cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Production of murine leukemia virus in the immunodeficient wasted mutant mouse is associated with the wst allele.

Abstract The recessive mutation “wasted” (wst) is responsible for a neuroimmunological syndrome and premature death in homozygous wst/wst mice. In contrast, + wst heterozygotes appear phenotypically normal. The present study assessed the production of endogenous murine leukemia virus (MuLV) in lymphoid organs of homozygous wasted (wst/wst), heterozygous wasted ( + wst ) and control wild type ( + + ) mice. Neither mutant nor control mice produced ecotropic MuLV. In contrast, lymphoid organs from wst/wst and + wst mice produced endogenous xenotropic MuLV. MuLV production was not detectable in the same organs of + + control mice. + wst heterozygotes produced xenotropic MuLV in the thymus, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes but not in the bone marrow. Wst/wst mutants produced xenotropic MuLV, but only in the thymus. These findings demonstrate an association between the production of endogenous xenotropic MuLV and the wasted mutation.
Online Locally Weighted Least Squares Parameter Identification for Fixed-Wing Aircraft

Model-based controllers are at the heart of many robotic systems. For fixed-wing aircraft in particular, controllers are often driven by models of varying fidelity. Model fidelity selection is an application-specific design choice. On one end of the spectrum, a simple model will be computationally efficient, but at the risk of under modeling. On the other end of the spectrum, a complex model has the potential to better capture system dynamics, but at the risk of increased complexity and potential over modeling. A viable middle ground in model selection is choosing a simple model parametrized by a set of state-dependent constants. Constants can represent unknown or random model parameter to be identified, such as intrinsic system properties or noise terms. The approach taken here is to capture fixed-wing aircraft model uncertainty including noise terms due to wind effects with a set of parameters that can easily be estimated from training data. A technique based on weighted least squares, know as locally weighted models (LWMs), has shown promise in such applications. LWMs strike a balance between simplicity and complexity by representing dynamic systems with a family of locally linear models. To demonstrate the potential of this modeling technique for complex systems, an augmented aircraft model is presented as an example, with a procedure for identifying unknown parameters. The LWM’s predictive capability is compared against a standard non-parametric model as well as flight data collected on a small fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Motivation and collaborative behavior: an exploratory analysis

The motivating effects of collaborative learning have long been argued, however a careful analysis of the relationship between the motivation orientation of a student and perceptions of himself, his partners, his collaborative behaviors, and learning in a collaborative context have not been as thoroughly explored. In this paper we present an exploratory analysis of data from a collaborative learning study from the standpoint of motivation type of students and their partners. Overall, what we see is that a student's own motivation orientation may color their perception of the exchange of help in the collaboration, sometimes obscuring the reality of the help actually exchanged.
Time-varying linear sequential machines. I

A time-varying linear sequential machine (TVLSM) model is considered which hasthe property that the dimensionality of the system is a function of time. General response formulas for TVLSM's are developed and an effective procedure is described for minimizing such systems with respect to dimensionality. It is shown that every TVLSM has a minimal form unique up to isomorphism. ''Equivalent'' fixed sequential machines, referred to as ''fixed analogs'', may be constructed for certain periodic TVLSM's.
Why you should publish your best papers in American Mineralogist: An International Journal of Earth and Planetary Materials

If you read no further, you should know that you will (1) reach your intended audience, (2) receive more citations and attention compared to Science or Nature (as we demonstrate below), and (3) provide crucial support to one of the few remaining non-profit organizations that act as sole publishers in the areas of Mineralogy, Petrology, and Geochemistry. As to the latter, the Mineralogical Society of America (MSA) offers many benefits, including astonishingly low subscription costs at both the professional and student level, various Open Access options, free access to back issues (1916–1999), free open access to supplementary data files, and free online color to MSA members, to name just a few. Of course, you also make your home journal a better read. Please consider the import of the question that forms the title of our essay. American Mineralogist is already a terrific journal with an international reputation, and an elite standing (Putirka et al. 2013, Am. Mineral., 98, 1055–1065; i.e., American Mineralogist is among the top 12% of all journals in the Earth Sciences that garner 75% of all citations among all journals in the discipline). It is MSA’s flagship publication, and among purely society-published journals, is the most prestigious by any measure in the fields of mineralogy, petrology, and geochemistry. As noted by Putirka et al. (2013), however, this reputation is subject to change [only a decade ago, American Mineralogist would be classified as “super-elite,” i.e., among the top 4% of journals that garner 50% of all citations in a discipline; see Putirka et al. (2013)], as we face a wide variety of challenges including the greater resources deployed by commercial publishers, and competition with other open access journals. To continue to thrive in this environment, we ask MSA members to make a conscious choice to support the journal—by …
Preparation and crosslinking properties of silicon tetrachloride‐tetramethyldisiloxane diol condensation products

