cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predicting On-Road Driving Skills, Fitness to Drive, and Prospective Accident Risk in Older Drivers and Drivers with Mild Cognitive Impairment: The Importance of Non-Cognitive Risk Factors

Background On-road driving behavior can be impaired in older drivers and particularly in drivers with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Objective To determine whether cognitive and non-cognitive risk factors for driving safety may allow an accurate and economic prediction of on-road driving skills, fitness to drive, and prospective accident risk in healthy older drivers and drivers with MCI, we examined a representative combined sample of older drivers with and without MCI (N = 74) in an observational on-road study. In particular, we examined whether non-cognitive risk factors improve predictive accuracy provided by cognitive factors alone. Methods Multiple and logistic hierarchical regression analyses were utilized to predict different driving outcomes. In all regression models, we included cognitive predictors alone in a first step and added non-cognitive predictors in a second step. Results Results revealed that the combination of cognitive and non-cognitive risk factors significantly predicted driving skills (R2adjusted = 0.30) and fitness to drive (81.2% accuracy) as well as the number (R2adjusted = 0.21) and occurrence (88.3% accuracy) of prospective minor at-fault accidents within the next 12 months. In all analyses, the inclusion of non-cognitive risk factors led to a significant increase of explained variance in the different outcome variables. Conclusion Our findings suggest that a combination of the most robust cognitive and non-cognitive risk factors may allow an economic and accurate prediction of on-road driving performance and prospective accident risk in healthy older drivers and drivers with MCI. Therefore, non-cognitive risk factors appear to play an important role.
Theory, practice, and community development

Overview and Introduction Mark A. Brennan, Jeffrey C. Bridger, Theodore R. Alter, Paloma Z.C. Frumento The Post-Place Community: Contributions to the Debate about the Definition of Community Ted K. Bradshaw Settling at the Margins: Exurbia and Community Sociology Jeff S. Sharp and Jill K. Clark Dimensions of Community Generalizing Structure Peter F. Korsching and Cheryl Davidson An Interactional Approach to Place-Based Development Jeffrey C. Bridger and Theodore R. Alter The Power of Community Mark A. Brennan and Glenn D. Israel The Tamaqua Paradox: How History Shapes Social Capital and Local Economic Development Efforts Jeffrey C. Bridger, Paloma Z.C. Frumento, and Theodore R. Alter Power, Populism, and the Defence of Rural Community Interests Tony Varley and Chris Curtin Is There a Place for Democratic Theory in Community Development? David Mathews The Basics: What's Essential About Theory for Community Development Practice? Ronald J. Hustedde and Jacek Ganowicz Conclusion and Future Directions Jeffrey C. Bridger, Paloma Z.C. Frumento, Theodore R. Alter, Mark A. Brennan
The Impact of Regulation on Bank Equity Infusions

This study investigates the relationship between changes in risk and capital in a large sample of banks. A positive association between changes in risk and capital is found. The fact that this finding holds in banks with capital ratios in excess of regulatory minimum levels supports the conclusion that, for most banks, bank owners' and/or managers' private incentives work to limit total risk exposure. Results for banks which were undercapitalized by regulatory standards indicate that regulation was at least partially effective during the period covered. Overall, the findings support a conclusion that changes in bank capital over the period studied have been ‘risk-based’.
Physics-driven deep-learning inversion with application to transient electromagnetics

ABSTRACTMachine learning, and specifically deep-learning (DL) techniques applied to geophysical inverse problems, is an attractive subject, which has promising potential and, at the same time, pres...
Academic Trajectories of Children in Formal and Informal Kinship Care.

The academic achievement places children on a positive trajectory for their lifespan. The aim of this study was to examine the academic trajectories of children in out-of-home care (OOCH) and whether kinship care has a protective effect relative to nonkin foster care. The sample analyzed for this study consists of 519,306 racially diverse youth in North Carolina schools 8 to 11 years old in the school year 2009-2010 (e.g., 27% African American, 12% Latinx, 53% White). Four longitudinal administrative data sources were merged to create this unique sample. Multilevel modeling revealed no difference between formal and non-OOHC, but showed differences between nonkin foster, informal, and non-OOHC. Children's academic performance who reside in formal kinship care is similar to children in non-OOHC.
Co-Teaching in Uncertain Times: Using Technology to Improve Student Learning and Manage Today’s Complex Educational Landscape:

As co-teachers tackle the unique challenges of instructing in remote, hybrid, and socially distanced brick-and-mortar settings they can increase their success by incorporating technology solutions ...
Banking Crises and Bank Resolution: Experiences in Some Transition Economies

