cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PERIPHERAL RETINAL ANGIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN MACULAR TELANGIECTASIS TYPE 2.

Purpose To evaluate the retinal periphery in patients with idiopathic juxtafoveal telangiectasis or macular telangiectasis type 2 (MacTel2), using widefield fluorescein angiography (WFA). Methods Single-center, retrospective, observational case series of 50 eyes of 50 patients with MacTel2 and 50 eyes of 50 age-matched controls. Results Thirty-seven eyes in the MacTel2 group (74%) showed peripheral capillary nonperfusion or dropout, compared to 37 eyes in the control group (74%, p=1.0). Morphologically, the MacTel2 group trended towards having a higher proportion of pruning-type capillary dropout (44%) compared to controls (28%), but this was not statistically significant (p=0.12). Patients with MacTel2 had a higher incidence of microaneurysms compared to controls (MacTel2 56%; Controls 42%; p=0.048), independent of age or systemic risk factors. There was no difference in the incidence of venous-venous shunts (MacTel2 10%; Controls 10%; p=1.0), arteriovenous shunts (MacTel2 14%; Controls 18%; p=0.60), venous tortuosity (MacTel2 60%; Controls 66%; p=0.58), or arterial tortuosity (MacTel2 54%; Controls 68%; p=0.20), which was mild in the majority of cases. Conclusions We note a high incidence of peripheral vascular and retinal findings in both patients with MacTel2 and age-matched controls, using WFA. Patients with MacTel2 had significantly more microaneurysms, independent of age or other systemic risk factors.Summary SUMMARY:: We note a high incidence of peripheral retinal vascular findings in both patients with macular telangiectasis type 2 and age-matched controls. Patients with MacTel2 had significantly more microaneurysms compared to controls, independent of age or other systemic risk factors.
Dialysis and Transplant Access: Kidney Capitalism at a Crossroads?

Kidney transplantation is the preferred treatment modality for kidney failure as it improves quality of life and reduces mortality. The adjusted prevalence of kidney failure in the United States is 2242 cases per million, and at the end of 2018, over 550,000 patients with kidney failure were
Engineering color, pattern, and texture: From nature to materials

Summary While most animals retain the same visual appearance over their lifetime, some species feature adaptive systems that enable changes in color, pattern, or texture for defense, signaling, temperature regulation, or reproduction. Many of these features have inspired the development of materials and devices with tunable optical and mechanical properties. However, current bio-inspired color-changing systems are often limited to controlling single facets of visual perception independently, necessitating new materials or composites that can perform multiple optical, electrical, or mechanical functions simultaneously under the control of integrated hardware with practical energy requirements. In this Perspective, we examine color-changing systems in nature and discuss the current state of materials and devices derived from or inspired by these systems. Additionally, we discuss important design and performance criteria for new multifunctional materials or devices that may sense and display both color and morphology in next-generation bio-inspired technologies.
Evaluation of an Interprofessional Training Program to Improve Cancer Drug Therapy Safety

PURPOSE:Drug therapy for cancer is a high-risk, high-volume clinical intervention that requires interprofessional teams. Given the complexity of anticancer drug therapy and safety concerns, an inte...
Laser Enrichment Device Stimulates Broiler Laser-Following Behavior While Increasing Individual Bird Locomotion and Pen-Wide Movement

Genetic selection for fast growth rate and high breast muscle yield in modern broilers has unintended effects on animal welfare and behavior, namely in terms of inactivity and leg disorders. We hypothesized that exercise stimulated through environmental enrichment could positively stimulate pen-wide activity and improve bird welfare. The study objectives were to implement a laser enrichment device to motivate active and feeding behaviors throughout the pen. Twelve hundred Ross 708 broilers were randomly assigned to enrichment (LASER; laser enrichment, or CON; no laser enrichment) for 49d. Seventy focal birds were randomly assigned to 14 video-recorded pens for behavioral analysis, including focal bird home pen behavior and walking distance. Pen-wide activity was also measured during the 4-min laser periods, four times daily, d0-8, and one day weekly, wk 1-6. Focal birds were gait scored wk 1-6, and were euthanized on d42 for tibia bone mineral content, density, and bone breaking strength analysis. Time spent active was increased in LASER-enriched birds compared to CON on wk 3-5 by up to 214% (wk 4), and percent of time at the feeder was increased in LASER-enriched birds by 761% on wk 4 (P<0.05). Peak percent of birds following the laser (LASER-enriched pens only) was observed on d0 (8.52%). Over wk 1-6, peak laser-following behavior was observed on wk 3 (3.07% of birds). Percent of birds moving during laser periods was increased in LASER-enriched pens on d0, 1, 2, 6, 7, and 8, with a percent increase of 68.7% observed on d1 (P<0.05). Percent of birds moving (laser-following or not) was increased on wk 1, 3, and 4 in LASER-enriched pens, with an increase of 69.7% observed on wk 4 (P<0.05). No differences were found in tibia measures. These data indicate that laser enrichment stimulated voluntary locomotion through wk 5 and laser-following behavior through wk 6, and that the relatively small percent of birds actively following the laser stimulated pen-wide movement above the level of the CON through wk 4 on study.
Reading Attitudes and Literacy Skills in Prekindergarten and Kindergarten Children.