Benzene-soluble copolymers have been produced in high yields by the reaction of silicon tetrachloride with tetramethyldisiloxane diol and pyridine in very dilute solution in benzene. These copolymers average one to four dimethylsiloxane units per SiO2 unit. The copolymers have been equilibrated to insoluble resins by the action of heat alone or a basic catalyst. They also will effect crosslinking of silicone gum rubbers by equilibration. An improved preparation of octamethylspiro[5.5]pentasiloxane is described.
Hydrogen bonds and C-H...O interactions in 2,2'-dimethoxybiphenyl-5,5'-dimethanol at 150 K

The title compound, C16H18O4, crystallized in the centrosymmetric space group P21/c with one mol­ecule in the asymmetric unit. The two hydroxyl-H atoms are ordered, and are involved in intermolecular hydrogen bonds with Odonor⋯Oacceptor distances of 2.761 (1) and 2.699 (1) A, and O—H⋯O angles of 157 (2) and 168 (2)°. Seven leading intermolecular C—H⋯O interactions have H⋯O distances ranging from 2.41 to 2.76 A and C—H⋯O angles ranging from 125 to 170°. The hydrogen bonds and C—H⋯O interactions form chain and ring patterns, resulting in a richly three-dimensional network. The bi­phenyl twist angle is 67.2 (1)°.
Permutation representation of k-ary trees☆

Abstract In this paper, we study the permutation representation of k-ary trees. First, we extend the notion of traversals, from binary trees to k-ary trees. A pair of k-ary tree traversals can be used to assign a permutation of the integers 1,2,… to each k-ary tree T. A pair of traversals is a valid k-ary tree Representation Scheme (k-RS) if it does not assign the same permutation to two distinct k-ary trees. We characterize such pairs of traversals. We also characterize those k-RS which assign permutations that have their lexicographic order being consistent with some well-known ‘natural’ order defined on the trees they represent.
DPOAE level shifts and ABR threshold shifts compared to detailed analysis of histopathological damage from noise.

A detailed comparison of 2f(1)-f(2) distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) level shifts (LS) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) threshold shifts with noise-induced histopathology was conducted in chinchillas. DPOAE levels (i.e., L(1) and L(2)) at f(1) and f(2), respectively, ranged from 55-75 dB sound pressure level (SPL), with f(2)/f(1)=1.23, 6 points/octave, f(2)=0.41-20 kHz, and ABR thresholds at 0.5-20 kHz, 2 points/octave, were determined pre-exposure. The exposure was a 108 dB SPL octave band of noise centered at 4 kHz (1-1.75 h, n=6) or 80-86 dB SPL (24 h, n=5). DPOAE LSs (magnitude pre- minus post-exposure) and ABR threshold shifts (TS) were determined at 0 days and up to 28 days post-exposure. The cochleae were fixed, embedded in plastic and dissected into flat preparations. The length of the organ of Corti (OC) was measured; missing inner (IHC) and outer (OHC) hair cells counted; stereocilia damage rated; and regions of OC and nerve-fiber loss determined. Cytocochleograms were made showing functional loss and structural damage with the LS and TS overlaid. Some unexpected results were obtained. First, the best correlation of LS with histopathology required plotting the DPOAE data at f(1) with respect to the chinchilla-place map. The best correlation of TS was with IHC and nerve-fiber loss. Second, wide regions of up to 10% scattered OHC loss in the apical half of the OC showed little or no LS. Third, with the 108 dB SPL noise, there was 20-40 dB of recovery for DPOAEs at mid-high frequencies (3-10 kHz) in eight of 12 cochleae where there was 70-100% OHC loss in the basal half of the OC. The largest recovery at mid-high frequencies occurred in regions where the OC was entirely missing. Fourth, with the 80-86 dB SPL noise, there was no LS at small focal lesions (100% loss of OHCs over 0.4 mm) when the frequency place of either f(1) or f(2) was within the lesion but not both. There was no correlation of LS with OHC stereocilia loss, fusion or disarray. These results suggest that, after noise exposure, DPOAEs at mid-high frequencies can originate from or be augmented by generators located at someplace other than the frequency place of f(2), possibly the basal 20% of the OC when this region is intact. Also, noise-induced DPOAE LSs seemed to reflect differing mechanisms for temporary and permanent hearing loss.
The Experience of an Orthopaedic Traumatologist When the Trauma Hits Home: Observations and Suggestions

