cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of dietary fat and cholesterol level on growing pigs selected for three generations for high or low serum cholesterol at age 56 days.

Thirty-six female pigs selected for three generations for high (HS, n = 18) and low (LS, n = 18) serum cholesterol at 56 d of age were used to test the hypothesis that the two populations would respond differently to a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet (HD) and a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet (LD). The animals were four-way crosses (Chester White x Landrace x Large White x Yorkshire). All pigs were fed a standard corn-soybean meal starter diet from weaning (at 4 wk) to 8 wk of age and a grower diet from 8 to 12 wk of age. Initial serum total cholesterol concentration at 12 wk of age was higher (P less than .05) in HS than in LS pigs (94.6 vs 76.9 mg/dL, respectively). The effect of genetic background persisted throughout the 13-wk experiment (25 wk of age); there was no interaction between diet and genetic background in serum total cholesterol (final concentrations were 114.3 mg/dL in HS-HD; 107.0 mg/dL in HS-LD; 105.9 mg/dL in LS-HD; and 89.7 mg/dL LS-LD). Trends over time revealed significant effects of diet (P less than .01) and genetic background (P less than .01) on serum total cholesterol. There was no effect of genetic background on high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentration; high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol as a percentage of serum total cholesterol was similar for all groups: 43% for HS-HD, 48% for HS-LD, 42% for LS-HD, and 45% for LS-LD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
National regulation, state-level policy, and local job creation in the United States: A multilevel perspective

Abstract The relationship between national regulation and job creation remains highly debated. The “public choice” perspective holds that regulation hinders job creation through compliance costs and regulatory capture. Meanwhile, the “public interest” view suggests that regulation can facilitate employment growth by promoting innovation and fair competition. We offer a contingency perspective, i.e., that national regulation's effects vary across heterogeneous state political institutions. Drawing on the political science theory of market-preserving federalism, we argue that state-level economic freedom moderates the effects of national regulation on local net job creation. Using U.S. data, we find support for this moderating hypothesis. National regulation destroys jobs on net in states with low economic freedom. However, national regulation has no effect in states with high economic freedom; this effect holds for tax freedom and labor market freedom. The moderation is concentrated among mature firms rather than young firms, and in metro counties rather than non-metro counties; furthermore, it is robust across multiple regulatory measures and instrumental variables approaches. Our work reveals that state political institutions have an underappreciated influence on the costs of national regulation, demonstrating the interdependence of policies for local economic development.
Rotation of Low-mass Stars in Upper Scorpius and ρ Ophiuchus with K2

We present an analysis of K2 light curves (LCs) for candidate members of the young Upper Sco (USco) association (~8 Myr) and the neighboring ρ Oph embedded cluster (~1 Myr). We establish ~1300 stars as probable members, ~80% of which are periodic. The phased LCs have a variety of shapes which can be attributed to physical causes ranging from stellar pulsation and stellar rotation to disk-related phenomena. We identify and discuss a number of observed behaviors. The periods are ~0.2–30 days with a peak near 2 days and the rapid period end nearing breakup velocity. M stars in the young USco region rotate systematically faster than GK stars, a pattern also present in K2 data for the older Pleiades and Praesepe systems. At higher masses (types FGK), the well-defined period–color relationship for slowly rotating stars seen in the Pleiades and Praesepe systems is not yet present in USco. Circumstellar disks are present predominantly among the more slowly rotating M stars in USco, with few disks in the subday rotators. However, M dwarfs with disks rotate faster on average than FGK systems with disks. For four of these disked M dwarfs, we provide direct evidence for disk locking based on the K2 LC morphologies. Our preliminary analysis shows a relatively mass-independent spin-up by a factor of ~3.5 between USco and the Pleiades, then mass-dependent spin-down between Pleiades and Praesepe.
Where and why do conifer forests persist in refugia through multiple fire events

Changing wildfire regimes are causing rapid shifts in forests worldwide. In particular, forested landscapes that burn repeatedly in relatively quick succession may be at risk of conversion when pre-fire vegetation cannot recover between fires. Fire refugia (areas that burn less frequently or severely than the surrounding landscape) support post-fire ecosystem recovery and the persistence of vulnerable species in fire-prone landscapes. Observed and projected fire-induced forest losses highlight the need to understand where and why forests persist in refugia through multiple fires. This research need is particularly acute in the Klamath-Siskiyou ecoregion of southwest Oregon and northwest California, USA, where expected increases in fire activity and climate warming may result in the loss of up to one-third of the region's conifer forests, which are the most diverse in western North America. Here, we leverage recent advances in fire progression mapping and weather interpolation, in conjunction with a novel application of satellite smoke imagery, to model the key controls on fire refugia occurrence and persistence through one, two, and three fire events over a 32-year period. Hotter-than-average fire weather was associated with lower refugia probability and higher fire severity. Refugia that persisted through three fire events appeared to be partially entrained by landscape features that offered protection from fire, suggesting that topographic variability may be an important stabilizing factor as forests pass through successive fire filters. In addition, smoke density strongly influenced fire effects, with fire refugia more likely to occur when smoke was moderate or dense in the morning, a relationship attributable to reduced incoming solar radiation resulting from smoke shading. Results from this study could inform management strategies designed to protect fire-resistant portions of biologically and topographically diverse landscapes.
Standardizing Care of Neuro-oncology Patients Using a Customized Electronic Medical Record Toolkit

