cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Household composition and food expenditures: a cross-country comparison

Abstract In the analysis of food expenditures, use of household member counts as an explanatory variable assumes each member has the same marginal food expenditure impact. In our analysis of Latin American food expenditures we reject this assumption via the estimation of endogenously determined adult equivalence scales that vary by household member gender and age. A series of hypothesis tests indicate significant differences not only in the male versus female equivalence scales but also across country. With the use of such equivalence scales in the definition of per capita expenditures we find significant differences in the distributions implying substantially different poverty rankings.
Sex differences in the effect of amphetamine on immediate early gene expression in the rat dorsal striatum

Amphetamine (AMPH)-induced dopamine release in the striatum and AMPH-induced behavior in the rat have been demonstrated to be influenced by sex and hormonal status. The experiments reported here were conducted, therefore, to examine sex differences, hormonal influences and estrous cycle-dependent changes in AMPH-induced immediate early gene expression in the dorsal striatum. Cell counts were taken at three rostrocaudal levels from three to four regions of the dorsal striatum at each level (ventromedial, dorsomedial, dorsolateral, ventrolateral). The immunohistochemical localization of calbindin was used as a control. We report here that females on the afternoon of proestrus had a significantly greater percent of Fos-positive neurons after AMPH across the dorsolateral region of the middle and caudal striatum and in the ventrolateral region of the caudal striatum compared to females in diestrus, ovariectomized (OVX) females, castrated (CAST) males and intact males. There was no difference in AMPH-induced immediate early gene expression between OVX and diestrous rats. There were also no significant differences between CAST and intact males in AMPH-induced Fos expression, with the exception of the ventrolateral caudal striatum. In sum, the present findings indicate that AMPH-induced Fos expression is sexually dimorphic and modulated by gonadal hormones in lateral regions of the rat dorsal striatum.
Carbon Monoxide Poisonings From Small, Gasoline-Powered, Internal Combustion Engines: Just What Is a “Well-ventilated Area”?

This study modeled the time required for a gasoline-powered, 5 horsepower (hp), 4-cycle engine to generate carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations exceeding the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 200-ppm ceiling and 1200-ppm immediately dangerous to life and health concentration for various room sizes and ventilation rates. The model permitted the ambiguous term “well-ventilated area” to be defined. The model was compared with field data collected at a site where two workers were poisoned while operating a 5-hp concrete saw in a bathroom having open doors and an operating ventilation system. There is agreement between both the modeled and field-generated data, indicating that hazardous CO concentrations can develop within minutes. Comparison of field and modeling data showed the measured CO generation rate at approximately one-half of the value used in the model, which may be partially because the engine used in the field was not under load during data collection. The generation rate and ro...
Some efferent connections of the superficial pretectum in the goldfish

The diencephalic nuclei known as the lateral geniculate and rotundus in goldfish appear to belong to the pretectal region. They do not project to the telencephalon. A combination of degeneration and horseradish tract-tracing experiments show that that the latter nucleus projects caudally to the so-called mammillary body and to a precerebellar cell group-nucleus lateralis valvulae.
Predicting Regional Variations in Mortality from Motor Vehicle Crashes

OBJECTIVE: To show that the previously-observed inverse relationship between population density and per-capita mortality from motor vehicle crashes can be derived from a simple mathematical model that can be used for prediction. METHODS: The authors proposed models in which the number of fatal crashes in an area was directly proportional to the population and also to some power of the mean distance between hospitals. Alternatively, these can be parameterized as Weibull survival models. Using county and state data from the U.S. Census, the authors fitted linear regression equations on a logarithmic scale to test the validity of these models. RESULTS: The southern states conformed to a different model from the other states. If an indicator variable was used to distinguish these groups, the resulting model accounted for 74% of the variation from state to state (Alaska excepted). After controlling for mean inter-hospital distance, the southern states had a per-capita mortality 1.37 times that of the other states. CONCLUSIONS: Simply knowing the mean distance between hospitals in a region allows a fiarly accurate estimate of its per-capita mortality from vehicle crashes. After controlling for this factor, vehicle crash mortality per capita is higher in the southern states, for reasons yet to be explained. Language: en
The ultrastructure of retinula cell endings in the compound eye of the crayfish.

The retinula cell axons entering the synaptic region of the optic lamina in the crayfish form large expanded bag-like terminals which are organized with other neural elements into structural units called ‘cartridges’. The cytoplasm of the terminals contains synaptic and coated vesicles, ER cisternae, clusters of tubular elements, and mitochondria. Several mitochondria are often found associated with a single large rod-shaped inclusion present within each terminal. The rod-like formation could be demonstrated in both light and EM material, it is composed of 85–95 A filaments and averages I μm in width and 6.5 μm in length. The terminal synaptic contacts are characterized by a bar-shaped presynaptic density and three postsynaptic elements. Some synaptic vesicles appear aligned along the bar density which measures approximately 800 A in width and 0.75 μm in length. Each terminal synapse has three postsynaptic elements which have an electron-dense fringe along their membrane bordering the synaptic cleft. From the planes of section through this contact a composite reconstruction is presented. Also present along the central border of the terminals are numerous small invaginated processes, some of which extend almost to the middle of the terminal. No membrane specializations were found along these processes and they have been tentatively identified as neuronal.
Single-Cell Gene Expression Profiling