It has been estimated that in the past 20 years over half the members of the IMF have experienced banking crises.2 Among these, much attention has been paid to the Nordic banking crises of the early 1990s;3 more recently the focus has been on the crises that hit several Asian countries in the late 1990s.4 Between these two well-recorded episodes was a set of major banking crises that critically affected economic developments in a further group of countries: the transition economies. During the 1990s, most of the countries that were undertaking the difficult transition from a centrally planned to a market economy experienced banking crises of varying severity. These crises reflected in part factors specific to countries emerging from state socialism. Banks in transition economies were characterized by linkages to loss-making public and private enterprises, insider lending, absence of sound prudential practices, and legacy problems from the earlier regimes in their countries, all of which characteristics helped undermine the soundness of banking systems in these countries.5 To a surprising extent, however, the experiences of the transition economies reflected factors common to banking crises across all types of economies—transition economies were clearly more vulnerable than others to the emergence of banking problems, but overall the factors contributing to systematic banking sector problems in these countries had a great deal in common with those found elsewhere. Similarly, the lessons that can be learned, in particular on how the authorities handled the crises, may also be of wider applicability.
Abstract 161: Activation of mTOR pathway in myeloid-derived suppressor cells with lysosomal acid lipase deficiency stimulates cancer cell proliferation and metastasis

Inflammation plays crucial roles at all stages of tumor development, from tumor initiation to metastatic progression, during which myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are an important participant. Although MDSCs are known to suppress immune surveillance, their roles in directly stimulating cancer cell proliferation and metastasis currently remains unclear. Lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) deficiency causes systemic expansion and infiltration of MDSCs in multiple organs and subsequent inflammation. In the LAL-deficient (lal-/-) mouse model, we found that melanoma metastasized massively in allogeneic lal-/- mice, which was suppressed in allogeneic lal+/+ mice due to immune rejection. Therefore, we hypothesized that MDSCs with LAL deficiency directly stimulate cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. Bone marrow-derived MDSCs from lal-/- mice directly stimulated B16 melanoma cell proliferation in vitro by co-culture analysis and in vivo by co-implantation in the Matrigel plugs. These tumor cell-stimulatory effects were diminished when myeloid-specific human LAL (hLAL) was expressed in myeloid cells in lal-/- mice. In addition, lal-/- MDSCs facilitated B16 melanoma cell metastasis in the lungs of recipient lal+/+ mice via tail vein injection. Furthermore, the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and its downstream gene products were significantly up-regulated in lal-/- MDSCs. Knockdown of mTOR in lal-/- MDSCs suppressed their stimulation on B16 melanoma cell proliferation, growth and metastasis, indicating the tumor-promoting function of lal-/- MDSCs is mediated, at least in part, through over-activation of the mTOR pathway. Finally, lal-/- MDSCs stimulated proliferation and growth of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC), and transgenic mouse prostate cancer (TRAMP-C2) cells, and these effects were impaired after mTOR inhibition. Our results indicate that LAL plays a critical role in regulating MDSCs ability to directly stimulate cancer cell proliferation, and overcome immune rejection of cancer metastasis in allogeneic mice through modulation of the mTOR pathway, which provides a mechanistic basis for targeting MDSCs to reduce the risk of cancer metastasis. Therefore, MDSCs possess dual functions to facilitate cancer metastasis: suppress immune surveillance, and stimulate cancer cell proliferation and growth. Citation Format: Ting Zhao, Hong Du, Xinchun Ding, Katlin Walls, Cong Yan. Activation of mTOR pathway in myeloid-derived suppressor cells with lysosomal acid lipase deficiency stimulates cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 161. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-161
A role and attribute based access control system using semantic web technologies

We show how Semantic Web technologies can be used to build an access control system. We follow the role-based access control approach (RBAC) and extend it with contextual attributes. Our approach provides for the dynamic association of roles with users. A Description Logic (DL) reasoner is used to classify both users and resources, and verify the consistency of the access control policies. We mitigate the limited expressive power of the DL formalism by refining the output of the DL reasoner with SPARQL queries. Finally, we provide a proof-of-concept implementation of the system written in Java.™
Effects of dietary wheat bran on rat colonic structure and mucosal cell growth.

ABSTRACT The effects of dietary wheat bran on colonie morphology andmucosal cell growth were examined in male Wistar rats. Two groups of rats werefed defined diets for2 weeks. The control group was fed a fiber-free diet while theexperimental group received the same diet plus a 20% wheat bran supplement.Nutrient intake and body weight gain were similar in the two groups of rats. Thebran-fed group developed an increase in proximal (cecum) and distal colonieweights (P < 0.02) but mucosal weight was only increased in the distal colonwhen compared to the control group (P < 0.005). Histological measurementsrevealed deeper colonie crypts (P < 0.001) and mucosal cell hyperplasia in thebran-fed group in addition to an increase in muscle thickness (P < 0.001).Mucosal cell hyperplasia, as measured by the increases in mucosal protein(P < 0.01), DNA (P < 0.01) and RNA (P < 0.005) was most marked in the distalcolon. Proximal colon showed no significant change in mucosal cell mass. CellRNA content was decreased only in the proximal colonie mucosa (P < 0.01).These results demonstrate that dietary wheat bran regulates colonie mucosalcell growth according to the anatomical region of the colon, producing distalmucosal hyperplasia and decreasing proximal colonie cell RNA. J. Nutr. 111:798-803, 1981.INDEXING KEY WORDS fiber â€¢colonie mucosal cell growth
Patients Over Politics: Addressing Legislative Failure in the Regulation of Medical Products