Abstract Objective To develop and implement a customized toolkit within the electronic medical record (EMR) to standardize care of patients with brain tumors. Patients and Methods We built a customized structured clinical documentation support toolkit to capture standardized data at office visits. We detail the process by which this toolkit was conceptualized and developed. Toolkit development was a physician-led process to determine a work flow and necessary elements to support best practices as defined by the neuro-oncology clinical team. Results We have developed in our EMR system a customized work flow for clinical encounters with neuro-oncology patients. In addition to providing a road map for clinical care by our neuro-oncology team, the toolkit is designed to maximize discrete data capture. Several hundred fields of discrete data are captured through the toolkit in the context of our routine office visits. We describe the characteristics of patients seen at our clinic, the adoption of the toolkit, current initiatives supported by the toolkit, and future applications. Conclusion The EMR can be effectively structured to standardize office visits and improve discrete data capture. This toolkit can be leveraged to support quality improvement and practice-based research initiatives at the point of care in a neuro-oncology practice.
Exploring Robustness of Neural Networks through Graph Measures.

Motivated by graph theory, artificial neural networks (ANNs) are traditionally structured as layers of neurons (nodes), which learn useful information by the passage of data through interconnections (edges). In the machine learning realm, graph structures (i.e., neurons and connections) of ANNs have recently been explored using various graph-theoretic measures linked to their predictive performance. On the other hand, in network science (NetSci), certain graph measures including entropy and curvature are known to provide insight into the robustness and fragility of real-world networks. In this work, we use these graph measures to explore the robustness of various ANNs to adversarial attacks. To this end, we (1) explore the design space of inter-layer and intra-layers connectivity regimes of ANNs in the graph domain and record their predictive performance after training under different types of adversarial attacks, (2) use graph representations for both inter-layer and intra-layers connectivity regimes to calculate various graph-theoretic measures, including curvature and entropy, and (3) analyze the relationship between these graph measures and the adversarial performance of ANNs. We show that curvature and entropy, while operating in the graph domain, can quantify the robustness of ANNs without having to train these ANNs. Our results suggest that the real-world networks, including brain networks, financial networks, and social networks may provide important clues to the neural architecture search for robust ANNs. We propose a search strategy that efficiently finds robust ANNs amongst a set of well-performing ANNs without having a need to train all of these ANNs.
Applying the Euclidean-signature semi-classical method to the quantum Taub models with a cosmological constant and aligned electromagnetic field

We prove the existence of a countably infinite number of “excited” states for the Lorentzian-signature Taub–Wheeler–DeWitt (WDW) equation when a cosmological constant is present using the Euclidean-signature semi-classical method. We also find a “ground” state solution when both an aligned electromagnetic field and cosmological constant are present; as a result, conjecture that the Euclidean-signature semi-classical method can be used to prove the existence of a countably “infinite” number of “excited” states when the two aforementioned matter sources are present. Afterward, we prove the existence of asymptotic solutions to the vacuum Taub–WDW equation using the “no boundary” and “wormhole” solutions of the Taub Euclidean-signature Hamilton–Jacobi equation and compare their mathematical properties. We then discuss the fascinating qualitative properties of the wave functions we have computed. By utilizing the Euclidean-signature semi-classical method in the above manner, we further show its ability to prove the existence of solutions to Lorentzian-signature equations without having to invoke a Wick rotation. This feature of not needing to apply a Wick rotation makes this method potentially very useful for tackling a variety of problems in bosonic relativistic field theory and quantum gravity.
On the Notion of Precarious Employment in International Organizations

International civil servants form part of the essential fabric of international organizations, but some of the hiring modalities of these institutions appear at first glance to pursue an endemic employment malpractice. However, the practice referred to in national labour markets as ‘precarious employment’ appears to be necessary for international organizations to carry out their constitutional mission, and which is essential if they are to adapt and evolve. Both constitutionalist and functionalist standpoints recognise that precarious employment is an existing phenomenon within international institutions. Nevertheless, such hiring practices also arguably have the effect of partially severing the loyalty of an international organization’s staff, which is seen as a fundamental component supporting the effective functioning of an international institution. A functionalist approach therefore largely explains this hiring reality among international organizations; but international administrative tribunals and the limits established by them also play a part, indicating that more constitutionalist elements of control are also present. This paper presents the axiomatic elements of the hiring practices of international organizations, and seeks to unearth an apparent meeting point between the understandings of constitutionalists and functionalists that indicate that international law is evolving.
Factorization Using the Quadratic Sieve Algorithm