My daughter Emily and I were skiing in Vail this weekend. She has skied a few times since her accident, but she hadn't attempted the “bump” runs. Prior to her accident, she was an expert on these challenging trails. The conditions were good and she did it! The tears were coming to my eyes. It has been nearly seven years since she was a victim of multiple trauma. The wonders of modern trauma care along with expert physicians saved Emily's life and miraculously restored her to essentially normal function. May 9, 2001 … the day that irreversibly changed the life of my daughter—the day that irreversibly changed the life of my family. My wife and I were sitting in Yankee Stadium with our best friends on a balmy late spring evening, enjoying Roger Clemens' pitch. A mother's sixth sense detected trouble. “I think I'll call home to make sure everything is okay.” My wife dialed home on her cell phone, and as she was dialing my pager signaled 911. Emily, our oldest daughter, had been in an accident. The accident occurred on the last day of her sophomore year in a university a thousand miles from home. She had been transported to the emergency department of the university hospital. I called the emergency department and spoke with the orthopaedic resident. He described the initial assessment: bilateral pubic ramus fractures, a fracture-dislocation of the sacroiliac joint, a displaced acetabular fracture with a dislocation of the hip, and an extensive wound on her thigh, which most probably communicated with the pelvic fractures. “Was there a head injury?” I asked. “No, Emily is awake and talking!” We all left the stadium and headed for LaGuardia Airport. Our friend drove, and my wife and I started making phone calls. Were there any flights available? …
Particle attrition phenomena in a fluidized bed

Abstract In many fluidization processes, the attrition of particles is a serious problem. To simulate the attrition, it is necessary to consider the attrition characteristics of materials, the breaking energy supplied by the system, and the distribution of attrition rates among the particles. The size distribution of the attrited fines is an essential element of the attrition characteristics. For some materials, a unique fine distribution suggests that the quantity of attrition may be directly proportional to the breaking energy supplied by the system. Based on the concepts of energy transformation and constraint, this study analyzes the results of attrition in fluidized beds with porous distributors in order to understand the relationship between the rate of breaking energy and the mechanical conditions. To simulate the distribution of attrition rates for a multicomponent mixture, a ‘surface-reaction’ model is proposed. The model states that the attrition rate for each component is proportional to its surface area, and is also a function of the interactions between different materials. Therefore, for particles of the same material but of different sizes, the fractional loss due to attrition is larger for the smaller particles. If one material has the dominant fraction of the surface area in a mixture, then, under the same magnitude of breaking energy, the attrition rate of this material is almost independent of its particle size. However, for a material with only a minute fraction of the total surface area, its attrition rate is inversely proportional to its average particle size. Experimental results from various studies are used to verify our distribution model. The model suggests that larger coal and smaller limestone are more desirable to reduce attrition in a coal combustor.
Protective actions of a new thromboxane synthetase inhibitor in arachidonate induced sudden death.

Abstract A new thromboxane synthetase inhibitor, OKY-046, at doses of 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg prevented mortality induced by sodium arachidonate in 100% of the rabbits studied. Sodium arachidonate at a dose of 1.25 mg/kg uniformly decreased mean arterial blood pressure to values approximately 0 mm Hg, stopped respiration and produced sudden death within 3–5 minutes in all rabbits studied. OKY-046 prevented all these sequelae of the sodium arachidonate. Untreated rabbits challenged with sodium arachidonate develop large increases in circulating thromboxane B 2 (TxB 2 ) and 6-keto PGF lα of about 12- to 18-fold. In contrast, OKY-046 prevented the increase in TxB 2 concentrations and the pulmonary thrombosis, but did not block the rise in 6-keto PGF lα following arachidonate injection. These results suggest that the protective mechanism of OKY-046 in arachidonate induced sudden death is via selective inhibition of thromboxane synthesis.
Molluscicidal activity of potassium to the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorphia : toxicity and mode of action

Abstract A diverse array of chemicals has been proposed as control agents for the destructive, biofouling bivalve, Dreissena polymorpha , commonly known as the zebra mussel. The zebra mussel has caused great economic hardship in industries situated on Lake Erie due to its proclivity for fouling the inside of water intake pipes and blocking the flow of water. The mussel also has had a significant ecological impact by consuming huge amounts of phytoplankton. Because the water in which zebra mussels reside may ultimately be consumed by humans and because protection of commercial fish is as important as controlling the zebra mussels, control methods must distinguish between desirable species and the zebra mussels. Most of the currently available molluscicides do not. However, we report that environmentally innocuous derivatives of potassium (e.g. KH 2 PO 4 and KCl) can kill zebra mussels at relatively low concentrations without affecting most nontarget organisms. Potassium phosphate is efficacious in killing the zebra mussels across a range of environmental conditions. Potassium chloride or other potassium salts may be used as a substitute when ambient calcium levels in the water result in the formation of a water insoluble precipitate upon combining with dissociated phosphate. Potassium appears to kill the mussels by destroying the integrity of the mussels' gill epithelium, which leads to asphyxiation.
Floating Offshore Wind Turbines: Responses in a Seastate Pareto Optimal Designs and Economic Assessment