This Article proposes reform measures that mitigate risk-enhancing aspects of the regulatory framework for medical products. By incentivizing product analysis and information disclosure, the proposals aim to ensure that marketed products contain accurate risk-benefit profiles. Under the proposed reforms, firms must conduct active post-market analysis for the entire lifecycle of their products and disclose research findings to the FDA and public. The mandatory post-market analysis and disclosure requirements are aligned with preemption laws, such that firms may benefit from limited liability only if they have successfully completed their post-market obligations. The underlying goal of the proposed framework is to advocate a cost-effective theory of regulation that promotes legitimacy, accuracy, and transparency by incorporating innovations that account for regulatory failure and asymmetries in information into regulatory procedure. In the context of health care markets, this process of innovative regulating informs health-related decisions, reduces patient risk and health care costs, and improves the quality of health care.
Optimum Carrying Capacity for Bison in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

This project was designed to determine the optimum population size for bison in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP) by fulfilling the following objectives: 1. Delineate primary and secondary bison ranges; 2. Determine forage productivity for major range sites within primary and secondary use areas; 3. Determine the general seasonal food habits of bison in TRNP; 4. Determine range condition under present population density of bison and the maximum carrying capacity of primary use areas; and 5. Integrate range condition and carrying capacity estimates with management priorities for bison on the TRNP.
Rectus-Sparing Technique for Driveline Insertion of Ventricular Assist Device

We present a new technique for driveline insertion of the HeartWare ventricular assist device (HVAD) designed to preserve the integrity of the abdominal wall structure. Because of the size of the HVAD driveline connector (12 mm in diameter: triple the size of the driveline cable), the standard tunneling maneuver can result in tearing of the abdominal wall muscle layer, which is a primary mechanism to prevent ascending driveline infection. We find that our technique is particularly useful in children because their abdominal wall muscles are more fragile and thereby prone to accidental injury with blunt penetration when the standard technique is used.
Development of feather keratin during embryogenesis of the chick.

The development of keratin in 9 to 17 day embryonic chick feathers has been studied by x-ray diffraction and cytochemical methods. The x-ray diffraction pattern given by the 9-day feathers contains none of the features seen in the adult pattern. In the 10 to 11 day patterns, besides two diffuse rings centered at 4.7 A and 10 A, two sharp, rather weak rings are seen at 35 A and 4.2 A with slight preferred orientations about the equator and the meridian, respectively. At 12 days, in addition to the foregoing, a sharp intense equatorial reflection at ∼56 A is observed. On treatment with lipid solvents, the 35 A ring is removed; prolonged extraction removes the 4.2 A ring, while blurring the 56 A reflection and enhancing the central low angle scatter. The 14-day pattern shows, besides all the features seen in the earlier patterns, a 23 A meridional reflection and other meridional and near meridional reflections. All the basic features of the adult pattern are seen at this stage and remain essentially intact on lipid extraction. Beyond 14 days, the pattern remains essentially the same, only improving in clarity and detail. The 4.2 A ring seen in the 10 to 15 day pattern is scarcely detectable in the 16-day pattern. Cytochemical evidence indicates that extensive —S—S bond formation occurs between the 13th and 14th days. It is suggested that lipids serve as a framework for the developing keratin structure which acquires permanent stability through hydrogen bonds and disulfide cross-links. The relation between keratin synthesis and tissue architecture as well as cytodifferentiation is discussed.
Promoting Nutrition for Men's Health

Morbidity and mortality are significantly higher in men than in women and are particularly related to lifestyle-related chronic diseases. Men tend to consume fewer vegetables and fruits than women and fail to meet recommendations for intakes of fats, fibers, and sodium. Men in some population groups tend to consume diets with lower nutrient density than women. Barriers to healthy eating in men include lack of awareness and personal interest, perceptions that foods and diets are “women's business,” lack of social support, and cynicism regarding nutrition messages by health authorities. In addition, many men perceive health-promoting foods as expensive, bland, nonsatiating, and time-consuming to prepare. Research specifically focused on men's health and nutrition is critically needed. Topics to be addressed include biological, psychological, and social correlates of healthy eating in men and nutritional factors particular to chronic disease risk reduction in men. Social, cultural, religious, economic, educa...
Scan-rate reduction for tomographic imaging of time-varying distributions

We formulate the problem of data acquisition as a time-sequential (TS) sampling problem of temporally bandlimited signals, where only one view can be taken at a time, but the time interval between successive views is independent of their angular separation.
The use of the Monsanto draft rice genome sequence in research.

Monsanto recently produced a draft of a rice ( Oryza sativa ) genome in support of its ongoing internal research programs in genomics and crop improvement. The sequence data were produced primarily in the laboratories of Dr. Leroy Hood (University of Washington, Seattle) under contract for Monsanto
Influence of nonequivalent detector responsivity on FT-IR photometric accuracy

Abstract Due to the temperature dependence of the detector responsivity, a photometric error mechanism exists in Fourier-transform infrared spectrometers, namely, nonequivalent detector responsivity. In this work, we analyze the mechanism theoretically and demonstrate experimentally how it affects FT-IR photometric accuracy.
Thoracic duct cyst causing mediastinal compression and acute respiratory insufficiency.