Since the cryptosecurity of the RSA two key cryptoalgorithm is no greater than the difficulty of factoring the modulus (product of two secret primes), a code that implements the Quadratic Sieve factorization algorithm on the CRAY I computer has been developed at the Sandia National Laboratories to determine as sharply as possible the current state-of-the-art in factoring. Because all viable attacks on RSA thus far proposed are equivalent to factorization of the modulus, sharper bounds on the computational difficulty of factoring permit improved estimates for the size of RSA parameters needed for given levels of cryptosecurity.
Unions and Wages in Australia: Does Employer Size Matter?: Unions, Wages, and Employer Size in Australia

Industrial relations reforms starting in the late 1980s decentralized wage determination in Australia. Using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Survey of Education and Training gathered in 1993, before the full effects of decentralization had been realized, and in 2001, after which the impacts of structural changes had become manifested, the study shows the emergence of an inverse relationship between the employer size–wage effect and union/nonunion wage differential among male workers. The relationship is similar to those found in the United States and the UK, other economies with decentralized wage-setting regimes.
INFECTIOUS CROUP. II. "VIRUS" CROUP

Of the three etiologic types of infections croup the most frequently occurring type in this study was so-called "virus" croup. The pathology of so-called "virus" croup is distinct from that of croup due to H. influenzae type B and C. diphtheriae. It is similar to viral influenza in man and viral laryngotracheitis in chickens. Clinically "virus" croup is a progressive disease with downward spread of the infection in the respiratory tract. The inflammation can extend to various regions resulting in the clinical forms of the disease known as laryngitis, laryngotracheitis, or laryngotracheopneumonitis. The mortality increases as the disease spreads down the respiratory tract. There is no well-founded specific treatment for "virus" croup. However, sulfadiazine should be given to all infectious croup patients until cultures of the rhinopharynx and blood assure the absence of H. influenzae type B. Continued chemotherapy should be given all patients severely ill with the disease. The most frequent and severe complication of "virus" croup is some form of extraalveolar thoracic air. The most common cause of death is respiratory embarrassment.
Desoxycorticosterone in normal pregnancy III. Evidence of a fetal source of desoxycorticosterone

Abstract The source of the markedly increased secretion of desoxycorticosterone (DOC) in pregnancy has not been precisely defined. Earlier studies indicated that elevated DOC does not arise from the maternal adrenal glands. The previously observed steep gradient between fetal and maternal DOC and DOC sulfate concentrations seemed to point to a fetal source. A recent study suggests that DOC may also be derived from extra-adrenal conversion of maternal progesterone. The present investigation documents a lack of synchrony between maternal diurnal plasma cortisol and DOC patterns. Not only were the previous observations of steep gradients of DOC and DOC sulfate between fetal and maternal circulations confirmed, but also the finding of extremely high urinary excretion of DOC sulfate indicated that the sulfurylated steroid passes across the placenta. A direct linear correlation was noticed between cortisol and DOC in amniotic fluid. These observations suggest that the increased DOC arises from within the fetoplacental unit but do not rule out a maternal source.
Comparative analysis of polymers for short interfering RNA delivery in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Abstract The use of short interfering RNA (siRNA) to degrade messenger RNA in the cell cytoplasm and transiently attenuate intracellular proteins shows promise in the inhibition of vascular pathogenesis. However, a critical obstacle for therapeutic application is a safe and effective delivery system. Biodegradable polymers are promising alternative molecular carriers for genetic material. Here, we aim to perform a comparative analysis of poly(B-amino ester) (PBAE) and polyethylenimine (PEI) polymers in their efficacy for vascular smooth muscle cell transfection using siRNA against the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) housekeeping gene as our test target. Methods Human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) were transfected in vitro with polymers conjugated to GAPDH or negative control (NC) siRNAs. Increasing siRNA:polymer ratios were tested for optimal transfection efficiency. DharmaFECT2 chemical transfection complexes were used for comparative analysis. Live/dead dual stain was used to measure cell viability, and GAPDH gene silencing was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction normalized to 18S. Results The highest rate of PEI-mediated silencing was achieved with a 9μL polymer:220 pmol/mL siRNA conjugate (16 ± 2% expression versus NC; n = 6). Comparable PBAE-mediated silencing could be achieved with a 1.95μL polymer:100 pmol/mL siRNA conjugate (10 ± 1% expression versus NC; n = 5). Transfection using PEIs resulted in silencing equivalent to other methods but with less efficiency and increased cell toxicity at 24h polymer exposure. Decreasing PEI exposure time to 4 h resulted in similar silencing efficacy (21 ± 9% expression versus NC, n = 6) with an improved toxicity profile. Conclusions Polymeric bioconjugates transfected HASMCs in a manner similar to chemical complexes, with comparable cell toxicity and silencing efficiency. PEI bioconjugates demonstrated silencing equivalent to PBAE bioconjugates, although less efficient in terms of required polymer concentrations. Given the cost-to-benefit difference between the assayed polymers, and PEI's ability to transfect HASMCs within a short duration of exposure with an improved toxicity profile, this study shows that PEI bioconjugates are a potential transfection agent for vascular tissue. Future studies will expand on this method of gene therapy to validate delivery of gene-specific inhibitors aimed at attenuating smooth muscle cell proliferation, adhesion, and migration. These studies will lay the framework for our future experimental plans to expand on this method of gene therapy for in vivo transfection in animal models of vascular disease.
Near-infrared spiroximetry: noninvasive measurements of venous saturation in piglets and human subjects