A key goal of biology is to relate the expression of specific genes to a particular cellular phenotype. However, current assays for gene expression destroy the structural context. By combining advances in computational fluorescence microscopy with multiplex probe design, we devised technology in which the expression of many genes can be visualized simultaneously inside single cells with high spatial and temporal resolution. Analysis of 11 genes in serum-stimulated cultured cells revealed unique patterns of gene expression within individual cells. Using the nucleus as the substrate for parallel gene analysis, we provide a platform for the fusion of genomics and cell biology: "cellular genomics."
Analogs of α-tocopherol as inhibitors of cyclic-AMP and cyclic-GMP phosphodiesterases and effects of α-tocopherol deficiency on cyclic AMP-controlled metabolism

Abstract 1. 1. The effects of a new class of inhibitors of cyclic-AMP and cyclic-GMP phosphodiesterases were studied. Three analogs of α-tocopherol, all of them lacking the terpenoid side chain, proved to be potent non-competitive inhibitors of partially purified cyclic-AMP and cyclic-GMP phosphodiesterases from beef liver. All of them were relatively specific for cyclic-AMP phosphodiesterase. The effect on cyclic-GMP phosphodiesterase was much less pronounced. Theophyllin, a methylxanthin, affected both of the enzymes at similar rates. 2. 2. The effect of α-tocopherol deprivation on the concentration of cyclic AMP and two functions controlled by the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP were investigated. The animals deprived of α-tocopherol had a lower content of glycogen and a higher activity of serine dehydratase in the livers than the control group. The concentration of cyclic AMP in the livers of the rats was not significantly different in both of the groups. 3. 3. The data are discussed with respect to the hypothesis that the long-term effects of α-tocopherol deprivation are related to changes in the regulation of the metabolism of cyclic AMP, caused by alteration of the activity of cyclic-AMP phosphodiesterase.
Low-complexity distributed multiple description coding for wireless video sensor networks

Quality-of-service-guaranteed video communication in wireless video sensor networks (WVSNs) is extremely challenging because of the unique constraints of WVSN (e.g. limited resources of sensors and high error rates in wireless sensor networks) and the characteristics of video traffic (e.g. huge data rate and tight delay bounds). Distributed video coding (DVC) has emerged as a new video coding paradigm for video applications with resource-limited encoders. However, current DVC architectures still have several technical limitations that prevent their widespread use in real-world applications. A low-complexity distributed multiple description coding method that combines the principles of multiple description coding and DVC has been proposed to further improve the error resilience of DVC, while maintaining low encoder complexity and good rate-distortion performance in WVSN. Simulation results show that the proposed method is robust against transmission errors, while maintaining low encoder complexity and low system latency for resource-limited applications in WVSNs.
Hypergraphs and the Clar problem in hexagonal systems

We show that for a hypergraph H that is separable and has the Helly property, the perfect matchings of H are the strongly stable sets of the line graph of H. Also, we show that the hypergraph generated by a hexagonal system is separable and has the Helly property. Finally, we note that the Clar problem of a hexagonal system is a minimum cardinality perfect matching problem of the hypergraph generated by the hexagonal system. Hence, the Clar problem of a hexagonal system is a minimum cardinality strongly stable set problem in the line graph of the hypergraph generated by the hexagonal system.
Regulation of expression of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum proteins under pathophysiological conditions

Congestive heart failure presents a significant medical problem and accumulating evidence indicates that slow relaxation during diastole maybe at least in part be medlated by decreased expression of the gene coding for the Ca2+ ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). In order to determine if increased expression of the SR Ca2+ ATPase gene leads to alterations in calcium transients and in contractile behavior we constructed transgenic mice overexpressing the SERCA2 gene. Measuring dP/dtmax and dpPdtmin with a 2 French Milar catheter we found a significant Increase in systolic contraction and diastolic relaxation in transgene positive versus transgene negative mice. In addition we constructed adenoviruses overexpressing the gene coding for the Ca2+ ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Infacting cardiac myocytes with the adenovirus expressing this transgene led to an accelerated calcium transient. Determining cell shortening and relengthening with a edge detection method indicated that increased expression of the SERCA2 transgene mediated by adenovirus Infection accelerated contractile parameters. In summary increased expression of the SERCA2 transgene leads to an enhancement of cardiac contrectile parameters under in vivo conditions in transgenic mice and in myocytes in cell culture using an adenovirus based approach to increase expression of the SERCAX gene.
A modified conditional Metropolis–Hastings sampler

A modified conditional Metropolis–Hastings sampler for general state spaces is introduced. Under specified conditions, this modification can lead to substantial gains in statistical efficiency while maintaining the overall quality of convergence. Results are illustrated in two settings: a toy bivariate Normal model and a Bayesian version of the random effects model.
The effects of fertilization on nitrogen distribution in a Spartina alterniflora salt marsh

