cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy for late-life anxiety: Similarities and differences between Veteran and community participants.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for anxiety; however, a growing body of research suggests that CBT effect sizes are smaller in Veteran samples. The aim of this study was to perform secondary data analyses of a randomized controlled trial of CBT for late-life generalized anxiety disorder compared with treatment as usual (TAU) in a Veteran (n = 101) and community-based (n = 122) sample. Veterans had lower income and less education than community participants, greater severity on baseline measures of anxiety and depression, poorer physical health, and higher rates of psychiatric comorbidity. Treatment effects were statistically significant in the community sample (all ps 0.05). Further analyses in Veterans revealed that poorer perceived social support significantly predicted poorer outcomes (all ps < 0.05). Our results underscore the complexity of treating Veterans with anxiety, and suggest that additional work is needed to improve the efficacy of CBT for Veterans, with particular attention to social support.
Discussion: “Airless Worlds: The Traumatic Sequalae of Identification with Parental Negation” Steven Stern

Discussion of Stern’s essay (this issue) on the clinical demands of work with disturbed patients with catastrophic gaps in functioning stresses a number of perspectives on gaps and disavowal with p...
Experimental dynamics of Newtonian and non-Newtonian droplets impacting liquid surface with different rheology

A high-speed visualization is used to study the droplet impact dynamics exhibiting diverse rheological characteristics covering Newtonian, shear thinning, and viscoelastic characteristics on a liquid pool. The series of experiments covers a series of physical non-dimensional parameters such as 10 < Re < 12 000, 298 < We < 768, 0.034 < Ca < 39.7, and 1.8 × 10−3 < Oh < 3.4. The Reynolds number and the Weber number are the most important non-dimensional parameters to describe the dynamics of the generated crown structure. The Ohnesorge number and the Weber number play important roles in the stability of the Worthington jet. The normalized time of the Worthington jet breakup follows power law dependency to the Ohnesorge number (tbreakuptvisc≈Oh−1) and to the Weber number (tbreakuptR≈We2). Coalescence has strong effects on the dynamics of droplet impact. Impact dynamics depends on rheological characteristics of the droplet and liquid pool (i.e., impact dynamics of the water droplet on the shear thinning pool is different from the shear thinning droplet onto the water pool). Rate-dependent shear viscosity and extensional viscosity have strong effects on the droplet impact dynamics by avoiding instability along the rim of the crown. Viscoelastic droplet impact dynamics, presented by Ec ≈ 212 (larger elastic vs viscous forces) and De ≈ 2.2 (larger elastic vs inertia forces), reveals a strong stabilizing effect of elastic stress on the Worthington jet structure by avoiding the jet breakup and, instead, forming a thin filament connecting the jet and the satellite droplets. The stabilizing effect of elastic stress is higher than that of viscous stress.
SPADnet: deep RGB-SPAD sensor fusion assisted by monocular depth estimation.

Single-photon light detection and ranging (LiDAR) techniques use emerging single-photon detectors (SPADs) to push 3D imaging capabilities to unprecedented ranges. However, it remains challenging to robustly estimate scene depth from the noisy and otherwise corrupted measurements recorded by a SPAD. Here, we propose a deep sensor fusion strategy that combines corrupted SPAD data and a conventional 2D image to estimate the depth of a scene. Our primary contribution is a neural network architecture—SPADnet—that uses a monocular depth estimation algorithm together with a SPAD denoising and sensor fusion strategy. This architecture, together with several techniques in network training, achieves state-of-the-art results for RGB-SPAD fusion with simulated and captured data. Moreover, SPADnet is more computationally efficient than previous RGB-SPAD fusion networks.
Comparison of structural and catalytic properties of monometallic Mo and V oxides and M1 phase mixed oxides for oxidative dehydrogenation

