cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Telomere length and mortality risk among adults in the United States: The role of age and race and ethnicity

ABSTRACT Purpose To examine whether there was an association of leucocyte telomere length (LTL) with all-cause, cardiovascular (CVD)- and cancer-specific mortality risks among U.S. adults; and whether these associations vary with race and ethnicity and age. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999 to 2002 and the 2015 Linked Mortality File on adults 25 years or older (n = 6,526 and 1,753 deaths). Cox proportional hazards regression was used to quantify the association of LTL with each outcome adjusting for baseline sociodemographic and health-related characteristics. We tested a three-way interaction for LTL, race and ethnicity, and age groups. Results After adjustment, the rate of dying for all-cause and CVD-specific mortality was at least 24% lower for a 1 kilobase increase in LTL. When compared with adults with the shortest telomere, the rates of dying were at least 17% lower for all-cause and CVD-specific mortality for those with longer telomere. For all-cause mortality, increase LTL was associated with lower rate of dying among non-Hispanic Blacks 45 years or older, and non-Hispanic Whites 65 years or older. Conclusions We found that increase telomere length was associated with lower all-cause and CVD-specific mortality rates among U.S. adults. For all-cause mortality, this association varies within racial and ethnic groups across age groups.
A TOUCH OF REALITY: THE TIME AND NON-LABOR FINANCIAL COSTS OF MAIL SURVEYS

An important issue in mail surveys is the response rate. An influential guide for planning and conducting mail surveys to obtain response rates as high as 75 percent is Don Dillman's (1978) Mail and Telephone Surveys: The Total Design Method. While effective, the procedures he describes are surprisingly demanding both in terms of time and labor. During the course of a regional mail survey on agricultural biotechnology, detailed records of the time and non-labor financial costs of using his procedures were compiled. They are categorized in this paper into fifteen different phases, and the time and non-labor costs of each phase are listed. The total time taken for the survey was approximately 300 hours at a total cost of close to $1 0,500. Following all but the final step of Dillman's ( 1978) procedures resulted in a lower than expected response rate of 33 percent. We attribute this to possible antipathy stemming from of an excessively surveyed sample of farmers. Supporting this view is a response rate of 49 percent from the organic farmers in our sample- a group that has not been as extensively surveyed.
Developing E-Services for Composing E-Services

The Internet is rapidly becoming the preferred mean through which companies provide services to businesses and customers. A large number of e-services, including for instance stock trading, customized newspapers, real-time traffic report, or itinerary planning, is already available on the Web, and the type and number of e-services grows on a daily basis. In order to support the development and deployment of e-services, software vendors are developing e-services frameworks and platforms, that provide a language for describing an e-service, and then allow service providers to register, advertise and securely deliver e-services to (authorized) users. A composite e-service is an e-service defined by composing other basic or composite e-services. As the e-service paradigm becomes popular and more and more applications are developed or deployed as e-services, the need and opportunity for defining composite service become manifest. This paper presents a specific type of e-service (or, rather, a meta e-service) called Composition E-Service (CES), that allows the definition, execution, management, and monitoring of composite e-services. We first describe the advantages and the functionality of such a service. Next, we present the language used for specifying the composition, also discussing why existing workflow languages are not suitable for this purpose. Finally, we present the architecture and implementation of the CES we developed to deliver the service on top of the e-services platform e-speak. An analogous architecture and implementation strategy can be followed with any other e-services platform.
Dynamic vs. Static Quantum-Based Parallel Processor Allocation

This paper improves upon previous synthetic workload models and compares the performance of dynamic spatial equipartitioning (EQS) and the semi-static quantum-based FB-PWS processor allocation defined in [23], under synthetic workloads that have not previously been considered. These new workloads include realistic repartitioning overheads and job characteristics that are consistent with system measurement, anticipated trends, and experience. The overall conclusion from the results is that the EQS policy is generally superior to the FB-PWS policy even under realistic repartitioning overheads. We find cases where the EQS system saturates earlier than the FB-PWS system, and vice versa. This leads to the definition of a modified EQS policy, called EQS-PWS, which has performance equal to or better than EQS and FB-PWS for all workloads examined in this paper.
Phoresy by Hemisarcoptes (Acari: Hemisarcoptidae) on Chilocorus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): Influence of subelytral ultrastructure

