cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Translation-invariant shrinkage/thresholding of group sparse signals

This paper addresses signal denoising when large-amplitude coefficients form clusters (groups). The L1-norm and other separable sparsity models do not capture the tendency of coefficients to cluster (group sparsity). This work develops an algorithm, called 'overlapping group shrinkage' (OGS), based on the minimization of a convex cost function involving a group-sparsity promoting penalty function. The groups are fully overlapping so the denoising method is translation-invariant and blocking artifacts are avoided. Based on the principle of majorization-minimization (MM), we derive a simple iterative minimization algorithm that reduces the cost function monotonically. A procedure for setting the regularization parameter, based on attenuating the noise to a specified level, is also described. The proposed approach is illustrated on speech enhancement, wherein the OGS approach is applied in the short-time Fourier transform (STFT) domain. The OGS algorithm produces denoised speech that is relatively free of musical noise.
Time-courses of perfusion and phosphocreatine in rat leg during low-level exercise and recovery

Purpose To develop a noninvasive protocol for measuring local perfusion and metabolic demand in muscle tissue with sufficient sensitivity and time resolution to monitor kinetics at the onset of low-level exercise and during recovery. Materials and Methods Capillary-level perfusion, the critical factor that determines oxygen and substrate delivery to active muscle, was measured by an arterial spin labeling (ASL) technique optimized for skeletal muscle. Phosphocreatine (PCr) kinetics, which signal the flux of oxidative phosphorylation, were measured by 31P MR spectroscopy. Perfusion and PCr measurements were made in parallel studies before, during, and after three different intensities of low-level, stimulated exercise in rat hind limb. Results The data reveal close coupling between the perfusion response and PCr changes. The onset and recovery time constants for PCr changes were independent of contractile force over the range of forces studied. Perfusion time constants during both onset of exercise and recovery tended to increase with contractile force. Conclusion These results demonstrate that the protocol implemented can be useful for probing the mechanisms that control skeletal muscle blood flow, the physiological limits to muscle performance, and the causes for the attenuated exercise-induced hyperemia observed in disease states. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007;25:1021–1027. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Teaching as exploration? The difficult road out of the classroom

Abstract This article examines the current notion of teaching as an exploratory career. Drawing upon longitudinal research in urban schools and using a theoretical framework grounded in teachers' lives and careers, this study captures the experiences of three former educators who chose to explore teaching and then leave. It highlights their backgrounds, entries into the classroom, experiences in schools, decisions to leave, and transitions out of teaching and into new fields. This research finds that the exploration of teaching comes with high financial, professional, and personal costs for the teachers themselves, along with the opportunity to contribute to society.
The Contribution of the Medial Prefrontal Cortex, Orbitofrontal Cortex, and Dorsomedial Striatum to Behavioral Flexibility

Behavioral flexibility refers to the ability to shift strategies or response patterns with a change in environmental contingencies. The frontal lobe and basal ganglia are two brain regions implicated in various components for successfully adapting to changed environmental contingencies. This paper discusses a series of experiments that investigate the contributions of the rat prelimbic area, infralimbic area, orbitofrontal cortex, and dorsomedial striatum to behavioral flexibility. Orbitofrontal cortex inactivation did not impair initial learning of discrimination tests, but it impaired reversal learning due to perseverance in the previously learned choice pattern. Inactivation of the prelimbic area did not affect acquisition or reversal learning of different discrimination tests, but it selectively impaired learning when rats had to inhibit one strategy and shift to using a new strategy. However, comparable to orbitofrontal cortex inactivation, strategy-switching deficits following prelimbic inactivation resulted from a perseverance of the previously relevant strategy. Fewer studies have examined the infralimbic region, but there is some evidence suggesting that this region supports reversal learning by maintaining the reliable execution of a new choice pattern. Dorsomedial striatal inactivation impaired both reversal learning and strategy switching. The behavioral flexibility deficits following dorsomedial striatal inactivation resulted from the inability to maintain a new choice pattern once selected. Taken together, the results suggest that orbitofrontal and prelimbic subregions differentially contribute to behavioral flexibility, but they are both critical for the initial inhibition of a previously learned strategy, while the dorsomedial striatum plays a broader role in behavioral flexibility and supports a process that allows the reliable execution of a new strategy once selected.
Displayed Art and Performed Music: Selective Innovation and the Structure of Artistic Media*

Aesthetic innovation in symphony orchestras and art museums is strongly influenced by the fundamental structure of the art forms with which each institution is associated. Music depends on time, visual art on space; while music is ephemeral, painting and sculpture consist of concrete objects. These structural differences have implications for the organizations: costs, expectations of growth and patronage sources. Most important, just as museums are constrained to feature innovative works, performed music institutions are constrained to avoid them. Examining orchestras and art museums reveals the connections among specific art forms, organizational structures and aesthetic outcomes.
Atomic and Electronic Structures of Reconstructed Si(100) Surfaces