Abstract Mo and V containing oxides are among the most important oxidative dehydrogenation catalysts. The effects of differences in structure and compostion among SiO2 supported VOx, unsupported V2O5 and MoO3 and M1 phase MoV mixed oxide catalysts on catalytic properties are probed using their reactivity and dehydrogenation selectivity in oxidative conversion of ethane (C2H6) and cyclohexane (C6H12). The C2H6 and C6H12 activation rates are nearly insensitive to VOx loading on SiO2 at low loadings that predominantly form monovanadate species, but decrease at high loadings due to the formation of V2O5 nanoparticles with low V dispersion. The C–H activation enthalpies are lower at high loadings and in unsupported V2O5, suggesting that intrinsic reactivity of V2O5 nanoparticles is higher than monovanadates. The C2H6/C6H12 rate ratios are below 0.01 on all VOx/SiO2 catalysts, consistent with weaker C–H bonds in C6H12, but are higher on V2O5 nanoparticles than on low loading VOx/SiO2 samples. MoO3 samples exhibit lower rates and higher activation energies than VOx/SiO2 and V2O5 samples, and similar C2H6/C6H12 rate ratios as V2O5. M1 phase MoVTeNb and MoV mixed oxides contain one-dimensional micropores of size similar to C2H6 but much smaller than C6H12; preparation methods significantly affect their elemental composition, accessible micropore volumes and surface areas. Post-synthesis treatment of MoVTeNbO with H2O2 improves M1 phase purity, and increases in C2H6 and C6H12 activation rates are consistent with increase in their intrapore and external surface areas. The C2H6 and C6H12 activation rates in MoVO without Te and Nb are higher than values predicted from MoVTeNbO and their surface micropores and external surface areas, because higher V content in MoVO increases their reactivity by slightly decreasing activation energies. The C2H6/C6H12 rate ratios in these samples are much higher than VOx/SiO2, V2O5, and MoO3 and roughly correlate with internal/external surface ratios, which is consistent with C2H6 and C6H12 activation occurring inside and outside the pores, respectively. The M1 phase samples exhibit much higher selectivity than VOx/SiO2, V2O5, and MoO3, but among the M1 phase samples the selectivity is slightly lower in MoVO than in MoVTeNbO. Local structure and composition affect reactivity in M1 phase oxides and oxides without heptagonal micropores, but C2H6/C6H12 rate ratios and C2H4 selectivities are much higher in the M1 phase, which confirms for a broad range of oxides previously proposed roles of micropores in activating C2H6 selectively.
Adaptive Control of Variable-Pitch Propellers: Pursuing Minimum-Effort Operation

As Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) become more commonly used in industry, their performance will continue to be challenged. A performance bottleneck that is crucial to overcome is the design of electric propulsion systems for UAVs that operate in disparate flight modes (e.g., hovering and forward-moving flight). While flight mode dissimilarity presents a fundamental design challenge for fixed-geometry propulsion systems, variable-geometry systems such as the Variable Pitch Propeller (VPP) ones are able to provide superior propulsion performance across a wide range of flight modes. This work builds on previous work by the authors and presents a VPP system control and estimation framework for safe, nearminimum-electrical-effort propulsion system behavior across the whole operation state space of any UAV. Multiple simulated validations are presented to support the feasibility of the approach.
Impact damage of narrow silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics with and without environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) by various foreign object debris (FOD) simulants

Abstract The leading and trailing edges of turbine airfoils are highly susceptible to impact by foreign object debris (FOD) entrained in the gas stream of turbine engines. In this study, a narrow specimen geometry is implemented to study the FOD impact behavior of low curvature airfoil edges. Silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic specimens with and without an environmental barrier coating (EBC) are used as target materials. The EBC consists of an air plasma sprayed mullite topcoat (~166 μm) and silicon bond coat (~58 μm). Spherical (⌀ 1.5 mm) FOD simulants of silicon nitride (Si3N4), partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ), and steel are used as impactors. A modified gas gun is used to generate impact damage at normal incidence and velocities ranging between 300 to 400 m/s. In situ phase contrast X-ray radiographs, which render 2D representations of the internal transient damage, are captured during the impact experiments. Impactor hardness and toughness are found to primarily influence damage in the coating. Relative to wide specimens, the narrow specimens experience a greater level of cracking and this is postulated to result from reduced self-confinement. Irrespective of specimen geometry and impactor material type, limited cracking (i.e. enhanced shielding) is observed for the coated condition.
Pediatric Regional Anesthesia: New Techniques, Better Outcomes?

The following discussion aims to provide a review of current trends in the subspeciality of pediatric regional anesthesia, highlighting recent evidence-based literature, especially with respect to improved outcomes with newer techniques. Much of the recent literature focuses on novel truncal blocks and alternate approaches to regional anesthesia for urologic surgery. In many cases, these newer techniques have been shown to improve postoperative pain scores and lower rescue analgesic requirements. Current trends in pediatric regional anesthesia are focused on providing innovative and alternative approaches to pain relief that are patient-specific and tailored to surgical needs. A variety of new blocks expand the regionalist’s ability to offer better analgesia to children and improve parental satisfaction. As more regional block options become available, the iterative process of making changes and assessing outcomes facilitates our ability to continue providing high quality care to children.
Journalism and digital labor: experiences of online news production: by T. Neilson, Abingdon and New York, Routledge, 2021, 156 pp., $160 (hardback), ISBN 9780367217891, $44.05 (eBook), ISBN 9780429266096

Tai Neilson’s book Journalism and Digital Labor: Experiences of Online News Production provides a worthwhile demonstration of how the digital and algorithmic turns (Uricchio, 2011) have altered jou...
“Soldiers of the Faith”: A Comparative Analysis of White Power Songs and Islamic State Nasheeds

he nonviolent activities of extremists have the capacity to shed important light on how such groups think and frame the world around them. This paper provides a comparative insight into the framing...
Divergent evolutionary trajectories shape the postmating transcriptional profiles of conspecific and heterospecifically mated females

