cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Avian community structure in a large urban park: Controls of local richness and diversity

Abstract This study compared avifaunal richness and diversity at five ponds in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California. The objectives of the study were to: (1) determine interpond differences in avian community structure and composition; (2) evaluate avian-habitat relationships; (3) use these data to develop recommendations for enhancing avian habitats within urban refuges. Of eight environmental variables measured, three correlated highly with the over-all use of pond areas by birds; the width of buffer between the pond and park boundary; general habitat structure within the buffer zone (i.e. peripheral habitat structure); local habitat structure around the pond. Aquatic birds, unlike transitional or upland species, were not affected by either the width of buffer or peripheral habitat structure; rather, pond size largely dictated the number and diversity of aquatic bird species. Overall richness and diversity of birds were higher at the more natural and centrally located ponds, whereas abundance and biomass were greatest at the most unnatural and least isolated site. Avifaunal differences among sites were attributed to two factors: (1) the level of urban-related disturbance, which in turn is a function of the width of buffer and the structure of peripheral habitats: (2) the availability of species-specific habitat requirements, which depends on local habitat conditions. Interpond variation in avifaunal richness and diversity in Golden Gate Park was striking, and underscores the influence of man dictating local avifaunal differences within urban parks. Recommendations for designing and maintaining pond habitats to enrich bird communities in urban parks are: (1) construct ponds (preferably >1 ha) as far as possible from adjacent urban development, and maintain a complex mosaic of vegetation within the buffer zone surrounding the pond; (2) establish shrubby vegetation interspersed with bare ground and trees along the shoreline; (3) provide irregular shoreline shapes (i.e. high edge); (4) maintain overhanging vegetation or low artificial perches (e.g. flooded posts) in or near the water; (5) provide islands; (6) maintain standing dead trees (especially flooded).
Intermediate-scale sea ice — Atmosphere interactions over high southern latitudes in winter

Associations between polar air cloud vortices (“polar lows”), as an indicator of intermediate-scale atmospheric activity, and the Antarctic sea ice, are examined for the Southern Hemisphere winter (June–September). Seven consecutive winters, spanning a period of marked interannual variability of the atmospheric circulation and sea ice (1977–83), are analyzed using sets of DMSP (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program) imagery. Relatively high frequencies of polar lows are found in ice-edge and adjacent ocean latitudes. There is some evidence for an equatorward shift in the latitude of maximum monthly polar low occurrence during the June to September period. Polar low incidence over the Southern Hemisphere on interannual time scales shows a close association with positive sea ice anomalies in the longitudes of more frequent cold air outbreaks from higher latitudes. This is particularly apparent for winters of strongly anomalous circulation, such as FGGE (1979) and the major ENSO of 1982–83. However, for individual cases on daily to weekly time scales, the feedback of cold air — sea ice advance — polar low development is not always evident, and implies that additional processes may contribute to polar air cyclogenesis in the marginal ice zone.
HEXIM1 is a critical determinant of the response to tamoxifen

Tamoxifen resistance is a major problem in the treatment of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive patients. We have previously reported that hexamethylene bis-acetamide-inducible protein 1 (HEXIM1) inhibits ERα activity by competing with ERα for binding to cyclin T1, a subunit of positive transcription elongation b (P-TEFb). This results in the inhibition of the phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) at serine 2 and the inhibition of transcription elongation of ERα target genes. As HEXIM1 can inhibit ER activity, we examined whether it has a critical role in the inhibitory effects of tamoxifen on ER. We observed that tamoxifen-induced HEXIM1 recruitment to the promoter region of ER target genes and decreased the recruitment of cyclin T1 and serine 2 phosphorylated RNAPII to the coding regions of these genes. Conversely, in cells wherein HEXIM1 expression has been downregulated we observed attenuation of the inhibitory effects of tamoxifen on estrogen-induced cyclin T1 recruitment to coding regions of ER target genes. As a consequence, downregulation of HEXIM1 resulted in the attenuation of the repressive effects of tamoxifen on estrogen-induced gene expression and proliferation. Conferring clinical relevance to our studies is our analysis of human breast cancer tissue samples that indicated association of lower expression of HEXIM1 with tumor recurrence in patients who received tamoxifen. Our studies provide a better understanding of the mechanistic basis for the inhibitory effect of tamoxifen on ER activity and may suggest new therapeutic targets for the treatment of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer.
The effects of therapy for mild hypertension on circulating level of dopamine beta-hydroxylase.