New structural models for 2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1 and 4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2 reconstructed (100) surfaces of Si determined from energy-minimization claculations are presented. The optimal 2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1 and 4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2 structures are found to correspond to asymmetric dimer geometries with partially ionic bonds between surface atoms, resulting in semiconducting surface electronic bands. The atomic and electronic structures for the 2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1 and 4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2 reconstructed surfaces are discussed.
Theoretical analysis of the energy spectra of back-scattered ions

Abstract An equation is derived which governs the energy spectrum of ions backscattered from a target whose composition varies continuously with depth. The equation also includes the effects of path length straggling on the energy spectrum through integrations over the depth distributions of both the incident and the back-scattered ions. When path length straggling is negligible, the equation reduces to a simple form, not involving integrations. The general equation is used together with model ion depth distribution functions to investigate the effects of the shape of the ion distribution on the predicted back-scattered spectrum. Delta functions, gaussian and several skewed distributions are used for this investigation. The predicted back-scattering spectra from these different distributions show little difference except at the energies corresponding to the back edge of a thick film target. At these energies the gaussian distribution provides some spreading of the observed edge, and skewing produces additional broadening and some tailing. For realistic skewing of the ion distributions the predicted tailing is not sufficient to account for the low energy tails observed in many experiments. These results suggest that accurate spatial ion distributions will be required before detailed analysis can be carried out on the sharp features of thick target spectra. In the last section of the paper the simplified form of the general equation is used together with an iterative procedure to obtain the depth distribution of target composition from a complex experimental spectrum.
Anaerobic respiration in the polychaete Euzonus (Thoracophelia) mucronata

The intertidal polychaete Euzonus mucronata (Treadwell) is found in great numbers within beach sands that undergo periodic anoxia. Short-term exposures (2 to 4 h) to anaerobicity are withstood through the use of a supply of oxyhemoglobin to support continued aerobic metabolism. Longer periods of environmental anoxia activate an anaerobic metabolism capable of sustaining life for up to 20 days, and characterized by the excretion of succinate and propionate. These two mechanisms appear to be adaptations to the variations in occurrence and duration of anoxia within the intertidal sands inhabited by E. mucronata.
Characterization of the lipid composition of squid rhabdome outer segments.

Abstract 1. 1. Previous studies have demonstrated the fluidity of the vertebrate photoreceptor membrane by studies on the lipid composition of the rhodopsin-containing disc, X-ray diffraction studies and dichroism measurements. In the present investigation the invertebrate squid rhabdome photoreceptor is studied on the basis of its neutral and phospholipid composition and the fatty acid composition of each of these classes. 2. 2. These studies show the squid photoreceptor to be different from the vertebrate photoreceptor in cholesterol content, distribution of phospholipid classes, and predominant fatty acids. 3. 3. These findings indicate that the squid photoreceptor membrane is more rigid than the vertebrate photoreceptor membrane and consequently that squid rhodopsin has a potentially lower mobility in the visual pigment membrane.
Locus of control among Dutch and American women softball players.

Locus of control is a personality variable that manifests itself through an individual's perception of the reinforcement he receives. This belief system is based on a continuum ranging from the perception that rewards are completely contingent upon one's behavior to the belief that only luck, chance, or fate control one's life. This construct has received considerable attention within the realm of psychology, but is conspicuous by its absence in sport and physical education literature. The purpose of this study was to compare the locus of control of highly skilled Dutch (N = 35) and American (N = 44) women softball players. The Rotter internal-external locus of control scale was utilized to determine internal-external orientations of the subjects. Data were analyzed by using ANOVA and product moment correlations. Statistically significant (.01 level) differences in locus of control were found. American women softball players were significantly more internally oriented than were their Dutch counterparts.
Immobilized enzymes as analytical reagents.

Immobilized enzymes are becoming increasingly popular as analytical reagents because of their reusability, stability, and sensitivity to many inhibitors that would seriously interfere in assays using soluble enzymes. In this article, some of the kinetic and catalytic effects of immobilized enzymes in analysis will be discussed. The shift of the activity-pH profile curves on immobilization, the changes in temperature dependence. the inhibitor constants (K1). Michaelis constants (Km), and the maximum velocity (Vmax). plus others, will be discussed. Finally, the use of these immobilized enzymes in fluorometric and electrochemical monitoring systems will be shown, and the future of these reagents in various areas will be discussed. A survey of enzyme electrodes will be presented as an example of the use of immobilized enzymes. Application of immobilized enzyme technology to the assay of BUN, glucose, uric acid, amino acids, ethanol. and other metabolites will be discussed.
Homogenization and convergence of the vortex method for 2‐D euler equations with oscillatory vorticity fields

The 2-D incompressible Euler equations with oscillatory vorticity fields are studied. A homogenization result for 2-D Euler equations in velocity-vorticity formulation is obtained and weak continuity of the equations is proved. Convergence of the vortex method is analyzed in the case when the continuous vorticity is not well resolved by the computational particles. Numerical results are given. Comparisons are made with the corresponding finite difference approximation.
Regulation of muscle protein synthesis and the effects of catabolic states