Abstract In a year-long study of the effects of sewage sludge application on nitrogen distribution in a Spartina alterniflora salt marsh, plant biomass and consequently g N m 2−2 were increased substantially. Sludge additions also resulted in higher total N concentrations in the top 5 cm of soil and in higher NH 4 + concentrations throughout the 30 cm soil column sampled, but particularly from 0 to 15 cm. At the end of the study period, only about half of the added nitrogen could be accounted for. Tidal exchange was the probable mechanism of loss. Complete assessment of the impact of sludge disposal in the salt marsh ecosystem should include consideration of the impact of this loss on estuarine processes. Salinities in the sludge-amended areas were higher than in unfertilized areas, probably due to increased transpiration. The effects of this salinity increase on nitrogen utilization are discussed.
Quantitative analysis for oleic and petroselinic acids in glyceride oils

A rapid quantitative method for the determination of oleic (9-cis-octadecenoic) and petroselinic (6-cis-octadecenoic) acids was required for nutritional research. The methyl esters of these two acids have coincident emergence in GLC separations using polyester columns. A method involving oxidation and GLC analysis of the resultant monocarboxylic acids has been developed.
Central neurochemical factors related to serotonin metabolism and cardiac ventricular vulnerability for repetitive electrical activity

Abstract Sympathetic neural activity modifies cardiac excitability and lowers the threshold of the vulnerable period for ventricular fibrillation. Sympathetic neural traffic to the heart can be diminished by administering serotonin precursors that localize in the central nervous system. In this study anesthetized dogs were injected with either of the serotonin precursors L-tryptophan or 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan in conjunction with the monoamine oxidase inhibitor phenelzine and the selective peripheral L-amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor carbidopa. Ventricular vulnerability was evaluated by measuring the repetitive extrasystole threshold. A sustained increase of 50 percent in this threshold resulted only with use of biochemical measures that presumably increase serotonin levels in the central nervous system. Thus neuropharmacologic measures affecting central sympathetic activity alter cardiac vulnerability and may protect against ventricular fibrillation.
Fluorescent Bile Acid Derivatives: Relationship Between Chemical Structure and Hepatic and Intestinal Transport in the Rat

Studies were performed to characterize hepatic and intestinal transport, as well as biotransformation during transport, of a spectrum of fluorescent bile acids containing a fluorophore attached to the side chain. The following two classes of compounds were studied: 1) aminofluorescein (amF) coupled directly to the carboxylic group of a bile acid which was cholic, ursodeoxycholic, or cholylglycine; and 2) nitrobenzoxadiazolyl (NBD) coupled to the epsilon-amino group of a lysine conjugated bile acid, which was cholic or ursodeoxycholic. Fluorescein, a cholephilic organic anion, was studied as a control. Fluorescent bile acids were synthesized and their structures confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. Using the biliary fistula rat, hepatic transport, biotransformation, and choleretic activity were defined; intestinal absorption was assessed by jejunal or ileal perfusion studies. All fluorescent bile acids had hepatic transport maxima about one-sixth that reported for cholyltaurine, but derivatives of cholylglycine were transported best. Bile acids underwent little ( jejunum), and no fluorescent bile acid had passive intestinal permeability; NBD-tagged bile acids were biotransformed during intestinal transport (jejunum > ileum). We conclude that the structure of the fluorophore as well as that of the bile acid influences transport by the hepatocyte and enterocyte. These fluorescent bile acids differ from fluorescein in being impermeable to cell membranes and undergoing little biotransformation during hepatocyte transport. Of these fluorescent bile acids, cholylglycylamF has hepatocyte transport and choleretic properties most closely resembling those of a natural bile acid.
Structural changes of polyacids initiated by their neutralization with various alkali metal hydroxides. Diffusion studies in poly(acrylic acid)s.

The changes in the three-dimensional structure of the poly(acrylic acid), PAA, induced by incorporation of various alkali-metal counterions have been evaluated by studying diffusion of an uncharged probe (1,1'-ferrocenedimethanol) in the polymeric media. The studies are supported by the measurements of conductivity and viscosity of the polymeric media. Solutions of linear PAA of four different sizes (molecular weights: 450 000, 750 000, 1 250 000, 4 000 000) were neutralized with hydroxides of alkali metals of group 1 of the periodic table (Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs) to the desired neutralization degree. The transport properties of the obtained polyacrylates were monitored by measuring the changes in the probe diffusion coefficient during the titration of the polyacids. The probe diffusivity was determined from the steady-state current of the probe voltammetric oxidation at disk microelectrodes. Diffusivity of the probe increases with the increase in the degree of neutralization and with the increase in viscosity. It reaches the maximum value at about 60-80% of the polyacid neutralization. The way the probe diffusion coefficients change is similar in all polyacid solutions and gels. The increase in the size of a metal cation causes, in general, an enhancement in the transport of probe molecules. The biggest differences in the probe diffusivities are between lithium and cesium polyacrylates. The differences between the results obtained for cesium and rubidium are not statistically significant due to lack of good precision of the voltammetric measurements. The measurements of the electric conductivity of polyacrylates and the theoretical predictions supplemented the picture of electrostatic interactions between the polyanionic chains and the metal cations of increasing size. In all instances of the PAAs, the viscosity of the solutions rapidly increases in the 0-60% range of neutralization and then becomes constant in the 60-100% region. With the exception of the shortest chain polyacid, the formation of a rigid medium (gel) has been observed in the experiments with all cations. After the end point of the titration was passed, a sudden drop in the viscosity and the disappearance of the gelatinous structure were seen. The largest value of viscosity has been recorded for the longest chain polyacid. The change in the cation of the strong base used did not affect the viscosity of the polymeric system.
Materialist discourse in academia during the age of late marxism