Abstract Circulating dopamine β-hydroxylase levels and norepinephrine excretion were measured in 76 mild hypertensive patients. Levels of dopamine β-hydroxylase, norepinephrine excretion and blood pressure were obtained both before and after the initiation of therapy. Data from 20 patients exhibiting a diastolic blood pressure decrease of 10 mmHg or more were compared with data from 10 normotensive individuals. Changes in dopamine β-hydroxylase levels were similar for the two groups and were not related to blood pressure changes. Intra-individual variation was small in both groups. There were no detectable functional relationships between diastolic pressure and urinary norepinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine β-hydroxylase or dopamine β-hydroxylase and diastolic pressure. It does not seem likely that dopamine β-hydroxylase levels can replace urinary catecholamines as a commonly used index of sympathetic activity.
Finite element model-based tumor registration of microPET and high-resolution MR images for photodynamic therapy in mice

We are investigating imaging techniques to study the tumor response to photodynamic therapy (PDT). PET can provide physiological and functional information. High-resolution MRI can provide anatomical and morphological changes. Image registration can combine MRI and PET images for improved tumor monitoring. In this study, we acquired high-resolution MRI and microPET [ 18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) images from C3H mice with RIF-1 tumors that were treated with Pc 4-based PDT. For tumor registration, we developed a finite element model (FEM)-based deformable registration scheme. To assess the registration quality, we performed slice by slice review of both image volumes, computed the volume overlap ratios, and visualized both volumes in color overlay. The mean volume overlap ratios for tumors were 94.7% after registration. Registration of high-resolution MRI and microPET images combines anatomical and functional information of the tumors and provides a useful tool for evaluating photodynamic therapy.
Ion migration from interiors to outer surfaces of balsam fir needles during dry, interstorm periods

Abstract When foliage is exposed to rainwater the resulting solutions can be enriched or diluted with respect to certain ionic species. In the case of enrichment, it is difficult to estimate what proportion of ions has been derived from internal tissue pools versus those deposited from the atmosphere. This distinction is critical in interpreting whole-canopy interactions with rainwater, or in estimating dry deposition by leaf rinse methods. This research tested the relative importance of ion migration to surfaces of Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. during dry, interstorm periods. X-ray analysis of needles attached to living trees exposed only to filtered air for 28 days showed that this contribution was relatively small. Most of the excess ions collected in initial rinses or throughfall are derived from dry deposition during interstorm periods.
A decision support software for safely conducting research with genetically modified fish and shellfish

Science-based assessment and management of any specific risks is needed for sustainable use of genetically modified aquatic organisms (aquatic GMOs). The Performance Standards for Safely Conducting Research with Genetically Modified Fish and Shellfish were developed to guide risk assessment and risk management for proposed experiments with aquatic GMOs. A researcher answers a series of questions about the organism and the accessible aquatic ecosystem, leading to either identification of specific risks or to the conclusion that there is a specific reason for safety of the experiment. Should any specific risk be identified, the researcher is led to consider risk management measures, involving culture methods, facilities design, and operations management. Documented completion of the Performance Standards can facilitate approval of an experiment by oversight authorities. The Performance Standards were adopted by the US Department of Agriculture in 1996. The Performance Standards were converted into an interactive, computer-based decision support tool, which can be obtained on diskette from the authors or accessed from the Internet at http://www.nbiap.vt.edu. A DOS-based program (693 kilobytes) can be downloaded and run on any DOS-based microcomputer with a 386 or later processor. Alternatively, an interactive, Internet browser-based program, accessible at the same website, also offers pictures of key equipment and facilities. Within either format, explanatory text, literature citations, and a glossary are accessible from any point in the decision-making path. The software automatically generates a trace of the user's path through the decision questions, thereby automating completion of most of the worksheet.
Where does smoothness count the most for two-point boundary-value problems?

Abstract We study the complexity of scalar 2 m th order elliptic two-point boundary-value problems Lu = f , error being measured in the energy norm. Previous work on the complexity of these problems has generally assumed that we had partial information about the right-hand side f and complete information about the coefficients of L . In this paper, we study the complexity of such problems when, in addition to partial information about f , we have only partial information about the coefficients of L . More precisely, we suppose that f has r derivatives in the L p -sense, with r ⩾− m and p ∈[2, ∞], and that L has the usual divergence form Lv =∑ 0⩽ i , j ⩽ m (−1) i D i ( a i , j D j v ), with a i , j being r i , j -times continuously differentiable, where r i , j ⩾0. We first suppose that continuous linear information is available. Let r =min{ r , min 0⩽ i , j ⩽ m { r i , j − i }}. If r =− m , the problem is unsolvable; for r >− m , we find that the e -complexity is proportional to (1/ e ) 1/( r + m ) , and we show that a finite element method (FEM) is optimal. We next suppose that only standard information (consisting of function and/or derivative evaluations) is available. Let r min =min{ r , min 0⩽ i , j ⩽ m { r i , j }}. If r min =0, the problem is unsolvable; for r min >0, we find that the e -complexity is proportional to (1/ e ) 1/ r min , and we show that a modified FEM (which uses only function evaluations, and not derivatives) is optimal.
Contractile effect of morphine and related opioid alkaloids, β-endorphin and methionine enkephalin on the isolated colon from Long-Evans rats