Wind is the fastest growing renewable energy source, increasing at an annual rate of 25% with a worldwide installed capacity of 74 GW in 2007. The vast majority of wind power is generated from onshore wind farms. Their growth is however limited by the lack of inexpensive land near major population centers and the visual pollution caused by large wind turbines. Wind energy generated from offshore wind farms is the next frontier. Large sea areas with stronger and steadier winds are available for wind farm development and 5MW wind turbine towers located 20 miles from the coastline are invisible. Current offshore wind turbines are supported by monopoles driven into the seafloor at coastal sites a few miles from shore and in water depths of 10–15m. The primary impediment to their growth is visual pollution and the prohibitive cost of seafloor mounted monopoles in larger water depths. This paper presents a fully coupled dynamic analysis of floating wind turbines that enables a parametric design study of floating wind turbine concepts and mooring systems. Pareto optimal designs are presented that possess a favorable combination of nacelle acceleration, mooring system tension and displacement of the floating structure supporting a five megawatt wind turbine. All concepts are selected so that they float stably while in tow to the offshore wind farm site and prior to their connection to the mooring system. A fully coupled dynamic analysis is carried out of the wind turbine, floater and mooring system in wind and a sea state based on standard computer programs used by the offshore and wind industries. The results of the parametric study are designs that show Pareto fronts for mean square acceleration of the turbine versus key cost drivers for the offshore structure that include the weight of the floating structure and the static plus dynamic mooring line tension. Pareto optimal structures are generally either a narrow deep drafted spar, or a shallow drafted barge ballasted with concrete. The mooring systems include both tension leg and catenary mooring systems. In some of the designs, the RMS acceleration of the wind turbine nacelle can be as low as 0.03 g in a sea state with a significant wave height of ten meters and water depths of up to 200 meters. These structures meet design requirements while possessing a favorable combination of nacelle accleration, total mooring system tension and weight of the floating structure. Their economic assessment is also discussed drawing upon a recent financial analysis of a proposed offshore wind farm.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Variations in R&D Investments of Family and Nonfamily Firms: Behavioral Agency and Myopic Loss Aversion Perspectives

The behavioral agency model suggests that to preserve socioemotional wealth, loss-averse family firms usually invest less in R&D than nonfamily firms. However, behavioral agency model predictions a...
Radical mediated ring formation in the biosynthesis of the hypermodified tRNA base wybutosine.

Wyosine and its derivatives are highly modified, acid labile tricyclic bases found at position 37 of tRNAPhe in archaea and eukarya. The formation of the common 4-demethylwyosine structural feature entails condensation of pyruvate and N-methylguanosine catalyzed by TYW1. This review will focus on the mechanism of this complex radical mediated transformation.
Variability of the 15N Chemical Shift Anisotropy in Escherichia coli Ribonuclease H in Solution

The 15N chemical shift anisotropy, Δσ, is reported for 81 well-ordered backbone amide sites in the Escherichia coli enzyme ribonuclease H. The values of Δσ were determined from 15N relaxation rate constants measured at static magnetic field strengths of 11.7, 14.1, and 18.7 T; the data analyzed included both autorelaxation rate constants and 1H−15N dipolar/15N chemical shift anisotropy relaxation interference rate constants. For this data set, the values of Δσ are approximately Gaussian distributed with a mean of −172 ± 13 ppm. The standard deviation of the site-to-site variation of the chemical shift anisotropy is 5.5 ppm and a 95% confidence limit for this variation is 9.6 ppm. The site-to-site variation in the chemical shift anisotropy is similar to the variation observed in solid state NMR studies of specifically labeled polypeptides. Variability in the value of Δσ becomes a significant factor in the interpretation of spin relaxation rate constants at 18.7 T, but is less significant at lower field str...
Acute Coronary Syndrome

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a major health care and economic burden in the United States and accounts for more than 1 million hospitalizations annually. The morbidity and mortality due to ACS are substantial-nearly half of all deaths due to coronary heart disease occur following an ACS. This review provides an up-to-date summary of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of ACS. We also provide an overview of the management of common hemodynamic disturbances and myocardial infarction complications that physicians often encounter in an intensive care setting.
Photooxidation of substituted indenes at low temperature

Abstract 1,2-, 1,4- and ene products were obtained on photooxidation of 2,3-dimethylindene and 3-tert-butylindene at low temperature. The product distribution depends on solvent.
The specific anion effect on the chromophoric proton dissociation of heart aspartate aminotransferase.

Abstract The spectroscopically observable acid dissociation constant of aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1) varies to different degrees upon the addition of different monovalent anions. These interactions may be described by the minimal scheme where XEH and XE represent anion complexes with the acidic (EH) and basic (E) forms of the enzyme, respectively. Both graphical and computer procedures were used to determine the three equilibrium constants which describe such a system. The analysis was based upon the effects of salt concentration ( X ) upon the apparent p K ′ a of the enzyme determined spectrophotometrically. The affinities for anions of the basic enyzme are less than those of the acidic form of the enzyme so that the apparent p K ′ a rises with anion concentration to a limiting value; p K 4 of the enzyme anion complex. That different anion-enzyme complexes have different p K 4 's reflects the fact that the interaction specificities of the basic and acidic enzymes differ. Cacodylate did not appear either to cause significant effects on the chromophoric p K 's or to compete with the binding of halide or carboxylate anions which cause a perturbation of the p K a .
MOBILE6.2 Modeling of Exhaust Air Toxic Emission Factors: Trend and Sensitivity Analysis