We present a noninvasive method to measure the venous oxygen saturation (SvO2 ) in tissues using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). This method is based on the respiration-induced oscillations of t...
A method of measuring the contrast rendition of telescopic systems

A method has been developed by means of which the contrast rendition of telescopic systems can be measured using collimated light. The method utilizes an optical-electronic apparatus referred to as “the contrast rendition apparatus model 2” and is designed following the basic principles for such equipment as described in a previous paper. This apparatus is 60 inches long, 30 inches wide, and 65 inches high, and includes an assembly referred to as “the artificial sun.” This assembly permits the measurement of the contrast rendition of telescopic systems for the simulated condition of observation in which a bright luminous body may appear to be located near the region under examination. The contrast rendition has been measured for a number of prism and lens erecting telescopic systems for a variety of conditions simulating situations of intended uses for such optical systems. The numerical values of the contrast rendition were found to range from 0 to 93 percent for the optical systems studied.
Connectivity from spike trains of neocortex neuron populations

A principal goal of this work is to determine connectivity in cultured neuronal networks as they mature so that we can understand the relationship between connectivity and behavior in biologically generated neuronal networks. A challenge of this aim is that we are able to measure only a relatively small number of neurons. In our lab the cultures are grown on a arrays of 60 electrodes. With current techniques we can distinguish at most a handful of spiking neurons while mature cultures comprise more than 10K neurons. At this stage in the work we have collected data during development of cultures over a full 30 minutes of sub-millisecond samples. In this paper we present two complementary approaches to the problem. First, we present our results of a brute force search for precisely matched timing differences between events in a detailed 30-minute recording of events from one of our cultures. Here, we are attempting to identify candidates for membership in polychronous groups [1] of neurons that have been triggered at least twice within the experimental window. Our second approach is to simulate populations of neural networks wherein the connectivity is completely known. From simulations of this system we analyze analogs to the subset of experimentally detected events in order to better understand how much of the underlying connectivity might be available to us through such a limited window. With the polychronous group model as our guide we focus our search on instances of fixed time differences between sets of events on electrode pairs, indicating a set of neurons that are part of the same group. In a brute force search through the spike data we see significant departures from chance occurrence of repeated intervals in spikes from pairs of channels. One 30-minute recording included over 50 thousand spike events on 9 electrodes. Analyzing the 5109 spike events found outside of dense bursts, we identified 91 K occurrences of identical interval instances on an electrode pair. For example, in our initial study of two small peaks in the histogram of spike intervals, the observed number of repeats in each peak would have been expected in fewer than 3 out of 1000 such peaks if the spikes in the involved channels were uncorrelated. In order to understand the limitations that such a measurement system faces, we also study artificial neural networks with known connectivity. To this end we perform computer simulations wherein we vary the amount and character of information available to the analysis (number of electrodes and neurons per electrode) to test the relationship between the number of measurable neurons and the quality and character of inferred connectivity. We study one approach to winnow the search space by collecting data at intervals during the development of the network to include early stages when there are relatively few connections, and therefore relatively few gaps in our knowledge. Inferences about early stage connectivity could be used to constrain possible networks at later stages. We test this hypothesis computationally and report our results.
Real-time characterization of motion of motile microorganisms by means of a hybrid laser Doppler velocimeter technique

A hybrid three-axis laser Doppler velocimeter system has been demonstrated in our laboratory. The system can monitor the motion of microorganisms in an unconstrained environment. During measurement, a computer system collects and processes time series data from the transit of a microorganism through the measurement volume. The fast Fourier transform of these data contains the motion signature of this microorganism. Because individual microorganisms can be selected from the field, ambiguity caused by multiscattering among two or more microorganisms can be avoided. With this new system, we can obtain a feature vector that relates to features of the microorganism, such as size, average translational velocity, rotation or wobbling, and flagellum beat frequency. Such a vector appears to be a useful criterion for distinguishing the species using statistical pattern recognition. Successful experiments demonstrate that the new system and technique has some unique advantages. It is possible to search for and characterize specific microorganisms, even at low concentration, in the presence of detritus. Realtime identification of many significant microorganisms should result from further study and improvement.
On the accuracy of RF positioning in multi-Capsule endoscopy