C hronicling the last decades of the twentieth century, a future historian of ideas (or "worker on cultural practices") might describe ours as the Age of Late Marxism, characterized by the plight of the socialist states created during the Age of High Marxism and by the concomitant institutionalization of materialist discourse in American academia. 1 Some states have thrown out the Communist party, which has prudendy changed its name to "Democratic Socialism" (the party of "Economic Democracy"). All have turned to the capitalist West for economic aid and business investments (once dubbed tools of Western international exploitation). Cynicism regarding Marx's teachings had long existed even among the outwardly Marxist Nomenklatura-with the exception of some members of the intelligentsia, who still hoped for a better and (always) future socialism which would salvage the (always) potentially benefic ideas of the founding father. But by the 1980s, Marx and his discourse had become the material of frequently scatological folkloric humor. In the West, "Socialist" and "Social Democratic" parties have fallen back on various forms of the capitalist Welfare State; and while still defending some socialist ideas, they have accepted fundamental capitalist structures and reconsidered many economic assumptions of the Early Marxist Age. 2 Sweden, which had experimented with an advanced version of the Welfare State, suffers from an economic and cultural stagnation made more remarkable by the world's most humanely controlled citizenry's failure to achieve social contentment. 3 In the once-socialist lands, intellectuals read subversive writers like Karl Popper, Gary Becker, Ludwig yon Mises, F. A. Hayek, James Buchanan, Rose Wilder Lane, Murray Rothbard, David Friedman, Robert Nozick, HansHermann Hoppe, Isabel Paterson, Ayn Rand, and Tibor Machan. 4 Professors of economics and at least one Noble prize winner advocate the "marketplace"--a euphemism for "capitalism." Professors with marketable nonacademic skills complain that socialism "defrauded" them of their lives by stopping them from using their abilities, becoming rich, and enjoying the "material" world. An academician, become Minister of Finance, chides Americans for their ignorance of the ethical and economic principles of capitalism. The greatest genuinely proletarian leader of the twentieth century calls on exploitative Western corporations for investments, s Marx's discourse is being expunged from the classrooms, the work place, and the political arena; and materialist academicians, who form the bulk of the profession, face mass dismissals. 6 With the thawing of censorship, the full
Release of tumor necrosis factor-α from coronary smooth muscle : Activation of NF-κB and inhibition by elevated cyclic AMP

Abstract Background.Evidence suggests that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is involved in heart diseases such as atherosclerosis. We used porcine coronary arteries and smooth muscle cells cultured from these vessels to study the regulation of production of TNF-α. The aims were to determine if bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) could stimulate production; if activation of the nuclear regulatory factor, NF-κB, was associated with production; and if intracellular cAMP regulates TNF-α in coronary vasculature through a mechanism involving NF-κB. Material and methods.LPS was used to stimulate TNF-α production. Forskolin (FSK) and 8-Br-cAMP were added to tissue and cells in order to elevate intracellular cAMP. TNF-α release into the bathing medium was measured by the L929 cell cytotoxicity assay. Intracellular cAMP was determined by radioimmunoassay. NF-κB activation was determined in whole cell extracts by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Results.In segments of coronary arteries, LPS stimulated TNF-α release which increased with time to a maximum at 6 h (485 ± 19 units/g tissue) and remained elevated at this level for 24 h. In contrast, the level of TNF-α measured at 24 h in medium from coronary tissue not exposed to LPS was 11.1 ± 4.1 units/g tissue. In the presence of LPS, both FSK and 8-Br-cAMP significantly reduced TNF-α release. For instance at 6 h in the presence of LPS and FSK or 8-Br-cAMP, TNF-α was 126 ± 24 and 71.6 ± 22 units/g tissue, respectively (P Conclusions.Porcine coronary arteries produce TNF-α from a smooth muscle cell source. Production stimulated by LPS was inhibited by elevated intracellular cAMP and was associated with activation of NF-κB. However, activation of NF-κB was not inhibited by elevated cAMP, suggesting that the regulatory action of this cyclic nucleotide could lie downstream from activation of the TNF-α gene. These results support the view that coronary vessels can be a source of TNF-α possibly involved in heart disease.
Intrinsic consensus on SO(3) with almost-global convergence