Postmating-prezygotic (PMPZ) reproductive isolation is hypothesized to result from divergent coevolutionary trajectories of sexual selection and/or sexual conflict in isolated populations (coevolutionary divergence model). However, the genetic basis of PMPZ incompatibilities between species is poorly understood. Here, we use a comparative framework to test predictions of the coevolutionary divergence model using a large transcriptomic dataset generated from con- and heterospecifically mated Drosophila mojavensis and D. arizonae female reproductive tracts. We found striking divergence between the species in the female postmating transcriptional response to conspecific mating, including differences in differential expression (DE), alternative splicing (AS), and intron retention (IR). As predicted, heterospecific matings produced disrupted transcriptional profiles, but the overall patterns of misregulation were different between the reciprocal crosses. Moreover, we found a positive correlation between postmating transcriptional divergence between species and levels of transcriptional disruption in heterospecific crosses, indicating that mating-responsive genes that have diverged more in expression also have more disrupted transcriptional profiles in heterospecifically mated females. Overall, our results are consistent with predictions of the coevolutionary divergence model and lay the foundation for future studies aimed at identifying specific genes involved in PMPZ incompatibilities and the evolutionary forces that have contributed to their divergence in closely related species.
Decoupling packet loss from blocking in proactive reservation-based switching

We consider the maximization of network throughput in buffer-constrained optical networks using aggregate bandwidth allocation and reservation-based transmission control. Assuming that all flows are subject to loss-based TCP congestion control, we quantify the effects of buffer capacity constraints on bandwidth utilization efficiency through contention-induced packet loss. The analysis shows that the ability of TCP flows to efficiently utilize successful reservations is highly sensitive to the available buffer capacity. Maximizing the bandwidth utilization efficiency under buffer capacity constraints thus requires decoupling packet loss from contention-induced blocking of transmission requests. We describe a confirmed (two-way) reservation scheme that eliminates contention-induced loss, so that no packets are dropped at the network's core, and loss can be incurred only at the adequately buffer-provisioned ingress routers, where it is exclusively congestion-induced. For the confirmed signaling scheme, analytical and simulation results indicate that TCP aggregates are able to efficiently utilize the successful reservations independently of buffer constraints.
Prediction of normal values in pulmonary function testing.

SUMMARY Appropriate use of reference equations for predicting normal values is important for maximizing the clinical and research usefulness of pulmonary function testing. Because of the diversity of clinical and research uses of pulmonary function testing, predictive equations derived from different populations may be needed for specific applications. Similarly, different limits of normalcy other than the traditional 95 per cent confidence limits may be more appropriate for some applications. Unanswered questions remain about the effects of race and altitude on predicted values for many pulmonary function parameters. In order to establish confidence that the predictive equations, lower limits of normalcy, and testing methodology are appropriate for specific patient populations, it is suggested that each clinical laboratory obtain PFT measurements on 10 to 20 individuals considered free of disease and representative of their patient population and compare these results with the prediction equations selected for use. Although the testing of such a small sample of normal subjects will not assist in the selection of optimal equations if the differences between equations are minor, it will detect grossly inappropriate predictive values and limits of normalcy as well as identify problems with testing methodology.
Demographic and Health Characteristics of Elderly Smokers: Results from Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly

Although smoking has been shown to be associated with excess morbidity and mortality, most studies have focused on young and middle-aged rather than elderly smokers. We examined the demographic characteristics and physical and psychological health of elderly cigarette smokers in four population-based studies (N = 3,673, 3,811, 2,811, and 4,165) of persons 65 years of age and older. Although there was substantial geographic variation in the percentages of smokers, the demographic and health characteristics of smokers were similar across the sites. Most women had never smoked, but most men were former or current smokers. The percentage of never smokers was highest in the "oldest old." Among the elderly ever smokers, men were more likely to have quit than women, and the relative percentage of former smokers increased with age. Current smokers were generally more likely to consume alcohol than never smokers. In this age group, cigarette smoking was typically associated with higher rates of physical disease and symptoms, poorer self-perceived health status, and higher levels of depressive symptoms. Based on these four large geographically diverse population surveys, cigarette smoking remains an important health burden and public health challenge among the elderly.
The process of infection with coliphage T7. IV. Stability of RNA in bacteriophage-infected cells.

Abstract T7 messenger RNA appears to be stable. Kinetic experiments show that fulllength messenger RNA molecules accumulate in the infected cell. Actinomycin and rifampicin decay experiments show that T7 mRNA is long-lived with an average lifetime of more than 20 minutes. Control experiments with the same strain showed that Escherichia coli and T4 RNA are unstable. In T7-infected cells, however, E. coli mRNA is stabilized. This suggests that T7 infection interferes in some general way with mRNA breakdown.
Dislocation migration across coherent phase interfaces in SiGe superlattices