In this paper, we derive and analyze cooperative localization bounds for endoscopic wireless capsule as it passes through the human gastrointestin (GI) tract. We derive the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) variance limits on location estimators which use measured received signal strength(RSS). Using a three-dimension human body model from a full wave simulation software and log-normal models for RSS propagation from implant organs to body surface, we calculate bounds on location estimators in three digestive organs: stomach, small intestine and large intestine. We provide analysis of the factors affecting localization accuracy including various organ environments, external sensor array topology and number of pills in cooperation. The simulation results show that the number of receiver sensors on body surface has more influence on the accuracy of localization than the number of pills in cooperation inside the GI tract.
Determining the staffing levels and commensurate technical skills required for a university computing center

This paper presents the results of several years of management experience at the Computing Facility for the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the George Washington University in Washington, DC. It addresses the evolution of the management policies concerning the organization of the Facility staff, required staffing levels, technical skill requirements, and employee work loads and compensation.
Evaluating sleep quality in older adults: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index can be used to detect sleep disturbances or deficits.

OverviewInadequate sleep—sleep of poor quality or insufficient duration or both—has been linked to health problems ranging from cognitive impairment to compromised immunity. Insomnia occurs more frequently after age 70, and more than half of adults ages 65 and older report at least one chronic sleep
Computer modeling and reliability evaluation of steel through truss bridges

Abstract The need for determining an effective means for modeling and evaluating existing bridges, particularly for those exceeding their design life, is apparent in the United States infrastructure. In this study a representative through truss bridge is chosen for analysis and modeling comparison. Interpretation of the AASHTO loading for this bridge is presented. Bridge models are identified and both deterministic and probabilistic evaluation methods are used. Results for two two-dimensional models, one composed entirely of truss elements and one containing beam and truss elements, are presented and discussed.
Validation of a component model of social skill with outpatient adults

Little social skills research has been generated from applied outpatient settings. The present study examined the relationship of behavioral social skill components to independent judges' social skill judgments. A secondary question was whether nonverbal components would demonstrate a curvilinear relationship to social skill ratings. Forty-two outpatient adults at a community mental health center were videotaped role-playing eight scenes (four commendatory and four refusal). Videotapes were viewed in random order by community members who rated the subject's social skill in the situation. Trained raters scored the videotapes on standard behavioral components. While both nonverbal and verbal components accounted for significant portions of unique variance, the percentage of eye contact was an overwhelmingly large contributor to skill judgments. No curvilinear trend was evidenced for the nonverbal components. The study extended prior findings with psychiatric inpatients into applied outpatient settings and indicated that a component social skills model is equally applicable with outpatient adults. The findings replicated with a second sample of outpatient adults.
Phenolic-rich extract from the Costa Rican guava (Psidium friedrichsthalianum) pulp with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Potential for COPD therapy

The potential therapeutic effects of Costa Rican guava (Psidium friedrichsthalianum) extracts for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were examined. The ethyl acetate fraction displayed the highest antioxidant activity, as compared to the hexane, chloroform, and n-butanol fractions, as well as the crude extract. This fraction was evaluated for its anti-inflammatory activity response relationship against interleukin-8 (IL-8) and inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression before and after treatment with cigarette smoke. The ethyl acetate fraction exhibited inhibitory activity against IL-8 production and MMP-1 expression, showing the most potent inhibitory activities in both assays at 100μg/mL, and nine compounds (1-9) were found. Phenolic compounds 1-O-trans-cinnamoyl-β-d-glucopyranose (2), ellagic acid (3), myricetin (4), quercitrin (7), and quercetin (9) were identified using standard compounds or literature reports from related species. Compounds 1, 5, 6, and 8 were tentatively identified as 1,5-dimethyl citrate (1), sinapic aldehyde 4-O-β-d-glucopyranose (5), 3,3',4-tri-O-methylellagic acid-4'-O-d-glucopyranoside (6), and 1,3-O-diferuloylglycerol (8), All nine compounds are reported for the first time in Costa Rican guava.
Photochemical Cyclization with Release of Carboxylic Acids and Phenol from Pyrrolidino-Substituted 1,4-Benzoquinones Using Visible Light

Visible light irradiation of 5-acyloxymethyl- and 5-phenoxymethyl-2-pyrrolidino-1,4-benzoquinones effects photoisomerization to labile oxazolidines, which undergo elimination of carboxylate or phenolate leaving groups in high yields to generate trappable o-quinone methide intermediates. [reaction: see text]
Success rates of blind orotracheal intubation using a transillumination technique with a lighted stylet