In this paper we propose a discrete time protocol to align the states of a network of agents evolving in the space of rotations SO(3). The starting point of our work is Riemannian consensus, a general and intrinsic extension of classical consensus algorithms to Riemannian manifolds. Unfortunately, this algorithm is guaranteed to align the states only when the initial states are not too far apart. We show how to modify Riemannian consensus so that the states of the agents can be aligned, in practice, from almost any initial condition. While we focus on the specific case of SO(3), we hope that this work will represent the first step toward more general results.
Analysis of event-mode data with Interactive Data Language

We have developed an analysis package for event-mode data based on Interactive Data Language (IDL) from Research Systems Inc. This high-level language is high speed, array oriented, object oriented, and has extensive visual (multi-dimensional plotting) and mathematical functions. We have developed a general framework, written in IDL, for the analysis of a variety of experimental data that does not require significant customization for each analysis. Unlike many traditional analysis package, spectra and gates are applied after data are read and are easily changed as analysis proceeds without rereading the data. The events are not sequentially processed into predetermined arrays subject to predetermined gates.
Preoperative intensity modulated radiation therapy and chemotherapy for locally advanced vulvar carcinoma: analysis of pattern of relapse

Purpose To examine clinical outcomes and relapse patterns in locally advanced vulvar carcinoma treated using preoperative chemotherapy and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Methods and Materials Forty-two patients with stage I-IV A (stage I, n=3; stage II, n=13; stage III, n=23; stage IV A , n=3) vulvar cancer were treated with chemotherapy and IMRT via a modified Gynecological Oncology Group schema using 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin with twice-daily IMRT during the first and last weeks of treatment or weekly cisplatin with daily radiation therapy. Median dose of radiation was 46.4 Gy. Results Thirty-three patients (78.6%) had surgery for resection of vulva; 13 of these patients also had inguinal lymph node dissection. Complete pathologic response was seen in 48.5% (n=16) of these patients. Of these, 15 had no recurrence at a median time of 26.5 months. Of the 17 patients with partial pathological response, 8 (47.1%) developed recurrence in the vulvar surgical site within a median of 8 (range, 5-34) months. No patient had grade ≥3 chronic gastrointestinal/genitourinary toxicity. Of those having surgery, 8 (24.2%) developed wound infections requiring debridement. Conclusions Preoperative chemotherapy/IMRT was well tolerated, with good pathologic response and clinical outcome. The most common pattern of recurrence was local in patients with partial response, and strategies to increase pathologic response rate with increasing dose or adding different chemotherapy need to be explored to help further improve outcomes.
The Jealous Potter

The Jealous Potter. Claude Levi-Strauss. Translated by Benedicte Chorier. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press, 1988. 250 pp., figures, color plate. $19.95 (cloth). ISBN0-226-47480-1.
Interphase and metaphase resolution of different distances within the human dystrophin gene

Fluorescence in situ hybridization makes possible direct visualization of single sequences not only on chromosomes, but within decondensed interphase nuclei, providing a potentially powerful approach for high-resolution (1 Mb and below) gene mapping and the analysis of nuclear organization. Interphase mapping was able to extend the ability to resolve and order sequences up to two orders of magnitude beyond localization on banded or unbanded chromosomes. Sequences within the human dystrophin gene separated by less than 100 kb to 1 Mb were visually resolved at interphase by means of standard microscopy. In contrast, distances in the 1-Mb range could not be ordered on the metaphase chromosome length. Analysis of sequences 100 kb to 1 Mb apart indicates a strong correlation between interphase distance and linear DNA distance, which could facilitate a variety of gene-mapping efforts. Results estimate chromatin condensation up to 1 Mb and indicate a comparable condensation for different cell types prepared by different techniques.
Initial stages of coal slag interaction with high chromia sesquioxide refractories

Slagging coal gasifiers operate at temperatures as high as 1650°C in a reducing environment, requiring combustion chambers to be lined with refractories. The liner materials of choice are semi-porous high chromia refractories. Recently, a new series of high-chromia aluminia sesquioxide refractories have been developed. Both long term and short term tests are being conducted to evaluate the performance of these materials. In this study, the initial stage of slag-refractory interactions was analyzed. Samples of gasifier slag were compacted and placed upon the surface of these new chromia refractories and the temperature was raised consistent with start-up operating conditions of commercial gasifiers. The slag was completely molten by the time the furnace achieved a temperature consistent with gasifier operation conditions: 1350°C. Measurement of the slag contact angle, slag spread along the slag-refractory interface, and the loss of slag due to slag infusion into the refractory were monitored by camera. Analysis suggests a single phenomenon with an activation energy of approximately 54 kcal may be the controlling factor. Cross-section analysis of the sample and analysis of slag chemistry indicate that slag infusion preceded the slag-refractory interface front movement and that the iron component of the slag was becoming concentrated at the slag-refractory interface leading to the formation of a chromium-iron spinel phase. Results of these short term tests are critical in characterizing and understanding the results long term slag-refractory interactions.
Taxol induces caspase-10-dependent apoptosis.