The non-phoretic stages of mites of the genus Hemisarcoptes are predators of the family Diaspididae. The heteromorphic deutonymph (hypopus) maintains a stenoxenic relationship with beetles of the genus Chilocorus. The mites attach to the subelytral surface of the beetle elytron during transport. There is variation in mite density among species of Chilocorus. Both Hemisarcoptes and Chilocorus are being applied to biological control programs around the world. The objective of this study was to determine whether subelytral ultrastructure (spine density) plays a role in the evolution of symbiosis between the mite and the beetle. The subelytral surfaces of 19 species of Chilocorus and 16 species of Exochomus were examined. Spine density was determined for five subelytral zones: (A) anterior pronotal margin, (B) medial central region, (C) caudoventral tip, (D) lateral distal margin, and (E) epipleural region. Spine density on the subelytral surface of Chilocorus and Exochomus was inversely correlated with the size of the elytron for all zones except Zone C. This suggests that an increase in body size resulted in a redistribution of spines and not an addition of spines. The pattern of spine density in Exochomus and Chilocorus follows a single size-density trajectory. The pattern of subelytral ultrastructure is not strictly consistent with either beetle phylogeny or beetle allometry. The absence of spines i s not correlated with either beetle genus or size, and species of either Chilocorus or Exochomus may be devoid of spines in any zone, irrespective of body size. A general difference between species of Chilocorus and Exochomus is the fact that while spine density in Chilocorus is clinal relative to the size gradient, Exochomus is dichotomous and likely to have either many spines or no spines in a particular zone. No species of Chilocorus was completely devoid of spines. Five species of Exochomus had n o spines at all, thus making it difficult to interpret the primary function of the subelytral spines in a general way. Within the genus Chilocorus,spine density may play a synergistic role in host association. Based on morphological evidence alone, these findings lead to the hypothesis that the species of Chilocorus that would be most conducive to biological control application in conjunctions with Hemisarcoptes would be: C. cacti, C. distigma, C. fraternus, C. orbus, C. tristis and to a lesser extent C. bipustulatus.
Antimicrobial Agents from Higher Plants

The modern antibiotic era can be said to have opened on February 12, 1941, with the first clinical trial of penicillin. Within a couple of years man had at last, after eons of adventitious searching, a truly effective and safe agent for the treatment of many systemic bacterial infections. This was shortly followed by the introduction of one after another of the major antibiotic substances which remain the mainstay of clinical therapy of infectuous diseases to this date. Intensive screening of fermentation liquors derived from various microbes, principally fungi and streptomycetes, has resulted in literature descriptions of more than 2,000 Individual antibiotics to date, and It has been estimated that more than 20,000 analogs of 6-amino- penicillante acid alone have been made by chemists working tn close collaboration with biochemists and microbiologists. Several of these substances are currently on the market.
Lower bound methods for multiparty communication complexity

Multiparty communication complexity is a measure of the amount of communication required to compute a function whose input is distributed among multiple parties. Proving lower bounds in the "Number on the Forehead" model of Chandra, Furst, and Lipton has been quite difficult, but results are of importance in many areas including time-space tradeoffs and lower bounds for VLSI and Boolean circuits, as well as constructions of universal traversal sequences and pseudorandom generators for space bounded computation. Currently, the largest known lower bounds for explicit functions are of the form Ω( n/2k), where k is the number of players and n is the number of bits missed by each player. All of the previous lower bounds of this type utilize some version of the discrepancy method, thus they also apply to the distributional and randomized multiparty communication complexity models. We introduce three new measures, tensor weight, tensor norm, and tensor rank, each of which can be used to prove lower bounds on multiparty communication complexity. We prove that the discrepancy of a multidimensional tensor can be estimated using the weight of the tensor. This measure appears to be simpler to analyze and it gives close to optimal bounds on discrepancy. Our second measure, the norm, can be used to estimate the weight, and thus discrepancy. We show an interesting connection between tensor norm and Lagrange multipliers. The tensor rank method is not based on the discrepancy method. We also give a variant of tensor rank that provides lower bounds on probabilistic communication complexity. We give an extension of the Hadamard property of matrices for tensors in multiple dimensions, and we present an Ω(n/2 k) lower bound on any k-party, n-bit communication problem represented by a Hadamard tensor. We also give explicit constructions of Hadamard tensors giving Ω( n/2k) lower bounds for a new class of Boolean functions. We also examine all functions previously known to have Ω( n/ck) lower bounds and show their place in a unifying framework of nearly Hadamard tensors.
Un antropólogo entre los historiadores: Un informe de campo

El presente ensayo -publicado originalmente en The South Atlantic Quarterly en 1962- expone los problemas metodologicos, pragmaticos y sociologicos que los antropologos, entrenados de la manera tradicional, enfrentan cuando tratan de hacer una investigacion historica. Utilizando la ingeniosa tecnica de estructurar su discurso como una clasica monografia antropologica de los cincuenta, el autor define el problema -la sobrevivencia de los antropologos en los archivos-, describe el lugar y su gente -el habitat academico del historiador profesional- y explora la organizacion economica y social del curioso y paralelo mundo del historiador social. El ensayo cierra con una reflexion sobre las dinamicas metodologicas y profesionales que separan el trabajo de los antropologos y los historiadores, marca un rumbo interdisciplinario entre ambos mundos academicos con intereses y perspectivas comunes
A high conductance helium temperature heat switch