A patient is reported with a benign thoracic duct cyst causing significant compression of the trachea, esophagus, and superior vena cava. The tracheal compression resulted in acute respiratory insufficiency. Thoracic duct cyst is one of the entities which must be considered in the differential diagnosis of symptomatic, as well as asymptomatic, mediastinal masses. Resection of benign masses of the mediastinum is justified, not only for the establishment of diagnosis, but for prevention of later complications.
Contrasting Theoretical Approaches to Intergroup Relations

The current forum is designed to assess the strengths and weaknesses of social identity, social dominance, and system justification as theoretical approaches to the study of intergroup relations. Each of these approaches tries to account for variation in the development of ingroup cohesion and outgroup antipathy among individual group members, across groups, and in different societies—three levels at which theorists have commonly sought explanations for variability in intergroup attitudes and behavior. Social dominance theory is the most ambitious of the theories but does not succeed in explaining intergroup relations equally well at all three levels. However, it has excelled in highlighting individual differences in the need and desire to dominate members of lower-status groups and in exploring the interaction between individuals and institutions. Social identity theory is primarily concerned with the attributes of groups that foster the development of ingroup bias and examines the conditions under which this occurs. It is more fully developed in this respect than the other approaches but ignores variation at the individual level and, to a lesser degree, the societal level. System justification theory considers a mix of individual- and societal-level factors, focusing on the role of support for the status quo in producing acceptance of status inequalities among members of low-status groups, even when it is against their own interest to do so. The theory highlights an important problem—the quiescence of low-status groups—but more work is needed to flesh out the theory and its central concepts.
Intranuclear "paramyxovirus-like" material in multiple sclerosis, adreno-leukodystrophy and Kuf's disease.

Abstract Detailed comparative ultrastructural examination of multiple sclerosis (MS) plaques. inflammatory CNS lesions from adreno-leukodystrophy (A-LD), tissue from a case of chronic granulomatous meningitis, biopsy samples of necrotic cerebral cortex and CNS tissue from a case of Kuf's disease (adult-type ceroid lipofuscinosis), has revealed that the intranuclear filamentous material previously thought to be related to a viral infection in MS in a non-specific finding. These intranuclear strands were, however, found in greatest frequency in the acute lesions of MS and were absent from chronically demyelinated areas. The macrophages, lymphocytes and fibrocytes containing filamentous material in the nuclei were mainly perivascular. In A-LD, some macrophages in active lesions contained similar nuclei, and in Kuf's disease they were present in some glial in the cerebral cortex.
Thyroid hormone is essential for pituitary somatotropes and lactotropes.

Mice homozygous for a disruption in the α-subunit essential for TSH, LH, and FSH activity (αGsu−/−) exhibit hypothyroidism and hypogonadism similar to that observed in TSH receptor-deficient hypothyroid mice (hyt) and GnRH-deficient hypogonadal mutants (hpg). Although the five major hormone-producing cells of the anterior pituitary are present in αGsu−/− mice, the relative proportions of each cell type are altered dramatically. Thyrotropes exhibit hypertrophy and hyperplasia, and somatotropes and lactotropes are underrepresented. The size and number of gonadotropes in αGsu mutants are not remarkable in contrast to the hypertrophy characteristic of gonadectomized animals. The reduction in lactotropes is more severe in αGsu mutants (13-fold relative to wild-type) than in hyt or hpg mutants (4.5- and 1.5-fold, respectively). In addition, T4 replacement therapy of αGsu mutants restores lactotropes to near-normal levels, illustrating the importance of T4, but not α-subunit, for lactotrope proliferation and fun...
Interfaces for capillary LC with ICPMS detection: A comparison of nebulizers/spray chamber configurations

Three nebulizer and four spray chamber configurations were evaluated to develop a selective and sensitive capillary interface to analyze phosphorothioate oligonucleotides by ICPMS. Nebulizers consisted of two of the most common low flow nebulizer designs, concentric and micro-concentric. Spray chambers utilized were a Scott chamber, a Cinnabar chamber, and two single pass configurations, all with different internal volumes. The influence of nebulizer designs and spray chamber volumes were determined by peak width measurements through flow injections made with and without the capillary column. This study capitalizes on the element specific detection abilities of ICPMS by elucidating phosphorus and sulfur in the phosphorothioate linkage of the 24 mer oligonucleotide by monitoring 31P+ and 32S+. Comparisons of nebulizer/spray chamber responses were based upon absolute sensitivity for the 24 mer oligonucleotide. Micro-flow injection analysis generated absolute detection limits of 31P and 32S of 0.17 pg and 0.16 pg, respectively, corresponding to 16 fmol of 24 mer oligonucleotide injected. This is the first record of a phosphorothioate oligonucleotide being quantitatively detected by ICPMS and the subsequent evaluation of low flow capillary nebulizer/spray chamber configurations optimized for its analysis.
The rheology of starch/carrageenan systems