The current study addressed the development of reading attitudes and their relationship to reading skills. Forty-one prekindergarten and kindergarten learners in 1 of 3 cohorts were assessed 2 or 4 times during the course of a year. Findings indicated a slight decrease in reading attitudes during the kindergarten year. Expected increases in skills were generally indicated with pronounced increases in sight word recognition during the kindergarten year, after other skills had been mastered. Decreases in some skills were evident after summer recess. Other findings from the study and recommendations for future research and practice are provided.
A finger-mounted silicon tactile sensor

Describes the development of a silicon-based force sensor packaged in a flexible polyimide package. Sensitivity to force is realized via the addition of a solid dome over the silicon diaphragm. The dome acts to transmit the applied force to the diaphragm. Torlon and epoxy domes are bench tested. The epoxy dome produces significant hysteresis, while the Torlon dome shows low hysteresis and low nonrepeatability. Output sensitivities of 1.4 mV/V/N are typical. The response is linear for low forces ( >
Broodstock management of Crassostrea gigas: III. Selective breeding for improved larval survival

Abstract General combining abilities were calculated for seven inbred lines of Pacific oysters. Separate analyses were accomplished for males and females. High general combining abilities for males were observed in two lines and for females in one line. An inverse relationship exists between general combining ability for males and females of a given line. The use of lines selected for high general combining ability of gonadal development would result in substantial improvement of hatchery broodstocks with respect to larval survival.
How good are current meter data

The usefulness of current meter data is discussed from the point of view of how errors show up in both the time and frequency domains. Three situations are discussed: a perfect current meter on a moving subsurface mooring, a current meter with a threshold response problem on a perfect mooring, and a rotor-vane current meter on a surface mooring. Several presently available current meters are subjectively compared as to their usefulness in various situations. Two major conclusions are that one type of current meter is unlikely to be the optimum choice for all applications, and that new designs should pay just as much attention to mechanical and hydrodynamic design as to electronics.
Enzyme systems in the mycobacteria. VI. Further studies on the pyruvic dehydrogenase system.

1. 1. The pyruvic dehydrogenase complex of the H37Ra strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis var. hominis has been resolved into two fractions. 2. 2. The first fraction, precipitating at high ammonium sulfate concentrations, contains a lipoic dehydrogenase. This enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of lip(SH)2 by DPN; the reverse reaction has not been demonstrated. The lipoic dehydrogenase has been purified at least twenty-fold over the crude cell-free extract. DL-α-lipoamide is reduced by DPNH and the lipoicc dehydrogenase. E0′ for the lip(SH)2 ⤥ lipS2 couple at 22° and pH 6.0 was shown to be —0.23 V. 3. 3. The second fraction, precipitating at low ammonium sulfate concentrations, contains, in addition to the pyvuric dehydrogenase, a lipoic transacetylase. This enzyme catalyzes the reversible transfer of an acetyl group from acetyl CoA to lip(SH)2. The enzyme has been purified at least fifteen-fold over the crude cell-free extract. 4. 4. Associated with the pyruvic dehydrogenase-lipoic transacetylase complex is a lipoic deacylase which hydrolytically cleaves S-acetyl-lip(SH) to acetate and lip(SH)2. 5. 5. The possible existence of a soluble pyruvic dehydrogenase complex of enzymes in cell-free extracts of H37Ra and the presence of another form of lipoic acid are discussed.
Base station assisted search approach for mitigation of pilot pollution interference

The pilot pollution interference (PPI) problem occurs when the mobile station conducts handoff process and searches for strong pilot signals from the neighboring cells. The improper handoff search window setting plays a key role in the creation of the PPI problem. Consequently, the existence of the PPI problem affects the progress and termination of the ongoing calls, impacts the origination of fresh calls, delays the handoff process and decreases the system capacity. In this paper, a base station assisted search (BSAS) approach is proposed to minimize the impact of the PPI problem. The proposed BSAS approach is integrated with a modified MAHAR-A approach to alleviate the influence of the PPI as well as improve the system's QoS measured by the call blocking probability and the handoff dropping probability. Simulation experiments clearly indicate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Perspective of OS interface to users

An attempt has been made to classify various aspects of the OS interface, to review evolutionary changes in each aspect, and to project the future.
Microarray analyses to quantify advantages of 2D and 3D hydrogel culture systems in maintaining the native valvular interstitial cell phenotype