Taxol (paclitaxel) is known to inhibit cell growth and trigger significant apoptosis in various cancer cells. Although taxol induces apoptosis of cancer cells, its exact mechanism of action is not yet known. In this study we investigated death receptors, FAS-associated death domain protein (FADD), the activation of caspases-10 and -8 as well as the downstream caspases, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in taxol-induced apoptosis in the CCRF-HSB-2 human lymphoblastic leukemia cell line. Pretreating the cells with neutralizing antibodies to Fas, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α receptor 1, or TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptors (DR4 and DR5) did not affect taxol-induced apoptosis, but transfection of the cells with a dominant negative FADD plasmid resulted in inhibition of taxol-induced apoptosis, revealing that taxol induces apoptosis independently of these death receptors but dependently on FADD. Furthermore, the drug induced activation of caspases-10, -8, -6, and -3, cleaved Bcl-2, Bid, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, and lamin B, and down-regulated cellular levels of FLICE-like inhibitory protein (FLIP) and X-chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP). However, despite the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria in taxol-treated cells, caspase-9 was not activated. Inhibitors of caspases-8, -6, or -3 partially inhibited taxol-induced apoptosis, whereas the caspase-10 inhibitor totally abrogated this process. Taxol-induced apoptosis was also associated with decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) and a significant increase in ROS generation. However, increased ROS production was not directly involved in taxol-triggered apoptosis. Therefore, these results demonstrate for the first time that taxol induces FADD-dependent apoptosis primarily through activation of caspase-10 but independently of death receptors.
Cancellation of photodiode-induced second harmonic distortion using single side band modulation from a dual parallel Mach-Zehnder

We have theoretically and experimentally investigated using a dual parallel Mach-Zehnder modulator (DP-MZM) in an RF photonic link to cancel the second harmonic distortion due to the photodiode. Biasing the DP-MZM for single sideband modulation, the second harmonic generated by the DP-MZM can be set out of phase with the second harmonic generated at the photodiode. We measure the output intercept point of the second harmonic distortion of the link to be 55.3 dBm, which is an improvement of over 32 dB as compared to only the photodiode.
Electro-optic tensor ratio determination of side-chain copolymers with electro-optic interferometry

Electro‐optic interferometry is used to measure the ratio of the electro‐optic coefficients r13 and r33 for N‐methacryloxyethyl‐N‐methylaminonitrostilbene/methyl methacrylate (DANS/MMA) and dicyanovinyl‐hexatriene/methyl methacrylate (DCVHT/MMA) side‐chain copolymers. The electro‐optic interferometer uses a reflection modified Mach–Zehnder configuration, and results are compared with those obtained by the phase modulated reflection technique [C. C. Teng and H. T. Man, Appl. Phys. Lett. 56, 1734 (1990)]. Tensor ratios r33/r13 of 3.34 and 5.92 were found for DANS/MMA and DCVHT/MMA, respectively, for poling fields of 100 V/μm. Disagreement between the two techniques may derive from a piezoelectric contribution to the measurements or from restricted motion of the chromophores during poling.
Body composition of patients with Alzheimer's disease

Abstract Low body weight is frequently reported in patients with Alzheimer's disease. We sought to discover why by comparing the body composition of 28 cognitively normal elders and 23 institutionalized individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Body mass index was calculated from standing height and weight. Percentages of lean body mass, body fat, and body water were derived from bioimpedance measurements of resistance and reactance. Skinfold thickness was measured at seven body sites to estimate regional fat distribution. Variables were analyzed by analysis of variance with subjects grouped by cognitive status within gender. Activity level and age were not significant covariates. Both women and men with Alzheimer's disease weighed less than control subjects. Differences in body composition were more pronounced in women with Alzheimer's disease, who had lower body mass index (22.0 ± 3.0 vs 26.1 ± 5.1), higher percentage of lean body mass (73.8 ± 5.1 vs 66.9 ± 6.5), lower percentage of body fat (26.1 ± 5.1 vs 33.1 ± 6.5), and higher percentage of body water (55.8 ± 5.0 vs 49.3 ± 6.5) compared with control women. Except for lower body weight, the body composition of men with Alzheimer's disease was not significantly different from that of control men. Patients of both sexes with Alzheimer's disease had less truncal body fat compared with controls, which gave them a youthful body habitus. These differences were not accounted for by age, diet, or activity. Our findings indicate that patients with Alzheimer's disease have lower body weight and may require higher energy intake than cognitively normal elders.
Distributed Consensus Algorithms and Their Applications in Multi-vehicle Cooperative Control