Protein synthesis and degradation are dynamically regulated processes that act in concert to control the accretion or loss of muscle mass. The present article focuses on the mechanisms involved in the impairment of protein synthesis that are associated with skeletal muscle atrophy. The vast majority of mechanisms known to regulate protein synthesis involve modulation of the initiation phase of mRNA translation, which comprises a series of reactions that result in the binding of initiator methionyl-tRNAi and mRNA to the 40S ribosomal subunit. The function of the proteins involved in both events has been shown to be repressed under atrophic conditions such as sepsis, cachexia, chronic kidney disease, sarcopenia, and disuse atrophy. The basis for the inhibition of protein synthesis under such conditions is likely to be multifactorial and includes insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 resistance, pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, malnutrition, corticosteroids, and/or physical inactivity. The present article provides an overview of the existing literature regarding mechanisms and signaling pathways involved in the regulation of mRNA translation as they apply to skeletal muscle wasting, as well as the efficacy of potential clinical interventions such as nutrition and exercise in the maintenance of skeletal muscle protein synthesis under atrophic conditions. This article is part of a Directed Issue entitled: Molecular basis of muscle wasting.
Surgical management of the pelvic plexus and lower abdominal nerves.

OBJECTIVE: Nerves of the pelvic plexus and lower abdominal wall can lead to chronic neuralgias owing to a variety of causes, including iatrogenic injury, trauma, tumors, and primary nerve entrapment. Differentiating among the various neural etiologies can be a challenging task. Here, we present a large series of patients who underwent surgical treatment of these nerves, with an emphasis on diagnostic and therapeutic considerations. METHODS: Between 1970 and 2006, the senior authors (DGK and DHK) surgically treated 264 cases of neuralgia of the pelvic plexus and nerves. A retrospective analysis of the patients' history, physical, diagnostic examinations, and follow-up was performed. RESULTS: Twenty-five cases of solely ilioinguinal neuralgia and 24 cases of combined ilioinguinal neuralgias were treated. Of these, iatrogenic injury was the most common etiology. One hundred forty-five patients underwent surgical exploration for either femoral nerve injury (119 patients) or lateral femoral cutaneous compression (26 patients). Seventy-five percent of patients had femoral nerve injuries attributable to trauma (iatrogenic versus penetrating injuries), and the remaining 25% of patients had cystic masses or tumors. Fifty-two masses of the pelvic plexus were treated, including neurofibromas (68%), schwannomas (18%), malignant nerve sheath tumors (5%), and non-neural sheath tumors (9%). CONCLUSION: Effective surgical management of these complex neuralgias depends on a solid understanding of the surgical anatomy and proper diagnosis. Electromyography and local anesthetic blocks not only can provide insight into the diagnosis but also have predictive value in assessing which patients may benefit from neurectomy or neu - rolysis.
Does Brain Dysfunction Increase Children's Vulnerability to Environmental Stress?

• Previous research has shown that children with physical conditions involving the brain are at increased risk for psychopathology. It is unclear whether brain dysfunction leads to disturbance directly or whether it does so by increasing the children's vulnerability to environmental stress. I examined the vulnerability hypothesis in a sample of 157 children with cerebral palsy, myelodysplasia, or multiple handicaps and in 339 randomly selected controls. Data on psychopathology came from direct interviews with the children; data on the family environment came from mothers' reports. Physical disabilities were associated with significant increases in depressive symptoms and inattention. Family environment had a significant main effect on depressive symptoms; effect on disabled children was not significantly different from effect on controls. Family environment had no significant effects on symptoms of inattention in disabled children. The findings provided no support for the hypothesis that brain dysfunction renders children vulnerable to environmental stress.
Effect of gemfibrozil on adipose tissue and muscle lipoprotein lipase

To better understand the mechanism of action of gemfibrozil on plasma triglycerides, lipoprotein lipase (LPL) concentration was measured in adipose tissue and muscle of 16 hypertriglyceridemic patients before and after treatment with gemfibrozil for 6 weeks. The patients were divided into three groups based on clinical criteria as follows: group 1, hypertriglyceridemia without secondary factors; group 2, hypertriglyceridemia with diabetes; and group 3, hypertriglyceridemia with renal insufficiency. LPL activity, immunoreactive mass, synthetic rate, and mRNA levels were measured in the adipose tissue samples, and LPL activity and mass in the muscle samples. Serum triglyceride levels were decreased by 46% by gemfibrozil, and patients demonstrated no change in diet, weight, or glycohemoglobin during the 6 weeks of treatment. Despite the decrease of blood triglyceride levels, there was no significant change in any measure of LPL either in adipose tissue or muscle. Although several patients demonstrated increases in muscle LPL activity, these changes were inconsistent and not statistically significant. Because there was no significant change in LPL, we conclude that gemfibrozil in these patients decreased circulating triglyceride levels predominantly by decreasing hepatic very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) secretion.
The slow decay of some radio afterglows – a puzzle for the simplest γ-ray burst fireball model