Valvular interstitial cells (VICs) actively maintain and repair heart valve tissue; however, persistent activation of VICs to a myofibroblast phenotype can lead to aortic stenosis. To better understand and quantify how microenvironmental cues influence VIC phenotype and myofibroblast activation, we compared expression profiles of VICs cultured on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) gels to those cultured on tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS), as well as fresh isolates. In general, VICs cultured in hydrogel matrices had lower levels of activation (<10%), similar to levels seen in healthy valve tissue, while VICs cultured on TCPS were ∼75% activated myofibroblasts. VICs cultured on TCPS also exhibited a higher magnitude of perturbations in gene expression than soft hydrogel cultures when compared to the native phenotype. Using peptide-modified PEG gels, VICs were seeded on (2D), as well as encapsulated in (3D), matrices of the same composition and modulus. Despite similar levels of activation, VICs cultured in 2D had distinct variations in transcriptional profiles compared to those in 3D hydrogels. Genes related to cell structure and motility were particularly affected by the dimensionality of the culture platform, with higher expression levels in 2D than in 3D. These results indicate that dimensionality may play a significant role in dictating cell phenotype (e.g., through differences in polarity, diffusion of soluble signals), and emphasize the importance of using multiple metrics when characterizing cell phenotype.
Magnetospheric constellation : Past, present and future

Essential information regarding the magnetosphere's dynamic evolution and mapping resides in the coupling between global and local processes. This information, pertaining to the instantaneous wavenumber spectrum of the magnetospheric system remains today virtually untapped, mostly due to the enormity of the system's volume and the scarcity of fortuitous spatial conjunctions from previous platforms. The Constellation mission aspires to deploy a series of distributed observational platforms with varying degrees of sophisti cation, with the goal to understand the interchange of information and energy throughout the magnetospheric system. This paper summarizes proposed approaches and their scientific and technical justification. A phased deployment is proposed, whereby each platform will contribute significantly to the Constellation goal but building on its predecessors ensures an increasingly more comprehensive sampling of the medium. Prioritization of science goals, definition of data ingestion methods and manifestation of science closure are essential next steps towards the realization of the mission.
Thermal shock stresses due to heat convection at a bounding surface in a thick orthotropic cylindrical shell

A closed form elastodynamic solution for the thermal shock stresses due to heat transfer into/from a medium (e.g. fluid) at a constant temperature in a thick orthotropic cylindrical shell is developed. Temperature distribution varies with time and space throughout the shell thickness. The mathematical formulation is done by the three-dimensional linear dynamic elasticity approach and the use of appropriate integral transforms such as the finite Hankel transform and the Laplace transform. No restrictions are imposed regarding the shell thickness in the formulation. The present case, which is more practical and general, is an extension of the case of uniform heating previously studied by the authors. Numerical results show the role of the stress wave propagation and reflection in conjunction with the thermal and material orthotropy. These have a significant influence on the dynamic thermal shock stresses through the shell thickness. Results present the complete dynamic response of thermal shock stresses using realistic inertia parameters and material properties in a thick orthotropic cylindrical shell made out of glass/epoxy.
Neural Networks And Ideal Observers

The simple neural network composed of layers of "neurons" which threshold the sum of weighted input values received from the neurons of the immediately preceding layer is directly applicable to many signal detection tasks. Use of the maximum likelihood "ideal observer" formalism allows for a quantitative measurement of neural-network performance for such tasks, in contrast to measures of network convergence such as sum of squares error. For the signal known exactly (SKE) problem, for which a known signal is detected on a noisy background, a single-layered neural network with ideal weights performs at 100% efficiency, since it is isomorphic to the matched-filter ideal observer. Measured efficiencies of less than 100% primarily reflect idiosyncrasies of the training method (e.g., back projection) and incomplete training of the network. For more complicated problems which have terms in the ideal test statistic that are quadratic or higher in the data, more complex neural-network architectures are required. Even then, however, convergence to optimal solutions is not assured. Using the feed-forward processing, back-projection training paradigm leads to far from ideal performance for these higher order tasks, at least when training is carried out on noise-free data or small sets of noisy data.
Extended use of glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) is well tolerated and maintains its clinical effect on multiple sclerosis relapse rate and degree of disability

When 251 relapsing-remitting patients with multiple sclerosis were randomized to receive daily subcutaneous injections of glatiramer acetate, previously called copolymer 1 (Copaxone; n = 125) or placebo (n = 126) for 24 months, there were no laboratory abnormalities associated with glatiramer acetate treatment and it was well tolerated with few side effects. Patients receiving glatiramer acetate had significantly fewer relapses and were more likely to be neurologically improved, whereas those receiving placebo were more likely to worsen. This study was extended for 1 to 11 months (mean of 5.2 months for the glatiramer acetate group and 5.9 months for the placebo group). The blinding and study conditions used during the core 24-month study were unchanged throughout the extension. The results of this extension study confirm the excellent tolerance and safety profile of glatiramer acetate for injection. The clinical benefit of glatiramer acetate for both the relapse rate and for neurologic disability was sustained at the end of the extension trial.
Modeling the growth of CZT by the EDG process