Abstract Metallic contact heat switches with high thermal conductances have been designed and tested in the 4 to 15 K temperature range. Both gold plating and solid silver were used for the contact surfaces. Switch conductances greater than 1 W K−1 at 15 K were achieved for a switch closed at this temperature with a force of 54 kg. The conductance is proportional to temperature, and varies approximately as the 2 3 power of the closing force.
Autoimmune effector memory T cells: the bad and the good

Immunological memory is a hallmark of adaptive immunity, a defense mechanism endowed to vertebrates during evolution. However, an autoimmune pathogenic role of memory lymphocytes is also emerging with accumulating evidence, despite reasonable skepticism on their existence in a chronic setting of autoimmune damage. It is conceivable that autoimmune memory would be particularly harmful since memory cells would constantly “remember” and attack the body’s healthy tissues. It is even more detrimental given the resistance of memory T cells to immunomodulatory therapies. In this review, we focus on self-antigen-reactive CD4+ effector memory T (TEM) cells, surveying the evidence for the role of the TEM compartment in autoimmune pathogenesis. We will also discuss the role of TEM cells in chronic and acute infectious disease settings and how they compare to their counterparts in autoimmune diseases. With their long-lasting potency, the autoimmune TEM cells could also play a critical role in anti-tumor immunity, which may be largely based on their reactivity to self-antigens. Therefore, although autoimmune TEM cells are “bad” due to their role in relentless perpetration of tissue damage in autoimmune disease settings, they are unlikely a by-product of industrial development along the modern surge of autoimmune disease prevalence. Rather, they may be a product of evolution for their “good” in clearing damaged host cells in chronic infections and malignant cells in cancer settings.
The K-T boundary in Oman: identified using magnetic susceptibility field measurements with geochemical confirmation

Abstract Recognizing distal ejecta marker horizons and correlating these among widely separated sections is typically difficult in the absence of visually distinctive marker beds. Here we propose a magnetic susceptibility (MS) field method to locate such horizons, and explore the K–T boundary interval at Abat, Oman, as a test of the method. A distinctive pattern of high MS values was used to approximately locate the K–T boundary interval in a sequence of platform carbonates, which were then sampled in detail. Whole-rock geochemical enrichments in Ir, V, As, Ni, Co, Zn and Zr and a large negative carbon isotope anomaly confirmed the inferred boundary location. Common microspherules whose chemistry reflects the whole-rock geochemistry are associated with the boundary interval. The association suggests that the microspherules formed during or as a result of the impact. The geochemical record at the Abat locality shows two levels where Ir is high (>1 ppb) suggesting input from two impacts, separated in the section by 1.35 m. The upper level is chosen as the boundary interval based on the high Ir (1.19 ppb), δ13C negative excursion (∼7‰), and distinctive MS pattern.
Chronic stimulation of D1 dopamine receptors in human SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cells induces nitric-oxide synthase activation and cytotoxicity.

Abstract Elevated synaptic levels of dopamine may induce striatal neurodegeneration in l-DOPA-unresponsive parkinsonism subtype of multiple system atrophy (MSA-P subtype), multiple system atrophy, and methamphetamine addiction. We examined the participation of dopamine and D1 dopamine receptors in the genesis of postsynaptic neurodegeneration. Chronic treatment of human SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cells with dopamine or H2O2 increased NO production and accelerated cytotoxicity, as indexed by enhanced nitrite levels and cell death. The antioxidant sodium metabisulfite or SCH 23390, a D1 dopamine receptor-selective antagonist, partially blocked dopamine effects but together ablated dopamine-mediated cytotoxicity, indicating the participation of both autoxidation and D1 receptor stimulation. Direct activation of D1 dopamine receptors with SKF R-38393 caused cytotoxicity, which was refractory to sodium metabisulfite. Dopamine and SKF R-38393 induced overexpression of the nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms neuronal NOS, inducible NOS (iNOS), and endothelial NOS in a protein kinase A-dependent manner. Functional studies showed that ∼60% of total NOS activity was due to activation of iNOS. The NOS inhibitor N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester and genistein, wortmannin, or NF-κB SN50, inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinases phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and NF-κB, respectively, reduced nitrite production by dopamine and SKF R-38393 but were less effective in attenuating H2O2-mediated effects. In rat striatal neurons, dopamine and SKF R-38393, but not H2O2, accelerated cell death through increased expression of neuronal NOS and iNOS but not endothelial NOS. These data demonstrate a novel pathway of dopamine-mediated postsynaptic oxidative stress and cell death through direct activation of NOS enzymes by D1 dopamine receptors and its associated signaling pathways.
The simplest chronoscope: group and interindividual differences in visual reaction time.

