cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rent seeking and market competition

This paper emphasizes that political behavior of interest groups is a result of economic calculation, and therefore is affected by the market conditions under which they operate. We develop a two-stage game to link political and market decision-making. We find that if unproductive rent-seekingdirectly contributes to rent-seekers' market operations, then their lobbying efforts will be excessive if the number of outsiders is relatively large, restrained if it is relatively small. If rent-seekingdirectly impairs rent-seekers' market operations, the above described behavior will be reversed. The analysis also reveals that as wasteful rent-seeking may increase rent-seeker's production cost, market competition shifts production from now less efficient rent-seekers to their non-rent-seeking rivals. Welfare gains from this shift may overshadow the direct waste of influence activities.
Cell Polarity: Netrin Calms an Excitable System

In a tractable model for cell invasion, the Caenorhabditis elegans anchor cell migrates through basement membranes towards a polarity cue provided by netrin. A new study reveals that the anchor cell polarity network can break symmetry and oscillate in the absence of netrin, suggesting the presence of interlinked positive and negative feedback loops, which are common in polarity pathways.
Utilization of electrical impedance imaging for estimation of in-vivo tissue resistivities

In order to determine in vivo resistivity of tissues in the thorax, the possibility of combining electrical impedance imaging (EII) techniques with (1) anatomical data extracted from high resolution images, (2) a prior knowledge of tissue resistivities, and (3) a priori noise information was assessed in this study. A Least Square Error Estimator (LSEE) and a statistically constrained Minimum Mean Square Error Estimator (MiMSEE) were implemented to estimate regional electrical resistivities from potential measurements made on the body surface. A two dimensional boundary element model of the human thorax, which consists of four different conductivity regions (the skeletal muscle, the heart, the right lung, and the left lung) was adopted to simulate the measured EII torso potentials. The calculated potentials were then perturbed by simulated instrumentation noise. The signal information used to form the statistical constraint for the MiMSEE was obtained from a prior knowledge of the physiological range of tissue resistivities. The noise constraint was determined from a priori knowledge of errors due to linearization of the forward problem and to the instrumentation noise.
Digital library system: capture, analysis, query, and display 3D data

This paper describes development of a storage, archival, and sketch-based query and retrieval system for 3D objects. The initial focus has been Native American ceramic vessels, scanned and defined as a set of three-dimensional triangulated meshes composed of points and triangles. The process involves modeling the data with parametric surfaces, and extracting relevant features to raise the level of abstraction of data. The project uses a class based XML schema to catalog and organize vessel data. A visual query process was developed to permit users to interact with the data using sketches or by selecting sample vessel shapes to augment text and metric search criteria to retrieve original and modeled data, and interactive 2D and 3D models.
The response of US business to consumerism

Reports on a survey carried out in the USA into the opinions of leading marketing managers and consumer advocates with respect to consumerism. Investigates, also the response of US business to consumerism. Offers several points to illustrate this, concluding that concepts of consumerism appear to have been institutionalized in the economic system of the USA.
Physicochemical properties as useful tools for predicting the environmental fate of organic chemicals.

Abstract The distribution of a chemical between the environmental media air, water, and soil/sediment is largely determined by its physical and chemical properties. Relatively inexpensive (compared to field studies) measurements can be used in order to predict roughly the distribution of the chemicals. This is of greatest importance in testing new chemicals. In this case, nothing is known about the behavior of the substance in the natural environment. Models still remain to be developed for calculating the distribution on the basis of physicochemical data for different environmental conditions or, alternatively, by using globally averaged data. It is shown that—except in the case of highly persistent chemicals—distribution can only be considered in conjunction with (biotic and abiotic) degradation processes. According to our present knowledge, the key properties with regard to the environmental fate include vapor pressure, water solubility, adsorption and desorption behavior, partition coefficient (octanol/water), volatility from aqueous solution, and hydrolysis and photochemical reactivity in the air, in water, and when absorbed at surfaces (aerosol, soil, organic matter).
Optical imaging of functional connectivity

Optical imaging of spontaneous brain activity provides a potent assay of brain functions and networks. We are developing neurophotonics for non-invasive imaging of humans in the clinic and for imaging mouse models of disease.
Continuity of a percolation function on the hierarchical group

AbstractIn this paper, we consider a long-range percolation model on the hierarchical group ΩN Two nodes in ΩN separated by distance k become connected with probability min {αβ−k, 1}, where α ≥ 0 and β > 0. The percolation function θ(α, β) is defined as the probability of having a infinite component contain the origin 0 ∊ ΩN. We show that θ(α, β) is continuous with respect to both α and β.
Procarbazine chemotherapy in the treatment of recurrent malignant astrocytomas after radiation and nitrosourea failure