The overall goal of this research is to develop and apply computational modeling to better understand the processes used to grow bulk crystals employed in radiation detectors. Specifically, the work discussed here aims at understanding the growth of cadmium zinc telluride (CZT), a material of long interest to the detector community. We consider the growth of CZT via gradient freeze processes in electrodynamic multizone furnaces and show how crucible mounting and design are predicted to affect conditions for crystal growth. Analysis of these systems will be essential for for significant materials improvement, i.e., growing larger crystals with superior quality and at a lower cost.
The Influence of Dissolved Oxygen on the Growth of Channel Catfish

Abstract The long-term effects of three levels of dissolved oxygen (100, 60 and 36% of air saturation) on channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, were evaluated under two feeding regimes—a constant rate of 3% of biomass daily and ad libitum. At ad libitum rates (6-week duration) average gains of 159, 124, and 65 g per fish were obtained in tanks containing oxygen at 100, 60 and 36% of saturation, respectively. In both experiments food consumption and efficiency were drastically reduced at 36% oxygen saturation. Survival rates were 100% in all groups, thus suggesting that disease and parasite problems were not enhanced by a hypoxic environment. In these studies catfish did not demonstrate a polycythemic response to hypoxic conditions.
Surgical debulking of eyelid and anterior orbital plexiform neurofibromas by means of the carbon dioxide laser.

Abstract %PURPOSE: To present the carbon dioxide laser as an effective tool for surgical debulking of eyelid and orbital neurofibromas. METHOD: Two patients with neurofibromatosis underwent surgical debulking of their eyelid and orbital plexiform neurofibromas by means of the carbon dioxide laser. RESULTS: Acceptable cosmetic results were obtained with the removal of eyelid and orbital neurofibromas with improved hemostasis and minimal destruction of surrounding tissue when compared with conventional methods of removal. CONCLUSIONS: The carbon dioxide laser may allow significant improvement in the removal of plexiform neurofibromas.
Sperm motility in the presence of boundaries

The fluid dynamics of sperm motility near both rigid and elastic walls is studied using the immersed boundary method. Simulations of both single and interacting organisms are presented. In particular, we find that nearby organisms originally undulating with a 90 ° phase shift may adjust their relative swimming velocities and phase-lock. Comparisons with previous analytical results are also discussed. The tendency of a near-wall to attract organisms is demonstrated.
The absence of effect of azathioprine on prednisolone pharmacokinetics following maintenance prednisone doses in kidney transplant patients.

Kidney transplant patients receive chronic prednisone and azathioprine for immunosuppression. However, the effect of azathioprine on prednisolone pharmacokinetics has not been determined in this population. Total and unbound prednisolone concentrations were determined, using high performance liquid chromatography and equilibrium dialysis, in eight kidney transplant patients following their usual oral maintenance dose of prednisone alone and concomitantly with their usual dose of azathioprine. The results showed no significant differences between the two groups in estimates of prednisolone plasma protein binding parameters and peak time, peak concentration, mean input time, clearance/F, volume of distribution/F, or half-life (t1/2), using total or unbound prednisolone concentrations. Thus, the concomitant administration of azathioprine does not appear to alter the bioavailability or elimination of prednisolone at these doses.
Dosimetric verification for intensity-modulated radiotherapy of thoracic cancers using experimental and Monte Carlo approaches.

Purpose: To investigate the dosimetric accuracy of commercial treatment planning systems used in intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for thoracic cancer. Methods and Materials: Clinical IMRT plans for lung and esophageal cancers and mesothelioma were used to investigate the accuracy of dose calculations from two commercial treatment planning systems (Pinnacle and Corvus systems). Dose distributions were measured with ion chambers and thermoluminescent dosimeters for individual IMRT fields and composite treatment plans in water phantoms and anthropomorphic phantoms. A Monte Carlo–based system was established to compute three-dimensional dose distributions to compare with the treatment planning system calculations. Results: Dose calculations from the Pinnacle system were acceptable within 5% of the local dose or a 5-mm distance-to-agreement for 80% of the points measured with ion chambers, 74% of the points measured with thermoluminescent dosimeters, and 96% of the points compared with the Monte Carlo calculations. For the Corvus system, 89% of the points agreed with the measured dose and 98% agreed with the Monte Carlo calculations. Underestimation of the dose from the treatment planning system was found in the low-dose regions ( Conclusion: The Pinnacle and Corvus dose calculations were acceptable for thoracic IMRT in high-dose regions. Beam modeling is likely the most critical factor for the accuracy of IMRT dose calculations.
Comparison of oil and egg tempera paint systems using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry

Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) is quickly becoming a critical tool in the field of art conservation. This technique provides high-resolution spatial maps of both inorganic and organic components located within cross-sectional samples collected from works of art. With recent advances in surface analysis, ToF-SIMS can now be used to identify specific amino acids present in protein-containing materials as well as fatty acids in drying oils. For example, the detection of the ion fragment associated with the amino acid hydroxyproline can be used to confirm the use of animal glue in a paint sample. As an analytical technique, ToF-SIMS avoids the need for derivatization/silylation reagents, with no interference by the presence of pigments. Furthermore, the layered systems that are often encountered in historical paint samples remain intact throughout the analytical procedure. This allows for the co-localization of organic and inorganic species in specific layers (e.g. egg yolk paint at...
Elementary Steps of the Cross-Bridge Cycle in Fast-Twitch Fiber Types from Rabbit Skeletal Muscles