Abstract In this work we present a molecular dynamics study of a symmetrically strained SiGe superlattice subjected to compression. We measure the velocity of a dislocation nucleated at a step in the superlattice on a slip system that cuts across the interfaces, and compare it with that in single crystal Si and Ge for the same geometry. Simulation results of this work show that the phase interfaces in the short-period SiGe superlattice are free of misfit dislocations and that the average dislocation velocity in the SiGe superlattice sample is about two orders of magnitude lower than that in the Si and Ge single crystals for the same geometry and size. The effect of the coherent phase interfaces on the average dislocation velocity is quantified, and the underlying mechanism is identified. This work demonstrates that the coherency stress plays a dominant role on dislocation migration in coherent SiGe superlattices. It shows that a phase interface can impede or assist the migration of a dislocation depending on whether the sign of the stress field along the interface opposes or reinforces that of the dislocation core.
Monoclonal Antibodies to Human Sarcoma and Connective Tissue Differentiation Antigens

The use of monoclonal antibodies to distinguish human sarcoma from carcinoma cells has been explored. Spleen cells from a BALB/c mouse immunized with a human malignant fibrohistiocytoma were fused with cells of the mouse P3U1 plasmacytoma cell line. Antibodies were then screened for reactivity against human sarcoma and carcinoma cells growing in culture. This work has yielded 2 immunoglobulin G monoclonal antibodies VIE4 and VIF3 which, respectively, reacted with 85% (17 of 20) and 90% (18 of 20) of sarcoma lines tested but with none of eight carcinoma cell line preparations. Reactivity against normal fibroblasts was also demonstrated. By immunofluorescence, the antigens detected by the two antibodies appear to have distinctive intracellular distributions. Immunoprecipitation with VIF3 has shown that it is detecting a protein with a molecular weight of 70,000. When tested against pathological frozen tissue sections, VIF3 reacted with four of 11 and VIE4 with three of 11 human sarcomas but with none of ten carcinomas tested. VIF3 occasionally bound to normal adult connective tissues, whereas no such reactivity was seen with VIE4. These antibodies appear to be directed to fibroblastic markers associated with sarcomas and connective tissue differentiation antigens.
Phoretic symbionts of the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins)

During its life cycle, the tree-killing mountain pine beetle Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins interacts with phoretic organisms such as mites, nematodes, fungi, and bacteria. The types of associations these organisms establish with the mountain pine beetle (MPB) vary from mutualistic to antagonistic. The most studied of these interactions are those between beetle and fungi. The least studied are interactions with bacteria, but these have received increased attention recently. Nematodes remain little studied. We reviewed the significant literature pertaining to MPB phoronts. A number of potentially important interactions and contributions resulting from associations between MPB and its phoronts are discussed. A wealth of literature exists on this topic, yet many questions remain unanswered, and the effects of some phoronts on population levels remain unexplored.
Holliday junctions accumulate in replication mutants via a RecA homolog-independent mechanism.

Abstract The Holliday junction recombination intermediate, an X-shaped DNA molecule (xDNA), was analyzed at rDNA in mitotically growing yeast. In wild-type cells, xDNA is only detected at S phase, suggesting that recombination is stimulated to repair replication- related lesions. A search for mutations that increase the level of xDNA uncovered a gene encoding a subunit of DNA polymerase α. Systematic examination of replication mutants revealed that defects in polymerase α and δ but not the e complex stimulate the level of xDNA. These xDNAs are Holliday junctions and not replication intermediates. The level of Holliday junctions is greatly reduced in rad52 mutants, but surprisingly, not in mutants defective in the three known mitotically expressed yeast RecA homologs.
The inventory cycle in the United States

Abstract Let me discuss the inventory cycle in the United States—the reversals in business conditions that repeatedly interrupt the expansionary path of the American economy.
SERVICES: PARASITIC OR DYNAMIC?

Traditional economic theorists have argued that services in general, and public services in particular, are unproductive and parasitic. Data is presented from seven representative countries at varying levels of economic development to show that, in fact, services are productive and play a critical role both in enabling the production of goods and In ensuring quality of life.
Neurological and behavioral sequelae in children operated on for brain abscess

In order to characterize neurological, intellectual and behavioral sequelae better after surgical treatment of brain abscess in childhood, 32 children were studied over a 10-year time span after treatment of a brain abscess. Depending on the clinical condition, surgical treatment consisted of simple aspiration through a burr hole or of total excision after craniotomy. There were only 3 postoperative deaths (9%). The scheduled time for long-term follow-up was 3 years after surgery. The patient assessment included information concerning the presence of seizures, accurate neurological examination, an EEG, and a battery of intellectual tests to evaluate the presence of behavioral-mental deficits. Late seizures developed in 7 of the 29 survivors. Five patients presented permanent hemiparesis after surgical treatment. It is noteworthy that the intellectual impairment observed was more severe in younger patients, while the behavioral disturbances were more marked in school-age children.
Weed control in sunn hemp and its ability to suppress weed growth