The Brain Tumor Study Group has shown procarbazine (PCB) to be as effective an adjuvant treatment as 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU). We treated 35 patients with recurrent malignant astrocytomas after radiation and nitrosourea failure with successive courses of PCB 150 mg/m 2 /d for 28 days every 8 weeks. After 2 courses, 2 patients had complete responses, 7 had partial responses, 11 had stable disease, and 15 had progression. Significantly more patients receiving PCB had complete or partial responses or stable disease than a similar group of patients in a previous trial who received intraarterial (IA) cisplatin (DDP). There is a significant advantage in time to disease progression for those receiving PCB compared with those receiving IA diaziquone (AZQ). Our results suggest that PCB is a more effective 2nd agent than IA DDP or AZQ following radiation and nitrosourea failure.
Broadband light management using low-Q whispering gallery modes in spherical nanoshells

Control of light absorption in optical devices, such as solar cells, can be achieved through resonant features like whispering gallery modes. Here, these modes are exploited in spherical silicon nanoshells to enhance absorption over a broad spectral range in nanometre-scale flexible layers.
Effect of Testing Geometry on Measuring Fatigue of Asphalt Binders and Mastics

Fatigue damage is a distress observed in asphalt pavement at moderate to low temperatures due to cyclic loading of moving traffic. Recent developments in binder fatigue research have been made using parallel plate geometry in a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) to measure total dissipated energy and its change as a function of test cycles. Recent studies, however, have raised questions regarding the temperature level and stiffness level at which true binder fatigue can be measured with the parallel plate geometry in the DSR. It has been claimed that the binder’s stiffness of less than 15 MPa will result in instability failure known as “edge effect,” instead of true fatigue. Edge effect, better known as edge fracture in polymer science, is a normal-force dependent phenomenon which is characterized by the inability of material to maintain its geometry at its boundary with air/atmosphere. This study attempts to investigate further the relationship between binder’s stiffness and true fatigue using parallel plate ...
External-cause mortality after psychologic trauma: the effects of stress exposure and predisposition

Research suggests that exposure to psychologic trauma is associated with mortality from external causes, including homicide, suicide, drug overdoses, and unintended injury. However, the etiology of this association is unclear. We examined the survival time and cause of death among a national sample of 15288 US Army veterans by posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) status 30 years after military service. In these analyses, we included demographic (age, race, marital status, service entry age, and birthplace), predisposing (army volunteer status, discharge status, history of drug abuse, early-age alcohol use, and intelligence), and combat exposure variables. After adjusting for demographic and predisposing factors, all-cause mortality was associated with PTSD for all veterans combined (hazards ratio [HR] = 2.1, P < .001), as well as for era veterans without Vietnam service (HR = 2.0, P = .001) and theater veterans with Vietnam service (HR = 2.1, P < .001). For theater veterans, PTSD remained significant for all-cause mortality, even after controlling for demographic, predisposition, and combat exposure measures (HR = 2.1, P < .001). For external mortality, the adjusted results indicated that PTSD was associated with death for all veterans combined (HR = 2.3, P < .001) and for theater veterans separately (HR = 2.2, P = .002). For era veterans, the adjusted external mortality results also approached statistical significance (HR = 2.2, P = .068). Among theater veterans, PTSD remained significant for external mortality, even after controlling for all variables and combat exposure (HR = 2.2, P = .002). Combat exposure was not associated with external mortality once all variables were controlled. In addition, theater veterans who volunteered for Vietnam and those with dishonorable discharges were at increased risk for external-cause mortality.
Onset of oxidation of Al(111) at low temperatures: A study by electron-energy-loss spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy.

The early stages of oxygen adsorption and oxide formation on Al(111) have been studied at 135 K using a combination of electron-energy-loss spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy. Both surface and subsurface binding sites are occupied at 135 K, even at an oxygen exposure as low as 1.8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{15}$ molecules/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$. Further oxygen exposure preferentially increases the population of subsurface sites. When a sufficient number of oxygen atoms occupy surface and subsurface sites in close proximity, clustering occurs, resulting in ${\mathrm{Al}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ formation. Aluminum oxide is characterized by a three-peak vibrational spectrum with a characteristic loss feature at 325--425 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ and a distinct Auger transition at 54 eV. Surface spectroscopic studies of Al(111) oxidation are facilitated at low temperatures where kinetic retardation permits separation of the processes of chemisorption, penetration, and oxide formation.
Nonstructural carbohydrate utilization by wheat shaded during grain growth

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is commonly grown in dryland conditions, where environmental stress during grain filling can increase the dependency on stored assimilate. The objective of this study was to quantify the loss of total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC) from wheat leaves and stems and the increase in seed dry mass when severe shading stress occurred after anthesis. Beginning 10 to 11 d after anthesis, severe shading was imposed on 'Mit' wheat in the field at Temple, TX, in 1991 and 1992.During shading, plants with spikes had reductions in stem dry mass of 290 g kg −1 in 1991 and 140 g kg −1 in 1992. Leaf dry mass decreased 240 g kg −1 in 1991 and increased 10 g kg −1 in 1992 [...]
Depression improvement and parenting in low-income mothers in home visiting

