton; (C5H5NCl)2[UO2Cl3(NO3)], (C5H5NBr)2[UO2Cl3(NO3)] and (C5H5NI)3[UO2Cl3(NO3)](NO3). In each material the halogen is involved in various forms of intermolecular interaction, including hydrogen bonding, halogen–halogen interactions and halogen–nitrate interactions. Presented is a discussion of the role of the halogen, in terms of Lewis acidity, in directing the overall structure.
The Agent-Based Approach: A New Direction for Computational Models of Development

Abstract The agent-based approach emphasizes the importance of learning through organism-environment interaction. This approach is part of a recent trend in computational models of learning and development toward studying autonomous organisms that are embedded in virtual or real environments. In this paper we introduce the concepts of online and offline sampling and highlight the role of online sampling in agent-based models. After comparing the strengths of each approach for modeling particular developmental phenomena and research questions, we describe a recent agent-based model of infant causal perception. We conclude by discussing some of the present limitations of agent-based models and suggesting how these challenges may be addressed.
Test structures to quantify contact placement-impacted drain current variations

The difference in the number of contacts across different transistors and standard cells results in current variations across the channel. In this work, we present test structures to target this effect and characterize and quantify the impact on 45 nm SOI silicon. After comparing the impact of contact resistance between 65 nm and 45 nm silicon, we provide and analyze our 45 nm test structure results and provide a means to extract mean contact resistance from our test structures. We observe that impact due to contact resistance can be up to 10% for 45 nm, while it could have been of less importance (less than 4%) for 65 nm technology. Such test structures and methodology help us provide intrinsic device models in 45 nm without inaccuracies or resistive double counting that may be introduced due to placement-impacted contact resistance variations.
Triode electron injection systems for hollow beams

Novel electron guns, in which a conical hollow electron beam is projected at a large angle to the axis into a coaxial deflection region, were tested. The guns have a triode structure so that the perveance can be varied easily. The strong deflection increases the effective perveance of the beam and makes the trajectories insensitive to current variations. In the form of a device with the gun at a large radius and projecting the beam inward, the electron paths are sensitive to scattering in the gun. The inverted gun, projecting the beam outward, is relatively free from this difficulty. The systems generally behave as expected, and should be quite useful for initiating variable-current hollow electron beams in various available focusing arrangements.
The Capability of Rat Colon Tissue Slices to Metabolize the Cooked-Food Carcinogen 2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine

Abstract A major target tissue for carcinogenesis from the cooked-food carcinogen 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5- b ]pyridine (PhIP) in rodents is the colon, yet the role of colon metabolism on the carcinogenicity of PhIP is not clearly understood. The mutagenic potency of PhIP is highly dependent upon cytochrome P450 N -hydroxylation. In the present study, the ability of rat colon tissue to activate PhIP to a mutagen was investigated in Salmonella typhimurium (strains TA98 and YG1024) and rat colon tissue slices. In the Ames/ Salmonella assay, using rat colon S9 as the activating system, no mutations were evident from bacteria exposed to PhIP at any concentration tested. However, mutations were observed when bacteria were exposed to 2-aminoanthracene (2AA) and colon S9, indicating sufficient P450 activity in the S9 to activate 2AA but not PhIP. In rat colon slice preparations, the sulfotransferase and acetyltransferase inhibitors pentachlorophenol (PCP) and 2,6-dichloro-4-nitrophenol (DCNP) were used to modulate DNA adduct and metabolite formation. Incubations of 3-methylcholanthrene-induced colon slices dosed with 50 µm [ 3 H]PhIP produced no detectable metabolites. However, incubations of uninduced slices exposed to 10 µm of the reactive intermediate, [ 3 H]2-(hydroxyamino)-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5- b ]pyridine ( N -hydroxy-PhIP), produced a single detectable metabolite, a glucuronide conjugate of N -hydroxy-PhIP. This metabolite decreased when PCP or DCNP was added to the incubation medium. DNA adducts were detected in colon slices exposed to N -hydroxy-PhIP at approximately 33 adducts/10 7 nucleotides. Interestingly, when PCP was added to the incubation mixture, an increase in DNA adduct levels was detected, whereas DCNP produced a decrease in adducts. Because these inhibitors are thought to have similar mechanisms with regard to sulfotransferase inhibition, the inverse relationship in DNA adduct levels due to PCP or DCNP treatment is at present unexplainable. The formation of DNA adducts and metabolites from colon slices exposed to N -hydroxy-PhIP but not PhIP implies that there is insufficient P450 activity in the rat colon to activate PhIP to hydroxylated metabolites, suggesting that the rat colon is a site of Phase II metabolism for PhIP and that the liver is the primary source for hydroxylation.
International Asset Pricing with Alternative Distributional Specifications

The unconditional mean-variance efficiency of the Morgan Stanley Capital International world equity index is investigated. Using data from 16 OECD countries and Hong Kong and maintaining the assumption of multivariate normality, we cannot reject the efficiency of the benchmark. However, residual diagnostics reveal significant departures from normality. We test the sensitivity of the results by specifying error structures that are t-distributed and mixtures of normal distributions. Even after relaxing the i.d.d. assumption, we cannot reject the mean-variance efficiency of the world portfolio. Our results suggest that differences in country risk exposure, measured against the MSCI world portfolio, will lead to differences in expected returns. This is the final working paper version of our 1993 publication in the Journal of Empirical Finance.