The newly released MOBILE6.2 has incorporated both air toxic and particulate matter emission factor modeling functions. A series of test runs were performed to gain a better understanding of the air toxic modeling function and overall model behavior. These test runs and scenarios evaluated the changes in emission factors of all six built-in air toxic compounds as affected by vehicle activities, fuel physical properties, fuel chemical compositions, oxygenated fuel additives, and environmental conditions. Results obtained indicate that exhaust emission factors for acrolein, acetaldehyde, benzene, 1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde, and methyl tertiary butyl ether are inversely proportional to freeway and arterial vehicle speeds. This phenomenon follows the trend of total organic gas emission factors. Effects from roadway facility differences indicated that the higher the percentage of vehicle miles traveled on a freeway, the lower the air toxic emission factors on a per vehicle mile traveled basis. Exhaust air toxic emission factors increase when fuel Reid vapor pressure value and sulfur content increase. Diesel sulfur content has no effect on the six toxic compound emission factors. Effects from fuel chemical compositions on all emission factors varied. However, chemical compositions do have significant effects on all air toxic compound emission factors. On the same note, both minimum and maximum temperatures affect all air toxic emissions significantly. The time series evaluation indicates that all six tested air toxic compound emissions decrease linearly from the year 2002 to 2020.
Assessing patient dependence in Alzheimer's disease.

Background While cognitive and functional deficits are the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), loss of social function (and the dependence this implies) is also critical, especially in early stages of disease. Little attention has been directed to this facet of dementing disease. We describe a scale for assessing dependency in AD and present a baseline profile of dependency in a cohort of AD patients. Methods In a study of the predictors of the course of AD, 233 patients in early stages of disease (modified MMS > or = 30) were assessed. Psychometric properties of the dependence scale were established. To validate the scale, dependence scores at baseline were correlated with a series of measures assessing cognition and function. The course of dependency over 18 months of follow-up was also analyzed. Results The scale shows adequate reliability (test-retest, intraclass correlation). Dependence stage was related to other measures of disease severity. Scalogram analysis shows that the dependence scale is consistent with the course of functional loss established for dementing disease. Prospective data indicate sensitivity of the scale to disease progression. Conclusion Dependency is a distinct, measurable component of dementing disease and should be considered an important outcome in studies of AD.
Children's cooperative and competitive interactions in limited resource situations: A literature review

The ability to balance cooperative and competitive behaviors has important implications for a child's overall development. While socially competent children appear to learn highly successful strategies for entering peer groups and negotiating access to limited resources, the development of this level of social competence can be challenging for preschool-aged children. Early childhood educators may therefore have to intervene to develop the child's social competence and promote the use of negotiation and effective conflict management strategies. Using theories of social exchange and human sociobiology, this paper reviews literature on cooperation and competition involving limited resources and highlights the implications of this research for early childhood education. Results suggest that a variety of individual and social-contextual factors might influence a child's development of socially competent behavior. The review highlights the importance of teaching children to negotiate effectively with peers.
Morphological influence of carbon modifiers on the electromagnetic shielding of their linear low density polyethylene composites

The influence of morphology of carbon modifiers on the electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties of their polyethylene-matrix composites is reported. Four heat-treated (HT) carbon modifiers were investigated: PR-19-HT carbon nanofibers, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT-HT), helical multiwalled carbon nanotubes (HCNT-HT), and mesophase pitch-based P- 55 carbon fibers as a control. These were melt-mixed with linear low density polyethylene at 10 vol %, which was above the percolation threshold. The electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (EM SE) of the composites exhibits significant dependence on the modifier morphology. Thus, MWHTs, with the highest aspect ratio, lead to the highest composite electrical and thermal conductivities (34 Sm and 1 Wm K) and EM SE (∼24 dB). In contrast, HCNT, due to their coiled shape and low aspect ratio, lead to segregated microstructure and low EM SE (<1 dB). However, these composites display the highest ductility (∼250%) and flexibility, probably due to matrix-modifier mechanical bonding provided by the helical morphology.
Terahertz plasmons in grating-gate AlGaN/GaN HEMTs

Plasma excitations in high-electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) with two-dimensional (2D) electron channels can be used for detection, mixing, and generation of terahertz (THz) radiation [1]. Plasmon modes excited in the HEMT channel under the gate contact (gated plasmons) were considered to be more attractive for electronic applications because their frequencies can be effectively tuned by varying the gate voltage. However, the gated plasmons are difficult to couple to THz radiation due to acoustical nature and, hence, a small net dipole moment of this plasmon mode [2]. Hence, special antenna elements are needed to couple the gated plasmons to THz radiation. As an alternative, a grating gate in a large area (comparable with a typical cross-section area of THz beam) HEMT structure can act as an aerial matched antenna strongly coupling the plasmons to THz radiation [3]. It was shown recently that a large-area grating-gate GaAs/AlGaAs structure can operate as an electrically tunable detector in sub-THz frequency range [4]. A double-grating-gate HEMT structure with lateral dimensions smaller than THz wavelength was used as an effective THz photomixer and emitter [5,6].
Cardiovascular Risk Score, Cognitive Decline, and Dementia in Older Mexican Americans: The Role of Sex and Education