Research on older children and high-resource families demonstrates that maternal improvement in depression often leads to parallel changes in parenting and child adjustment. It is unclear if this association extends to younger children and low-income mothers. This study examined if In-Home Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (IH-CBT), a treatment for depressed mothers participating in home visiting programs, contributes to improvements in parenting and child adjustment. Ninety-three depressed mothers in home visiting between 2 and 10 months postpartum were randomly assigned to IH-CBT (n = 47) plus home visiting or standard home visiting (SHV; n = 46). Mothers were identified via screening and subsequent diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD). Measures of depression, parenting stress, nurturing parenting, and child adjustment were administered at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 3 months follow-up. Results indicated that there were no differences between IH-CBT and controls on parenting and child adjustment. Low levels of depression were associated with decreased parenting stress and increased nurturing parenting. Improvement in depression was related to changes in parenting in low-income mothers participating in home visiting programs. IH-CBT was not independently associated with these improvements, although to the extent that treatment facilitated improvement; there were corresponding benefits to parenting. Child adjustment was not associated with maternal depression, a finding possibly attributed to the benefits of concurrent home visiting or measurement limitations. Future research should focus on longer-term follow-up, implications of relapse, and child adjustment in later years.
Bacterial contamination of pulmonary artery catheters

The catheter tips of 152 patients, who were haemodynamically supervised by pulmonary artery monitoring or continuous cardiac output determination, were bacteriologically examined. 106 cultures remained sterile, 21 cultures revealed a growth of non pathogenic organisms. Staphylococcus aureus was cultured 15 times, pseudomonas aeruginosa 4 times, Citrobacter as well as Escherichia coli twice, and Klebsiella and Enterobacter once each. There was no statistically significant connection between dwelling period and contamination. Also diabetes mellitus or corticoid medication in high dosage had no significant influence on contamination rate.
Ecology, Environmental Impact Statements, and Ecological Risk Assessment: A Brief Historical Perspective

Ecological risk assessment will continue to increase in importance as a conceptual and methodological basis for evaluating environmental impacts as required by the National Environmental Policy Act. Understanding the historical strengths and limitations of more traditional environmental assessments performed in support of the NEPA can facilitate the effective incorporation of ecological risk assessment into the NEPA process. Such integration will also benefit from a knowledge of the historical and continuing development of the ecological risk assessment process, as well as from a recognition of the contri butions from modern quantitative ecology and ecosystem science. Adopting a risk-based approach can improve the NEPA process by providing a framework for consistent and comprehensive ecological assessment and by providing a conceptual and methodological basis for addressing the varied uncertainties attendant to environmental assessments. The primary concern in integrating ecological risk assessment into t...
Investing in Climate Governance and Equity in a Post-Durban World

The Durban Platform for Enhanced Action was adopted at the 2011 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) in South Africa and one of the key achievements of the 2011 UN Conference was the agreement on and the launch of the Green Climate Fund. As the international community prepares for the 2012 UNFCC talks to start in Qatar in November-December 2012, the past history of global environmental and climate change financing issues as well as the role of finance and investment in addressing global climate change will be examined in this article using the Green Climate Fund as a case study. While it is hard to be optimistic about the current international geo-political context and the policy success of the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action, the Green Climate Fund does represent a real opportunity to move forward on global climate governance and bring real economic and technological dividends to the developing world.
Engineering Considerations Of Catheters For Intravascular Ultrasonic Measurements

The mechanical properties of commonly used fluid transfusion or pressure monitoring catheters are similar to the properties required of catheters which include sensing devices. Consequently, bending and torsional stiffness of commercial catheters and tubes were measured at both room and body temperature. Five of these usually placed with the aid of fluoroscopy had an average Young's modulus of 5714x101 dyne/cm at 21°C which decreased 29% at body temperature; a shear modulus of 70.5x101 dyne/cm 4 at 21°C which decreased 13% at body temperature, and plastic deformation of 8% when loaded for 1 minute at 37°. Four of these were composed of a composite material. Catheters which are balloon directed during insertion had moduli values approximately 1/3 of these or less. The drag forces produced on balloons used on such catheters were measured for fluid velocities ranging from 10-50 cm/sec. Using this information the average force applied to a balloon throughout a cardiac cycle was calculated; values of 1280 dynes for a .6 ml balloon and 2490 dynes for a 1 ml balloon were found. The maximum wall thicknesses to catheter radii for single lumen catheters were determined for various material moduli which would allow the catheter tip to be directed by a balloon during its passage into the right heart.
Characterization of a distinct glucocorticoid-binding protein in the lactating mammary gland of the rat.

