cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Functional aspects of estrogen neuroprotection.

Evidence that estrogen protects neurons against toxic/ischemic insults or degenerative/aging processes is evident in a variety of in vitro and in vivo systems. However, a critical remaining question is: Does the demonstrated morphologic and neurochemical protection by estrogen lead to a preservation of brain function or an enhanced ability to recover? To date, little basic research is available on this issue. Cognition is a critical function that might provide a sensitive way to examine this question. As a first step, we present results showing that two chronic environmental insults, psychoactive drugs and stress, produce gender-specific responses in cognitive abilities. Specifically, females appear less sensitive than males to cognitive impairments following chronic exposure to these factors. Results are presented in male and female rats utilizing cognitive tests that assess visual (object recognition) and spatial memory (object placement and radial arm maze) following chronic amphetamine, methamphetamine, or daily restraint stress. Following regimes of chronic stress or amphetamine, males were impaired on these tasks while females were either unaffected, less affected, or enhanced in performance. These observations suggest that differences in circulating gonadal hormone levels between the sexes may contribute to the differential sensitivity of the sexes and provide endogenous neuroprotection for females. Surprisingly, ovariectomized females were still not impaired following a stress regimen that impaired males (21 d of daily restraint). These data taken together with neurochemical data on estrogen neuroprotective effects indicate that it is possible that neuroprotection by estrogen may result from hormone action both during sexual differentiation (organizational effect) and in adulthood (activational effect). These considerations and possible unwanted/untoward effects of chronic estrogen use are discussed in relation to the use of selective estrogen receptor modulators for chronic treatment of both males and females. In conclusion, although compelling evidence for neuroprotection by estrogen has been presented in anatomic and neurochemical studies, it is clear that the functional/behavioral aspects need further investigation.
Perceived Educational Needs and Preparation of Adult Protective Services Workers for Practice with End-of-Life Issues

As the number of older adults in the United States increases, so will the expected number of allegations of elder abuse. Adult protective services (APS) staff are likely to handle much more complex situations, and in growing numbers, due to the presence of chronic and life-limiting conditions of their clients. The APS workers, in this national study, identified frequent encounters with older adults with serious illnesses. However, less than one half received educational content about issues of death and dying in their degree programs, and only slightly more than one half reported ever attending a continuing education program on these topics. They perceived the greatest educational need for content about practical resources, the use of advance directives, and making end-of-life decisions. The indication also given by these respondents was that end-of-life issues were among the most difficult situations they faced in practice. This warrants a call for increased end-of-life content in educational degree programs and continuing education.
REGIONAL GROWTH IN THE SOVIET ECONOMY A MODEL AND ANALYSIS

A multiregional econometric model of the Soviet economy is presented. It consists of 1,391 equations, with time-series information for 1965-1980. In conformity with the number of the country's republics, 15 input-output tables are incorporated. The discussion includes the methodological framework, the structure and equations, theoretical justification for the interaction between the econometric and input-output components, data and estimation, and forecasting results.
From Hyperactive Children to ADHD Adults: Observations on the Expansion of Medical Categories

Medicalization is, by definition, about the extension of medical boundaries. Analogous to “domain expansion,” extant medicalized categories can expand to become broader and more inclusive. This paper examines the emergence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adults. ADHD, commonly known as Hyperactivity, became established in the 1970s as a diagnosis for children; it expanded first to include “adult hyperactives” and, in the 1990s, “ADHD Adults.” This allowed for the inclusion of an entire population of people and their problems that were excluded by the original conception of hyperactive children. We show how lay, professional, and media claims help establish the expanded diagnostic category. We identify particular aspects of the social context that contributed to the rise of adult ADHD and outline some of the social implications of ADHD in adults, especially the medicalization of underperformance and the availability of new disability rights. Adult ADHD serves as an exemplar of several cases of diagnostic expansion, an important avenue of increasing medicalization.
Nondestructive Assay Measurements Using the RPI Lead Slowing-Down Spectrometer