The decay of half of the γ-ray burst (GRB) radio afterglows with long temporal monitoring is significantly slower than at optical frequencies, contrary to what is expected in the simplest fireball model. We investigate four ways to decouple the radio and optical decays: an evolving index of the power-law distribution of the shock-accelerated electrons, the presence of a spectral break between the two domains, a structured outflow, and a long-lived reverse shock contribution to the afterglow emission. For most afterglows, the first scenario cannot accommodate all the properties of the afterglow emission. If the spectral break of the second scenario is the cooling frequency, then observations require that, as the fireball decelerates, the parameter for the minimal electron energy decreases and the magnetic field strength is constant or increases. The latter behaviour seems implausible and is alleviated if the circumburst density increases outwards. In the framework of the third scenario, the optical afterglow arises from a more energetic, narrow outflow core while the radio emission comes from a more extended envelope. This scenario is at best marginally consistent with the general properties of the radio and optical afterglow emissions and requires a total electron energy exceeding equipartition, and thus it does not provide an acceptable solution. In the fourth scenario, it is assumed that the radio afterglow emission arises in the reverse shock propagating in a steady stream of ejecta, which catch up with the decelerating GRB remnant. This scenario can accommodate the properties of the afterglows with slow radio decays and requires that the injected energy is less than or comparable to the initial fireball energy, while other afterglow parameters have reasonable values. We find the reverse-forward shock scenario to be the most viable explanation for the shallow decay observed in some radio afterglows. For a jet, the transition to a semirelativistic motion mitigates the radio decay; however, this scenario would work only when the slower radio decay is observed well after the steeper optical fall-off. A structured outflow with a relativistic core, yielding a fast-decaying optical emission, and a non-relativistic envelope, producing a slowly falling-off radio afterglow, is not a viable solution, as it fails to decouple the radio and optical decays.
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplementation in diminished ovarian reserve (DOR)

Background With infertility populations in the developed world rapidly aging, treatment of diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) assumes increasing clinical importance. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been reported to improve pregnancy chances with DOR, and is now utilized by approximately one third of all IVF centers world-wide. Increasing DHEA utilization and publication of a first prospectively randomized trial now warrants a systematic review.
Role of photoconductivity in molecularly doped photorefractive polymer

The photorefractive effect is a reversible mechanism of holographic grating formation in electro-optic materials, that has potential applications in integrated optics, optical data storage, optical computing, and several other areas. This effect was recently observed in photorefractive polymers doped with charge transport agents. The grating formation is initialized by the photoconductive response which includes charge generation, mobility, and trapping, occurring in successive order. Finally, the grating is formed as a result of modulation of the refractive index by the resulting space charge field, via the electro-optic (Pockels) effect. We present the results of photoconductive measurements as a function of temperature, applied electric field, and illuminated intensity. The investigation is focused on the nonlinear optical polymer bisphenol A 4-4-nitroaminostilbene mixed with 30 weight % of the hole transport agent diethylamino-benzaldehyde diphenyl hydrazone. We observed that the photoconductivity of the photorefractive polymer has the form exp[ aE1/2 + bE1/2/T2 - c/T2] in agreement with the diorder theory of the well- known hopping model developed for charge-transport in molecularly doped polymers. We also observed that the apparent hopping distribution bandwidth increases with increased intensity, consistent with an increasing density of states.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effect of pH on nitrogen mineralization in crop-residue-treated soils

This study compares N mineralization in soils treated with crop residues [corn (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), sorghum (Sorghum vulgare Pers.)] or alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) at three adjusted soil pH values (4, 6, and 8); pH was adjusted with dilute H2SO4 or KOH. A sample of soil (20 g) was treated with 0.448 g plant material (equivalent to 50t ha−1), mixed with 20 g silica sand adjusted to the pH of the soil, and packed in a leaching tube. The soil-sand mixture was leached with 100 ml 5 mM CaCl2 adjusted to the same pH as that of the treated soil to remove the initial mineral N, and incubated at 30°C. The leaching procedure was repeated every 2 weeks for 20 weeks. Results from three soils showed that N mineralization increased as the soil pH increased. In one soil (Lester soil), significant amounts of NH 4 + -N accumulated at pH 4 during the first 12 weeks. Treatment with corn and soybean residues resulted in a marked reduction in N mineralization, especially at pH 4. The percentage of organic N mineralized from sorghum residue and alfalfa added to soils increased as the soil pH increased; the values ranged from 7.7% to 37.0% for sorghum and from 17.2% to 30.1% for alfalfa.
Fighting the marginalization of Asian American students with caring schools: focusing on curricular change