Abstract 1 Morphine and related synthetic surrogates as well as β-endorphin and methionine enkephalin caused a contractile response of the longitudinal musculature of the terminal colon of Long Evans rats. 2 The muscular contraction caused by the narcotic analgesics exhibited stereospecificity, with levorphanol being about 50 times more potent than dextrorphan and (-)-methadone 4 times more potent than (+)-methadone. In addition, the rank order in potency of a homologous series of N-alkyl substituted norketobemidones demonstrated that the activity of these compounds in eliciting contractile responses corresponded to that for analgesic efficacy in the rat and also correlated to the ability of these derivatives to inhibit the muscular twitch evoked by electrical stimulation of the guinea-pig ileum. 3 Naloxone blocked the contractile response of the opiates following competitive kinetics; the naloxone pA2 values for morphine, etorphine, levorphanol and methadone were very close, in spite of the marked differences in potency of these agents. 4 The contractile effect of morphine on the rat colon was abolished by incubation of the tissues with tetrodotoxin 2.0 × 10-7 M or by decreasing the external Ca2+ level 100 fold. Increasing the external Ca2+ concentration caused an apparent non-competitive antagonism of the response to morphine. 5 Pretreatment of the tissues with hexamethonium 8.3 × 10-5 M caused a modest antagonism of the morphine effect while atropine 5.8 × 10-7 M did not significantly modify the morphine contractile effect. In contrast, methysergide 10-5 M caused a 10 fold increase in the morphine EC50. 6 Colons from rats rendered tolerant-dependent on morphine were markedly less sensitive to the contractile effects of morphine than those from placebo-treated controls. Tolerance to morphine was also accompanied by an increased sensitivity to the contractile effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). 7 A marked increase in the spontaneous muscular activity of segments of the terminal colon of rats chronically treated with morphine was found to occur upon removal of the residual morphine in the tissues by repetitive washings. The spontaneous activity was arrested by applications of morphine, suggesting that physical dependence can be demonstrated in vitro in this particular preparation. 8 It is concluded that the opiate-induced contractile response is mediated via stereospecific, naloxone-sensitive, opiate receptors and that the muscular response involves the activation of a 5-HT neurone in the nerve terminals of the colon.
Optimization of Conductive Fillers of a Composite Material for PEM Fuel Cell Bipolar Plates

Bipolar plates are necessary components in the current design of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell stacks. The traditional materials used for bipolar plates are graphite and metal. In this investigation an elastomeric material with different types of conductive fillers is developed to avoid the high machining or coating costs associated with the traditional materials. The conductive fillers investigated here include Cytec thermal graphite fibers, Asbury Carbons PAN AGM 99 fiber, synthetic graphite (4012), natural flake (3763), surface enhanced flake (3775), and different grades of graphite powder (TC 301–305). Some of these conductive fillers were implemented in a two component silicone slurry matrix (RTV 627 by GE) to make a composite material. A bulk electrical resistivity of 0.0310 Ω-cm was achieved for the composite containing 28% by volume DKD fiber and 7% synthetic graphite (Asbury 4012) mixed in the elastomeric matrix.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Sella turcica in obesity in children.

Summary In the present paper the literature of the X-ray picture of the sella turcica is surveyed with special reference to the method of determining its size. The normal size of the sella in children is shown in an own normal case-material where the normal limits are statistically calculated. The correlation between the size of the hypophysis and the sella turcica is illustrated. After a short review of the literature concerning the sella in obese children and a classification of the obesity, there follows a description of the relation of the sella turcica to the different types of obesity. Cases of exogenous obesity appearing during the first years of life, and cases of obesity following various diseases, generally show small values of the sella turcica. A theory of the pituitary connection is advanced.
RelA/p65 promotes osteoclast differentiation by blocking a RANKL-induced apoptotic JNK pathway in mice

Abstract Osteoclasts (OCs) function to reabsorb bone and are responsible for the bone loss associated with inflammatory arthritis and osteoporosis. OC numbers are elevated in most disorders of accelerated bone destruction, reflecting altered rates of precursor differentiation and apoptosis. Both of these processes are regulated by the JNK family of MAP kinases. In this study, we have demonstrated that the NF-kappaB subunit RelA/p65 inhibits JNK-mediated apoptosis during a critical period of commitment to the OC phenotype in response to the cytokine RANKL. This RelA/p65-mediated arrest of cell death led to enhanced OC differentiation. Hence, Rela-/- OC precursors displayed prolonged JNK activation in response to RANKL, and this was accompanied by an increase in cell death that prevented efficient differentiation. Although complete blockade of JNK activity inhibits osteoclastogenesis, both short-term blockade in RelA-deficient cultures and suppression of the downstream mediator, Bid rescued apoptosis and differentiation. These antiapoptotic effects were RelA specific, as overexpression of RelA, but not RelB, blocked apoptosis and rescued differentiation in Rela-/- precursors. Thus, RelA blocks a RANKL-induced, apoptotic JNK-Bid pathway, thereby promoting OC differentiation. Consistent with this, mice lacking RelA/p65 in the hematopoietic compartment were shown to have a deficient osteoclastogenic response to RANKL and were protected from arthritis-induced osteolysis.
Two Issues in Auditory Cognition: Self-Organization of Octave Categories and Pitch-Invariant Pattern Recognition