While autonomous vehicles that perform solo missions can yield significant benefits, greater efficiency and operational capability will be realized from teams of autonomous vehicles operating in a coordinated fashion. Potential applications for multiple autonomous vehicles include autonomous household appliances, hazardous material handling systems, distributed reconfigurable sensor networks, surveillance and reconnaissance, space-based interferometry, and future autonomous combat systems. To enable these applications, a variety of cooperative control capabilities need to be developed. These capabilities include formation control, rendezvous, attitude alignment, flocking, foraging, task and role assignment, payload transport, air traffic control, and cooperative search. Execution of these capabilities requires that individual vehicles share a consistent view of the objectives and the world. Information consensus guarantees that vehicles sharing information over a network topology have a consistent view of information that is critical to the coordination task. By necessity, consensus algorithms are designed to be distributed, assuming only neighbor-to-neighbor interaction between vehicles. Consensus algorithms have applications in rendezvous, formation control, flocking, attitude alignment, and sensor networks. The purpose of this workshop is overview the research of distributed consensus algorithms in cooperative control of multiple autonomous vehicles. The presenter has been actively involved in this area over the past several years. In particular, theoretical aspects of distributed consensus algorithms will be introduced. Application examples of distributed consensus algorithms in multi-vehicle cooperative control will also be presented.
Nearest-neighbor spatial ordering of strain-induced islands using a subsurface island superlattice

Abstract Results are shown of experiments that increase the surface spatial ordering of strain-induced InAs quantum dots on (1 0 0) GaAs using a subsurface InAs island superlattice. Nearest-neighbor ordering, approximately in the [1 0 0] direction is demonstrated. A simple theory is used to show that the nearest-neighbor surface ordering in [1 0 0] results from the anisotropic strain distribution of the cubic GaAs substrate.
Numerical Estimates of the Maximum Sustainable Pore Pressure in Anticline Formations using the Tensor Based Concept of Pore Pressure-Stress Coupling

Abstract The advanced tensor based concept of pore pressure-stress coupling is used to provide pre-injection analytical estimates of the maximum sustainable pore pressure change, ΔPc, for fluid injection scenarios into generic anticline geometries. The heterogeneous stress distribution for different prevailing stress regimes in combination with the Young's modulus (E) contrast between the injection layer and the cap rock and the interbedding friction coefficient, μ, may result in large spatial and directional differences of ΔPc. A single value characterizing the cap rock as for horizontal layered injection scenarios is not obtained. It is observed that a higher Young's modulus in the cap rock and/or a weak mechanical coupling between layers amplifies the maximum and minimum ΔPc values in the valley and limb, respectively. These differences in ΔPc imposed by E and μ are further amplified by different stress regimes. The more compressional the stress regime is, the larger the differences between the maximum and minimum ΔPc values become. The results of this study show that, in general compressional stress regimes yield the largest magnitudes of ΔPc and extensional stress regimes provide the lowest values of ΔPc for anticline formations. Yet this conclusion has to be considered with care when folded anticline layers are characterized by flexural slip and the friction coefficient between layers is low, i.e. μ = 0.1. For such cases of weak mechanical coupling, ΔPc magnitudes may range from 0 MPa to 27 MPa, indicating imminent risk of fault reactivation in the cap rock.
Editorial: Prologue to guidelines for stroke care.

This prologue makes clear the factors that provided incentive for creating the Joint Committee for Stroke Facilities to prepare and publish the series of articles appearing regularly in Stroke (beginning with the May-June, 1972, issue), best described by the general title of Guidelines for Stroke Care. It points out in admirable fashion the many facets of the disease and will serve to acquaint the reader with the comprehensive nature of the subjects discussed in the "Guidelines."
The Significance of Statistical Significance

This essay reviews The Cult of Statistical Significance: How the Standard Error Costs Us Jobs, Justice, and Lives, by Stephen T. Ziliak and Deirdre N. McCloskey. The book's core message is that statistical significance should not be equated with substantive significance and that empirical researchers should convey more information about the magnitude of relationships and effects than many now do. This essay summarizes, approves of, and elaborates on Ziliak and McCloskey's message with special attention to concerns of the legal academy. It clarifies appropriate uses of significance tests within the research framework of controlling for plausible rival hypotheses.
Regression Artifacts in Time-Series and Longitudinal Data.

Abstract The problem of “regression artifacts” in causal inference, otherwise known as the problem of error and reliable irrelevant variance in “independent” variables used for matching or regression adjustment, is illustrated first in the time-series data where a treatment is triggered by an extreme measure. The “offset effect” in psychotherapy, Underwood's scalloped learning curve, and potential pseudo-effects in AIDS therapies are used as illustrations. The magnitude of such artifacts is computable if the autocorrelation pattern for various lags is known, and thus could be distinguished from genuine effects. For longitudinal studies in which a population of respondents is repeatedly measured, the problem of anchoring the matching or regression adjustments on a single wave of measurement (usually the first) is illustrated as affected by the proximally autocorrelated nature of such measures. Data from a famous study of the effects of job training are reinterpreted in light of this consideration.
Onset of plural cooperative breeding in common marmoset families following replacement of the breeding male