Abstract Sunn hemp is a tropical, herbaceous annual legume that has potential as a cover crop during the summer in temperate climates. Due to the recent increased interest in sunn hemp breeding and seed production for temperate climates, there is a need for weed control in sunn hemp production. No herbicide product currently on the market specifically identifies sunn hemp as a tolerant crop. The aims of this research were 1) to evaluate herbicides with the intent of identifying a herbicide program that can assure near weed free sunn hemp intended for seed harvest and 2) to demonstrate and quantify sunn hemp-weed suppression. Pre-emergence applied treatments consisted of pendimethalin alone, imazethapyr alone, and pendimethalin plus imazethapyr. Pendimethalin alone provided consistent effective weed control and maximum sunn hemp biomass, but when yellow nutsedge was present, imazethapyr was required for effective control and greater sunn hemp biomass. The combination of pendimethalin and imazethapyr was detrimental to sunn hemp biomass yield. Results also established that sunn hemp is tolerant of 2,4-DB applied post-emergence, but was not necessary for weed control in these studies because of the lack of broadleaf weed pressure. In a separate study with variable sunn hemp densities, weed biomass reductions of ≥50% were obtained with sunn hemp densities of only 20 to 50 plants m −2 . This degree of weed suppression obtained from relatively modest sunn hemp densities is likely indicative of the ability of sunn hemp to grow faster and taller than other plants.
Modeling Competitive Adsorption in Urea-SCR Catalysts for Effective Low Temperature NOx Control

Although the SCR technology exhibits higher NOx reduction efficiency over a wider range of temperatures among the lean NOx reduction technologies, further improvement in low-temperature performance is required to meet the future emission standards and to lower the system cost. In order to improve the catalyst technologies and optimize the system performance, it is critical to understand the reaction mechanisms and catalyst behaviors with respect to operating conditions. For example, it is well known that the ammonia coverage on catalyst surface is critical for NOx reduction efficiency. However, the level of ammonia storage is influenced by competitive adsorption by other species, such as H2 O and NO2 . Moreover, hydrocarbon species that slip through the upstream DOC during the cold-start period can also inhibit the SCR performance, especially at low temperatures. Therefore, a one-dimensional kinetic model that can account for the effects of such competitive adsorption has been developed based on steady state surface isotherm tests on a commercial Fe-zeolite catalyst. The model is developed as a C language S-function and implemented in Matlab/Simulink environment. Rate kinetics of adsorption and desorption of each of the adsorbents are determined from individual adsorption tests and validated for a set of test conditions that had all the adsorbents in the feed gas. Using the competitive adsorption model, a kinetic model for standard-SCR reaction involving NH3 and H2 O is developed and validated.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Beam experiments on the Pulse Line Ion Accelerator

Beam experiments on a new accelerator concept called the Pulse Line Ion Accelerator (PLIA) have demonstrated the ability to accelerate and compress ion bunches. Charging the PLIA to its full potential is limited by a vacuum surface flashover. Discharge issues have been evaluated for possible solutions. A numerical model has been developed to investigate the breakdown phenomena. Experimental results and possible solutions for the elimination of the discharge are described.
Ion Channels and Signaling in the Pituitary Gland

Endocrine pituitary cells are neuronlike; they express numerous voltage-gated sodium, calcium, potassium, and chloride channels and fire action potentials spontaneously, accompanied by a rise in intracellular calcium. In some cells, spontaneous electrical activity is sufficient to drive the intracellular calcium concentration above the threshold for stimulus-secretion and stimulus-transcription coupling. In others, the function of these action potentials is to maintain the cells in a responsive state with cytosolic calcium near, but below, the threshold level. Some pituitary cells also express gap junction channels, which could be used for intercellular Ca(2+) signaling in these cells. Endocrine cells also express extracellular ligand-gated ion channels, and their activation by hypothalamic and intrapituitary hormones leads to amplification of the pacemaking activity and facilitation of calcium influx and hormone release. These cells also express numerous G protein-coupled receptors, which can stimulate or silence electrical activity and action potential-dependent calcium influx and hormone release. Other members of this receptor family can activate calcium channels in the endoplasmic reticulum, leading to a cell type-specific modulation of electrical activity. This review summarizes recent findings in this field and our current understanding of the complex relationship between voltage-gated ion channels, ligand-gated ion channels, gap junction channels, and G protein-coupled receptors in pituitary cells.
Capillary instabilities in thin, continuous films

Abstract The agglomeration of continuous films was studied in 60 nm thick, polycrystalline, gold films deposited on polished fused silica substrates. Nucleation of holes in any particular sample showed nucleation frequencies characteristic of site saturation. The growth of the holes resulted in roughly circular agglomerated areas. The area fraction transformed was measured as a function of time for several temperatures in oxygen and argon. Using a Johnson-Mehl-Avrami analysis and assuming a constant hole growth rate, the time dependence of the agglomeration can be described. The growth rates, which contain important kinetic information, could thus be determined. Growth rates for anneals in argon and oxygen were found to be similar.
Avoiding congestion charges in spatial electricity competition. II. Applications

This paper presents applications using the model developed in Part I of the joint paper. Three solution methods are introduced for finding a Nash equilibrium: the use of an MCP solver, the sequential maximization of each individual profit, and the single objective optimization model with a dummy objective subject to the Kuhn-Tucker necessary conditions for a properly efficient solution. Case studies are shown using the three different methods and the results are compared. The conclusion is that the use of an MCP solver is often more efficient in computation than others.
Functional variants in SUMO4, TAB2, and NFkappaB and the risk of type 1 diabetes.