Abstract The influence of carrageenan on the rheology of starch systems is discussed during and after cooking. The unique properties and applications of starch/carrageenan systems are considered.
Human transporters associated with antigen processing possess a promiscuous peptide-binding site

The peptide selectivity of the human transporters associated with antigen processing (TAP) was investigated using a panel of peptides of varying length and sequence. Peptides were assayed for their ability to compete for the translocation of a labeled reporter peptide containing an N-linked glycosylation acceptor site in Streptolysin O (SLO)-permeabilized cells. We find that human TAP is very promiscuous for peptides in the 8-12 amino acid range, while showing increased selectivity and lower translocation efficiency for peptides in the 13-30 amino acid range. The minimum peptide length appears to be 8 amino acids, while the maximum length appears to be approximately 25 amino acids. Furthermore, a photoactive peptide analogue was synthesized that can photolabel TAP molecules. Using this analogue, we showed that an ATP-independent peptide-binding site exists on TAP, and that competition for translocation reflects competition for peptide binding.
The topology of surface mediatrices

Abstract Given a pair of distinct points p and q in a metric space with distance d , the mediatrix is the set of points x such that d ( x , p ) = d ( x , q ) . In this paper, we examine the topological structure of mediatrices in connected, compact, closed 2-manifolds whose distance function is inherited from a Riemannian metric. We determine that such mediatrices are, up to homeomorphism, finite, closed simplicial 1-complexes with an even number of incipient edges emanating from each vertex. Using this and results from [J.J.P. Veerman, J. Bernhard, Minimally separating sets, mediatrices and Brillouin spaces, Topology Appl., in press], we give the classification up to homeomorphism of mediatrices on genus 1 tori (and on projective planes) and outline a method which may possibly be used to classify mediatrices on higher-genus surfaces.
Solutions to a time-dependent su(3) mean field Hamiltonian

The time-dependent su(3) mean field equations are solved for a particular energy function relevant to nuclear structure. The model energy in the su(3) enveloping algebra is the sum of two terms which are the squared length of the angular momentum vector and the cubic rotational scalar X3 = tr(lql). The mean field solutions for this energy have constant intrinsic quadrupole moments q. In the three-dimensional space of all angular momentum components in the rotating principal axis frame, a trajectory is defined by the intersection of a sphere and a hyperboloid. This conclusion is similar to the classical rigid rotor for which a solution is the intersection of a sphere and the inertia ellipsoid.
Reaction of methylated urates with 1,1diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl

Abstract The kinetics of the reaction between the stable free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and methylated urates was studied. Urates that had methyl groups on the 1, 3, 9, or on the 1 and 3 or 1 and 9 nitrogens reacted with DPPN 15 to 77% faster than uric acid. Urates substituted with methyl groups on the 7 nitrogen or on both the 3 and 9 nitrogens reacted with DPPH at rates that were less than 0.1 that of uric acid. 3,7,9-Trimethyluric acid and 1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric acid reacted with DPPH at barely detectable rates. DPPH reacted with uric acid, the monomethylated urates, and some of the dimethylated urates in a ratio of 2:1. DPPH reacted with other dimethylated and trimethylated urates in a ratio of 1:1. Semiempirical MNDO calculations indicate that the most stable radicai of uric acid is formed by hydrogen abstraction from the 3, 7 or 9 position. The most stable species resulting from loss of a second hydrogen lack hydtogens at the 3 and 7 positions or the 7 and 9 positions. For maximum reactivity with DPPH, methylated uric acid derivatives must have a hydrogen at nitrogen 7 and one of the hydtogens at either the 3 or 9 position.
A Holistic Approach to New Product Development: New Insights

SUMMARY The literature for some time has endorsed a participative approach to new product development. Nonetheless, practice still seldom follows theory. The production, purchasing and logistics areas, as well as suppliers and customers, continue to be underrepresented at many manufacturing firms. This research provides empirical support for including these parties early in new product development. It demonstrates the positive impact their participation can have on manufacturing efficiency and agility, delivery service and organizational performance. It also reveals that there is ample room to increase their participation at many firms.
Transcriptional regulation in Drosophila: the post-genome challenge.

Drosophila melanogaster has long been at the forefront of studies of transcriptional regulation in animals. Many fundamental ideas – such as cis control elements that act over long distances, the regulation of development by hierarchical cascades of transcription factors, dosage compensation, and position effect variegation– originated from studies of the fruit fly. The recent completion of the euchromatic DNA sequence of Drosophila is another breakthrough. The sequence data highlight important unanswered questions. For example, only one-fifth of the 124 Mb of Drosophila euchromatic DNA codes for protein. The function of the remaining 100 Mb of mostly unique DNA is largely unknown. Some proportion of this non-reading frame DNA must encode the functional recognition sites targeted by the approximately 700 sequence-specific DNA binding proteins that regulate transcription in Drosophila, but what proportion? Most or very little? Promoter sequences by definition contain all of the cis information that specifies how gene transcription is regulated. However, it has been difficult to decipher this information and predict the patterns of RNA expression. How do we break this "transcriptional code"? Mechanistic studies, using simple model promoters, indicate that transcription is controlled by the coordinate action of sequence-specific DNA binding proteins interacting with the general transcriptional machinery via intermediary adapters and chromatin remodeling activities. How can we integrate this biochemical information with data from genome-wide studies to describe the generation of highly complex patterns of transcription? Here, we discuss recent studies that may point the way ahead. We also highlight difficulties that the field faces in dissecting transcriptional control in the post-genome era.
Alcoholism and crime across generations