To understand the molecular mechanism underlying the diversity of mammalian skeletal muscle fibers, the elementary steps of the cross-bridge cycle were investigated in three fast-twitch fiber types from rabbit limb muscles. Skinned fibers were maximally Ca(2+)-activated at 20 degrees C and the effects of MgATP, phosphate (P, P(i)), and MgADP were studied on three exponential processes by sinusoidal analysis. The fiber types (IIA, IID, and IIB) were determined by analyzing the myosin heavy-chain isoforms after mechanical experiments using high-resolution SDS-PAGE. The results were consistent with the following cross-bridge scheme: where A is actin, M is myosin, D is MgADP, and S is MgATP. All states except for those in brackets are strongly bound states. All rate constants of elementary steps (k(2), 198-526 s(-1); k(-2), 51-328 s(-1); k(4), 13.6-143 s(-1); k(-4), 13.6-81 s(-1)) were progressively larger in the order of type IIA, type IID, and type IIB fibers. The rate constants of a transition from a weakly bound state to a strongly bound state (k(-2), k(4)) varied more among fiber types than their reversals (k(2), k(-4)). The equilibrium constants K(1) (MgATP affinity) and K(2) (=k(2)/k(-2), ATP isomerization) were progressively less in the order IIA, IID, and IIB. K(4) (=k(4)/k(-4), force generation) and K(5) (P(i) affinity) were larger in IIB than IIA and IID fibers. K(1) showed the largest variation indicating that the myosin head binds MgATP more tightly in the order IIA (8.7 mM(-1)), IID (4.9 mM(-1)), and IIB (0.84 mM(-1)). Similarly, the MgADP affinity (K(0)) was larger in type IID fibers than in type IIB fibers.
Stochastic convergence of weighted sums in normed linear spaces

Abstract Let X be a (real) separable Banach space, let {Vk} be a sequence of random elements in X, and let {ank} be a double array of real numbers such that limn→∞ ank = 0 for all k and Σ∞k=1 |ank| ≤ 1 for all n. Define Sn = Σnk=1 ank(Vk − EVk). The convergence of {Sn} to zero in probability is proved under conditions on the coordinates of a Schauder basis or on the dual space of X and conditions on the distributions of {Vk}. Convergence with probability one for {Sn} is proved for separable normed linear spaces which satisfy Beck's convexity condition with additional restrictions on {ank} but without distribution conditions for the random elements {Vk}. Finally, examples of arrays {ank}, spaces, and applications of these results are considered.
The closing of a seaway: ocean water masses and global climate change

The Late Neogene witnessed various major paleoceanographic changes that culminated in intense Northern Hemisphere Glaciation (NHG). The cause and effects of these changes are still debated. We use a multiproxy approach to determine the relative timing of the closure of the Panama gateway, changes in Atlantic circulation, global cooling and ice sheet growth. Benthic foraminiferal Mg/Ca records from a Pacific and an Atlantic Site have been produced and are interpreted in terms of bottom water temperatures. These Mg-temperature records are combined with published benthic δ13C, δ18O and erosion records to reconstruct the flow of proto-North Atlantic Deep Water (proto-NADW) over the past 12 Ma. The results suggest that between 12.5 and 10.5 Ma, and again between about 8.5 and 6 Ma, a nutrient-depleted water mass that was colder (by 1–2°C) and fresher than the intervening deep water mass filled the Atlantic basin. This proto-NADW became warmer (by ∼1°C) and saltier between 6 and 5 Ma, coincident with the restriction of surface water flow through the Central American Seaway. The Mg-temperature records define a subsequent global cooling trend of ∼3.5°C between 5 Ma and today. Early NHG in the late Miocene was perhaps related to the formation of the relatively cold, fresh proto-NADW. The formation of the warmer and saltier proto-NADW in the early Pliocene may have initially limited Northern Hemisphere ice growth. However, the increased moisture released at high northern latitudes associated with formation of ‘warm’ proto-NADW, coupled with the global temperature decrease of deep (and hence polar surface) waters, likely helped initiate the intense NHG of the Plio–Pleistocene.
SEEs Induced by High-Energy Protons and Neutrons in SDRAM

In this paper, we will present results from testing commercially-available synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) in high-energy protons and neutrons. Broad spectrum neutron tests were conducted at Los Alamos National Laboratory's Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) Irradiation of Chips and Electronics (ICE) House in October 2010. Mono-energetic proton tests were conducted at the Massachusetts General Hospital Burr Center in May 2011.
Calcium-channel blockers do not affect iron transport mediated by divalent metal-ion transporter-1

To the editor: Ludwiczek et al[1][1] reported that nifedipine and other dihydropyridine-class calcium-channel blockers can reverse iron overload by stimulating the activity of divalent metal-ion transporter-1 (DMT1)[2][2],[3][3] and consequently mobilizing tissue iron. Since their paper disagreed
The synthesis of a peptide having the structure attributed to a sound habituating material.