Summary The use of the simplest chronoscope (a falling meterstick) to measure visual reaction time (RT) in college students of both sexes is described. Tests of three hypotheses showed that (1) mean simple RT was significantly faster than long-standing population approximations and (2) a single-factor, repeated-measures, sequential-treatment analysis of variance design replicated Donders' long-standing findings that simple RT was significantly faster than choice RT; simple RT was significantly faster than discriminative RT; and that discriminative RT was significantly faster than choice RT. Also, (3) eta-squared effect size (η2) computed on significant interindividual subject differences accounted for more variability than the η2 effect size computed on significant differences between treatments. It was concluded that (1) the simplest chronoscope's methodology may have contributed to the significantly faster mean simple RT; (2) interindividual differences in RT should no longer be routinely ignored or eli...
Secretory granules in the cytoplasm of a wall-less mutant of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii contain processed light-harvesting complex apoproteins and HSP70

Abstract Large, electron dense granules are present within vacuoles in the cytoplasm of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cwl15arg7A cells. Immunocytochemical electron microscopy revealed labeling of these granules when sections of cells were incubated with antibodies specific for apoproteins (Lhcb) of the light-harvesting chlorophyll a b complex (LHCII). The granules were also labeled with antibodies against the cytosolic molecular chaperone Hsp70. Purified granules contained Hsp70 and processed, mature forms of Lhcb as minor constituents. Appearance of processed Lhcb in the vacuole suggests that these proteins were products of retrograde movement resulting from aborted import into the chloroplast. Immunoreactive granules were released from the cell following fusion of the vacuolar and plasma membranes.
Voice Onset Time production in older Caucasian- and African-Americans

In an earlier study (Ryalls, Zipprer and Baldauff, 1997) significant differences in Voice Onset Time (VOT) production were found between younger males and younger females, as well as between African-American and Caucasian-American speakers. In this study we attempted to replicate these significant effects for gender and ethnic background in a group of older speakers. Participants in this study were healthy normal speakers between 50 and 70 years of age and included 10 African-Americans and 10 Caucasian-Americans with 10 males and 10 females. Speakers in this study produced real words with each of the 6 stop consonants of English (/p/, /t/, /k/; /b/, /d/, /g/) combined with the three extreme vowels (/i/, /a/, /u/) in monosyllabic words ending with a voiceless stop. Each of these 18 stimuli were then read at least five times in random order within a repetition and recorded onto Digital Audio Tape (DAT). The Brown University Laboratory Interactive Speech System (BLISS, Mertus, 1999) was used to display wavef...
Choquet integrals and natural extensions of lower probabilities

Abstract Both the Choquet integral with respect to monotone set functions and the natural extensions of lower probabilities are generalizations of the Lebesgue integral with respect to σ-additive measures. The relation between these generalizations is investigated. We show that the Choquet integral with respect to a belief measure is always greater than or equal to the corresponding natural extension. Also, we compare some concepts introduced in the theory of imprecise probabilities with concepts established in fuzzy measure theory, capacity theory, and Dempster-Shafer theory.
Does calving matter? Evidence for significant submarine melt

Abstract During the summer in the northeast Pacific Ocean, the Alaska Coastal Current sweeps water with temperatures in excess of 12 °C past the mouths of glacierized fjords and bays. The extent to which these warm waters affect the mass balance of Alaskan tidewater glaciers is uncertain. Here we report hydrographic measurements made within Icy Bay, Alaska, and calculate rates of submarine melt at Yahtse Glacier, a tidewater glacier terminating in Icy Bay. We find strongly stratified water properties consistent with estuarine circulation and evidence that warm Gulf of Alaska water reaches the head of 40 km-long Icy Bay, largely unaltered. A 10–20 m layer of cold, fresh, glacially-modified water overlies warm, saline water. The saline water is observed to reach up to 10.4 °C within 1.5 km of the terminus of Yahtse Glacier. By quantifying the heat and salt deficit within the glacially-modified water, we place bounds on the rate of submarine melt. The submarine melt rate is estimated at >9 m d −1 , at least half the rate at which ice flows into the terminus region, and can plausibly account for all of the submarine terminus mass loss. Our measurements suggest that summer and fall subaerial calving is a direct response to thermal undercutting of the terminus, further demonstrating the critical role of the ocean in modulating tidewater glacier dynamics.
Hypothetical functions of toxin-antitoxin systems.

Toxin-antitoxin systems are very commonly found both on large, low-copy plasmids, where they increase effective stability ([35][1]), and on bacterial chromosomes, where their function has been the subject of considerable speculation. In this issue of the Journal of Bacteriology, Virginie Tsilibaris
Expressiveness of the Design Exemplar

As new representations are introduced to model various aspects of engineering design or to support computer aided design automation systems, these representations should be evaluated with respect to their intrinsic and extrinsic properties. One such property that is explored in this paper is “representational expressiveness”. This paper provides a systematic approach to exploring the expressiveness of new design representations by providing an evaluation of the design exemplar with respect to expressiveness. This expressiveness is decomposed into: coverage of vocabulary, flexibility of definition of vocabulary, type of vocabulary, mappability to existing representations, and support of basic design tasks. The design exemplar is examined with respect to these aspects of expressiveness, systematically laying a foundation for the intrinsic justification for basing future design automation systems on the principles of the design exemplar. This paper is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all aspects of the design exemplar. Rather, this paper is written to compel the design automation community to begin to develop a more systematic and reasoned approach in evaluating the automation systems and representations that are introduced in our research.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Parallel Alignment of Poly-γ-Benzyl-Glutamate Nematic Liquid Crystal at a Solid Surface