Background The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk with cognitive decline and incidence of dementia and cognitive impairment but not dementia (CIND) and the role of education as a modifier of these effects. Methods and Results One thousand one hundred sixteen Mexican American elderly were followed annually in the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging. Our sex-specific 10-year CVD risk score included baseline age, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, smoking, body mass index, and diabetes. From adjusted linear mixed models, errors on the Modified Mini–Mental State Exam (3MSE) were annually 0.41% lower for women at the 25th percentile of CVD risk, 0.11% higher at the 50th percentile, and 0.83% higher at the 75th percentile ( P value of CVDrisk×time <0.01). In men, 3MSE errors were annually 1.76% lower at the 25th percentile of CVD risk, 0.96% lower at the 50th percentile, and 0.12% higher at the 75th percentile ( P value of CVDrisk×time <0.01). From adjusted linear mixed models, the annual decrease in the Spanish and English Verbal Learning Test score was 0.09 points for women at the 25th percentile of CVD risk, 0.10 points at the 50th percentile, and 0.12 points at the 75th percentile ( P value of CVDrisk×time=0.02). From adjusted Cox models in women, compared with having <6 years of education, having 12+ years of education was associated with a 76% lower hazard of dementia/CIND (95% CI, 0.08 to 0.71) at the 25th percentile of CVD risk and with a 45% lower hazard (95% CI, 0.28 to 1.07) at the 75th percentile ( P value of CVDrisk×education=0.05). Conclusions CVD risk score may provide a useful tool for identifying individuals at risk for cognitive decline and dementia.
Industrial Pollution and the Regional Variations of Life Expectancy at Birth in Taiwan

This paper examines variables influencing the regional variations of life expectancy at birth in Taiwan. It is argued that rapid industrialization has been accompanied by negative factors which produced unexpected environmental pollution in Taiwan. We present an analysis focusing on the relationship between industrial pollution and regional variations of life expectancy at birth. The total number of factories is adopted as an indirect measure of industrial pollution....Findings support the hypothesis that there is a negative and significant relationship between total number of factories and the level of life expectancy at birth after controlling other independent variables. (EXCERPT)
Grenzflächenphysik und Verfahrenstechnik

Die verfahrenstechnische Forschung will uber die thermodynamische und kinetische Beschreibung von Verfahren und Apparaten hinaus zu detaillierten Modellen der zugrunde liegenden physikalischen Vorgange gelangen. Die Physik der Grenzflachen, die in den letzten Jahren grose Fortschritte gemacht hat, liefert dieser verfahrenstechnischen Forschungsrichtung wichtige Hinweise. Dies wird an Hand von Beispielen gezeigt.
Characterization of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Pediatric Cardiac Arrest in the United States: Analysis of the Kids’ Inpatient Database

To characterize the overall use, cost, and outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as an adjunct to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) among hospitalized infants and children in the United States, retrospective analysis of the 2000, 2003, and 2006 Kids’ Inpatient Database (KID) was performed. All CPR episodes were identified; E-CPR was defined as ECMO used on the same day as CPR. Channeling bias was decreased by developing propensity scores representing the likelihood of requiring E-CPR. Univariable, multivariable, and propensity-matched analyses were performed to characterize the influence of E-CPR on survival. There were 8.6 million pediatric hospitalizations and 9,000 CPR events identified in the database. ECMO was used in 82 (0.9 %) of the CPR events. Median hospital charges for E-CPR survivors were $310,824 [interquartile range (IQR) 263,344–477,239] compared with $147,817 (IQR 62,943–317,553) for propensity-matched conventional CPR (C-CPR) survivors. Median LOS for E-CPR survivors (31 days) was considerably greater than that of propensity-matched C-CPR survivors (18 days). Unadjusted E-CPR mortality was higher relative to C-CPR (65.9 vs. 50.9 %; OR 1.9, 95 % confidence interval 1.2–2.9). Neither multivariable analysis nor propensity-matched analysis identified a significant difference in survival between groups. E-CPR is infrequently used for pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest. Median LOS and charges are considerably greater for E-CPR survivors with C-CPR survivors. In this retrospective administrative database analysis, E-CPR did not significantly influence survival. Further study is needed to improve outcomes and to identify patients most likely to benefit from this resource-intensive therapy.
An academic emergency department experience with prosthetic hip dislocation: A five-year retrospective study