Asian American students are marginalized in US schools. Their academic, social and emotional needs are often ignored or misunderstood by school personnel. However, teachers, who have made an ethical commitment to each student and hold an educational philosophy that connects caring along with social justice, work hard to provide an equal educational experience for Asian American students. One approach caring teachers utilize is the inclusion of Asian American content into the curriculum from civil rights role models to the use of Asian American literature. Caring teachers also ensure that each young person develops strong writing and public speaking skills so that they become contributing citizens of democracy. This article suggests the use of a caring‐centered multicultural framework and identifies numerous curricular changes.
Order-preserving derivative approximation with periodic radial basis functions

In this exploratory paper we study the convergence rates of an iterated method for approximating derivatives of periodic functions using radial basis function (RBF) interpolation. Given a target function sampled on some node set, an approximation of the m th derivative is obtained by m successive applications of the operator "interpolate, then differentiate" - this process is known in the spline community as successive splines or iterated splines. For uniformly spaced nodes on the circle, we give a sufficient condition on the RBF kernel to guarantee that, when the error is measured only at the nodes, this iterated method approximates all derivatives with the same rate of convergence. We show that thin-plate spline, power function, and Matern kernels restricted to the circle all satisfy this condition, and numerical evidence is provided to show that this phenomena occurs for some other popular RBF kernels. Finally, we consider possible extensions to higher-dimensional periodic domains by numerically studying the convergence of an iterated method for approximating the surface Laplace (Laplace-Beltrami) operator using RBF interpolation on the unit sphere and a torus.
Cardiac output determination from endotracheally measured impedance cardiography: clinical evaluation of endotracheal cardiac output monitor.

Objectives To evaluate the accuracy, precision, and trending of a new endotracheally sourced impedance cardiography-based cardiac output (CO) monitor (ECOM; ConMed Corp, Irvine, CA). Setting Two university hospitals. Participants Thirty patients scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Interventions All patients received a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC), arterial catheter, endotracheal CO monitor (ECOM), endotracheal intubation, and transesophageal echocardiographic monitoring. ECOM CO was compared with CO measured with pulmonary artery thermodilution, and left ventricular CO measured with transesophageal echocardiography. Measurements One hundred forty-five pairs of triplicate CO measurements using intermittent bolus pulmonary artery thermodilution (TD) and ECOM were compared at 5 distinct time points: postinduction, postinduction passive leg raise, poststernotomy, post-CABG completion, and post–chest closure. Eighty-seven pairs of triplicate CO measurements using transesophageal echocardiography were obtained at 3 time points: postinduction, post-CABG completion, and post–chest closure and compared with ECOM- and PA-derived CO measurements. The measurements at each time point were compared by using Bland-Altman and polar plot analyses. Results The mean CO ranged from 2.16 to 9.41 L/min. ECOM CO, compared with TD CO, revealed a bias of 0.02 L/min, 95% limits of agreement of −2.26 to 2.30 L/min, and a percent error of 50%. ECOM CO showed trending with TD CO with 91% and 99% of values within 0.5L/min and 1 L/min limits of agreement, respectively. ECOM CO, compared with TEE CO, revealed a bias of −0.25 L/min, 95% limits of agreement of −2.41 to 1.92 L/min, and a percent error of 48%. ECOM CO showed trending with TEE CO with 83% and 95% of values within 0.5L/min and 1 L/min limits of agreement, respectively. Conclusion ECOM CO shows an acceptable bias with wide limits of agreement and a large percent error when compared with TD CO or TEE CO; however, it shows acceptable trending of CO to both modalities in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Further studies are required to evaluate ECOM in other patient populations and clinical situations.
Synthesis of unsymmetrical arylthiophenes and bithienyls via oxidative cyclization of 1,3‐butadiene‐1‐thiols

Oxidative cyclization of 2-mercapto-5-aryl-2,4-pentadienoic acids with iodine produced the respective 5-aryl-2-thenoic acids. The method was also suitable for the synthesis of unsymmetrical substituted 2,2′-bithienyls, and 2,3′-bithienyls. The synthesis of 5-carboxy-2′-bromo-5′-phenyl-2,3′-bithienyl from benzal-acetone demonstrated that oxidative cyclization of 1,3-butadiene-1-thiols is a useful procedure for preparing 5′-aryl-2,3′-bithienyls from simple carbonyl compounds. Preferential ring bromination of 2-phenyl-4-methyl-thiophene with N-bromosuccinimide and a radical catalyst was also observed.
Computation of finite population parameters and approximate probability values for multi-response randomized block permutation procedures (mrbp)

An algorithm is presented for computing the finite population parameters and the approximate probability values associated with a recently-developed class of statistical inference techniques termed multi-response randomized block permutation procedures (MRBP).
A universal recombination filament

Abstract Proteins related to E. coli protein RecA occur in eukaryotes and one, RAD51 of yeast, has been found to form a helical nucleoprotein filament similar to the RecA recombinant filament.
Fluorescence and Aflatoxin Content of Individual Almond Kernels Naturally Contaminated with Aflatoxin