The use of a lead slowing-down spectrometer (LSDS) is considered as a possible option for nondestructive assay of fissile material of used nuclear fuel. The primary objective is to quantify fissile...
Structure, biomass and seasonal changes in biomass of Nymphoides peltata (Gmel.) O. Kuntze (menyanthaceae), a preliminary study

Abstract A study has been made on structure and biomass of Nymphoides peltata (Gmel.) O Kuntze in an old river branch of the river Waal (The Netherlands). Some notes have been made on the ecology and distribution of the species. The external morphology of the species has been described. Correlations have been calculated between parameters such as leaf surface and lenght of the different plant parts with their ash-free dry weight. The mean ash-free dry weight of the flowers including the pedicels for each developmental stage has been determined. Biomass samples have been taken during a whole year in the centre of a dense Nymphoides bed, so that the seasonal changes in biomass per m 2 could be followed. In contrast with the other plant parts, the roots showed a very high percentage of ash in June when root biomass is lowest; in winter the roots show absolutely and relatively the highest biomass. The mean ratio aboveground biomass—underground biomass was highest at the end of June (3.20) and lowest in January (0.27). The correlation between leaf surface (per m 2 ) and total biomass (per m 2 ) can be described by a quadratic regression equation. As variation in time of nearly all measurements was large, more information is needed to describe the changes in biomass on the sampling site more exactly. The general reliability of the results of the study must also be tested in other localities.
Auditory signal processing in communication: Perception and performance of vocal sounds ☆

Learning and maintaining the sounds we use in vocal communication require accurate perception of the sounds we hear performed by others and feedback-dependent imitation of those sounds to produce our own vocalizations. Understanding how the central nervous system integrates auditory and vocal-motor information to enable communication is a fundamental goal of systems neuroscience, and insights into the mechanisms of those processes will profoundly enhance clinical therapies for communication disorders. Gaining the high-resolution insight necessary to define the circuits and cellular mechanisms underlying human vocal communication is presently impractical. Songbirds are the best animal model of human speech, and this review highlights recent insights into the neural basis of auditory perception and feedback-dependent imitation in those animals. Neural correlates of song perception are present in auditory areas, and those correlates are preserved in the auditory responses of downstream neurons that are also active when the bird sings. Initial tests indicate that singing-related activity in those downstream neurons is associated with vocal-motor performance as opposed to the bird simply hearing itself sing. Therefore, action potentials related to auditory perception and action potentials related to vocal performance are co-localized in individual neurons. Conceptual models of song learning involve comparison of vocal commands and the associated auditory feedback to compute an error signal that is used to guide refinement of subsequent song performances, yet the sites of that comparison remain unknown. Convergence of sensory and motor activity onto individual neurons points to a possible mechanism through which auditory and vocal-motor signals may be linked to enable learning and maintenance of the sounds used in vocal communication. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Communication Sounds and the Brain: New Directions and Perspectives".
Glucocorticoids dose-dependently remodel energy stores and amplify incentive relativity effects

To test whether glucocorticoids amplify incentive motivation, three groups of rats were adrenalectomized and replaced subcutaneously with pellets of corticosterone (B), containing 0, 30, or 80% B and cholesterol. A fourth group of sham adrenalectomized rats received cholesterol pellets. Animals were placed on a four-arm maze baited with 32% sucrose for 5-min daily sessions. After 7 days of minimal drinking on the maze at free-feeding weights, their body weights were gradually reduced to 90% of their free-feeding weights for the next 12 days (pre-shift phase). The sucrose concentration was reduced to 4% for the next 2 days (post-shift phase). B dose-dependently increased 32% sucrose intake, insulin secretion, and relative fat depots. Intake was reduced similarly in all groups following the shift to 4%, resulting in a relative B-dependent intake suppression following the shift to 4%. Videoscoring of locomotor activity indicated that search behaviors were not different between groups prior to the shift to 4%, whereas the increase in search behavior following the shift to 4% sucrose was entirely B-dependent. These data were predicted by a new model of chronic stress positing two regulatory axes on brain by glucocorticoids: one indirect axis by which glucocorticoids remodel energy stores to provide metabolic feedback and a direct axis whereby glucocorticoids act directly on brain to remodel appetitive structure.
Attitudes Toward Different Methods of Affirmative Action1