Background/Methods Alcoholism and criminality tend to run in families. The current research examines that tendency by investigating the link between paternal deviance and the socializing environments fathers provide for their children. Observational data indicate that alcoholic and criminal men disproportionately tend to be aggressive in their families and to father sons whose mothers are disproportionately incompetent in their roles as mothers. Results/Conclusions Using longitudinal data, the study suggests that good socializing environments tend to impede the transmission of deviance and that bad socializing environments tend to promote the transmission, especially, of criminality. Copyright © 1999 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Are MSAs effective for cost-containment?

As the cost of health care continues to escalate, systems around the world are coming under increasing pressure to improve the efficiency with which they operate. However, in the drive to reduce the unnecessary use of services, the safety net that guarantees a decent minimum standard of care for the most vulnerable groups risks being compromised, as does patient choice and quality of care. Medical savings accounts (MSAs) offer an attractive solution to this dilemma, combining the efficiency of the marketplace with the protection of government control, and Singapore provides an example of a modern, efficient healthcare system based on compulsory MSAs. Have MSAs been effective at containing costs? Have they maintained the safety net? And are they an appropriate policy approach for a national health service?
Changes in the local metabolism of dopamine in the anterior and neural lobes but not in the intermediate lobe of the pituitary gland during nursing

Abstract Dopamine (DA), produced by tubero-infundibular dopaminergic (TIDA) neurons of the arcuate nucleus (ARN) is the established inhibitor of the secretion of prolactin (PRL). Changes in dopaminergic (DAergic) neuronal activity in the median eminence–long portal vessels (ME–LPV) and/or the concentration of DA in the anterior lobe (AL) are inversely related to the secretion of PRL. However, conflicting reports concerning DAergic neuronal activity during the suckling-induced release of PRL persist. In addition to TIDA neurons, PeVN-hypophysial DAergic (PHDA) and tubero-hypophysial DAergic (THDA) neurons which, respectively, innervate the intermediate lobe (IL) and the IL/neural lobe (NL) also have a significant role. We measured the concentrations of DA and its main metabolite, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), in the median eminence and the three pituitary lobes of lactating mothers. Concentrations of DA and DOPAC from tissues and the concentration of PRL in plasma were measured by HPLC-EC and RIA, respectively. There were no changes in the concentration of DA and DOPAC of the IL due to the suckling stimulus. In the NL, a decrease in the concentration of DOPAC was detected due to the suckling stimulus. In addition, there were no changes of DA or DOPAC in the outer zone of the AL (AL-OZ) due to suckling. However, a decrease in the concentrations of DA and DOPAC was detected in the inner zone of the AL (AL-IZ). These data suggest lactotrophs from the AL-IZ are responsible for the changes in the concentration of plasma PRL in response to the suckling stimulus. In addition TIDA and THDA neurons, but not PHDA neurons, regulate the control of the secretion of PRL in response to suckling.
Fully quantitative predictive maintenance/inspection planning optimization for the utility/plant components

Predictive maintenance/inspection planning is being applied more frequency to counter the problem of component aging affecting reliability of plant components. Component aging is one of the critical issues in an increasingly competitive environment, especially in plant components built and installed during the 50s and 60s. Drawing the highest value for the predictive maintenance/inspection dollar is key is this issue for the electric utility and other production facilities. This paper discusses the basic idea of using decision analysis to tie the works of fully quantitative probabilistic engineering analysis and economic evaluation together for decision making. To illustrate this idea, specific application examples of this approach will be presented on power plant components. In addition, the concept of prioritization of multiple component maintenance/inspection projects, with maintenance budget and safety constraints for maximum net present value, will be presented.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Probability models for access security system architectures

This paper presents probability models of access control security system architectures. Access control is the process of screening objects; for example people, baggage, entering a secured area in order to detect and prevent entry by threats such as unauthorized personnel, firearms, explosives. A security system architecture consists of device technologies, as well as operational policies and procedures for utilizing the technologies. The probability models are developed based on Type I (a false alarm is given) and Type II (a threat is not detected) errors. The concept of controlled sampling, in which objects may take different paths through the system, is introduced. New architectures consisting of multiple devices and controlled sampling are proposed and analyzed. The results presented indicate that for specific threat levels, multiple-device systems can be identified which outperform single-device systems for certain error probability measures.
Coordinatewise decomposition of group-valued Borel functions