An effort was made to relate the aflatoxin content of individual almond kernels to their fluorescent color. The fluorescence of individual blanched almonds and defective almonds, most of which lack an intact pellicle, was described by means of Methuen color charts before each kernel was analyzed for aflatoxin. Almonds that fluoresced violet-purple under long-wave UV light were found to contain high levels of aflatoxins B1 and B2 but, with perhaps one exception, no measurable amounts of aflatoxins G1 and G2. Some diced almonds with blue fluorescence had all four aflatoxins present but at much lower levels than in the violet-purple kernels. Aflatoxin ranged from 1.0 × 105 to 2.5 × 106 ppb in the violet-purple kernels. These values agree with previous estimates of aflatoxin concentration per contaminated nut. Almond kernels with violet-purple fluorescence should be culled.
Rab2 Utilizes Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate Dehydrogenase and Protein Kinase Cι to Associate with Microtubules and to Recruit Dynein

Rab2 requires glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and atypical protein kinase Cι (aPKCι) for retrograde vesicle formation from vesicular tubular clusters that sort secretory cargo from recycling proteins returned to the endoplasmic reticulum. However, the precise role of GAPDH and aPKCι in the early secretory pathway is unclear. GAPDH was the first glycolytic enzyme reported to co-purify with microtubules (MTs). Similarly, aPKC associates directly with MTs. To learn whether Rab2 also binds directly to MTs, a MT binding assay was performed. Purified Rab2 was found in a MT-enriched pellet only when both GAPDH and aPKCι were present, and Rab2-MT binding could be prevented by a recombinant fragment made to the Rab2 amino terminus (residues 2-70), which directly interacts with GAPDH and aPKCι. Because GAPDH binds to the carboxyl terminus of α-tubulin, we characterized the distribution of tyrosinated/detyrosinated α-tubulin that is recruited by Rab2 in a quantitative membrane binding assay. Rab2-treated membranes contained predominantly tyrosinated α-tubulin; however, aPKCι was the limiting and essential factor. Tyrosination/detyrosination influences MT motor protein binding; therefore, we determined whether Rab2 stimulated kinesin or dynein membrane binding. Although kinesin was not detected on membranes incubated with Rab2, dynein was recruited in a dose-dependent manner, and binding was aPKCι-dependent. These combined results suggest a mechanism by which Rab2 controls MT and motor recruitment to vesicular tubular clusters.
Temperature Effects on the Development of Cheddar Cheese Flavor and Aroma

Abstract Cooling of freshly formed Cheddar cheese is thought to be one of the processing steps that requires tighter control to achieve more uniform and consistent product quality. Cheese samples, obtained after pressing, were rapidly cooled to 5, 15, 25, or 35°C. Commercial samples and test cheese at 7, 30, 60, 90, and 120 d of ripening were evaluated by a trained descriptive panel. Most sensory characteristics of experimental cheese increased in intensity as a function of the interaction of time and temperature. The perception of sour and salty taste was affected by temperature but at equal rates over time. Buttery aroma and flavor tended to decrease in intensity as a function of time and temperature.
Translucid contracts: expressive specification and modular verification for aspect-oriented interfaces

As aspect-oriented (AO) programming techniques become more widely used, their use in critical systems such as aircraft and telephone networks, will become more widespread. However, careful reasoning about AO code seems difficult because: (1) advice may apply in too many places, and (2) standard specification techniques do not limit the control effects of advice. Commonly used black box specification techniques cannot easily specify control effects, such as advice that does not proceed to the advised code. In this work we avoid the first problem by using Ptolemy, a language with explicit event announcement. To solve the second problem we give a simple and understandable specification technique, translucid contracts, that not only allows programmers to write modular specifications for advice and advised code, but also allows them to reason about the code's control effects. We show that translucid contracts support sound modular verification of typical interaction patterns used in AO code. We also show that translucid contracts allow interesting control effects to be specified and enforced.
Single-shot fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) magnetic resonance imaging of the bladder.

The purpose of this study was to reduce artifacts and increase imaging speed in fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging of the urinary bladder. An existing half-Fourier, single-shot fast spin-echo imaging sequence was modified to allow presaturation with a non-slice-selective inversion recovery pulse (NSI SSFLAIR). Four independent, blinded readers rated severity of bladder artifacts and image quality in six normal male volunteers. NSI SSFLAIR effectively suppressed bladder urine signal in all six cases using a TI of 2900–3100 msec. Although NSI SSFLAIR images were noisier than standard fast spin-echo images, imaging time was only 10 seconds per slice location. Furthermore, perceived image sharpness was only minimally reduced, and conspicuity of the seminal vesicles and peripheral zone of the prostate were nearly equivalent. NSI SSFLAIR provides rapid T2-weighted imaging of the bladder wall and perivesicular tissues with nearly complete negation of signal from urine in the bladder. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2000;11:673–677. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Mathematical Model of Human Growth Hormone (hGH)-Stimulated Cell Proliferation Explains the Efficacy of hGH Variants as Receptor Agonists or Antagonists