The study of auditory and music cognition provides opportunities to explore general cognitive mechanisms in a specific, highly structured domain We discuss two problems with implications for other domains of perception the self-organization of perceptual categories and invariant pattern recognition The perceptual category we consider is the octave We show how general principles of self-organization operating on a cochlear spectral representation can yield octave categories The example of invariant pattern recognition we consider is the recognition of invariant frequency patterns transformed to different absolute frequencies We suggest a system that uses pitch or musical key to map tones into a pitch-invariant format
Active noise control of noisy periodic signals using signal separation

Periodic signals (since they can be easily predicted) can be canceled much more effectively when compared to non- periodic/stochastic signals. A large class of acoustic noise sources have an underlying periodic process that generates a periodic noise component, and thus the acoustic noise can in general be modeled as the sum of a periodic signal and a random signal (usually a background noise). In this paper we present the idea that separating the acoustic noise into periodic and random noise components and doing separate active noise control(ANC) for each tends to increase the over-all noise attenuation level (NAL). Formulae for the exact improvement in noise attenuation levels are derived. A novel signal separation and noise cancelation scheme based on adaptive filtering is developed and its effectiveness is shown for several periodic signal in white noise cases.
DIY Home Improvements in a Post-Soviet Housing Market: A Socio-Spatial Analysis of Vilnius, Lithuania

As part of the Large Analysis and Review of European housing and health Status (LARES), the WHO collected data in eight European cities during 2001 and 2002. Using this data, the paper analyses home-related ‘do-it-yourself (DIY)’ activities in Vilnius, Lithuania where housing was privatized following the collapse of Communism. The paper investigates whether DIY activities were prevalent near the ‘Old Town’ where officials encouraged renovation. It was found that overall, DIY activities were prevalent among households in 2001–2002 regardless of socio-economic status. However, residents of particular housing types were not more likely to engage in DIY activities nor was DIY activity associated with condition of buildings and open spaces between buildings. Nonetheless, perceptions of neighborhood quality were important in explaining DIY activity. The findings also show that DIY activity was no greater in/near the gentrifying city center than elsewhere. Interviews with Vilnius officials suggest several aspect...
Patronage and Artistic Change

This article considers the causal relationship between types of cultural financing and the way styles develop, with a focus on the case of recent American experimental music. While this music developed in the early decades of the 20th century, it did not effloresce until the decades after World War II. It is argued that the ensuing stylistic diversity was encouraged by the general and unrestrictive financing available during this time, especially that provided by the large public universities. The relative freedom allowed by patrons of the arts is unusual in Western history. The reasons for this are explored. [American music, artistic change, cultural financing, patronage]
Coion exclusion properties of polyphosphazene ion-exchange membranes

Abstract Equilibrium NaCl uptake studies in crosslinked and non-crosslinked cation-exchange membranes composed of sulfonated poly[bis(3-methylphenoxy)phosphazene] have been performed at 25°C for external salt solutions ranging in concentration from 0.1 to 1.0 M. Membrane swelling, membrane fixed-ion concentration, and membrane coion (anion) concentration were determined for polyphosphazene membranes with ion-exchange capacities of 0.60, 1.22, and 1.40 mmol/g and for a Nafion 117 perfluorosulfonic acid membrane. For the polyphosphazene membranes, coion intrusion decreased with increasing membrane fixed-ion concentration and with polymer crosslinking, but was higher than that with Nafion. Small angle X-ray diffraction was used to model the micro-morphology of the polyphosphazene membranes in terms of a cluster-network structure. Neither the dry polymer ion-exchange capacity nor the wet membrane fixed-ion concentration were accurate measures of the coion exclusion capability of the polyphosphazene membranes, relative to Nafion. It was found, however, that coion exclusion in crosslinked and non-crosslinked polyphosphazene membranes and in Nafion 117 correlated linearly with the fixed-charge/volume ratio of the ionic clusters.
EFFECT OF AMBLYSEIUS LARGOENSIS (ACARI: PHYTOSEIIDAE) ON RAOIELLA INDICA (ACARI: TENUIPALPIDAE) BY PREDATOR EXCLUSION AND PREDATOR RELEASE TECHNIQUES

Raoiella indica Hirst (Acari: Tenuipalpidae), a pest of coconut and other species of palms, recently invaded the Western Hemisphere. Amblyseius largoensis (Muma) (Acari: Phytoseiidae), is a predatory mite found associated with R. indica in different parts of the world. Exclusion and release tactics were used to obtain coconut palms with varying levels of A. largoensis in order to quantify their effects on R. indica densities. Four treatments consisting of 4 rates of release of A. largoensis females (0 = control, 1:10, 1:20 and 1:30 A. largoensis: R. indica) were tested. The releases of A. largoensis resulted in a significant reduction of R. indica densities and less damaged leaf area in the treated coconut palms compared to the controls within 3 months. The largest pest density reduction (~92%) was observed at the highest predator release rate (1:10 A. largoensis: R. indica). The other 2 release rates (1:20 and 1:30 A. largoensis: R. indica) caused significant and equivalent reductions in pest densities (55 and 43%, respectively). Results of this study support the hypothesis that A. largoensis is an important mortality factor of R. indica and should be considered as a key biological control agent in IPM programs targeting R. indica.
The pH Of muscle