Abstract Specific substances binding [3H]triamcinolane acetonide were detected in the cytosol fraction of the lactating mammary gland of the rat using sucrose gradient centrifugation. These receptors, which were protein in nature, exhibited sedimentation coefficients of 7–8 S and dissociated into lower molecular weight components sedimenting at 4–5 S when separated on sucrose gradients containing 0.4 M KCl. The cytoplasmic form of the binding protein was relatively specific for glucocorticoids although progesterone inhibited binding significantly. The dissociation constant (Kd) of the receptor-ligand complex was in the range of 10−8 M. p-Chloromercuribenzoate diminished the ligand-binding capacity of the receptor suggesting a role for sulfhydryl groups in the binding reaction. Cytosols from mammary tissue obtained from virgin and pregnant rats revealed a paucity of binding sites as compared to those in the lactating gland. Examination of ligand-binding specificity indicates that these glucocorticoid-binding sites are distinct and easily discriminated from those of either the estrogen receptor of the mammary gland or the triamcinolone-binding component in plasma.
Normothermic renal artery perfusion: a comparison of perfusates

Hypothermia and preservative perfusates have been used to decrease ischemic renal injury. This study was performed to identify the preservative function of perfusates independent of the effects of hypothermia. Rats underwent 45 minutes of renal ischemia. Rectal and renal parenchyma temperatures were monitored and maintained within 1 degree C of normal. Perfusates were University of Wisconsin solution (UW), Euro-Collins solution, normal saline solution, and Ringer's lactate solution. A nonperfused ischemic control and a nonischemic control group were also evaluated. Parameters evaluated included serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels, renal ischemic injury grade, renal weight, and gross appearance of the injured kidney. Rats treated with UW solution were found to have a significantly lower creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and injury grade than the other three perfused groups. The external gross appearance of the UW-treated kidneys was normal, whereas that of the other groups demonstrated moderate to severe injury. Although the mean right/left renal weight difference of the UW-treated group was lower than that of the other three groups, this was not statistically significant. Under normothermic conditions in rats, UW solution affords significant renal protection from ischemia. Euro-Collins, normal saline, and Ringer's lactate solutions display no significant protective effect.
Are Cultural Values Predictors of Moral Reasoning in African American Adolescents

This study explored the effect of cultural orientation on African American adolescent moral reasoning. Because African communal values are cornerstones of African American communities and related concepts such as perspective-taking and social relationships influence morality, African cultural values were expected to positively predict moral reasoning in the youth. Individualistic values were expected to negatively predict moral reasoning. Fifty 13- and 14-year old African American male and female adolescents completed sociomoral reasoning and cultural orientation questionnaires. Pearson correlations, ANOVAs, and standard multiple regressions were conducted. As hypothesized, the African values of spirituality, communalism, and affect positively correlated with moral reasoning. Communalism, affect, and the Anglocultural value of interpersonal competition positively predicted moral reasoning. The findings suggested that communal values positively influence the development of African American youth.
The potential health effects of Melicoccus bijugatus Jacq. fruits: phytochemical, chemotaxonomic and ethnobotanical investigations

Most natural product research is market-driven and thus many plant species are overlooked for their health value due to lack of financial incentives. This may explain the limited information available about the health effects of the edible fruit species Melicoccus bijugatus, a member of the Sapindaceae family that grows mostly in the Caribbean and in parts of South America. However, recent phytochemical studies of these fruits have shed some light on their biological effects. In this review the health effects of M. bijugatus fruit pulp and seeds are assessed in relation to phytochemical and ethnobotanical studies, as well as chemotaxonomic information and medicinal uses of other Sapindaceae species. The chemistry of M. bijugatus fruits was found to be different than the other Sapindaceae fruits, although some of the medicinal uses were similar. Specific phenolics or sugars in M. bijugatus fruits may contribute to their therapeutic uses, especially for gastrointestinal problems, and to some extent toxicological effects. This review focuses our understanding about the specific biological effects of M. bijugatus fruits, which may be useful for predicting other medicinal uses, potential drug or food interactions and may benefit people where the fruits are prevalent and healthcare resources are scarce.
Disruption in the tropomodulin1 (Tmod1) gene compromises cardiomyocyte development in murine embryonic stem cells by arresting myofibril maturation.

Tropomodulins (Tmods) comprise a family of capping proteins for actin filament pointed ends. To decipher the significance of Tmod1 functions during de novo myofibrillogenesis, we generated Tmod1 null embryonic stem (ES) cells and studied their differentiation into cardiomyocytes. Strikingly, in vitro cardiomyocyte differentiation of wild type (WT) ES cells faithfully recapitulates in vivo cardiomyocyte differentiation, allowing us to evaluate the phenotypes of Tmod1 knockout (KO) myofibrils irrespective of embryonic lethality of Tmod1 KO mice. Immunofluorescence and electron microscopy studies revealed that Tmod1 null cardiac myocytes were round, morphologically immature, and contained underdeveloped myofibrils that were shorter, narrower, and had fewer thin filaments than those in WT cells. Unexpectedly, clear gaps in the staining pattern for F-actin at the H-zone were detected in most KO cells, indicating the presence of filaments at uniform lengths. This indicates that additional mechanisms other than capping proteins are responsible for thin filament length maintenance in cardiac myocytes. Also unexpectedly, ¨40% of the KO cardiac myocytes exhibited contractile activity. Our data indicate that differentiating ES cells are a powerful system to investigate the functional properties of contractile proteins and that Tmod1 functions are critical for late stages of myofibrillogenesis, and for the maturation of myofibrils.
Offline Brews and Online Views: Exploring the Geography of Beer Tweets