Study objectives: Dislocation is a common complication after total hip arthroplasty (THA) that occurs in 2% to 5% of primary THA patients and up to 27% of patients after revision THA. Few medical publications have addressed the proper management and potential complications of prosthetic hip dislocation. No large emergency department (ED) series on this entity has been reported to date. The purpose of this study is to determine the rate of successful reduction in the ED and the incidence and type of acute complications seen with prosthetic hip dislocation patients. Methods: This was a retrospective explicit medical record review approved by the institutional review board and conducted in an academic ED with an annual census of 52,000 visits. Study dates were February 1, 1999, to February 22, 2004. Patients were identified using ED admission and discharge diagnosis. All patients recognized as having prosthetic hip dislocation were included in the study, with exclusion of nonprosthetic injuries. Two trained abstractors used a standardized sequential medical record review to extract predefined variables including age, location of reduction, physician(s) performing the reduction, and the presence of any orthopedic complication. An orthopedic complication was defined as any reported osseous, hardware, neurologic, or vascular injury. Results: The cohort was composed of 116 patient encounters during a 5-year period made up of 66 individuals with prosthetic hip(s). The mean age was 65 years. Four of the 116 patients were taken directly to the operating room for closed reduction without any attempts in the ED. Of the remaining 112 patients, 102 (91%) had successful reductions performed in the ED. Eighty-one patients had hip reduction attempted by an emergency physician, with a 91% success rate. Twenty-eight (90%) of the remaining 31 patients had successful reduction performed by either an orthopedic surgeon or an emergency physician and an orthopedic surgeon while in the ED. No pre- or postreduction complications were recorded. Conclusion: Previous published series of hip dislocation have come from orthopedic literature and have largely focused on demographics and operative theory. We sought to determine the incidence of successful relocation by emergency physicians in a general ED population while accounting for any associated orthopedic complications. The finding that ED staff was successful in reducing prosthetic hip dislocations in a large majority of the patients is significant, as is the fact that it can be done without evident complication.
An experiment in interoperating heterogeneous collaborative systems

Currently, collaborative systems manipulating the same artifact but implementing different policies and architectures cannot interoperate or "collaborate" with each other. Therefore, it is not possible for users to use different collaborative systems to work on a single shared artifact. As an initial step towards such interoperation, we have carried out an experiment involving the interoperation of two heterogeneous collaborative spreadsheets. The experiment has resulted in some general protocols, techniques, and lessons applicable to the interoperation of systems offering different concurrency-control policies, couplings, and architectures. The paper surveys different approaches along these three dimensions, motivates the rationale for inter-operating them, identifies issues in their interoperation, and presents and evaluates solutions for a small number of interoperation scenarios in the surveyed design space.
Twin Layers of Lightning. A New Role for the Chaperone Hsp90 in Angiogenesis

Blood vessel formation occurs through two sequential mechanisms: the de novo formation of blood vessels during embryonic development (vasculogenesis) and the formation of new capillaries from preexisting vessels (angiogenesis). The principle mechanism of vessel formation in adults is angiogenesis and malfunction of this process leads to a wide range of diseases including tumors, inflammatory diseases, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetic retinopathy, presciently and collectively referred to as “angiogenesis-dependent diseases.”1 Most embryonic vessels and proliferating endothelial cells during angiogenesis are under control of a key molecule, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). More than 10 new drugs targeting VEGF have been approved since 2004 by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States for the treatment of cancer and age-related macular degeneration, but it remains to be determined what the ultimate therapeutic success of those angiogenic inhibitors will be. It is generally accepted that VEGF-dependent endothelial cell migration is required for angiogenic responses; however, specific roles for VEGF-enhanced cell motility have been incompletely characterized. See page 105 To fill this gap, a report published in this issue of Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology 2 illuminates a critical …
Orchestration of neutrophil movement by intestinal epithelial cells in response to Salmonella typhimurium can be uncoupled from bacterial internalization.

Intestinal epithelial cells respond to Salmonella typhimurium by internalizing this pathogen and secreting, in a polarized manner, an array of chemokines which direct polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) movement. Notably, interleukin-8 (IL-8) is secreted basolaterally and directs PMN through the lamina propria, whereas pathogen-elicited epithelial chemoattractant (PEEC) is secreted apically and directs PMN migration across the epithelial monolayer to the intestinal lumen. While most studies of S. typhimurium pathogenicity have focused on the mechanism by which this bacterium invades its host, the enteritis characteristically associated with salmonellosis appears to be more directly attributable to the PMN movement that occurs in response to this pathogen. Therefore, we sought to better understand the relationship between S. typhimurium invasion and epithelial promotion of PMN movement. First, we investigated whether S. typhimurium becoming intracellular was necessary or sufficient to induce epithelial promotion of PMN movement. Blocking S. typhimurium invasion by preventing, with cytochalasin D, the epithelial cytoskeletal rearrangements which mediate internalization did not reduce the epithelial promotion of PMN movement. Conversely, bacterial attainment of an intracellular position was not sufficient to induce model epithelia to direct PMN transmigration, since neither basolateral invasion by S. typhimurium nor apical internalization of an invasion-deficient mutant (achieved by inducing membrane ruffling with epidermal growth factor) induced this epithelial cell response. These results indicate that specific interactions between the apical surface of epithelial cells and S. typhimurium, rather than simply bacterial invasion, mediate the epithelial direction of PMN transmigration. To further investigate the means by which S. typhimurium induces epithelia to direct PMN movement, we investigated whether the same signaling pathways regulate secretion of IL-8 and PEEC. IL-8 secretion, but not PEEC secretion, was activated by phorbol myristate acetate and blocked by an inhibitor (mg-132) of the proteosome which mediates NF-κβ activation. Further, secretion of IL-8, but not PEEC, was activated by an entry-deficient (HilΔ) S. typhimurium mutant or by basolateral invasion of a wild-type strain. Together, these results indicate that distinct signaling pathways mediate S. typhimurium invasion, induction of IL-8 secretion, and induction of PEEC secretion in model intestinal epithelia.
Center for fetal monkey gene transfer for heart, lung, and blood diseases: an NHLBI resource for the gene therapy community.