Frog muscle in the body is in equilibrium with plasma which contains 2.6 times as much bicarbonate. After allowing for the bicarbonate contained in the tissue spaces, a pH of 6.9 for the interior of the fibres is calculated by theHenderson-Hasselbalch equation, while the outside of the fibres is bathed in a solution of pH 7.34.
NEUTROPHIL CELLULAR CHEMOTAXIS IN CHILDREN WITH DOWN'S SYNDROME

Neutrophil (PMN) cellular chemotaxis was investigated in 8 children with Down's syndrome, their mothers and 13 adult controls. The new method used assessed separately the number of PMN's adhering to the Millipore filter of a Boyden chamber (“filter chemotaxis”, FC) and the number of PMN's migrating into its lower compartment (“compartment chemotaxis”, CC). “Total chemotaxis” (TC) was derived by adding FC and CC. Values are reported as percentage of the initial PMN number introduced into the chambers (X ± SEM): TC, which assesses best the chemotactic behavior of PMN's, was normal in all subjects, except a single patient who showed complete absence of cellular chemotaxis. Patients had significantly lower FC values than the control groups. Rather than indicating poor chemotaxis, this finding probably reflects decreased PMN adhesiveness to the Millipore filter. Abnormal PMN adhesiveness may contribute to the poor host defense against infections in Down's syndrome.
Colloid Science Collides with Liquid Crystals

Brownian motion—the chaotic movement of colloidal particles that results from their collisions with solvent molecules—controls transport processes in systems as complex as the interior of living cells and as mundane as a film of drying paint. In a simple solvent, if you measure the distance the colloid travels (its displacement) for a sufficiently long time, the disorderly motion obeys a simple relation: The mean squared displacement (MSD) scales linearly with time. However, more recent studies of complex systems (e.g., concentrated solutions of proteins, polymers, or surfactants) revealed deviations from this classical behavior caused by local fluctuations in the composition and structure of the medium around the colloid ( 1 – 3 ). Now, in a strikingly elegant study described on page 1351 of this issue, Turiv et al. ( 4 ) unmask a new example of “anomalous diffusion” of colloids that involves a liquid crystal (LC), a liquid-like phase that has long-range orientational ordering. Fluctuations in the solvent-molecule orientations cause MSDs of colloids to grow nonlinearly with time.
Comprehensive modeling of plasma source ion implantation

Summary form only given, as follows. The modeling effort in both the short and long term involves the combination of models (modules) for all the principal physics in the PSII process including the chamber and modulator circuit, plasma dynamics, implantation, profiles of micro-material changes and stoichiometry, macro-material changes and measurables. The short term effort concentrates on 1-D modeling of Knoop hardness for a paradigm system: N/spl rarr/Ti. These results are compared to experimental data. The long term goal is the development of a suite of codes linked at run time with an object-oriented scheme in concert with a database of runs. The vision is to provide users with a recipe for PSII processes with adjustable levels of description. The database will allow for judicial selection of inputs for runs and experiments based on previous run outputs. Also discussed are ideas for unique physics studies of high dose rate effects in semiconductor doping and ideas for modeling these effects; the potentially high dose rates available with the pulsed nature of PSII can provide unique spatial control of the amorphous layer produced during implantation in semiconductors.
Structure/Permeability Relationships of Silicon-Containing Polyimides.

The permeability to H2, O2, N2, CO2 and CH4 of three silicone-polyimide random copolymers and two polyimides containing silicon atoms in their backbone chains, was determined at 35.0 C and at pressures up to about 120 psig (approximately 8.2 atm). The copolymers contained different amounts of BPADA-m-PDA and amine-terminated poly (dimethyl siloxane) and also had different numbers of siloxane linkages in their silicone component. The polyimides containing silicon atoms (silicon-modified polyimides) were SiDA-4,4'-ODA and SiDA-p-PDA. The gas permeability and selectivity of the copolymers are more similar to those of their silicone component than of the polyimide component. By contrast, the permeability and selectivity of the silicon-modified polyimides are more similar to those of their parent polyimides, PMDA-4,4'-ODA and SiDA-p-PDA. The substitution of SiDA for the PMDA moiety in a polyimide appears to result in a significant increase in gas permeability, without a correspondingly large decrease in selectivity. The potential usefulness of the above polymers and copolymers as gas separation membranes is discussed.
Relationships between Flood Control, Kala-Azar, and Diarrheal Disease in Bangladesh:

In 1990, a large flood-control project called the Flood Action Plan (FAP) was started in Bangladesh. The FAP built many embankments to divert water during the rainy season. This paper includes two case studies of diseases that are related to flood control in Bangladesh: kala-azar and diarrheal disease. Kala-azar is caused by the protozoan Leishmania donovani and is transmitted to humans by the sandfly Phlebotomus argentipes. It was found that the incidence of kala-azar in embanked areas of northwest Bangladesh was significantly higher than the incidence in nonembanked areas. This can be attributed to the lack of seasonal flooding in the embanked areas, because flooding reduces the number of P. argentipes larvae in these areas. Hood control is also related to diarrheal disease near the Bay of Bengal. Diarrheal disease incidence data were collected for people who were hospitalized at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Hospital from 1 January 1992 to 31 December 1994. Individuals living...
Joint Congestion Control and OFDMA Scheduling for Hybrid Wireline-Wireless Networks

We consider joint congestion control and multiuser scheduling in a hybrid wireline and wireless network, where the air interface of wireless links is based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). For static channels, we formulate this cross-layer design as a network utility maximization (NUM) problem with both wireline and wireless link constraints. The convexity of the problem enables a well-established dual-based approach to decompose it into two subproblems, the transport layer source rate adaptation and the medium access control (MAC) layer multiuser OFDM scheduling, which are connected and coordinated by link prices. While the rate and link price adjustments follow the same fashion as the conventional utility-based congestion control for wireline networks, the key difference is the multiuser OFDM scheduling performed at the wireless access point (AP). Independent from specific utilities used by each source, this scheduling problem always maximizes a wireless link-price-weighted sum throughput (LPWST), which can be solved efficiently by a block-coordinate descent method, resulting in optimal subcarrier assignment and power allocation at the AP. Convergence of the dual-based algorithm is established using the convex optimization theory. To extend our results to dynamic wireless channels, we provide a NUM formulation with long-term average feasible rate region and develop a gradient scheduling algorithm to handle channel variations. Our work represents a systematic cross-design framework for distributed fair resource allocation in a hybrid network with both static and dynamic wireless channels.
Synthesis and characterization of polyfunctional naphthoxazines and related polymers

SYNOPSIS In pursuing the new polymers that could provide high mechanical properties and good thermal stabilities, a series of naphthoxazines are synthesized from different hydroxynaphthalenes with aniline and formaldehyde. The molecular structures are confirmed by NMR spectroscopy. After being polymerized in an autoclave, the naphthoxazine derived from 1,5dihydroxynaphthalene is successfully cured to form the void-free resin. The density and tensile properties of these polynaphthoxazines are measured. Dynamic mechanical tests are performed to determine the TR, crosslink density, and the activation enthalpy of the glass transition process for the polynaphthoxazines postcured in air at different temperatures. The effect of postcure temperature on the Tgs of the polynaphthzoxazines is investigated and discussed in terms of crosslink density. The polynaphthoxazine shows a T, higher than the cure temperature. Fourier transform IR spectroscopy is applied for the molecular characterization of the curing systems. Thermal properties of these polynaphthzoxazines are studied in terms of the weight loss after isothermal aging in static air, the decomposition temperature from thermogravimetric analysis, and the change of dynamic storage moduli at high temperatures. 0 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Determinants of Living Alone among Older Hispanics

This research evaluates whether living alone, relative to living with family, among older, unmarried Hispanics varies by national origin. Results indicate that living alone, and the determinants of living alone, varies according to national origin and gender. Central/South American men and Puerto Rican women are most likely to live alone, whereas Central/South American women and Cuban men are most likely to live with family. The effects of kin availability, economic resources, and health on living alone also vary by national origin. For example, kin availability is a significant determinant of living arrangements among Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans, but not among Cubans.
A Cost-Quality Tradeoff in Cooperative Sensor Networking

Wireless sensor networks consist of a large number of sensor nodes, each of which senses, computes and communicates with other nodes to collect and process data about the environment. Those networks are emerging as one of the new paradigms in networking with great impact on industry, government and military applications. A sensor network attempts to collect sensing data from the entire domain of its deployment, to process this data to understand phenomena and activities going on in this domain, and finally to communicate the results to the outside world to enable actuators to execute the necessary reactions. However, a sensor node is only capable of sensing events within its limited sensing range, so it has only a localized information about its environment. Hence, to provide the coverage of the entire domain, sensors need to collaborate and share their information with each other. Such sharing increases the knowledge of each sensor about the environment, but it also brings extra communication cost and increases the network operation complexity. In other words, cooperation and data sharing invokes a cost-quality tradeoff in the network. In this paper, we study two different sensor network applications: (i) finding an efficient sleep schedule based on sensing coverage redundancy, and (ii) adjusting traffic light periods to optimize traffic flow. In both applications the cost-quality tradeoff arises. In the paper, we study how fast network functionality increases when the level of cooperation raises and how much this increased functionality is offset by the raising cooperation costs. We simulated both applications with different level of cooperation and without it and demonstrated significant improvements in the overall system quality resulting from the properly selected levels of cooperation between the network's nodes.
Caring, Journalism, and the Power of Particularism