Common marmosets, Callithrix jacchus, are usually characterized as singular cooperative breeders, with only a single, dominant female reproducing in each group. Anecdotal reports, however, have described two females breeding concurrently when an unrelated male joins their group. We tested the hypothesis that incorporation of an unrelated adult male into a family systematically leads to the onset of reproductive activity in a daughter and investigated the underlying mechanisms. We collected hormonal and behavioural data from mothers and their eldest daughters before and after the father was removed from the family and either replaced by an unrelated male (N ¼ 11) or immediately returned to the family (N ¼ 7). Variation between daughters in the occurrence of ovulatory cyclicity was not associated with the presence of an unrelated male but was closely linked to daughters’ relationships with their mothers: only anovulatory daughters behaved submissively towards their mothers. Daughters never engaged in sexual behaviour with their fathers, but most did so with unrelated males. Similarly, daughters never conceived in intact natal families but did so in eight of 11 families containing an unrelated male. In six of these families, the mother and daughter bred concurrently. Thus, incorporation of an unrelated adult male into a marmoset family may frequently lead to the onset of plural breeding by activating sexual behaviour in a daughter; however, daughters ovulate only if they are not behaviourally subordinate to their mothers. Therefore, both inbreeding avoidance and rank-related reproductive suppression may constrain reproduction in marmoset daughters and contribute to maintenance of singular breeding.
The distinct gene expression profiles of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma suggest different anti-apoptotic mechanisms but predict only some differences in phenotype

We compared gene expression in purified tumor cells from untreated patients with chronic lymphocytic (CLL) (n=24) and newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) (n=29) using the Affymetrix HuGeneFL microarray with probes for approximately 6800 genes. Hierarchical clustering analysis showed that CLL and MM have distinct expression profiles (class prediction). Gene and protein expression (measured by flow cytometry) correlated well for CD19, CD20, CD23, and CD138 in CLL and MM, but not for immunoglobulin light chain, CD38 and CD79b in CLL, or CD45 and CD52 in MM. CLL and MM differentially expressed 18% of 130 apoptosis related genes, suggesting differences in mechanisms of cell survival.
Testing Models of Chlorophyll and Transparency for Midwest Lakes and Reservoirs

ABSTRACT Seasonal means of chlorophyll (Chl), total phosphorus (TP), total and non-volatile suspended solids (TSS, NVSS), and Secchi depth from 28 reservoirs and natural lakes in Iowa, Kansas, and Oklahoma were used to test predictions of log-log regression models developed from Missouri reservoirs by Jones and Knowlton (1993). Water-bodies in Iowa, Kansas, and Oklahoma exhibited a curvilinear relation between log-Chl and log-TP similar to that for Missouri reservoirs. These data fit the Missouri regressions for Chl-TP and Chl-(TP NVSS) fairly well; although the Missouri models usually underpredicted Chl for Iowa waterbodies. Missouri models provided an excellent fit to outstate transparency data.
A systems-level understanding of adversarial behaviour

Modelling behaviour related to the perpetration of improvised explosive devices is extremely complex. Behavioural aspects range from those who create a plan to those who gather supplies for developing the devices to those who passively look the other way. Developing computational approaches to understanding such behaviour necessitates either a decomposition of behavioural activity into smaller, manageable behaviours or generalising larger, group behaviour where gross trends are observed. This may suffice for particular applications; however, additional consideration can be given to developing more comprehensive approaches. Specifically, for those seeking to understand terrorism, a number of social, cultural and behavioural perspectives are being developed by experts worldwide. These perspectives may complement each other or they may be in conflict, but they equally contribute to a broader understanding. Our research is developing computational methods to analyse and experiment with differing views and perspectives of potential influences on adversarial behaviour at this system-level.
Synthesis and Structures of Gallium Alkylthiolate Compounds

Gallium alkylthiolate complexes have been prepared from gallium amide complexes and thiols. The amide complex [Ga(NMe2)3]2 reacts with excess t-BuSH to give the amine adduct Ga(S-t-Bu)3(HNMe2). In contrast, the bulky amide complex Ga(N-i-Pr2)3 reacts with t-BuSH to give the homoleptic thiolate dimer [Ga(S-t-Bu)3]2. The analogous reaction between Ga(N-i-Pr2)3 and i-PrSH produces the salt [i-Pr2NH2][Ga(S-i-Pr)4], which on heating under vacuum loses amine and thiol to give the dimer [Ga(S-i-Pr)3]2. Reactions of [i-Pr2NH2][Ga(S-i-Pr)4] and [Ga(S-t-Bu)3]2 with excess pyridine give the adducts Ga(SR)3(py) (R = i-Pr or t-Bu). X-ray crystallographic studies show that the dimers have two bridging thiolate ligands. The Ga(μ-SR)2Ga four-membered ring in [Ga(S-i-Pr)3]2 has a planar anti geometry while the ring in [Ga(S-t-Bu)3]2 has a butterfly syn configuration. In the solid state, Ga(S-t-Bu)3(HNMe2) and [i-Pr2NH2][Ga(S-i-Pr)4] have trigonal-pyramidal and distorted tetrahedral geometries, respectively. The [Ga(SR)3]2...