This chapter analyzes the distribution of geocoded social media data (also referred to as a cyberscape) that references “beer” and related terms. Drawing upon an ongoing research project that archives every geocoded tweet in the world, this chapter explores differences in the frequency and geographic distribution of the everyday commentary made by Twitter users about beer. While the sheer volume of activity, close to a million geocoded beer tweets in 2012, is notable in its own right, it is only when comparisons between subsets of the data are made that the most intriguing spatial patterns emerge. In order to showcase these patterns of differences within online social media, this chapter compares beer tweets to twitter commentary on other topics, i.e., contrasting the geography of wine and beer tweets as well as examining differences within the online conversations about beer, i.e., how do references to light beers or regional “cheap” beers vary over space. These geographical differences (e.g., where are the hot spots for “beer” vs. “wine” or “Bud Light” versus “Coors Light”) illuminates how the commentary and views expressed online, reflect offline practices and preferences. In short, the visualization of “beer space” produced by mapping tweets represents the complex intertwining of offline preferences for specific brews which are expressed via an online practice of presenting ones views.
The U.S. health care system's uneasy relationship with primary care

Background : The main purpose of this essay is to review the role of primary care in the U.S. health care system and assess the probability that health reform will lead to greater emphasis on primary care. Methods : The author conducted a literature review to present an historical analysis of policies designed to increase the availability and use of primary care in the U.S. Results : Despite widespread agreement that the use of primary care should be expanded, U.S. policies have encouraged the growth of a system that relies predominantly on specialty care. The 2010 health reform law includes several provisions designed to increase the availability and use of primary care, but the new Congress has threatened to delay the law’s implementation. Conclusions : As concepts, primary care and prevention enjoy nearly universal support in the U.S., but the reality does not match the rhetoric.
Significance of the detection of esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (parabens) in human breast tumours.

This issue of Journal of Applied Toxicology publishes the paper Concentrations of Parabens in Human Breast Tumours by Darbre et al. (2004), which reports that esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (parabens) can be detected in samples of tissue from human breast tumours. Breast tumour samples were supplied from 20 patients, in collaboration with the Edinburgh Breast Unit Research Group, and analysed by high-pressure liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. The parabens are used as antimicrobial preservatives in underarm deodorants and antiperspirants and in a wide range of other consumer products. The parabens also have inherent oestrogenic and other hormone related activity (increased progesterone receptor gene expression). As oestrogen is a major aetiological factor in the growth and development of the majority of human breast cancers, it has been previously suggested by Darbre that parabens and other chemicals in underarm cosmetics may contribute to the rising incidence of breast cancer. The significance of the finding of parabens in tumour samples is discussed here in terms of 1) Darbre et al’s study design, 2) what can be inferred from this type of data (and what can not, such as the cause of these tumours), 3) the toxicology of these compounds and 4) the limitations of the existing toxicology database and the need to consider data that is appropriate to human exposures. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Endotoxin Induced Metabolic Alterations in BCG Infected (Hyperreactive) Mice

SummaryThe cause of hypoglycemia induced by endotoxin in BCG infected mice was investigated. The major abnormality, known to be defective gluconeogenesis, was studied to determine whether a specific point in the gluconeogenic pathway is involved or whether the derangement is more general. The inability of endotoxin poisoned mice to synthesize glucose from glycerol and fructose in addition to pyruvate indicated that the entire pathway was in disarray. The in vivo oxidation of glucose, glycerol and palmitate to CO2 was reduced, indicating that enhanced aerobic oxidation was not responsible for the hypoglycemia. This decrease in substrate oxidation also suggests that impaired gluconeogenesis may be due to decreased energy available to maintain the gluconeogenic pathway. Pharmacologic doses of glucocorticoids were protective in endotoxin poisoned BCG infected mice. The rate of development of hypoglycemia was rapidly lessened, and mortality reduced. The data suggest that steroids confer protection by preventin...
Beam dynamics of muon acceleration for neutrino factory

A conceptual design of a muon acceleration scheme based on recirculating superconducting linacs is proposed. In the presented scenario, acceleration starts after ionization cooling at 245 MeV/c and proceeds to 20 GeV, where the beam is injected into a neutrino factory storage ring. The key technical issues are addressed; such as: the choice of acceleration technology (superconducting versus normal conducting) and the choice of RF frequency and finally, implementation of the overall acceleration scheme: capture, acceleration, transport and preservation of large phase space of fast decaying species. Beam transport issues for large-momentum-spread beams are accommodated by appropriate lattice design choices. The proposed arc optics is further optimized with a sextupole correction to suppress chromatic effects contributing to emittance dilution.
Principled animation of artificial intelligence algorithms