Answering a question of K lopotowski-Nadkarni-Sarbadhikari-Srivastava [6], we characterize the Borel sets S ⊆ X×Y on which every Borel function f : S → C is of the form uv|S, where u : X → C and v : Y → C are Borel. Suppose that S ⊆ X × Y and Γ is a group. A coordinatewise decomposition of a function f : S → Γ is a pair (u, v), where u : X → Γ, v : Y → Γ, and ∀(x, y) ∈ S (f(x, y) = u(x)v(y)). While our main goal here is to study coordinatewise decompositions in the descriptive set-theoretic context, we will first study the existence of coordinatewise decompositions without imposing any definability restrictions. For the sake of notational convenience, we will assume that X ∩ Y = ∅. The graph associated with S is the graph on the set ZS = X ∪Y given by GS = S ∪S−1. The following fact was proven essentially by Cowsik-K lopotowski-Nadkarni [1]: Proposition 1. Suppose that X,Y are disjoint, S ⊆ X ×Y , and Γ is a non-trivial group. Then the following are equivalent: 1. Every function f : S → Γ admits a coordinatewise decomposition; 2. GS is acyclic. Proof. To see ¬(2) ⇒ ¬(1) note that, by reversing the roles of X and Y if necessary, we can assume that there is a proper cycle of the form x0, y0, x1, y1, . . . , xn+1 = x0 through GS . Fix γ0 ∈ Γ \ {1Γ}, define f : S → Γ by f(x, y) = γ0 if (x, y) = (x0, y0), 1Γ otherwise, and suppose that (u, v) is a coordinatewise decomposition of f . Then γ0 = f(x0, y0)f(x1, y0) · · · f(xn, yn)f(xn+1, yn) = (u(x0)v(y0))(u(x1)v(y0)) · · · (u(xn)v(yn))(u(xn+1)v(yn)) = u(x0)u(x1) · · ·u(xn)u(xn+1) = u(x0)u(xn+1) = 1Γ, which contradicts our choice of γ0.
Qualitative radiology assessment of tumor response: does it measure up?

Our purpose was to assess whether a simpler qualitative evaluation of tumor response by computed tomography is as reproducible and predictive of clinical outcome as the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) and World Health Organization (WHO) methods. This study was a two-reader retrospective evaluation in which qualitative assessment resulted in agreement in 21 of 23 patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma (91.3%, kappa=0.78; 95% CI, 0.51–1.00). Hepatic metastases were classified as increased, decreased, or unchanged, compared with agreement in 20 of 23 patients (87.0%) for RECIST (kappa=0.62; 95% CI, 0.23–1.00) and WHO (kappa=0.67; 95% CI, 0.34–1.00) methods. Patients were placed into partial response, stable disease, and disease progression categories. Time to progression of disease was better predicted qualitatively than by RECIST or WHO. Our pilot data suggest that our qualitative scoring system is more reproducible and predictive of patient clinical outcome than the RECIST and WHO methods.
Intolerance for discomfort among smokers: comparison of smoking-specific and non-specific measures to smoking history and patterns.

Abstract Introduction Intolerance of discomfort associated with recent smoking cessation has been studied with only one smoking-specific questionnaire. The present study investigates the extent to which the previously validated Intolerance for Smoking Abstinence Discomfort Questionnaire (IDQ-S) scales share variance with (a) laboratory measures of distress tolerance (Paced Serial Addition Task and a breath-holding task) that have themselves been validated against smoking history, (b) the cold pressor task (not previously validated for smoking), and (c) an anxiety sensitivity questionnaire previously used for a similar purpose. The study then tests the hypothesis that the IDQ-S scales will have a higher correlation with smoking rate and dependence and with number and length of past smoking cessation attempts than with anxiety sensitivity or behavioral distress tolerance tasks do, since those measures are not smoking-specific. Methods Sixty daily smokers recruited from the community completed the measures. Results The behavioral tasks and anxiety sensitivity shared little common variance. Anxiety sensitivity correlated more highly with IDQ-S than did the behavioral tasks but only 27% of variance was shared with the IDQ-S Withdrawal Intolerance; no distress tolerance measure correlated significantly with the IDQ-S Lack of Cognitive Coping scale. Only the IDQ-S scales correlated significantly with nicotine dependence, rate and past cessation: Withdrawal Intolerance with nicotine dependence and rate, and Lack of Cognitive Coping with fewer quit attempts. Conclusions The smoking-specific measure of intolerance for discomfort may be more useful in smoking research than the less specific measures of distress tolerance.
EFFECTS OF VIEWING AGGRESSIVE CARTOONS ON THE BEHAVIOR OF LEARNING DISABLED CHILDREN

— Forty-six learning disabled children (M = 7.6 years) were exposed to six aggressive and six control cartoons in school. Treatment effects were assessed using direct observations of five categories of social behavior. There were no main effects for condition, and neither initial aggressiveness nor gender interacted significantly with condition for any of the behaviors. There was a significant interaction of condition with IQ; the low IQ group became significantly more physically aggressive following control compared with aggressive cartoons. The results from the present study are compared with the findings from other field experiments, and their clinical relevance is discussed.
Cretaceous Sediment Dispersal Patterns in the Methow-Pasayten Graben, North Cascades, Washington: ABSTRACT