It was found that the men's and women's attitudes toward affirmative action (AA) in general were related to differences in self-interest. In addition, consistent with predictions drawn from notions of organizational justice and attribution principles, it was found that people held different attitudes toward different methods of affirmative action. People were most favorable toward AA involving special training programs and least favorable toward AA that employed differential selection criteria for target group members. Attitudes toward quota-based systems were intermediate.
Processes of accelerated pluvial erosion on desert hillslopes modified by vehicular traffic

Accelerated pluvial erosion on hillslopes modified by off-road vehicles (ORVs) is analysed using results from 50 rainfall simulation experiments conducted in the Mojave Desert, California. Sediment yield from 1 m2 hillslope plots subjected to intense, 20-minute rainfalls is typically increased 10 to 20-fold following ORV use. Salient effects of vehicle traffic, which reduce infiltration, increase runoff sediment transport efficiency, and enhance gully formation, are further studied by combining simple theoretical relations with experimental data. This analysis helps identify factors controlling erosion on natural desert hillslopes, as well as those used by ORVs. Erosion of natural or vehicle-used desert surfaces is heavily influenced by runoff hydraulics. Calculated Darcy-Weisbach friction factors decrease by an average of 13-fold following vehicular slope modification, whereas runoff Reynolds numbers increase by an average of 5 1/2-fold. The capacity of overland flow to transport sediment is related to runoff power and its degree of localization, which usually increase considerably following ORV activity; however, the ability of overland flow to move large grains (competency) is related to a combination of factors not always systematically influenced by ORV use. Kinematic runoff routing, which is used to extrapolate experimental results to longer slope lengths, leads to the suggestion that the hydraulic roughness of desert hillslopes strongly influences their erosional behaviour.
AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF DIATHERMY : IV. EVIDENCE FOR THE PENETRATION OF HIGH FREQUENCY CURRENTS THROUGH THE LIVING BODY.

The principles governing the passage of high frequency currents through various conductors have been discussed and exemplified in experiments done on both non-living and living bodies. In Part I it was shown: (1) That the current takes the path of least electrical resistance rather than the shortest path; (2) that maximal heating occurs at the point of greatest concentration of the lines of current flow. In a homogeneous medium with parallel electrodes maximal heat production occurs in those portions of the medium adjoining the electrodes and the heat gradient is from without inward. Under these circumstances maximal heating never occurs at the center. In discussing the localization of heat not only the electrical resistance and current concentration, but also the cooling effect, must be considered. In experiments on the dog's cadaver no evidence of the so called "skin effect" could be demonstrated. This is in contradistinction to the findings of Bettman and Crohn, but the discrepancy is explained on the basis of what we believe to be a technical error in their work. The finding of no "skin effect" is in agreement with the conclusions of Dowse and Iredell, based on both experimental and theoretical considerations. In Part II three types of experiments were performed on the anesthetized dog. The conclusions to be derived from them are these: (1) The heat gradient of the body is reversed during diathermy and heating occurs from without inward; (2) deep heating during diathermy is greater than that which results from the application of local heat to the skin; (3) the lung can be heated by diathermy in spite of simultaneous cooling of the chest wall. These experiments we regard as satisfactory evidence of the passage of the current through the interior of the body.
Vascular Infusion as a Means to Improve the Antioxidant–Prooxidant Balance of Beef

: Vascular infusion was used to deliver, via the carotid artery, a rinsing solution of calcium chloride or one of saccharides, sodium chloride, and phosphates, with and without vitamins C, E, or C + E, to beef steers immediately following exsanguination. Moisture, fat, iron, calcium, vitamin E, and cholesterol contents and the development of rancidity (TBARS) on the resulting meat were measured. Meat from infused cattle had slightly higher moisture and lower iron and cholesterol contents due to greater blood removal. When vitamin E was present in the infusion solution, TBARS values were lower for infused meat. Infusion with either the standard solution, calcium chloride, or standard solution plus vitamin C did not consistently affect TBARS values.
Balancing Biological Sustainability with the Economic Needs of Alaska's Sockeye Salmon Fisheries