Several functional genetic variants that can potentially modulate the activity of NFκB have been recently described. As reduced NFκB activity has been implicated in risk for autoimmune diabetes in the NOD mouse, these variants were tested for allelic association with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in a family based study. Alleles at markers in the TAB2/SUMO4 locus on chromosome 6q had been previously reported to be associated with T1D in two separate studies, but these studies disagreed on the identity of the risk allele. The current study failed to confirm either of these results. No significant evidence of association with T1D was obtained for three SNP markers in the TAB2/SUMO4 region. An additional functional variant in the promoter of the NFKB1 gene that has been shown to directly affect the expression of NFκB was also tested.
A note on monotonic transformations in the context of functional measurement and analysis of variance

The functional measurement approach (Anderson, 1977) technically is based on factorial designs, quantitative response measures, and monotonic transformations, with the analysis of variance (ANOVA) as the usual statistical tool. This note discusses problems that often occur when utilizing monotonie data transformations in this context. Illustrative examples are presented, and a procedure is suggested to alleviate the problems. The procedure uses expected normal scores, or inverse normal scores, or random normal scores to simultaneously provide monotonie transformations and suitable use of ANOVA in testing functional measurement models. A consequence of the procedure is that the impact of measurement error on model validation and scale value estimation is reduced.
Effect of prepartum blockade of microtubule formation on ultrastructural differentiation of the mammary epithelium in holstein heifers

Abstract 1. 1. Prepartum infusion of colchicine into mammary quarters of heifers inhibited normal development of bovine mammary secretory tissue. 2. 2. In comparison with control, tissue from colchicine-infused quarters exhibited 22.6% less alveolar luminal area and 17.1% more interalveolar connective tissue area indicating a reduction in secretory activity. 3. 3. Cytological analysis demonstrated that undifferentiated cells predominated in treated quarters whereas the majority of cells in control quarters were fully differentiated. 4. 4. Although control quarters reached normal histological development by the third week postpartum, tissue from colchicine-infused quarters remained relatively immature. 5. 5. Results suggest that (1) an intact microtubule system is necessary during the prepartum period if the mammary gland is to respond normally to lactogenic stimuli and (2) transient disruption of microtubule integrity during the prepartum period irreversibly suppresses differentiation of mammary epithelia during the subsequent lactation.
Nutritional Condition of Spot Larvae Associated with the Mississippi River Plume

Abstract We examined morphological criteria to determine nutritional condition, assessed recent feeding activity by examining gut fullness, and examined recent growth patterns from otoliths to determine if the Mississippi River plume front enhances feeding opportunities for larvae of spot Leiostomus xanthurus. A greater percentage (35%) of starved larvae, as determined by morphological criteria, occurred at the plume front than well inside (19%) or well outside (15%) the plume. Considerable variability in the incidence of starvation occurred within and between stations, especially at the plume front. The majority of spot larvae, regardless of capture location, had only a small volume (<0.050 mm3) of food in their guts. The proportion of larvae that had 0.050 mm3 or more food in their guts was equal at the plume front, well inside, or well outside the front. A low correlation (r = −0.56) between food volume and percent starvation, although statistically significant (P < 0.05), may be explained by the high ...
Influence of Thermal Overlap Effects on the Ultrasonic Attenuation Spectra of Polydisperse Oil-in-Water Emulsions

This study examines the influence of thermal overlap effects on the ultrasonic attenuation of polydisperse emulsions. The ultrasonic attenuation coefficient of a series of corn oil-in-water emulsions was measured as a function of droplet concentration (1−50 wt %), volume-surface mean droplet radius (r32 = 0.12 and 0.58 μm), and frequency (1−120 MHz). There was good agreement between these measurements and predictions of the traditional ultrasonic scattering theory (UST) for the emulsions containing 0.58 μm droplets, but the UST greatly overestimated the attenuation of the emulsions containing 0.12 μm droplets, especially at higher droplet concentrations, due to thermal overlap effects. We show that the UST can be extended to account for these effects using a core−shell model and highlight the range of experimental conditions over which the existing UST can be successfully used.
Previous immunization of mice with herpes simplex virus type-1 strain MP protects against secondary corneal infection.