Abstract We have developed a simple practical method of producing large single crystalline nematic samples of poly–γ-benzyl-glutamate aligned parallel on glass or quartz substrates. The substrates were plasma coated with a thin polyethylene film and the sample was then aligned in a 10 K Gauss magnetic field. This produced very uniformly aligned parallel samples with the direction of alignment determined by the magnetic field. The uniformity of the alignment is enhanced by silicon monoxide evaporated obliquely on the substrates prior to coating with polyethylene. The characterization of the polyethylene coating is given, and the properties of the resulting surface are described.
SU‐DD‐A4‐02: A Novel Optical Imager Towards Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Purpose: To design and develop a portable optical imager for early‐stage breast cancer diagnostics, providing great depth information, enhanced data acquisition rates, and minimal patient discomfort. Method and Materials: A unique measurement geometry of simultaneous multiple point source illumination was implemented in the design and development of the hand‐held based optical probe. Simultaneous multiple point detection was carried out using an intensified charge‐coupled camera (ICCD) that can be operated in the continuous wave and frequency domain measurement approaches. The hand‐held based imaging probe has been coupled to the ICCD detection system and the performance characteristics (in terms of measurement accuracy and precision) of the imager is characterized through initial phantom studies under homogeneous conditions. Results: Preliminary simulated studies using simultaneous multiple point illuminationmeasurement geometry over the universally used single point illumination geometry demonstrated an increase in the detected signal strength as well as total interrogated tissue volumes. An optimal number of source and detector fibers used to develop the probe head, minimized the dead volume and improved the data acquisition times. Conclusion: A novel fluorescence‐enhanced imagingsystem was developed using a hand‐held probe and an ICCD camera, enabling the flexible and rapid imaging of any given tissue volume. Further work involves phantom based experimental studies towards 3D optical imaging and tomographic analysis. The final goal is to translate the current laboratory‐based techniques into routine clinical use.
Write, P.L.E.A.S.E.: A Video-Assisted Strategic Intervention to Improve Written Expression of Inefficient Learners

This investigation is the second phase of ongoing field-testing of a metacognitive strategy for teaching written expression. The instructional activities of a video-assisted strategic intervention for developing written expression skills known as Write, P.L.E.A.S.E are described. The instructional activities were field-tested during the 1989 summer school session for at-risk students using treatment and comparison groups. An analysis of covariance revealed significant gains in the written expression skills of students in the treatment group over time. Results also suggested that the strategic intervention was significantly more effective than the traditional, grammar-based language arts instruction delivered in the comparison group.
Technical Investigation of an Hispano-Moresque Lustered Deep Dish in the Walters Art Gallery

The purpose of this study was to characterize the materials and methods of manufacture of a lead-tin and luster glazed earthenware deep dish formerly in the collection of William Randolph Hearst and currently at the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore, MD. A number of analytical techniques were employed in order the evaluate the authenticity of the piece: stereomicroscopy. Xeroradiography. polarized light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS), thermoluminescence analysis (TL). and neutron activation analysis (NAA). The research results support stylistic evidence in affirming that the object is a 16th century Valencian product.
Levels of indole-3-acetic acid in vigorous and genetic dwarf apple trees

Seasonal levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) present in buds, meristematic tissues, and leaves of 1-year-old shoots of two selections (vigorous and dwarf) of a F2 generation apple population with original “Goldspur” × “Redspur” parentage were determined using gas chromatography—selected ion monitoring—mass spectrometry (GC-SIM-MS) with a13C-IAA internal standard. A comparison of IAA levels through one growing season was made in the shoots of two trees differing in growth. The levels of IAA in the leaves of the vigorous tree were higher in the early and late growing seasons, as compared to those in the dwarf tree. Levels of IAA in buds of the dwarf tree shoots were found to be higher than in those of the vigorous tree shoots.
A Novel Micro Aerial Vehicle Design: The Evolution of the Omnicopter MAV

This paper presents an evolution on the configuration of a novel micro aerial vehicle (MAV) design, the Omnicopter MAV. The first generation Omnicopter prototype has an actuation system with eight degrees of freedom (DOFs) consisting of 5 brushless direct current (BLDC) motors and 3 servo motors. It is composed of a carbon fiber rod built airframe, 2 central counter-rotating coaxial propellers for thrust and yaw control, and 3 perimeter-mounted electric ducted fans (EDFs) with servo motors performing thrust vectoring. During the development of the second generation prototype, we simplified and 3D printed the frame to increase stiffness, robustness and manufacturability, and reduced the actuation DOFs from 8 to 7 by removing the top propeller and using just the bottom one for yaw control to improve performance. Flight controller and control allocator designs and test flight results for this new configuration are presented in this paper.© 2014 ASME
Poor response to sertraline in methamphetamine dependence is associated with sustained craving for methamphetamine.