The technique of guided orotracheal intubation using a lighted stylet depends on the transillumination of the soft tissues of the neck to direct the tube through the glottis and into the trachea. We conducted an operating room study of this technique, recording success rates and intubation times of 50 patients undergoing elective surgery. All patients were intubated successfully, 35 of 50 (70%) on the first attempt, 12 of 15 (80%) on the second attempt, and three of three (100%) on the third attempt. The average time for intubation was 37 seconds. A new design of the lighted stylet method resulted from the experience gained. Intubator training and experience influenced initial success rates, and the cadaver laboratory was of particular value in teaching the technique.
Impact of urban structure on avian diversity along the Truckee River, USA

Urban riparian habitats are potentially important resources for native birds in arid ecosystems. Most studies have assessed the value of urban riparian habitat in terms of vegetation and natural resources; however, the surrounding land use and infrastructure may determine the viability of urban habitat. We studied the impact of urban structure, the combination of land use, infrastructure and vegetation variables that work together to shape the urban environment, on avian riparian habitat in the Truckee Meadows, Nevada, USA. Land use and infrastructure explained avian species richness and abundance better than local vegetation alone, but community resemblance was more strongly correlated to vegetation. Avian species guilds responded differentially to surrounding land use, suggesting there may be a functional difference between land use types. The best models for bird diversity used urban structure (both land use and vegetation) to describe potential habitat. Urban structure describes urban habitat in ways that vegetation variables alone cannot. Studies that ignore land use and infrastructure and other socioeconomic variables are likely missing key functional differences within urban ecosystems, and may miss the potential for compatible development that encourages both biodiversity and urban growth.
Effect of added fat on plasma glucose and insulin response to ingested potato in individuals with NIDDM.

OBJECTIVE— In normal subjects, ingestion of butter with potato resulted in considerably lower blood glucose levels but similar or higher insulin concentrations compared with those observed in the same subjects after potato ingestion alone. We determined whether butter ingested with potato would result in a greater stimulation in insulin secretion than ingestion of potato alone in subjects with NIDDM. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS— Seven male subjects with untreated NIDDM ingested 50 g CHO alone or 50 g CHO with 5, 15, 30, or 50 g fat as a breakfast meal. Fat was ingested in the form of butter, and CHO was given in the form of potato. Subjects received 50 g glucose on two separate occasions for comparative purposes. The subjects also were given only water and were studied over the same time period (water control). Plasma glucose, glucagon, alpha-amino nitrogen, nonesterified fatty acids, serum insulin, C-peptide, and triglyceride concentrations were determined over 5 h. The integrated area responses were quantified over the 5-h period using the water control as a baseline. RESULTS— The mean plasma glucose area response after ingestion of potato with or without the various amounts of butter were all similar and were 82% of that observed after ingestion of 50 g glucose. The mean insulin area response to potato alone was 532 pmol · h · L −1 . The mean insulin area responses to potato plus 5,15,30, and 50 g of fat meals were 660,774,750, and 756 pmol · h · L −1 , respectively. Thus, the mean insulin areas were all greater than for ingestion of potato alone, and a maximal response was observed with addition of 15 g fat (1.4-fold). The C-peptide data did not confirm an increase in insulin secretion. Overall the area responses after ingestion of meals containing fat were not different from the response to potato ingestion alone, although the responses were erratic. The glucagon area response was positive after ingestion of all fat containing meals except for that containing only 5 g fat, and there was a dose-response relationship. The plasma alpha-amino nitrogen and nonesterified fatty acid area responses were negative after potato ingestion and were not significantly different when fat was added. The serum triglyceride concentration increase was greater after the ingestion of butter with the potato as expected. CONCLUSIONS— In contrast to the results in normal subjects after ingestion of butter with potato, the glucose response was not smaller in subjects with NIDDM. The insulin response was greater. The insulin area response data indicated the presence of a dose-response relationship. Whether similar responses will be observed with other dietary fat and CHO sources remains to be determined.
Impacts of acidic deposition on high-elevation spruce-fir forests: results from the Spruce-Fir Research Cooperative