Why do some people donate blood while most eligible individuals do not? Why do many selfidentified environmentalists eat meat? Why do numerous people who are concerned with social justice ignore oppressive practices affecting women? These questions have both ethical and psychological dimensions. Ethics, as it is traditionally understood in terms of rules, rights, and consequences, emphasizes rationality but often reason is not enough to compel moral action. One can make compelling rational arguments with empirical evidence to support donating blood, becoming vegan, and advocating education and aid to assist girls and women in developing nations. Yet, cognitive assent is insufficient to change the behavior of many people. Until individuals make a personal, affective connection – until people care – creating change and taking moral action are a challenging struggle. One way to view Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide is as a case study for eliciting care within the complexities of contemporary international society. There is a fascinating contradiction of social forces at work today. On a large scale or macro level, evidence suggests that human society is becoming more cooperative, empathetic, and understanding as a matter of survival and communal flourishing. A spate of books has documented this phenomenon. In Empathetic Civilization, Jeremy Rifkin views empathy as the basis of civilization: “More complex social structures, then, promote greater selfhood, greater exposure to diverse others, and a greater likelihood of extended empathy” (Rifkin 2009, 42). In The Age of Empathy: Nature’s Lessons for a Kinder Society, Frans de Waal suggests that modern studies of primates reveal an outstanding capacity for cooperation and compassion, not just competition as often portrayed in the ruthless “survival of the fitness” characterizations of nature. De Waal describes how, “many animals survive through cooperation, so there is a long evolutionary history to compromise, peaceful coexistence, and caring for others. Empathy is part of the survival package, and human society depends on it as much as many other animal societies do” (de Waal 2009). Despite the historic tide of human cooperation and empathy, there appear to be pockets of backlash against empathy sometimes entangled in efforts to maintain systems of power and at other times tied to complacency and apathy. For example, in the United States, the growing disparity between the wealthy and the poor/working class is in part held in place by rhetoric antithetical to empathizing with those who need social services and thus painting taxes or transfer payments as a social evil even though they fund those services. The anti-caring rhetoric is so strong that President Barack Obama was criticized for suggesting that a Supreme Court justice nominee should exhibit empathy (Bazelon 2011). In an ironic twist, empathy was
Child Abuse and Neglect

Results.—A total of 5468 children were included. High-quality family centeredness was associated with a 27% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 11%–40%) lower nonurgent ED visit rate, but no lowering of the urgent visit rate. High-quality timeliness was associated with 18% (95% CI, 3%–31%) lower nonurgent and 18% (95% CI, 1%–33%) lower urgent visit rates. High-quality realized access was associated with a 27% (95% CI, 8%–43%) lower nonurgent visit rate and a 33% (95% CI, 14%–48%) lower urgent visit rate. Conclusions.—Parent-reported high-quality timeliness, family centeredness, and realized access for a publicly insured child are associated with lower nonurgent ED, with high-quality timeliness and realized access associated with lower urgent ED utilization.
Structural features discriminate androgen receptor N/C terminal and coactivator interactions

Human androgen receptor (AR) transcriptional activity involves interdomain and coactivator interactions with the agonist-bound AR ligand binding domain (LBD). Structural determinants of the AR NH(2)- and carboxyl-terminal interaction between the AR NH(2)-terminal FXXLF motif and activation function 2 (AF2) in the LBD were shown previously by crystallography. In this report, we provide evidence for a region in AR LBD helix 12 outside the AF2 binding cleft that facilitates interactions with the FXXLF and LXXLL motifs. Mutagenesis of glutamine 902 to alanine in AR LBD helix 12 (Q902A) disrupted AR FXXLF motif binding to AF2, but enhanced coactivator LXXLL motif binding. Functional compensation for defective FXXLF motif binding by AR-Q902A was suggested by the slower dissociation rate of bound androgen. Functional importance of glutamine 902 was indicated by the charged residue germline mutation Q902R that caused partial androgen insensitivity, and a similar somatic mutation Q902K reported in prostate cancer, both of which increased the androgen dissociation rate and decreased AR transcriptional activity. High affinity equilibrium androgen binding was retained by alanine substitution mutations at Tyr-739 in AR LBD helix 5 or Lys-905 in helix 12 structurally adjacent to AF2, whereas transcriptional activity decreased and the androgen dissociation increased. Deleterious effects of these loss of function mutations were rescued by the helix stabilizing AR prostate cancer somatic mutation H874Y. Sequence NH(2)-terminal to the AR FXXLF motif contributed to the AR NH(2)- and carboxyl-terminal interaction based on greater AR-2-30 FXXLF motif peptide binding to the agonist-bound AR LBD than a shorter AR-20-30 FXXLF motif peptide. We conclude that helix 12 residues outside the AF2 binding cleft modulate AR transcriptional activity by providing flexibility to accommodate FXXLF or LXXLL motif binding.
Structural analysis of human growth hormone with respect to the dominant expression of growth hormone (GH) mutations in isolated GH deficiency type II.