Background Depression is common among individuals with methamphetamine (MA) use disorders. As agents that enhance serotonergic function are frequently used to treat depression, one might predict that they would be useful medications for MA dependence. However, clinical trials of serotonergic agents for MA addiction have been unsuccessful.
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND GROWTH OF PIGS FOLLOWING MIXING DURING THE GROWING-FINISHING PERIOD'

Abstract Behavior and average daily gain were evaluated after mixing pigs amongst litters or maintaining them as littermate groups, after weaning and initially limit or full fed. Limit fed mixed groups fought most and gained least of the treatment groups. Limit fed littermate groups fought least of the groups. Limit feeding after moving and mixing pigs amongst litters may reduce pathological conditions but was not demonstrated to reduce behavioral stress, as indicated by the expression of agonistic behavior.
The digital global geologic map of Mars: Chronostratigraphic ages, topographic and crater morphologic characteristics, and updated resurfacing history☆

Abstract A new global geologic map of Mars has been completed in a digital, geographic information system (GIS) format using geospatially controlled altimetry and image data sets. The map reconstructs the geologic history of Mars, which includes many new findings collated in the quarter century since the previous, Viking-based global maps were published, as well as other discoveries that were made during the course of the mapping using new data sets. The technical approach enabled consistent and regulated mapping that is appropriate not only for the map's 1:20,000,000 scale but also for its widespread use by diverse audiences. Each geologic unit outcrop includes basic attributes regarding identity, location, area, crater densities, and chronostratigraphic age. In turn, units are grouped by geographic and lithologic types, which provide synoptic global views of material ages and resurfacing character for the Noachian, Hesperian, and Amazonian periods. As a consequence of more precise and better quality topographic and morphologic data and more complete crater-density dating, our statistical comparisons identify significant refinements for how Martian geologic terrains are characterized. Unit groups show trends in mean elevation and slope that relate to geographic occurrence and geologic origin. In comparison with the previous global geologic map series based on Viking data, the new mapping consists of half the number of units due to simpler, more conservative and globally based approaches to discriminating units. In particular, Noachian highland surfaces overall have high percentages of their areas now dated as an epoch older than in the Viking mapping. Minimally eroded (i.e., pristine) impact craters ≥3 km in diameter occur in greater proportion on Hesperian surfaces. This observation contrasts with a deficit of similarly sized craters on heavily cratered and otherwise degraded Noachian terrain as well as on young Amazonian surfaces. We interpret these as reflecting the relatively stronger, lava-rich, yet less-impacted materials making up much of the younger units. Reconstructions of resurfacing of Mars by its eight geologic epochs using the Hartmann and Neukum chronology models indicate high rates of highland resurfacing during the Noachian (peaking at 0.3 km2/yr during the Middle Noachian), modest rates of volcanism and transition zone and lowland resurfacing during the Hesperian (∼0.1 km2/yr), and low rates of mainly volcanic and polar resurfacing (∼0.01 km2/yr) for most of the Amazonian. Apparent resurfacing increased in the Late Amazonian (∼0.03 km2/yr), perhaps due to better preservation of this latest record.
A prolegomena to a study of the antecedents of inter personal communication

Abstract After describing the widespread popularity enjoyed by recently established courses in Interpersonal Communication, this article traces the genesis of such courses to “humanistic” trends in education, contemporary theories in psychotherapy developed by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow, and the concern for “feelings” expressed by students in the sixties.
Is it good to express uncertainty to a patient? Correlates and consequences for medical students in a standardized patient visit.

Abstract Objective To examine the consequences of expressions of uncertainty (EOUs) in medical student interactions, with a particular focus on the gender of the expressor. Methods EOUs were identified in 147 videotaped interactions between third-year medical students and standardized patients enacting four medical scenarios. The encounters were also analyzed using the Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS). A subset of these interactions was shown to 244 analogue patients who rated satisfaction, liking, and perceived competence and confidence. Results Female medical students used more EOUs but not when adjusted for total number of statements. The EOU rate varied across scenarios. A higher EOU rate was perceived as more affectively negative by both RIAS trained coders and analogue patients. EOU rate was inversely related to analogue patient satisfaction and liking and this relationship was stronger for males than females. Female student use of EOUs was more strongly associated with ratings of anxiety than was male EOU use. Conclusion There was an overall negative perception of medical students who expressed uncertainty; however, the strength of the associations varied due to medical student gender. Practice implications The implications for medical education are discussed.
Refined Rank Regression Method with Censors