Abstract The goals of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Center for Fetal Monkey Gene Transfer for Heart, Lung, and Blood Diseases are to conduct gene transfer studies in monkeys to evaluate safety and efficiency; and to provide NHLBI-supported investigators with expertise, resources, and services to actively pursue gene transfer approaches in monkeys in their research programs. NHLBI-supported projects span investigators throughout the United States and have addressed novel approaches to gene delivery; “proof-of-principle”; assessed whether findings in small-animal models could be demonstrated in a primate species; or were conducted to enable new grant or IND submissions. The Center for Fetal Monkey Gene Transfer for Heart, Lung, and Blood Diseases successfully aids the gene therapy community in addressing regulatory barriers, and serves as an effective vehicle for advancing the field.
Dust Emission from Active Galactic Nuclei

Unified schemes of active galactic nuclei require an obscuring dusty torus around the central source, giving rise to a Seyfert 1 line spectrum for pole-on viewing and Seyfert 2 characteristics in edge-on sources. Although the observed IR is in broad agreement with this scheme, the behavior of the 10 μm silicate feature and the width of the far-IR emission peak remained serious problems in all previous modeling efforts. We show that these problems find a natural explanation if the dust is contained in approximately five to 10 clouds along radial rays through the torus. The spectral energy distributions of both type 1 and type 2 sources are properly reproduced from different viewpoints of the same object if the optical depth of each cloud is 60 at visual wavelengths and if the clouds' mean free path increases roughly in proportion to the radial distance.
Modeling adaptive and evolvable software product lines using the variation point model

The product line approach provides a systematic approach for software reuse. A challenge with modeling adaptive and evolvable software product lines is how to model variability. This paper describes four different approaches to modeling variability, modeling variability using parameterization, modeling variability using information hiding, modeling variability using inheritance, and modeling variability using variation points. The variation point model (VPM) is used to demonstrate the fourth approach. VPM allows a reuser or application engineer to extend components at pre-specified variation points. For this to be possible, a variation point must be modeled such that the reuser has enough knowledge to build a variant.
An analysis of independence of video signatures based on tomography

The current technological advances allow for the easy distribution and duplication of video content through various venues, the most popular being the World Wide Web. Upholding copyright laws has thus become an important task; the result to this problem needs to be implemented in such a way to provide automatic video identification. This paper presents a novel approach to video identification based on the video tomography technique. The proposed video signature was designed and evaluated based on its ability to uniquely identify videos. A video signature should be both independent and robust. This paper focuses on evaluating the independence of the proposed video signatures. The signatures were evaluated using a large test set developed for the MPEG activity on digital video signatures. The results show that the proposed signature works well and exhibits strong independence necessary to support general purpose video identification systems.
Management of adolescents with congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Summary The management of congenital adrenal hyperplasia involves suppression of adrenal androgen production, in addition to treatment of adrenal insufficiency. Management of adolescents with congenital adrenal hyperplasia is especially challenging because changes in the hormonal milieu during puberty can lead to inadequate suppression of adrenal androgens, psychosocial issues often affect adherence to medical therapy, and sexual function plays a major part in adolescence and young adulthood. For these reasons, treatment regimen reassessment is indicated during adolescence. Patients with non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia require reassessment regarding the need for glucocorticoid drug treatment. No clinical trials have compared various regimens for classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia in adults, thus therapy is individualised and based on the prevention of adverse outcomes. Extensive patient education is key during transition from paediatric care to adult care and should include education of females with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia regarding their genital anatomy and surgical history. Common issues for these patients include urinary incontinence, vaginal stenosis, clitoral pain, and cosmetic concerns; for males with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, common issues include testicular adrenal rest tumours. Transition from paediatric to adult care is most successful when phased over many years. Education of health-care providers on how to successfully transition patients is greatly needed.
Access and Achievement of Hispanics and Hispanic Immigrants in the City University of New York.

This chapter analyzes whether Hispanics and Hispanic immigrants in the City University of New York system have the same levels of access and achievement as other racial and ethnic populations.