A peptide isolated from rats habituated to a sound stimulus has been given the structure Glu-Ala-Gly-Tyr-Ser-Lys-OH. A synthesis of this compound afforded a product that different from the natural material on the basis of chromatographic and physiological comparisons. The proposed sequence must therefore be in error.
Age differences in memory retrieval shift: Governed by feeling-of-knowing?

The noun-pair lookup (NP) task was used to evaluate strategic shift from visual scanning to retrieval. We investigated whether age differences in feeling-of-knowing (FOK) account for older adults' delayed retrieval shift. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) standard NP learning, (2) fast binary FOK judgments, or (3) Choice, where participants had to choose in advance whether to see the look-up table or respond from memory. We found small age differences in FOK magnitudes but major age differences in memory retrieval choices that mirrored retrieval use in the standard NP task. Older adults showed lower resolution in their confidence judgments (CJs) for recognition memory tests on the NP items, and this difference appeared to influence rates of retrieval shift, given that retrieval use was correlated with CJ magnitudes in both age groups. Older adults had particular difficulty with accuracy and confidence for rearranged pairs, relative to intact pairs. Older adults' slowed retrieval shift appears to be attributable to (1) impaired associative learning early in practice, not just a lower FOK; but also (2) retrieval reluctance later in practice after the degree of associative learning would afford memory-based responding.
The Spinal Cord Injury Center of the Veterans Administration Hospital, Long Beach, California, U.S.A. Facts and thoughts.

The Spinal Cord Injury Center of the Veterans Administration Hospital, Long Beach, California, U.S.A.
SIGSPATIAL China 2010 activity report

In order to promote ACM SIGSPATIAL and corresponding research area in China, and encourage collaboration between SIGSPATIAL researchers in China and researchers worldwide, in October 2009, we have established ACM SIGSPATIAL China chapter, with the strong support of SIGSPATIAL executive committee.
The use of aberrant medical humor by psychiatric unit staff.

The purpose of this study was to develop a grounded theory about the joking behaviors of psychiatric unit staff. Fifty nine staff members (Male = 23, Female = 36), ages 28?62, who worked in an urban, public facility were observed in unit meetings over a two year period. Data were analyzed using the constant comparative method. Participants used aberrant humor to deal with the basic social process of facing a series of ultimately unresolvable problems. The factors involved included the organizational context of the working environment, contact with a stigmatized patient group, and stressful staff-patient interactions which led to the erosion of a sense of professional competence and the resulting demoralization, resentment, and vengeful counteraction. Two major categories of joking emerged: whimsical and sarcastic humor. Six subcategories of humor also emerged: incongruous, bravado, self-mocking, discounting, malicious and gallows humor. Staff engaged in more sarcastic than whimsical humor. Findings suppor...
Test‐data generation using genetic algorithms

This paper presents a technique that uses a genetic algorithm for automatic test-data generation. A genetic algorithm is a heuristic that mimics the evolution of natural species in searching for the optimal solution to a problem. In the test-data generation application, the solution sought by the genetic algorithm is test data that causes execution of a given statement, branch, path, or definition–use pair in the program under test. The test-data-generation technique was implemented in a tool called TGen, in which parallel processing was used to improve the performance of the search. To experiment with TGen, a random test-data generator called Random was also implemented. Both Tgen and Random were used to experiment with the generation of test-data for statement and branch coverage of six programs. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Backdrivable periodic finger joint synergies: Human observations applied to a dexterous robotic hand

This work deals with the complex task of unscrewing and screwing a threaded cap with a dexterous anthropomorphic robotic hand. To that end, human motion profiles of nine test subjects were recorded using the CyberGlove II and the data were analyzed for unscrewing and screwing a bottle cap. Results showed that the periodic motions exhibited by the finger joints shared a common frequency for each subject, but differed in amplitude and phase. The unscrewing data appears highly similar to the mirror image of the screwing data. This implies that the screwing motions can be backdriven to produce the unscrewing motion and vice versa. A forward loop (FL) in time implies an increment in the time vector, which starts from zero and ends at some point resulting to unscrew the bottle cap. A reverse loop (RL) is produced by a decrement in time and results in screwing the bottle cap. From the gathered data, a set of sinusoidal trajectories were developed to approximate this motion for a robotic hand. Because the joint trajectories share the same frequency, a single sinusoidal input can be used in the path planning of the robot to achieve this task. The reference joint is given a sinusoidal input and the remaining joints are scaled in phase and amplitude with respect to this reference joint. This significantly reduces the computational cost and complexity of the task. Simulation results show that the developed sinusoidal trajectories show a close correlation with the motion profiles seen from human experiments. Using the developed sinusoidal trajectories, the robotic hand successfully unscrewed and screwed the bottle cap in all trials conducted.
CSF neuroactive steroids in affective disorders: Pregnenolone, progesterone, and DBI