Abstract Total revenue in the Bristol Bay, Alaska, fishery for sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka has declined by 80% over the past two decades. In contrast to other fisheries where declining revenues are a consequence of declining catches, Bristol Bay sockeye salmon landings have remained high and the revenue decline is a result of falling prices, which in turn are a consequence of competition from increased production of rainbow trout/steelhead O. mykiss (hereafter, rainbow trout) and coho salmon O. kisutch farmed in Chile. This paper explores possible changes to current management strategies that would continue to ensure biological sustainability while enhancing economic returns. We simulate three management strategies for Bristol Bay sockeye salmon: fixed escapement range, conditional fixed harvest, and conditional fixed harvest rate. Yields from these simulations are combined with a forecast of Chilean rainbow trout and coho salmon production and a model of international trade flows for Alaskan sockey...
Improving Student Design Skills Through Successive Design and Build Projects

Mechanical Engineering students at Western Kentucky University (WKU) are given instruction and must demonstrate their abilities to execute design projects during each of their four years of study. The features and goals of these projects are governed by a Professional Plan, which assures that graduates of the program have experienced key areas of the engineering profession and shown the ability to perform in an acceptable professional manner. The Engineering Design component of the Professional Plan is the focal point of the professional experiences. For students to be able to execute a structured approach to solving problems with an appreciation for the art of engineering, they must experience meaningful projects that expand and challenge their capabilities. WKU ME freshmen individually create physical devices with little engineering science, developing a sense of the manufacturing skills required for realistic designs. Sophomore students execute a team design project with more technical expectations, and also individually complete a design and build project that continues from their freshman project. As juniors, the team design experience is extended to an external audience with greater technical rigor, and additionally student teams implement the ASME Student Design Competition (ASME SDC) as their design and build project. The goal is for seniors to be prepared to implement an industry-based design and build project subject to realistic constraints and customer needs. The implementation of the Engineering Design Component has evolved over the past four years guided by ongoing assessment of both course outcomes and program outcomes, internal and external evaluations of the design project outcomes, and the maturing status of the program facilities and curriculum. One strength of the Professional Plan framework is the ability to build upon previous coursework, assess student progress, and adjust course activities based on prior assessment results to assure that graduates are capable of practicing as engineers. This paper will detail a sustainable model for implementing the design process across the curriculum, with the basis for selecting projects, managing the efforts of student teams, and providing effective feedback. In addition to the engineering design component, the use of professional communications and professional tools are also structured within the design projects.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
The relationship between pulmonary perivascular cuff fluid and lung lymph in dogs with edema.

Abstract We studied the relationship between pulmonary perivascular cuff fluid and lymph in dogs with alloxan-induced edema. Evans blue dye was injected intravenously into edematous dogs. We allowed the dye-albumin complex to equilibrate for 15 to 60 min. Morphological examination of freeze-dried lung sections showed the presence of dye in lymphatic vessels during every time period studied. We found less dye in perivascular fluid cuffs relative to lymphatic vessels at all times. The amount of dye contained in perivascular cuff fluid varied as a function of equilibration time and vessel size. In dogs with equilibration times of less than 30 min there was significantly less dye in perivascular fluid cuffs of large vessels relative to those of small vessels. There was no difference in cuff color between small and large vessels in dogs with equilibration times of 45 to 60 min. Both small and large vessels showed significantly less dye at 15- to 30-min than at 45- to 60-min equilibration times. We conclude that perivascular cuff fluid is a sequestered pool that mixes with the microvascular filtrate by diffusion of solute and water through the interstitial space. The diffusion distance is determined by cuff diameter and proximity of the cuff to exchange vessels.
■ Dr. Constantin Cope Medical Student Research Award High-field MRI accurately quantifies tumor uptake of therapeutic iron-oxide nanoparticles in the McA-RH7777 rat model of liver cancer