Reliability engineers often face failure data with suspensions. The rank regression method with an approach introduced by Johnson has been commonly used to handle data with suspensions in engineering practice and commercial software. However, the Johnson method makes partial use of suspension information only—the positions of suspensions, not the exact times to suspensions. A new approach for rank regression with censored data is proposed in this paper, which makes full use of suspension information. Taking advantage of the parametric approach, the refined rank regression obtains the ‘exact’ mean order number for each failure point in the sample. With the ‘exact’ mean order number, the proposed method gives the ‘best’ fit to sample data for an assumed times-to-failure distribution. This refined rank regression is simple to implement and appears to have good statistical and convergence properties. An example is provided to illustrate the proposed method. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Separation of mammalian cell surface proteins by a two-dimensional gel electrophoresis system

Abstract Separation of externally exposed plasma membrane proteins of mammalian cells has been achieved by a new two-dimensional gel electrophoresis system. The proteins were separated in the first dimension on cylindrical polyacrylamide gels containing 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and in the second dimension on polyacrylamide slab gels containing 9 M urea, 0.1% SDS, and 0.1% Triton CF10. Using this method we have obtained reproducible high-resolution patterns of cell surface proteins of differentiated rat neuro-tumor cells in culture and of normal rat retinal cells. Different cell types show characteristic cell surface proteins in addition to ubiquitous ones. The number of common surface proteins between two cell types account for approximately half of the total surface proteins. By immunoprecipitation we have also found that rabbit anti-serum against a rat neuronal cell line can recognize most of these external proteins. Since the separation in the first dimension is done in the presence of SDS and the second dimension in the presence of SDS, a non-ionic detergent, and urea, the technique is particularly suitable for proteins that are of poor solubility. In addition to size, net charge and hydrophobicity appear to be important factors in the separation. Virtually all of the proteins that run in the first dimension can be recovered and further separated in the second.
Gastric bypass in obese rats causes bone loss, vitamin D deficiency, metabolic acidosis, and elevated peptide YY.

Abstract Background Metabolic bone disease and bariatric surgery have long been interconnected. The objective of this study is to better understand the mechanisms of bone mass loss after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery. We evaluated mineral homeostasis and bone mass in diet-induced obese (DIO) rats after RYGB or sham surgery. Methods Twelve DIO male Sprague Dawley rats underwent RYGB (n = 8) or sham (n = 4) surgery at 21 weeks of age. Postoperatively, animals ate an ad libitum 40% fat, normal calcium diet and were euthanized 22 weeks later. Serum and urine chemistries, insulin, leptin, bone turnover markers (BTM), and calciotropic and gut hormones were measured before and 22 weeks after surgery. Femurs were analyzed using microcomputed tomography (µCT). Results Compared to sham, RYGB animals had lower serum bicarbonate, calcium, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, insulin, and leptin levels with higher serum parathyroid hormone, peptide YY, and urinary calcium at 43 weeks of age. Sham control rats gained weight and had coupled decreases in formation (P1NP and OC) and unchanged resorption (CTX) BTMs. Comparatively, RYGB animals had higher serum CTX and OC but even lower P1NP levels than controls. µCT revealed lower trabecular bone volume, number, and thickness and lower cortical bone volume, thickness, and moment of inertia relative to controls. Conclusion In rats with DIO, long-term RYGB-associated bone resorption appears to be driven in part by vitamin D malabsorption and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Other mechanisms, such as chronic acidosis, changes in fat-secreted hormones, and persistently elevated gut-derived hormone peptide YY, may also contribute to observed bone mass differences. Further investigation of these potential contributors to bone loss may lead to new targets for skeletal maintenance after RYGB.
The effects of sex-role attitudes and group composition on men and women in groups

The dual impact of group gender composition and sex-role attitudes on self-perceptions and social behavior was explored. Androgynous and stereotyped men and women were placed in groups of skewed sex composition. Subjects' self-descriptions of masculine attributes shifted significantly in the group environment. In some instances, sex role-stereotyped subjects responded most stereotypically when their gender was in the minority in the group. Differences between men and women and between androgynous and stereotyped subjects in sex role-related preferences for group roles and discussion topics were also found.
Vertically propagating hydromagnetic waves in an isothermal atmosphere with a horizontal magnetic field

Abstract The problem considered is that of vertically propagating hydromagnetic waves of small amplitude and frequency 2π/ω in a horizontally stratified, perfectly conducing, isothermal atmosphere with a horizontal magnetic field. In an ideal fluid the boundary value problem for such waves is not well determined. However, the presence of small viscosity is sufficient to determine a unique solution. The resulting differential equation can be solved in terms of hypergeometric functions. The solution shows that the acoustic-gravity waves are modified by the effects of the viscosity and of the magnetic field in such a way as to be partly reflected downward.
Conversational gestures for direct manipulation on the audio desktop

We describe the speech-enabling approach to building auditory interfaces that treat speech as a first-class modality. The process of designing effective auditory interfaces is decomposed into identifying the atomic actions that make up the user interaction and the conversational gestures that enable these actions. The auditory interface is then synthesized by mapping these conversational gestures to appropriate primitives in the auditory environment.We illustrate this process with a concrete example by developing an auditory interface to the visually intensive task of playing tetris. Playing Tetris is a fun activity that has many of the same demands as day-to-day activities on the electronic desktop. Speech-enabling Tetris thus not only provides a fun way to exercise ones geometric reasoning abilities - it provides useful lessons in speech-enabling commonplace computing tasks.
Changes in umbilical-cord blood oxygen affinity after intrauterine transfusions for erythroblastosis.