Visualization is an important component of modern computing. By animating the course of an algorithm's temporal execution, many key features can be elucidated. The author has developed a general framework, termed Call-Graph Caching (CGC), for automating the construction of many complex AI algorithms. By incorporating visualization into CGC interpreters, principled animations can be automatically displayed as AI computations unfold. Systems that support the automation animation of AI algorithms must address these three design issues: how to represent AI data structures in a general, uniform way that leads to perspicuous animation and efficient redisplay; how to coordinate the succession of graphical events; and how to partition AI graphs to provide for separate, uncluttered displays. CGC provides a natural and effective solution to all these concerns. The author describes the CGC method, including detailed examples, and discusses why CGC works well for animation. He discusses the CACHE system, the CGC environment for AI algorithm animation. Finally, the author demonstrates the animation of several AI algorithms-RETE match, linear unification, arc consistency, chart parsing, and truth maintenance-all of which have been implemented in CACHE.
Roles of the Nuclear Lamina in Stable Nuclear Association and Assembly of a Herpesviral Transactivator Complex on Viral Immediate-Early Genes

ABSTRACT Little is known about the mechanisms of gene targeting within the nucleus and its effect on gene expression, but most studies have concluded that genes located near the nuclear periphery are silenced by heterochromatin. In contrast, we found that early herpes simplex virus (HSV) genome complexes localize near the nuclear lamina and that this localization is associated with reduced heterochromatin on the viral genome and increased viral immediate-early (IE) gene transcription. In this study, we examined the mechanism of this effect and found that input virion transactivator protein, virion protein 16 (VP16), targets sites adjacent to the nuclear lamina and is required for targeting of the HSV genome to the nuclear lamina, exclusion of heterochromatin from viral replication compartments, and reduction of heterochromatin on the viral genome. Because cells infected with the VP16 mutant virus in 1814 showed a phenotype similar to that of lamin A/C −/− cells infected with wild-type virus, we hypothesized that the nuclear lamina is required for VP16 activator complex formation. In lamin A/C −/− mouse embryo fibroblasts, VP16 and Oct-1 showed reduced association with the viral IE gene promoters, the levels of VP16 and HCF-1 stably associated with the nucleus were lower than in wild-type cells, and the association of VP16 with HCF-1 was also greatly reduced. These results show that the nuclear lamina is required for stable nuclear localization and formation of the VP16 activator complex and provide evidence for the nuclear lamina being the site of assembly of the VP16 activator complex. IMPORTANCE The targeting of chromosomes in the cell nucleus is thought to be important in the regulation of expression of genes on the chromosomes. The major documented effect of intranuclear targeting has been silencing of chromosomes at sites near the nuclear periphery. In this study, we show that targeting of the herpes simplex virus DNA genome to the nuclear periphery promotes formation of transcriptional activator complexes on the viral genome, demonstrating that the nuclear periphery also has sites for activation of transcription. These results highlight the importance of the nuclear lamina, the structure that lines the inner nuclear membrane, in both transcriptional activation and repression. Future studies defining the molecular structures of these two types of nuclear sites should define new levels of gene regulation.
A characterization of polyhedral market games

The class of games without side payments obtainable from markets having finitely many commodities and continuous concave utility functions is considered. It is first shown that each of these so-called market games is totally balanced, for a reasonable generalization of the idea of a balanced side payment game. It is then shown that among polyhedral games (i.e., games for which each (V(S) is a polyhedron), this property characterizes the market games.
A statistical comparison of hot‐ion properties at geosynchronous orbit during intense and moderate geomagnetic storms at solar maximum and minimum

Hot-ion measurements at geosynchronous orbit from the Los Alamos Magnetospheric Plasma Analyzer (MPA) instrument during geomagnetic storms at solar maximum (July 1999–June 2002) and at solar minimum (July 1994–June 1997) are collected, categorized, and analyzed through the superposed epoch technique. To investigate this source of the storm-time ring current, the local time (LT) and universal time (UT) dependence of the average variations of hot-ion fluxes (at the energies of ∼30, ∼17, ∼8, and ∼1 keV), density, temperature, entropy, and temperature anisotropy are examined and compared among four storm categories, i.e., 44 intense storms and 120 moderate storms, defined by the pressure corrected Dst (Dst*), at the two solar extrema. All the hot-ion parameters are highly disturbed around Dst*min; they show distinct peaks or minima and display obvious increase or decrease regions, whose locations do not change much with levels of geomagnetic activity and solar activity. It is also found that intense storms at solar minimum always have the highest (lowest) average peak value (minimum) in each hot-ion parameter. Around Dst*min in each storm category, hot ions are clearly denser near dawn than those near dusk. On the nightside and in the afternoon sector, temperature and entropy during solar minimum storms are usually higher than those during solar maximum storms; there is actually no clear temperature and entropy enhancement during solar maximum storms. During each type of storm, hot ions are isotropic on the nightside but anisotropic (T per /T par > 1) close to noon.
Processing of the Drosophila Sog protein creates a novel BMP inhibitory activity.