Abstract Recently several steroid compounds have been discovered to act as neuromodulators in diverse central nervous system (CNS) functions. We wondered if neuroactive steroids might be involved in affective illness or in the mode of action of mood-regulating medications such as carbamazepine. Levels of the neuroactive steroids prenenolone and progesterone, as well as the neuropeptide diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) (known to promote steroidogenesis), were analyzed from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained by lumbar puncture (LP) from 27 medication-free subjects with affective illness and 10 healthy volunteers. Mood-disordered subjects who were clinically depressed at the time of the LP had lower CSF pregnenolone (n = 9, 0.16 ng/ml) compared with euthymic volunteers (n = 10, 0.35 ng/ml; p p CSF pregnenolone is decreased in subjects with affective illness, particularly during episodes of active depression. Further research into the role of neuroactive steroids in mood regulation is warranted.
Response options and presentation format as contributors to conditional reasoning

The present study examines whether students' inability to solve conditional reasoning problems, shown in previous studies, is at least partially attributable to having to choose among logically incorrect response options. In two experiments, students evaluated conclusions to conditional reasoning problems where one of several response options was either the standard, Sometimes true, or the more logically appropriate, Could be true. Decision accuracy was related to the logical appropriateness of the response options available. This relationship was replicated across different problem types and formats.
Finite Element Modeling of a Diffusion-Controlled Phase Transformation in Thin Film

We derive and implement a finite element (FE) model for stress-mediated diffusion and phase transformation in thin films. The partial differential equations governing diffusion and mechanical equilibrium are of different order. To ensure uniform convergence of the FE method, the continuity class of respective interpolation functions must be different. We test our implementation on a 1D problem and demonstrate the validity of the approach.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
The Illusion of Contingency Theory as a General Theory

The article focuses on organization research and the contingency theory, which recognizes the situational aspect of successful management. The General Contingency Theory developed by Fred Luthans and Todd I. Stewart suggests that interaction of environmental and resource variables produce situational variables and the variables for performance criteria are the outcome of action between environmental and management variables. According to research by Hubert M. Blalock Jr., a theoretical structure requires classification of variables, definition of the relationship among variables, conceptual schemes, and lawlike propositions. System performance and dual contingency are mentioned.
Cocaine Addiction: Theory, Research and Treatment

by Jerome J. Platt, Harvard University Press, 1997. £33.50 (xiv + 458 pages) ISBN 0 674 13632 2The author has applied his considerable knowledge and experience in the drug abuse field to the topic of cocaine addiction. He has previously produced this kind of book on heroin addiction, and he now turns his attention to another high profile problem – cocaine. His goals in this book are to provide an overview of the topic, to review the history of cocaine and how it produces its effects, to cover new strategies on how to address the problem, and to make some recommendations.The book is well written and reads smoothly. It is exceptionally well documented with about 1200 references by my estimation, with the most recent covering 1995 and one or two in 1996. Although there are no tables or figures, the text is laden with quantitative information including statistics, doses, and percentages. The text covers a broad area from basic pharmacology to legal and social issues. Within this realm I found every interesting topic in the field including comorbidity, polydrug use and cost effectiveness of treatment. There is an excellent description of the history of the problem; it seems that Freud was wrong at least once, and that society has a poor memory about the problems of cocaine. The pharmacology and physiology of the drug and behavioral effects are well described. Cocaine is obviously a highly seductive drug. The crack user can obtain intense feelings of power, pleasure, confidence and well being, for a cost considerably less than medical school, graduate school or becoming president. Its pathology and medical issues, and finally, treatment issues are well covered and accurate. The successes, limitations and failures of various treatments are described. The great need for a pharmacological treatment, a medication, is cited. The interesting issue of legalization is covered from both perspectives. The experience of other countries and the net result of legalization is described. A citation describing legalization as a `colossal gamble' is noteworthy.No book can be everything to everyone. A major limitation of the book is the lack of information on research in the molecular and basic behavioral area. Cellular and mechanistic issues are touched upon, but only five pages or so of the book are dedicated to the neurobiology of cocaine. Nevertheless, a molecular scientist could very well learn about these other aspects of the field from the book (this is not necessarily an admonition). In spite of some few inevitable limitations, the book is an excellent resource, and I have put it on my shelf as a `keeper'. I expect to use it to help prepare lectures for medical and graduate students. I think it would be useful for a broad range of educated people from parents to professionals.
Categories for Acceptability of Lies

Summary A total of 311 Ss in three studies responded to alternate forms of questionnaires in which evaluations were made of the reprehensibility of various types of lies. The Ss in Study 1 rated a variety of lies suggested in the ethical philosophy literature. From the results, six categories of lies were inferred. These categories were validated on two separate forms in Study 2 by having Ss rate the permissibility of lies described in vignettes which were created to operationalize the categories. The results on both forms were consistent with the predictions. In Study 3 Ss rated the category statements in the abstract—i.e., the E's definitions of the categories—precisely as predicted.
Salvaging science literacy