Abstract Large numbers of standing dead red spruce trees in high-elevation spruce-fir forests of the northeastern US, coupled with nearly synchronous decreases in radial growth, have caused much concern and have been linked with elevated levels of air pollutants. These high-elevation forests, frequently immersed in clouds, receive a significant amount of sulfate and nitrate from cloudwater deposition. The Spruce-Fir Research Cooperative, (SFRC), an integrated multi-institutional research program, is investigating a number of hypothesized effects of acidic deposition on the spruce-fir forests including: (1) soil-mediated effects: (2) altered physiological processes: (3) increased foliar injury: (4) increased susceptibility to winter injury. Major conclusions of the SFRC research will be presented in this paper. In the northeastern US, spruce-fir forests are experiencing visible decline, with large numbers of standing dead trees (> 50% on some mountains). Results from a number of research projects suggest red spruce is particularly sensitive to winter injury, that cloudwater inputs increase that susceptibility, and that repeated winter injury may play a role in red spruce decline in the northeastern US. Increased rates of dark respiration, reduced photosynthesis, and reduced foliar chlorophyll levels have been measured for red spruce at sites receiving high cloudwater deposition in the southern Appalachians relative to trees receiving lower deposition, and these physiological changes may be contributing to reduced growth of red spruce saplings. Effects of acid anion deposition on soil aluminum levels could have important implications for soil and tissue cation levels. The relative role of the particular mechanisms associated with acidic deposition may vary with natural biotic and abiotic factors.
Why Pt Survives but Pd Suffers From SOx Poisoning

Pd is more prone to sulfation compared to Pt. Given the chemical similarity between Pt and Pd, the radical divide in their tendencies for sulfation remains a puzzle. We explain this intriguing difference using an extensive first-principles thermodynamics analysis and computed bulk and surface phase diagrams. In practically relevant temperatures and O2 and SO3 partial pressures, we find that Pt and Pd show significantly different tendencies for oxidation and sulfation. PdO formation is favored even at low oxygen chemical potential; however, PtO2 formation is not favorable in catalytically relevant conditions. Similarly, PdSO4, and adsorbed SO3 and oxygen species on clean and oxidized surfaces are highly favored, whereas PtSO4 formation does not occur at typical temperature and pressure conditions. Finally, several descriptors are identified that correlate to heightened sulfation tendencies, such as the critical O chemical potential for bulk oxide and surface oxide formation, chemical potentials O and SO3 for bulk sulfate formation, and SO3 binding strength on metal surface-oxide layers, which can be used to explore promising sulfur resistant catalysts.
Efficient isolation of thermophilic and thermotolerant mucoralean fungi

Rhizomucor miehei (Cooney & Emerson) Schipper, R. pusillus (Lindt) Schipper, Rhizopus rhizopodiformis (Cohn) Zopf, and Absidia corymbifera (Cohn) Sacc. & Trotter were isolated from numerous materials immersed in YpSs agar or 2% malt extract agar containing 50 μg/ml Benlate, 100 U/ml penicillin G, and 40 μg/ml streptomycin sulfate; agar plates were incubated at 45 °C. Alternative media and procedures useful for special circumstances are described. These four pathogenic thermophilic or thermotolerant species were readily isolated from spices, herbal teas, sunflower seeds, and other materials.
Synthesis and Tribology of Carbide-Derived Carbon Films

Carbide-derived carbon (CDC) films are produced at atmospheric pressure on the surfaces of carbide-based ceramic materials and coatings by a high-temperature chlorination process. These nanoporous carbon films contain carbon nano-onions and amorphous carbon, and may contain nanocrystalline diamond and graphite as well, depending on the synthesis conditions. The combination of such diverse carbon phases in one material or coating provides unique and potentially useful properties for a wide range of engineering applications. In this paper, we will present the results of a comprehensive study on the tribological behavior of these films. The friction coefficient of CDC in open air is comparable with that of graphite and is typically in the range of 0.15–0.25. However, the friction coefficients of CDC tend to decrease with decreasing humidity. In dry nitrogen, its friction coefficient is ∼0.1 or less. Such behavior is in contrast to that of crystalline graphite, which normally exhibits low friction at high humidity, but high friction at low humidity or in vacuum. The friction coefficient of CDC becomes increasingly lower under heavier loads; however, increasing sliding velocity does not seem to affect its frictional behavior significantly. Using a hydrogenation process that removes residual chlorine from the CDC film, the friction coefficients of CDC can be further lowered to values as low as 0.03. In an attempt to understand some of the underlying mechanisms, we carried out comprehensive chemical and structural studies of the sliding surfaces as well as bulk films and correlated these findings with the friction and wear behavior of CDC films.
Finite Modular Effect Algebras

The purpose of this paper is to prove that the only finite modular irreducible nondistributive lattices that can be organized into effect algebras are the latticesMnconsisting of 0, 1, andnatoms. Furthermore, the only finite modular nondistributive lattices that can be organized as such are products ofMns and chains.
Transport Phenomena and the Associated Humping Formation in Laser Welding