Structurally unrelated neural inducers in vertebrate and invertebrate embryos have been proposed to function by binding to BMP4 or Dpp, respectively, and preventing these homologous signals from activating their receptor(s). In this study, we investigate the functions of various forms of the Drosophila Sog protein using the discriminating assay of Drosophila wing development. We find that misexpression of Drosophila Sog, or its vertebrate counterpart Chordin, generates a very limited vein-loss phenotype. This sog misexpression phenotype is very similar to that of viable mutants of glass-bottom boat (gbb), which encodes a BMP family member. Consistent with Sog selectively interfering with Gbb signaling, Sog can block the effect of misexpressing Gbb, but not Dpp in the wing. In contrast to the limited BMP inhibitory activity of Sog, we have identified carboxy-truncated forms of Sog, referred to as Supersog, which when misexpressed cause a broad range of dpp(−) mutant phenotypes. In line with its phenotypic effects, Supersog can block the effects of both misexpressing Dpp and Gbb in the wing. Vertebrate Noggin, on the other hand, acts as a general inhibitor of Dpp signaling, which can interfere with the effect of overexpressing Dpp, but not Gbb. We present evidence that Sog processing occurs in vivo and is biologically relevant. Overexpression of intact Sog in embryos and adult wing primordia leads to the developmentally regulated processing of Sog. This in vivo processing of Sog can be duplicated in vitro by treating Sog with a combination of the metalloprotease Tolloid (Tld) plus Twisted Gastrulation (Tsg), another extracellular factor involved in Dpp signaling. In accord with this result, coexpression of intact Sog and Tsg in developing wings generates a phenotype very similar to that of Supersog. Finally, we provide evidence that tsg functions in the embryo to generate a Supersog-like activity, since Supersog can partially rescue tsg(−) mutants. Consistent with this finding, sog(−)and tsg(−) mutants exhibit similar dorsal patterning defects during early gastrulation. These results indicate that differential processing of Sog generates a novel BMP inhibitory activity during development and, more generally, that BMP antagonists play distinct roles in regulating the quality as well as the magnitude of BMP signaling.
For Whom the Bell Tolls: Parenting Decisions and Challenges Faced by Mothers Who Are HIV Seropositive

We delineate critical parenting issues faced by mothers who are HIV seroposttive. These issues, which must be considered within the environmental context in which most of these women live, include major life decisions (pregnancy, disclosure, future planning) and daily life challenges (day-to-day parenting, managing other burdens). Research is virtually nonexistent and, as most parenting issues faced by mothers who are seroposttive are unique, “it is not possible to draw upon work with other parents for direction and solution. Research on the parenting issues faced by these women is needed to guide interventions and policy.
Novel Lipoprotein Markers Remain Elevated Despite Statin Therapy After Heart Transplant

s S285 < 50% were excluded. Transmitral flow velocity variables were utilized (peak velocity during early (E) and late (A) filling, medial and lateral annular diastolic velocities (e medial, e lateral). Estimated PCWP was calculated using the following formula (ePCWP = 1.24 * (E /e lateral) + 1.9) whereas invasive PCWP (iPCWP) was calculated using pulmonary artery catheter. Results: In our cohort (age, median 56 years (45-63), 57 male (80%), mean EF (63 ± 7%), mean iPCWP was 12 ± 4 mmHg and mean ePCWP was 13 ± 3 mmHg. Strong correlation was noted between iPCWP and E (r= 0.5, P= < 0.0001), E/e lateral (r= 0.53, P= < 0.0001), but weak correlation with E/e medial (r= 0.34, P= 0.002). Using linear regression analysis, a strong significant correlation existed between iPCWP and ePCWP (r= 0.53, P= < 0.0001). Conclusion: In heart transplant recipients, ePCWP correlates with iPCWP, and E/e lateral was the strongest among diastolic echocardiographic indices.
Multiclass classification of single-trial evoked EEG responses

The detection of event-related potentials (ERPs) in the electroencephalogram (EEG) signal has several real-world applications, from cognitive state monitoring to brain-computer interfaces. Current systems based on the detection of ERPs only consider a single type of response to detect. Hence, the classification methods that are considered for ERP detection are binary classifiers (target vs. non target). Here we investigated multiclass classification of single-trial evoked responses during a rapid serial visual presentation task in which short video clips were presented to fifteen observers. Each trial contained potential targets that were human or non-human, stationary or moving. The goal of the classification analysis was to discriminate between three classes: moving human targets, moving non-human targets, and non-moving human targets. The analysis revealed that the mean volume under the ROC surface of 0.878. These results suggest that it is possible to efficiently discriminate between more than two types of evoked responses using single-trial detection.
Immunotherapy of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma With hLL2 (Epratuzumab, an Anti-CD22 Monoclonal Antibody) and Hu1D10 (Apolizumab)