Abstract Herpes simplex virus (HSV)-induced ocular disease is occurring in epidemic proportions throughout the world, and is the number one cause of unilateral corneal blindness in all developed countries. We have found, in a mouse model of herpes simplex keratitis (HSK), that products encoded by the lgh-1 locus on chromosome 12 exert a profound influence on the immune/inflammatory response in the cornea after HSV inoculation in the cornea. Thus, mice with lgh-1 e or lgh-1 d phenotype routinely develop extreme keratopathy and loss of corneal clarity after HSV encounter in the eye, while congenic strains expressing other lgh-1 phenotypes develop substantially less keratopathy. We examined the effect of previous subcutaneous immunization with the mutuant, less virulent. MP strain of HSV on the development of keratitis and encephalitis after secondary corneal inoculation with strains MP, mP, F, and KOS. A/J mice (lgh-1 e ), 5–6 weeks old, were injected sc with live HSV-1 strain MP. Controls were injected with culture media without virus. Three weeks later both immunized and control nonimmunized animals were challenged in the cornea with HSV-1, strains MP, mP, F, and KOS. The animals were clinically scored for keratitis and encephalitis at regular intervals for 21 days following corneal challenge. None of the immunized animals challenged in the cornea with strain MP, 5 × 10 4 plaque-forming units (PFU), developed clinical signs of encephalitis compared to 86% of unimmunized controls. Of the immunized animals challenged in the cornea with strain MP, 5 × 10 4 PFU, only 18% developed a mild keratitis, while 96% of unimmunized controls developed severe keratitis. Mice immunized subcutaneously with MP and subsequently challenged corneally with other HSV-1 strans (mP, F, or KOS) were also protected from development of severe keratopathy.
Photoemission spectroscopy of magnetic and nonmagnetic impurities on the surface of the Bi2Se3 topological insulator.

Dirac-like surface states on surfaces of topological insulators have a chiral spin structure that suppresses backscattering and protects the coherence of these states in the presence of nonmagnetic scatterers. In contrast, magnetic scatterers should open the backscattering channel via the spin-flip processes and degrade the state's coherence. We present angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy studies of the electronic structure and the scattering rates upon the adsorption of various magnetic and nonmagnetic impurities on the surface of ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}{\mathrm{Se}}_{3}$, a model topological insulator. We reveal a remarkable insensitivity of the topological surface state to both nonmagnetic and magnetic impurities in the low impurity concentration regime. Scattering channels open up with the emergence of hexagonal warping in the high-doping regime, irrespective of the impurity's magnetic moment.
Death due to alcoholic complications in a young woman with a severe eating disorder : A case report

Objective: Recently, a good deal of attention has been focused on alcoholism and eating disorders as comorbid conditions. Early identification of biologic, psychologic, and sociocultural factors that contribute to comorbid alcoholism and eating disorders may improve the outcome for such patients. Method: The following case report is ofa 26-year-old woman who developed a severe eating disorder in her early teens that was followed by alcoholism. Results: The combination of eating disorder and alcoholism in this patient led to approximately 70 hospitalizations for medical complications of her alcoholism. This paper chronicles her last few living months including her death due to alcoholic complications.
Blood lipid distributions in older persons prevalence and correlates of hyperlipidemia

Abstract Distributions of blood total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and high-density-liproprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels are presented for a geographically defined cohort of rural elderly Iowans, 71 to 102 years old. Cross-sectionally, women had higher levels of total and LDL cholesterol than men did, levels that declined with increasing age. Mean HDL cholesterol levels were also higher in women than in men, but remained relatively constant across the age range. Age- and sex-specific total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol levels were lower among participants residing in long-term-care facilities. HDL but not total cholesterol levels were lower in cigarette smokers and those with chronic illnesses, physical dependence, and poorer performance on physical function tests, and higher among those consuming alcohol. If subjected to the screening guidelines of the National Cholesterol Education Program, a majority of this population, having total cholesterol levels of 5.2 mmol/L (200 mg/dL) or higher, would require further evaluation for possible hyperlipidemia.
Frequency analysis approach to the origin of the first and second heart sounds

Abstract Catheter-tipped micromanometers were used to simultaneously record left ventricular and aortic pressures, and left ventricular and aortic internal phonocardiograms in order to determine if they had a common mode of origin and propagation. Spectrographic analysis showed that even with high-pass filtration the phonocardiogram obtained with a commonly used system (Millar) contained large amounts of energy in the subaudible frequency range (below 40 Hz). It was possible to derive close facsimiles of the phonocardiograms by double differentiation of the corresponding pressure pulse and conversely to derive the pressure pulse by double integration of the phonocardiograms. The propagation velocities of the first heart sound, second heart sound, and the foot of the aortic pressure pulse were found to be similar and were respectively, 4.3 ± 0.2, 4.6 ± 0.3, and 4.2 ± 0.2 m/sec (± SE). These data support the concept that the low frequency pressure variations produced by the heart, which predominate in the left ventricular and aortic pressure pulse waveforms, are generated and propagated in the same manner as the high frequency pressure variations, which are the first and second heart sounds.
In silico analysis of quantifying tumor hemoglobin saturation using the optical pharmacokinetic system (OPS)