Purpose The rationale for this study was to develop and validate methods to non-invasively quantify drug delivery to tumors. The ideal animal model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) would have histological similarity to human HCC yet permit intraarterial (IA) delivery of therapies. The hypervascular McA-RH7777 tumor in the diminutive Buffalo rat resembles HCC histologically, while the N1S1 tumor in the larger Sprague-Dawley rat is hypovascular. We tested the hypotheses that: a) hypervascular McA tumors can be grown in Sprague-Dawley rats; and b) 7T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can quantify intra-tumoral uptake of doxorubicin-loaded superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (DOX-SPIOs) in this model. Materials and Methods We implanted McA cells into multiple sites in the livers of 18 Sprague-Dawley rats. In successfully inoculated animals, we delivered DOX-SPIOs to tumors via the intravenous (IV) (n=9) or IA (n=11) route. Three identical sets of nanoparticle phantoms were used to validate image analysis methods. We obtained pre- and post-treatment T2*-weighted images using 7T MRI, and obtained ΔR2* from mean signal intensities of tumors in these images. We measured tumor iron concentration ([Fe]), an indicator of DOX-SPIO uptake, using mass spectroscopy. The primary outcome variable was the Pearson coefficient (r) to assess linear correlation between ΔR2* and [Fe]. Results Tumors grew successfully in 13/18 animals (72%). Mean maximum tumor diameter (Dmax) was 0.83 ± 0.25 cm (range: 0.31-1.42 cm). Phantom studies revealed a strong positive correlation between ΔR2* and [Fe], with r=0.99 (p Conclusion McA tumors can successfully be grown in Sprague-Dawley rats. MRI quantification of intra-tumoral uptake strongly correlated with iron concentrations in pathological specimens, suggesting that MRI may be used to quantify uptake of iron-oxide nanotherapeutics. In the future, these imaging methods could potentially be used by interventional oncologists as a tool to quantify drug delivery in patients.
Cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, prevents γ-interferon-induced expression of class II mRNA in a macrophage cell line

To characterize the mechanisms by which interferon γ (IFN-γ) upregulates major histocompatibility complex class II mRNA levels in mouse macrophages, we studied the effect of IFN-γ on the transcription rate of class II genes and investigated the requirement for ongoing protein synthesis for the induction of class II mRNA expression. Nuclear run-off assays demonstrate that IFN-γ induces class II mRNA at the transcriptional level. Treatment with cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, prevented the IFN-γ-mediated accumulation of E α mRNA in the mouse macrophage cell line P388 D.1, indicating that induction of E α mRNA in P388 D.1 cells requires de novo synthesis of a protein intermediate. Our studies suggest that this putative protein factor is labile and required throughout the induction period.
Diet and predation by three leaf‐associated stoneflies (Plecoptera) in an Arkansas mountain stream

SUMMARY. 1. Life cycles, food habits, mouthpart morphologies, prey preferences, and predator-prey size relationships were investigated for the three most common stoneflies in leaf packs in the Little Missouri River, Arkansas: Clioperla clio (Newman), Isoperla namata Prison, and Perlesta spp. Each species was univoltine and had a fast seasonal cycle, with extended egg or nymphal diapause, rapid nymphal growth and emergence in spring to early summer. 2. Foregut analysis showed predictable dietary shifts by C. clio and Perlesta spp., from detritus and diatoms in early instars to invertebrate prey in later instars. Isoperla namata fed facultatively on insects, detritus and diatoms, with no conspicuous ontogenetic shifts. The mouthparts of all three species strongly reflected their diet. 3. Electivity analysis indicated opportunistic feeding by the three species, with feeding rarely differing significantly from random. 4. Sizes of stonefly predators and their ingested prey were highly correlated (P<0.01). However, rather than shifting toward larger prey sizes, growing predators expanded their size thresholds and continued to include numerous small prey items in their diet. Prey choice was governed most directly by prey availability, because stoneflies selected the most abundant groups, irrespective of size or taxon. 5. The likelihood of competition among the three stoneflies for prey was minimized by timing of their life cycles, differential food use and probably the temporary nature of leaf pack habitats.
The diencephalon of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. II. Retinal, tectal, cerebellar and telencephalic connections