Clinical activity of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies both in the unlabeled (rituximab [Rituxan; Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, CA, and IDEC Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, CA]) and radiolabeled forms, as well as radioimmunoconjugates targeting other antigens, has resulted in the exploration of alternative targets for immunotherapeutic strategies in lymphoma. We report on the rationale for and initial efforts in the development of two unlabeled, humanized monoclonal antibodies directed against molecules commonly expressed in B-cell malignancies. hLL2 (epratuzumab; Immunomedics, Inc, Morris Plains, NJ) binds to the CD22 antigen, while Hu1D10 (apolizumab; Protein Design Labs, Inc, Fremont, CA) reacts with a polymorphism on the HLA-DR beta chain. Preclinical studies and early clinical evaluations suggest that these agents have a potential role as novel therapeutic targets for lymphoma with acceptable toxicity profiles. Further efforts will explore optimal clinical settings for their use, as well as define treatment regimens either as single agents or in combination with chemotherapy or other biologics. Semin Oncol 29 (suppl 2):81-86. Copyright © 2002 by W.B. Saunders Company.
Systemic Proliferative Changes and Clinical Signs in Cynomolgus Monkeys Administered a Recombinant Derivative of Human Epidermal Growth Factor

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) effects have been explored extensively in vivo in rodents, but little is known about trophic responses in nonhuman primates. A previous publication reports the hyperplastic epithelial/parenchymal changes noted in the digestive tract (tongue, esophagus, stomach, intestine, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and salivary glands) of adult cynomolgus monkeys treated with recombinant human EGF(1-48) (rhEGF(1-48)). This report documents clinical findings and structural effects in the remaining epithelium-containing tissues of these animals. Two monkeys/sex/dose received rhEGF(1-48) by intravenous bolus at 0 (vehicle), 10, 100, 500 (females only), or 1,000 microg/kg/day (males only) daily for up to 2 weeks. Treatment- and dose-related clinical findings included emesis, fecal alterations (soft feces and diarrhea), lacrimation, nasal discharge, hypoactivity, transient hypotension, and salivation after dosing. Male monkeys administered 1,000 microg/kg became moribund after 5 days of treatment and were necropsied. All other monkeys completed the 2-week treatment period. Necropsy findings in nongastrointestinal tissues were: enlarged, pale kidneys at 100 microg/kg and greater; small thymuses seen sporadically at all doses; and enlarged adrenals and small thyroids in males at 1,000 microqg/kg. Respective organ-to-brain weight ratios at 500 and 1,000 microg/kg for kidneys were 1.5- and 2.6-fold greater and for heart were 1.7- and 1.3-fold greater than controls. Microscopically, pronounced dose-related epithelial hypertrophy and hyperplasia were evident in kidney, urinary bladder, skin (epidermis and adnexa), mammary gland, prostate, seminal vesicles, epididymis, uterus, cervix, vagina, thyroid, thymus, tonsillar crypts, cornea, trachea, and pulmonary airways. Epitheliotrophic effects were conspicuous in many tissues at 100 to 1,000 microg/kg. Changes to renal collecting ducts were present at 10 microg/kg, suggesting that kidneys were a relatively sensitive target. Proliferative alterations were not apparent in testes, intraocular structures, brain ependyma and choroid plexus at any dose. Aside from the noted exceptions, rhEGF(1-48) was a pantrophic epithelial mitogen in cynomolgus monkeys when used intravenously at suprapharmacologic doses.
The Field of Research in Recreation

(1939). The Field of Research in Recreation. Research Quarterly. American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 10, No. 4, pp. 11-19.
Noise Reduction of a Model-Scale Landing Gear Measured in the Virginia Tech Aeroacoustic Wind Tunnel

The effectiveness of various fairings for landing gear noise reduction was measured in the Virginia Tech (VT) Stability Wind Tunnel. This wind tunnel was recently upgraded to an aeroacoustic facility, which allowed acoustic measurements to be carried out in the far-field, out of the flow, and in a low reverberant environment. The model was a very faithful replica of the full-scale landing gear, designed to address the issues associated with low-fidelity models. A 63-element microphone phased array was used to locate the noise source components of the landing gear in its baseline and streamlined configurations, and to measure the noise reduction potential of the fairings. Measurements were carried out from two far-field positions on the flyover path of the landing gear. Through a comparison between the noise levels of the landing gear with and without fairing, the noise reduction potential of each fairing could be estimated. The results from these experiments also showed that if phased-array measurements of the landing gear noise are carried out in the near-field, the noise reduction potential of the fairings could be largely overestimated.
Lack of benefit of ursodeoxycholic acid in drug-induced cholestasis in the rat.

The administration of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has been reported to improve cholestasis in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis or sclerosing cholangitis. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that UDCA similarly might reduce cholestasis induced by drugs. Rats were treated with three different drugs reported to induce cholestasis: 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol, alpha-napthylisothiocyanate, and cyclosporine A. UDCA administration (0.4.g/day-1.k-1 before and during administration of the cholestatic drug) did not improve survival, food intake, or serum indicators of cholestasis in any of these three animal models of cholestasis. To the extent that drug-induced cholestasis in rats mimics the human situation, we conclude that UDCA probably will not be beneficial in drug-induced cholestasis in humans.