The Optical Pharmacokinetic System (OPS) is an elastic-scattering spectroscopic device that is capable of detecting changes in hemoglobin saturation in tissue in vivo. This measurement is important to the field of photodynamic therapy (PDT) because it may be possible to use knowledge of tissue oxygen concentration to improve treatment effect. The OPS measures a 'bulk' signal that is representative of the total tissue volume sampled optically. This measurement may not be sensitive to the presence or development of small, non-uniform hypoxic regions within tissue, and therefore, the clinical relevance of such a measurement is not well understood. This study utilizes mathematical models to investigate the sensitivity of the OPS to chronic hypoxic regions that exist in tumor tissue at steady state and acute hypoxic regions caused by PDT-induced damage. A Monte Carlo model of light propagation is used to emulate the measurement of tissue by the OPS. Tissue geometry is constructed to mimic the tumor microvascular environment, with discrete blood vessels interspersed throughout. A finite element-based transport model is used to describe spatial distributions of oxygen, reactive oxygen species, and hemoglobin saturation throughout the tissue at steady state and following the PDT reaction. PDT-induced damage is estimated and used to approximate the effect of vascular damage on tissue oxygen concentration, thereby simulating acute hypoxia. The volume-averaged hemoglobin saturation measured by the OPS shows potential to identify the presence hypoxic vessels in the chronic case. However, results suggest that the clinical utility of the OPS to detect PDT-induced hypoxia may be limited.
How Real are Real Exchange Rates

This Paper analyzes the role of real disturbances in the real dollar exchange rates of the mark, yen and the pound both during the post-1973 float and in the long-run historical date. The results indicate dominate roles of real shocks in all three exchange rates in the post-1973 float although a substantial portion of short-run variations in the mark and yen contains monetary characteristics. In the long historical date, real shocks are far less important explaining only a small portion of nominal exchange rate movements and 50 to 80 percent of real exchange rate movements. The analysis is based on the Mundell-Fleming-Dornbusch model as the structural model and the multivariate method of time series decomposition to incorporate the long-run invariance of the exchange rate with respect to monetary shocks. [F31, F41]
In vivo influx, tissue esterification and hydrolysis of free and esterified plasma cholesterol in the cholesterol-fed rabbit

The influx of free and esterified cholesterol into various tissues of cholesterol-fed rabbits is calculated from the tissue [3H] cholesterol and [14C] cholesterol content - corrected for radioactivity in contaminating plasma - after a 3--6 h exposure to in vivo-labeled plasma. The plasma free cholesterol was labeled primarily with 3H and the esterified cholesterol with 14C or vice versa. The influx calculation is based on total 3H and 14C in tissues and two linear equations that take into account esterification and hydrolysis of sterol fractions by the tissues. The influx of esterified cholesterol into tissue samples from aorta, heart, small intestine and lung was 10--80 nmol-g--1-h--1, whereas the influx into adrenal, spleen and liver was from 400--2500 nmol--g-1--h-1. The influx of free cholesterol was considerably higher than expected if free and esterified cholesterol had entered the tissues together as part of plasma lipoproteins. This excess of free cholesterol influx can be ascribed to cholesterol exchange between plasma lipoproteins and tissues, which in several tissues amounted to more than 80% of the total free cholesterol influx. From tissue free and esterified cholesterol radioactivity, one can calculate that 20--70% of the newly entered esterified cholesterol was hydrolyzed by various tissues and that most tissues esterified less than 10% of newly entered cholesterol during the experimental period. However, esterification of plasma cholesterol by adrenals averaged 50% of that taken up during a 3-6 h period.
IT induction in the food service industry

As part of the business strategy in a competitive environment, for an organization to induct information technology (IT) appropriately, business process reengineering (BPR) must be conducted. We propose a process that incorporates both management information systems and strategic management concepts for the IT induction. First, we develop a business competition strategy based on Porter’s five competitive forces; second, using concepts developed in the field of information systems the business processes are reengineered to improve effectiveness and efficiency; and finally, IT strategy is developed to achieve these goals. A real‐life case in the food service industry is used to illustrate this process.
A Phosphorylation-Based Model for EGFR Activation as a Function of Ligand Concentration

On the basis of receptor phosphorylation assays, a simple mechanistic model has been proposed to describe the activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as a function of ligand concentration. A431 cells, which overexpress EGFR, were starved and stimulated with different concentrations of either transforming growth factor (TGF) or epidermal growth factor (EGF), ranging from 0 - 5000 ng/ml. Phosphorylation of Tyr1068 in EGFR appeared to plateau when cells were stimulated with 5000 ng/ml, suggesting that the maximal activation was reached. Quantitative analysis of Western blots revealed that the activation of EGFR can be described with a simple model, with one activation constant (Ka) describing the formation of active dimers from inactive monomers in the presence of ligands. The model is consistent with previous studies showing that TGF- and EGF-induced phosphorylations of EGFR are similar.