Humping is a frequently observed welding defect in laser welding which is caused when the welding speed exceeds a certain limit while the other welding conditions remain unchanged. Humping is characterized by the appearance of unsmooth and discontinuity of humps at the surface of the weld. The formation of humping is generally understood to be caused by the complex heat transfer and melt flow in a high speed welding process. However, so far the fundamental mechanisms causing humping are not fully understood, and research on determining the onset of humping has been based on the “trial-and-error” procedure. In this paper, mathematical models previously developed by the authors for the transport phenomena in laser welding have been extended to investigate the formation of the humping defect. In this study, the transient heat transfer and melt flow in the weld pool during the keyhole formation and collapse, and melt solidification are calculated for a 3-D moving laser welding. Different humping patterns have been predicted by the present study in different laser power levels and welding speeds. From the present study, it was found that the formation of humping in laser welding is caused by the interplay between two important factors: a) the strong liquid metal flow in the real part of the keyhole induced mainly by the laser recoil pressure and b) the rapid solidification rate of the liquid metal. The humping pattern can be well explained by the calculated melt flow and the solidification process.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Development of CDD-0102 as a Selective M1 agonist for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Selective muscarinic agonists might be useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. To help characterize the activity and functional selectivity of two M1 muscarinic agonists, secretion of amyloid precursor protein, brain penetration, side effect profiles, cognition-enhancing properties, oral bioavailability, and acute toxicity were evaluated. CDD-0102 stimulated the secretion of APP from CHO-K1 cells expressing M1 receptors and penetrated into the brain following i.p. administration in rodents. CDD-0102 produced relatively few cholinergic side effects (e.g., diarrhea, salivation) following i.p. administration in mice. The effects of muscarinic agonists on memory function were examined following bilateral injections of 192 IgG-saporin into the diagonal band of rats to lesion basal forebrain cholinergic pathways. 192 IgG-saporin produced decreases in cortical and hippocampal choline acetyltransferase activity and impaired performance of a paired-run, delayed-alternation task in a T-maze relative to vehicle-injected controls. Toxin-treated rats performed significantly better following i.p. injections (1 mg/kg) of either xanomeline or CDD-0102 as compared with saline. Prominent cholinergic side effects (e.g., diarrhea) were apparent only following xanomeline treatments. In separate studies, oral administration of CDD-0102 (10 mg/kg) reversed the memory deficits induced by 192 IgG-saporin in the T-maze task. Rats achieved 54 ± 4.2% correct choices with saline, but 94 ± 1.2% following CDD-0102 injection. In acute toxicity studies in mice, the LD50 of CDD-0102 was greater than 1,000 mg/kg orally; 190 mg/kg i.p. The LD50 of xanomeline was 100 mg/kg p.o. and 75 mg/kg i.p. In summary, both xanomeline and CDD-0102 displayed beneficial effects on memory function, while CDD-0102 also exhibited a low side effect profile and low toxicity. CDD-0102 warrants further evaluation as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Drug Dev. Res. 57:200–213, 2002. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Two-Tier Slotted Aloha in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

Although cluster-based routing schemes are active research topics in mobile ad hoc networks (MANET), few people investigated the throughput of MANET under such schemes. This paper attempts to obtain throughput of a special cluster-based MANET in which the distance between each ordinary node and a cluster head is one hop. When the underlying media access control (MAC) protocol is slotted Aloha, we propose a model called two-tier aloha to describe such a communication scenario. In this model each cluster head is responsible for collecting data from the ordinary nodes in its cluster and forwarding data to a super cluster head. Channel contentions following slotted Aloha exist in communications from ordinary nodes to cluster heads and from cluster heads to the super cluster head. We use a Markov chain to analyze this model and present an approach to obtain a theoretical network throughput. The theoretical results are validated through simulations.
The polycystic kidney disease-1 protein, polycystin-1, binds and activates heterotrimeric G-proteins in vitro

Analysis of the C-terminal cytosolic domain of human and mouse polycystin-1 has identified a number of conserved protein motifs, including a 20-amino-acid heterotrimeric G-protein activation sequence. A peptide specific for this sequence was synthesized and shown to activate purified bovine brain heterotrimeric Gi/Go in vitro. To test whether the C-terminal cytosolic domain of polycystin-1 stably binds G-proteins, GST-fusion constructs were used in pull-down and co-immunoprecipitation assays with purified bovine brain Gi/Go and rat brain lysates. This identified a 74-amino-acid minimal binding domain that includes the G-protein activation sequence. This region of polycystin-1, including the G-protein activation peptide and flanking amino acid sequences, is highly conserved in mouse, human, and puffer fish, lending further support to the functional importance of the minimal binding domain. These results suggest that polycystin-1 may function as a heterotrimeric G-protein coupled receptor.
The Four-Day Rotation in the Stratosphere of Venus: A Study of Radiative Driving

Abstract This paper presents an approximate radiative-dynamical calculation of the structure of the equatorial stratosphere of Venus, assuming that radiation is the heat-transfer mechanism and that viscosity is negligible. The calculation shows that the radiative time constants are correct to cause a strong zonal flow by the mechanism suggested by Schubert and Whitehead. In the absence of friction the wind magnitude is given by a balance between advective and radiative time constants. The magnitude of the diurnal thermal oscillation is greatly reduced by the flow.