Human GH protein consists of four α-helices and contains two disulfide bridges. Isolated GH deficiency type II (IGHD II) is mainly caused by heterozygous splice site mutations of GH-1 leading to the disruption of one disulfide bridge (Cys53-Cys165) and to the loss of amino acids (aa) 32–71, which comprise the complete loop between α-helices 1 and 2. The mutant GH protein exerts a dominant negative effect on wild-type (wt) GH secretion by unclear mechanisms. For study of the structure-function relationship of GH mutants concerning the dominant negative effect, expression vectors harboring mutated GH cDNAs were transiently cotransfected with a vector encoding wtGH (pwtGH) into GH4C1 cells. Plasmids encoding β-galactosidase, luciferase, or IGF-binding protein-2 were cotransfected with pwtGH and either of the GH mutants. Compared with the control transfection with pwtGH, GH secretion was mildly decreased by coexpressing wtGH and different GH point mutants with isolated disruption of the disulfide bridge Cys53...
Calcium kinetics are altered in clinically stable girls with cystic fibrosis.

Reduced bone mass in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) may result from alterations in calcium metabolism. Bone calcium deposition and resorption rates, calcium balance, and markers of bone turnover were assessed using stable isotopes of calcium in 22 prepubertal and pubertal girls with CF. Bone calcium deposition was associated with the availability of dietary calcium, total serum osteocalcin, and leptin concentrations. Reduced bone mass in individuals with CF may result from inadequate bone calcium (Ca) deposition, and excessive resorption, although these parameters have not been directly assessed in children with CF. We used stable Ca isotopes to measure rates of bone Ca deposition (Vo), resorption, and retention in 22 clinically stable girls with CF (aged 7–18 yr). Rates of bone Ca deposition were determined by mathematically modeling the disappearance of iv Ca stable isotope ( 42 Ca) for 6 d post dosing. Indirect markers of bone turnover and hormones associated with pubertal development were also assessed. Rates of bone Ca deposition and retention were highest during early puberty (Tanner stages 2 and 3). Calcium deposition rates in prepubertal (Tanner 1) and postmenarchal girls (Tanner stages 4 and 5) did not support substantial bone Ca retention. Net absorption of dietary Ca and serum osteocalcin and leptin concentrations were positively associated with Vo. Time post menarche and serum leptin concentrations explained 91% of the variability in Vo (P 0.0007). Serum total osteocalcin was low (10.9 5.4 ng/ml), and a substantial percentage of osteocalcin was undercarboxylated (54.3 11.8%). We concluded that increased calcium absorption and serum leptin concentrations were significantly associated with rates of bone Ca deposition, demonstrating an impact of nutritional status on this process. Rates of bone Ca deposition were lower than typically reported in healthy children, as were indirect markers of bone formation. These alterations in bone turnover contribute to reduced bone mass in girls with CF. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 89: 3385–3391, 2004)
The course of skin involvement in systemic sclerosis over three years in a trial of chlorambucil versus placebo.

OBJECTIVE To describe the course of cutaneous involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma) over 3 years, in the context of a placebo-controlled drug trial. METHODS The course of skin tethering (assessed by a semiquantitative skin scoring technique) was documented annually for 3 years in 64 SSc patients with early ( 8 years duration) diffuse or limited SSc. RESULTS Mean +/- SD entry skin scores were significantly greater in the 33 diffuse SSc patients (13.1 +/- 5.0) than in the 31 limited SSc patients (4.3 +/- 2.1) (P < 0.001). In patients with diffuse SSc, the skin score remained stable for the first 12 months, but had decreased significantly by 24 months (P < 0.022) and 36 months (P < 0.004). In those with limited SSc, the skin score did not change significantly over 3 years. CONCLUSION Trials of treatments designed to affect skin thickening/tethering should be conducted in patients who have diffuse SSc (of short, intermediate, or long duration) at entry. The best time to study therapies designed to affect skin thickening may be in the first year after entry.
HSV-2 specific serology should be offered routinely to antenatal patients.

The most devastating consequence of genital herpes is neonatal herpes. It is clear that the majority of newborns acquire their infection by contact with infected genital secretions during delivery from an asymptomatic mother who acquired a first episode of genital herpes near the time of labour. Since the majority of cases of first episode genital herpes during pregnancy are unrecognised, the prevention of neonatal transmission will depend upon the identification of the HSV serologically discordant couple and the institution of appropriate interventions by mid pregnancy. Therefore, the precis of this discussion paper is that universal HSV serological testing should be performed at the first prenatal visit. As a corollary, type specific HSV serology will need to be commercially available and relatively inexpensive. In any country, pregnant women and their partners represent a broad, cross section of sexually active adults. The vast majority present themselves to the health care system for care during their pregnancies which is a period of time in which the focus of care is primarily preventive and during which women are generally motivated and compliant. This is truly the 'golden opportunity' to identify patients already infected as well as those at risk for acquiring genital herpes. Information regarding genital herpes and methods of preventing transmission to susceptible partners and newborn infants can easily be added to educational programmes which have already become an institution within prenatal care.