Abstract The oxygen affinity of umbilical-cord blood was measured in 15 infants who received intrauterine transfusions (IUT) of adult blood for severe erythroblastosis fetalis (EF), seven infants with EF and various degrees of anemia who did not receive IUT, and nine infants unaffected by EF. Adult erythrocytes retained their characteristic oxygen-binding properties after a prolonged residence: 56 ± 21 days (mean ±S.D.) in the fetus. Infants who received 2 to 4 IUT had a mean P50 (half-saturation oxygen tension at pH 7.40) of 27.1 mm of mercury. Erythroblastotic infants without IUT and normal infants had a P50 of 20.8 mm of mercury. A significant correlation was observed between the oxygen affinity of blood and the percentage of fetal hemoglobin. A negative regression of P50 on total hemoglobin concentration was seen in infants with IUT but not in the others. Infants who received IUT had increased concentrations of red-cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG). Normal fetal growth and lack of acidosis at birt...
Rounds, Levels, and Waves: The Early Evolution of Gameplay Segmentation

This article explores the early evolution of the structure and management of gameplay in videogames. The authors introduce the notion of gameplay segmentation to capture the role that design elements such as level, boss, and wave play in videogames and identify three modes of segmentation. Temporal segmentation limits, synchronizes, and/or coordinates player activity over time. Spatial segmentation breaks the game's virtual space into sublocations. Challenge segmentation presents the player with a sequence of self-contained challenges. The authors describe each mode, and additional submodes, by analyzing vintage arcade games. The analyses illustrate how these games represent a “primordial soup” in which many current game design conventions were first explored. Their simplicity provides the authors with access to the original “building blocks” of videogames, thus allowing them to develop a rich vocabulary for the discussion.
Dimensional thinking in language impaired children.

This study investigated the dimensional knowledge evidenced by language impaired (LI) preschoolers. Ten LI and 10 language normal (LN) children, aged 3:6 to 5:9, were asked to solve verbal and nonv...
Internal Iliac Vein Transposition for Vascular Reconstruction After Resection of an External Iliac Vein Leiomyosarcoma

Primary vein leiomyosarcoma is rare type of a vascular sarcoma and arises from the spindle cells of the venous wall. The tumor may present difficulty of vascular reconstruction after en block resection. We present a case of internal iliac vein transposition for vascular reconstruction after resection of an external iliac vein leiomyosarcoma.To our knowledge, this is first report of the external iliac vein replacement with the ipsilaterally transposed internal iliac vein.
Three-dimensional imaging of metabolites in tissues under ambient conditions by laser ablation electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Three-dimensional (3D) imaging of molecular distributions offers insight into the correlation between biochemical processes and the spatial organization of a biological tissue. Simultaneous identification of diverse molecules is a virtue of mass spectrometry (MS) that in combination with ambient ion sources enables the atmospheric pressure investigation of biomolecular distributions and processes. Here, we report on the development of an MS-based technique that allows 3D chemical imaging of tissues under ambient conditions without sample preparation. The method utilizes laser ablation electrospray ionization (LAESI) for direct molecular imaging with lateral and depth resolutions of ∼300 μm and 30−40 μm, respectively. We demonstrate the feasibility of LAESI 3D imaging MS of metabolites in the leaf tissues of Peace lily (Spathiphyllum lynise) and the variegated Zebra plant (Aphelandra squarrosa). Extensive tandem MS studies help with the structure identification of the metabolites. The 3D distributions are ...
Isolation of an activator macromolecule for Alanyl-tRNA synthetase from rat liver

Summary Hydrophobic chromatography (1,6 hexanediamine Sepharose 4B) of crude extracts of rat liver leads to a 40–50% loss of total alanyl-tRNA synthetase activity applied to the column. Assaying the alanyl-tRNA synthetase with various pooled fractions from the column indicates the presence of an activator macromolecule for this synthetase. The activator is 260,000 to 350,000 daltons in size. In presence of the activator the alanyl-tRNA synthetase behaves as an allosteric enzyme for tRNA binding. Also, in presence of the activator, the apparent km values for ATP and A1a binding to alanyl-tRNA synthetase are lower while the maximum velocity remains the same.