Analysis of paleocurrent trends, thickness variations, and lithologic intervals recorded to Cretaceous clastic sediments of the Methow-Pasayten graben indicates a dominantly eastern source through most of the Cretaceous, but with a Late Cretaceous interval of westerly derived sediments. Neocomian black shales, volcanic sandstones, and conglomerates of Barksdale's Buck Mountain Formation and the Upper Jurassic Dewdney Creek Group of Coates were derived from the east. These sediments are overlain unconformably by arkosic Aptian sediments of Barksdale's Goat Creek, Panther Creek, and Harts Pass Formations, and Coates' Hauterivian to lower Albian Jackass Mountain Group, all apparently derived from the crystalline rocks of the Okanogan Highlands on the east. These Late Jurassic, Neocomian, and Aptian sequences of volcanic rocks, volcanic sediments, and arkosic sediments record the destruction of the volcanic cover and erosion into the Okanogan Highlands crystalline rocks. In sharp contrast, the unconformably overlying chert-grain sandstones and chert-pebble conglomerates f Barksdale's Upper Cretaceous Virginian Ridge Formation contain paleocurrent structures and variations in clast size and formation thickness which indicate derivation from a western source. The most probable source terrain is the Paleozoic Hozomeen Group of the Cascade core. Unconformities and chert sandstones and conglomerates correlate with the mid-Cretaceous deformational episode of Misch in the North Cascades. These sediments could reflect tectonic uplift during thrusting or rapid isostatic rebound following mid-Cretaceous deformation and metamorphism. End_of_Article - Last_Page 774------------
The pharmacology of extinction.

Abstract It is impossible to predict what compounds of pharmacological interest may be present in an unexamined species. The extinction of such species may result, therefore, in the loss of therapeutically significant compounds. The fact that science will never know what has been lost does not lessen the significance of the loss. A number of species are discussed to exemplify the potential loss. Ginkgo biloba is an ancient plant, apparently saved from a natural extinction by human intervention. From this tree, the ginkgolides have been isolated. These are potent inhibitors of platelet activating factor and hold promise in the treatment of cerebral ischemia and brain edema. Two species, the tree Taxus brevifolia and the leech Hirudo medicinalis , are threatened as a result of human activity. Both have recently yielded complex compounds of therapeutic importance. The antitumor agent, taxol, is obtained from T. brevifolia and the thrombin inhibitor, hirudin, is found in H. medicinalis. Catharanthus roseus , source of the anticancer agents vincristine and vinblastine, although not threatened, derives from a largely unexamined but severely stressed ecosystem of some 5000 plant species. In other examples, ethnobotanical knowledge of certain plants may be lost while the species survive, as exemplified by the suppression of the Aztec ethnobotany of Mesoamerica by the invading Spanish. Finally, the fallacy of the ‘snail darter syndrome’, where species may be viewed as too insignificant to worry about, is exposed by consideration of the pharmacological activities of a sea hare (a shell-less marine mollusc) and various leeches.
Recurrent (stump) Appendicitis: A Case Series

Stump appendicitis is a rare but serious postoperative complication of an appendectomy. In the emergency department, diagnosticians are likely to rule out appendicitis when a surgical history of an appendectomy is reported. We describe 2 patients in this case series who presented to the emergency department with right lower quadrant abdominal pain and a history of previous appendectomy. Both patients were identified with a remnant appendiceal stump and stump appendicitis. Upon admission to a surgical service, a nonoperative approach in management allowed each patient to stabilize and be discharged after treatment with antibiotics. The purpose of this article is to raise awareness about the diagnosis of stump appendicitis, as well as to discuss the treatments for it.
Coastal Fog, Climate Change, and the Environment

Coastal marine fog, a characteristic feature of climates generated at the eastern boundaries of ocean basins worldwide, evokes different feelings in those who experience it (see Figure 1). Authors and poets use fog to represent mystery, bleakness, and confusion. Film directors seek out fog to shroud scenes in eerie gloominess. Tourists visiting beaches bemoan the cool and damp conditions that create a striking contrast to the sunny warm conditions typically found less than a few kilometers inland. Airline passengers delayed by fog impatiently wait for the skies to clear. Residents get used to the Sun “rising” in midday after fog dissipates.
The determination of spins of resonance states

Abstract A procedure is proposed for determining spins of isolated nuclear resonances by coincidence measurements of the reaction product and de-excitation γ-rays. The measurements exploit only the azimuthal dependence of the γ-ray distribution function.
Unified theory of magnetoresistance in Fe and magnetic layer structures

Abstract A unified explanation is given of the long-standing question of the origin of the low-field magnetoresistance behavior in pure Fe and the more recently observed “large” magnetoresistance effects seen in magnetic layered structures. It is shown that these effects are due to the scattering of the predominant d-conduction electrons at the magnetic boundary between two antiparallel magnetic regions.
Dynamic Force and Torque Analysis of Spherical Four Link Mechanisms

In this paper we present a dynamic analysis of a general spherical four-link mechanism whose links have arbitrary mass distribution. Results, which are in explicit analytical expressions in terms of inertia-induced forces and moments in links, are useful for optimum design of the mechanism under high-speed operation.