Human growth hormone (hGH) is a therapeutically important endocrine factor that signals various cell types. Structurally and functionally, the interactions of hGH with its receptor have been resolved in fine detail, such that hGH and hGH receptor variants can be practically engineered by either random or rational approaches to achieve significant changes in the free energies of binding. A somewhat unique feature of hGH action is its homodimerization of two hGH receptors, which is required for intracellular signaling and stimulation of cell proliferation, yet the potencies of hGH mutants in cell-based assays rarely correlate with their overall receptor-binding avidities. Here, a mathematical model of hGH-stimulated cell signaling is posed, accounting not only for binding interactions at the cell surface but induction of receptor endocytosis and downregulation as well. Receptor internalization affects ligand potency by imposing a limit on the lifetime of an active receptor complex, irrespective of ligand-receptor binding properties. The model thus explains, in quantitative terms, the numerous published observations regarding hGH receptor agonism and antagonism and challenges the interpretations of previous studies that have not considered receptor trafficking as a central regulatory mechanism in hGH signaling.
Spiral Enteroscopy Is Safe and Effective for an Elderly United States Population of Patients With Numerous Comorbidities

Background & Aims Preliminary studies performed outside of the United States demonstrated that spiral enteroscopy is safe and effective when performed in young, healthy patients. However, spiral enteroscopy has not been evaluated in a US population of patients with numerous comorbidities. We evaluated the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of spiral enteroscopy in a US population of older patients with multiple comorbidities and a high prevalence of pathologic findings. Methods We performed a prospective case series of 61 patients with clinical indications for deep enteroscopy conducted at 2 US academic tertiary referral centers. Patients underwent deep enteroscopy with the spiral Endo-Ease Discovery SB overtube. Insertion depth, procedure time, diagnostic findings, therapeutic maneuvers, sedation type, and complications were recorded. Results Spiral enteroscopy was attempted in 61 patients (mean age, 65.4 ± 12.4 years); 52% were rated by American Society of Anesthesiologists guidelines as class 3 (n = 30) or 4 (n = 2). The procedure was successfully completed in 56 of 61 patients (92%). Average insertion depth was 217.4 ± 79 cm beyond the ligament of Treitz. The total mean procedure time was 41 ± 15 minutes (diagnostic time, 36 ± 12 minutes; therapy time, 5 ± 9 minutes). Positive findings were noted in 36 cases (59%), with therapeutic maneuvers performed in 30 cases (49%). A total of 41 cases (67%) were performed under conscious sedation; fluoroscopy was not used in any case. Four mild complications occurred, and there were no perforations. Conclusions Spiral enteroscopy is technically feasible and safe in an elderly US population of patients with numerous comorbidities.
A Conceptual Map for Studying Long‐Term Exercise Adherence in a Cardiac Population

The failure of people with coronary heart disease to adhere to prescribed programs of long-term exercise is a growing concern among healthcare professionals. The problem is attributed partly to not correctly identifying the specific exercise adherence behavior desired. There is a need in cardiac rehabilitation for different theoretical and practical approaches to the study of patient adherence to short-term and long-term exercise prescriptions. This article is a review of behavioral and cognitive models used to promote exercise in cardiac rehabilitation programs. Concepts are borrowed from these models to design a conceptual map intended to identify variables and relationships associated with exercise adherence behaviors. In this article, the Coronary Artery Disease Exercise Map (CADEM), an evolving conceptual map, addresses exercise behavior within a coronary population. However, this map may also be applied to people who have other chronic conditions. It is believed that the CADEM will provide researchers and healthcare providers with a framework with which to understand, promote, and evaluate adherence to exercise regimes within the rehabilitation population.
Neurological and intellectual status of prematures at three to five years of age

Summary The present report compares the neurological and intellectual status of a group of 460 prematurely born children examined at 3 to 5 years of age with that of a matched group of 440 full-term children serving as controls. The findings at this examination are related to similar data pertaining to the same children obtained when they were 40 weeks of age. At both examinations the prematurely born group was found to rate somewhat lower in intellectual status and to have a smaller proportion classed as neurologically normal than the fullterm children. When the prematures were subdivided by birth weight the trend favoring those with larger birth weights was maintained. For example, those in the group with birth weights from 2,001 to 2,500 grams were only slightly different from the controls; those whose birth weights were under 1,501 grams were more seriously handicapped. Consequently, a statement about “prematures” is more useful when details regarding degree of prematurity are available. Also, it was found in comparing the 40 week and the 3 to 5 year results that a child's prognosis for improvement in classification or for maintaining an average or better rating increased with an increase in birth weight. The answer as to whether or not this finding is peculiar to this age interval or to the aspects of development discussed in this paper must await further study. Finally, while the prematurely born group performs less well than the full-term group on the two indices here studied, it should be emphasized that the great majority of those born prematurely fall within the normal range and their distribution of intelligence ratings closely approximates that found for those born at term although somewhat on the lower side.
Filippi syndrome: Report of three additional cases