There is little evidence that the prevailing strategies of science education have an impact on the use and interpretation of science in daily life. Most science educators and science education researchers nonetheless believe that science education is intrinsically useful for students who do not go on to scientific or technical careers. This essay focuses on the “usefulness” aspect of science literacy, which I contend has largely been reduced to a rhetorical claim. A truly useful version of science literacy must be connected to the real uses of science in daily life—what is sometimes called public engagement with science. A small number of science education researchers have already begun to connect science education and the broader field of public engagement with science. Their work, as well as the work of researchers who study public engagement, suggests that it is possible to salvage the “usefulness” of science literacy by helping students become competent outsiders with respect to science. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed95: 168–185, 2011
Renal MR angiography

The high accuracy of renal MR angiography makes it well suited for diagnosing renal vascular disease. A comprehensive examination includes three-dimensional gadolinium MR angiography to assess lumenal anatomy and functional techniques to assess the hemodynamic significance of any stenosis identified. Postprocessing is critical to provide reformations, maximum intensity projections, and optional volume-rendered images to display arteries in an angiographic format for optimal demonstration of any vascular lesions. It is important to review source images to avoid missing pathologic findings. As MR imaging continues to develop, the renal MR angiography examination will likely expand to include extensive functional information about creatinine clearance, flow, and response to pharmacologic agents as well as spectroscopy, diffusion, perfusion, phase contrast, and other techniques.
Exact universal uniqueness criteria for the adiabatic tubular packed bed reactor

Abstract Exact, universal a priori bounds and regions of multiplicity for the entire tubular packed bed reactor are developed by application of a technique reported in Chang and Calo, Chem. Engng Sci. 1979 34 285 to a cascade two-phase cell model for an n th order chemical reaction with interphase resistance to mass and heat transport, Le ≠ 1 (or Le = 1) and either lumped parameter catalyst particles or with intraparticle concentration gradients with uniform temperature. Both the more common case of interphase heat transfer greater than interphase mass transfer rate and the inverse case of particle over-temperature have been considered. In all cases it has been shown that the reactor conservation equations can be decoupled at certain points along the bed determined by the Lewis number, and that questions of multiplicity and uniqueness reduce to consideration of a single algebraic equation which is actually a form of the two-phase adiabatic CSTR. Also as for the CSTR, the topology of the adiabatic packed bed reactor is shown to be the simple cusp catastrophe. The application of the resultant criteria is quite simple and represents a practical step in the design procedure for highly exothermic reactions in packed beds. A flow chart of a suggested procedure is included.
Regulatory mechanisms that control mitotic kinesins

During mitosis, the mitotic spindle is assembled to align chromosomes at the spindle equator in metaphase, and to separate the genetic material equally to daughter cells in anaphase. The spindle itself is a macromolecular machine composed of an array of dynamic microtubules and associated proteins that coordinate the diverse events of mitosis. Among the microtubule associated proteins are a plethora of molecular motor proteins that couple the energy of ATP hydrolysis to force production. These motors, including members of the kinesin superfamily, must function at the right time and in the right place to insure the fidelity of mitosis. Misregulation of mitotic motors in disease states, such as cancer, underlies their potential utility as targets for antitumor drug development and highlights the importance of understanding the molecular mechanisms for regulating their function. Here, we focus on recent progress about regulatory mechanisms that control the proper function of mitotic kinesins and highlight new findings that lay the path for future studies.
Psychosocial Distress and Suicide Ideation in Chinese and Philippine Adolescents

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify associations between suicide ideation and indicators of psychological distress and health behaviors in Chinese and Philippine adolescents. Metho...
mtDNA G10398A variant in African-American women with breast cancer provides resistance to apoptosis and promotes metastasis in mice.

We investigated the effect of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymorphism G10398A found in African-American women with aggressive breast cancer on apoptosis and tumorigenesis. We generated human cytoplasmic hybrid (cybrid) by repopulation of recipient ρ0 cells (devoid of mtDNA) with donor mtDNA derived from patients with breast cancer harboring the G10398A polymorphism. We investigated a number of functional phenotypes of the G10398A cybrid. The G10398A cybrid showed a slower proliferation rate and progression through the cell cycle, as well as increased complex I activity, increased levels of reactive oxygen species and depolarized mitochondria. The G10398A cybrid also showed resistance to apoptosis triggered by etoposide. Resistance to apoptosis was mediated by Akt activation. In addition, our studies showed that the G10398A cybrid cells form an increased number of anchorage-independent colonies in vitro and metastases in mice. Together our studies suggest that the G10398A variant confers resistance to apoptosis and promotes metastasis.
Calculation of HCl linewidths using a new impact parameter theory

Abstract Calculations of HCl linewidths due to collisions by N 2 , CO, O 2 and HCl using a new impact parameter theory are presented. Improved agreement with experimental data is demonstrated in all cases, particularly when short-range interactions dominate.