Filippi syndrome is an autosomal recessive condition characterized by variable soft tissue syndactyly of the fingers and toes, microcephaly, pre- and postnatal growth retardation, mildly abnormal craniofacial appearance, and mental retardation. We report on three unrelated individuals with Filippi syndrome. All have microcephaly, minor facial anomalies, variable syndactyly of digits, growth impairment, and developmental delay. One patient also has polydactyly, which has not been reported previously in the Filippi syndrome.
Insecure behaviors on mobile devices under stress

One of the biggest challenges in mobile security is human behavior. The most secure password may be useless if it is sent as a text or in an email. The most secure network is only as secure as its most careless user. Thus, in the current project we sought to discover the conditions under which users of mobile devices were most likely to make security errors. This scaffolds a larger project where we will develop automatic ways of detecting such environments and eventually supporting users during these times to encourage safe mobile behaviors.
Early autonomous selfing in the hummingbird-pollinated epiphyte Pitcairnia brittoniana (Bromeliaceae)1

Abstract Hummingbirds are important pollinators in Monteverde, Costa Rica, as they are in most neotropical montane cloud forests. In Monteverde, hummingbird-pollinated plants are generally pollen-limited and incapable of autonomous self-pollination. However, many hummingbird-pollinated plants in the Bromeliaceae are capable of autonomous self-pollination. We examined the breeding system and pollination of Pitcairnia brittoniana (Mez), shown previously to be capable of autonomous selfing. We found that fruit and seed set were high in open-, self-, and cross-pollinated treatments, as well as in the autonomous self-pollination treatment. Seed set, but not fruit set was slightly lower among pollinator-excluded flowers from which the anthers or stigma were removed at dawn, the time at which flowers are first receptive to cross-pollination, relative to controls whose anthers and stigmas were unmanipulated. Flowers were visited by two hummingbird species that deposited cumulative cross-pollen loads sufficient fo...
Citation analysis using scientific publications on the Web as data source: A case study in the XML research area

With the primary goal of exploring whether citation analysis using scientific papers found on the Web as a data source is a worthwhile means of studying scholarly communication in the new digital environment, the present case study examines the scholarly communication patterns in XML research revealed by citation analysis of ResearchIndex data and SCI data. Results suggest that citation analysis using scientific papers found on the Web as a data source has both advantages and disadvantages when compared with citation analysis of SCI data, but is nonetheless a valid method for evaluating scholarly contributions and for studying the intellectual structure in XML research.
Aging, Subjective Experience, and Cognitive Control: Dramatic False Remembering by Older Adults

Recent research suggests that older adults are more susceptible to interference effects than are young adults; however, that research has failed to equate differences in original learning. In 4 experiments, the authors show that older adults are more susceptible to interference effects produced by a misleading prime. Even when original learning was equated, older adults were 10 times as likely to falsely remember misleading information and were much less likely to increase their accuracy by opting not to answer under conditions of free responding. The results are well described by a multinomial model that postulates multiple modes of cognitive control. According to that model, older adults are likely to be captured by misleading information, a form of goal neglect or deficit in inhibitory functions.
Personalized Health Manifesto: An Old-Fashioned Call to Arms and Action Plan for a New Age of Health Care

Despite the promise of a new era of health care in which medicine has shifted from treating conditions to emphasizing prevention fueled by individualized care, a significant gap remains in realizing its benefits because of outmoded attitudes, protocols and procedures targeted for treating mass populations. Such is the core argument and motivation behind the “Personalized Health Manifesto,” released as a part of the 2010 Translational Medicine Alliance Forum (TMAF).Written by journalist and best-selling author David Ewing Duncan and funded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the manifesto is “an old-fashioned call to arms and action plan for a new age of health care” that takes direct aim at the challenges of integrating and implementing personalized health care in the United States and seeks to accelerate the incorporation of personalized health into the current health care system.The manifesto’s “action plan” aims to set a new direction for health care, emphasizing prediction, prevention, individualized care and healthy wellness to ensure that the best medicines make it to the marketplace and optimize patient care. By focusing on the whole human organism, the manifesto challenges the prevailing use of drugs and protocols to target populations and averages rather than individuals. It further outlines the necessary groundwork for speeding up the process of moving from research to new drugs and other products and treatments by introducing more effective models that will ultimately improve health and reduce health care costs.The manifesto was prepared with input from life science leaders representing medicine, business, government, patients, law and the media. Although the work is solely that of the author, these advisors have endorsed the manifesto, and many of them are convening at the TMAF today. The manifesto organizers hope to acquire the endorsement of at least 500 life science leaders by the end of the year. Anyone who reads the manifesto can add their name to the list of endorsers and leave comments by visiting www.kauffman.org/healthmanifesto.