In a companion paper, the nuclear organization of the diencephalon of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, was described and compared to that of other teleosts. The present paper describes the connections of the diencephalon with the retina, optic tectum, corpus of the cerebellum and telencephalon. The principal tracer employed is the indocarbocyanine dye DiI which diffuses along neuronal membranes in fixed tissues. Almost all of the nuclei that were recognized as distinct in the companion study are found to also exhibit distinct sets of connections. Most of these connections have not been described previously in catfishes or other teleosts. When combined with connectional data from the existing literature, the results of the present study allow one to recognize a great number of distinct pathways through the diencephalon of channel catfish, including several visual, auditory, gustatory, electrosensory and mechanosensory pathways to the telencephalon. Almost all of the species differences in diencephalic organization noted in the companion study can be accounted for by changes in one of the major sensory pathways. In contrast, the multimodal and integrative areas of the diencephalon appear to be relatively conservative. A comparison between the diencephalon of teleosts and that of other vertebrates suggests that the dorsal thalamus, the ventral thalamus and the posterior tuberculum are homologous, at least in part, to the dorsal thalamus, the zona incerta and the subthalamic nucleus of mammals, respectively. All three areas project to the telencephalon in both mammals and teleosts. In most vertebrates, however, the dorsal thalamus provides the dominant input to the telencephalon, whereas in teleosts the main telencephalic input derives instead from the posterior tuberculum.
Information retrieval for OCR documents: a content-based probabilistic correction model

The difficulty with information retrieval for OCR documents lies in the fact that OCR documents contain a significant amount of erroneous words and unfortunately most information retrieval techniques rely heavily on word matching between documents and queries. In this paper, we propose a general content-based correction model that can work on top of an existing OCR correction tool to “boost” retrieval performance. The basic idea of this correction model is to exploit the whole content of a document to supplement any other useful information provided by an existing OCR correction tool for word corrections. Instead of making an explicit correction decision for each erroneous word as typically done in a traditional approach, we consider the uncertainties in such correction decisions and compute an estimate of the original “uncorrupted” document language model accordingly. The document language model can then be used for retrieval with a language modeling retrieval approach. Evaluation using the TREC standard testing collections indicates that our method significantly improves the performance compared with simple word correction approaches such as using only the top ranked correction.
“We Got Game!” An Analysis of Win/Loss Probability and Efficiency Differences Between the NBA and WNBA

This article provides estimates of differences in game play between the WNBA and NBA. Game outcome measures that are absolute (win or loss) and relative (ratio of final points) both reveal differen...
Acetamide enolate: formation, reactivity, and proton affinity

Abstract Acetamide enolate ( 1 ) was selectively prepared in a Fourier transform mass spectrometer and a variable temperature flowing afterglow apparatus by the fluoride-induced desilylation of 2-(trimethylsilyl)acetamide. Its reactivity, proton affinity, and collision-induced dissociation spectra were explored and contrasted to its isomeric amidate anion ( 2 ). Since 1 and 2 are ambident nucleophiles, their reactivity with perfluoropropylene and perfluorobenzene was investigated. The unimolecular isomerization of 1 to 2 also was examined at temperatures up to 300 °C. No rearrangement was observed under these conditions indicating that the activation barrier is at least 32 kcal mol −1 . Structures and energies of acetamide, its conjugate bases, and the transition structure interconverting 1 and 2 were computed using a variety of ab initio and density functional theory approaches.
Therapeutic effect of arginine-glycine-aspartic acid peptides in acute renal injury.

1. Previous studies from our laboratory have suggested that arginine–glycine–aspartic acid (RGD) peptides, serving as a decoy, may prevent tubular obstruction in the ischaemic model of acute renal failure. Specifically, we have demonstrated that: (i) stressed tubular epithelial cells reverse the polarity of integrin receptors from the predominantly basolateral location to the apical cell membrane as a part of a more generalized process of the loss of epithelial cell polarity; (ii) depletion of integrins expressed on the basal cell surface leads to the loss of anchorage to the basement membrane and cell desquamation; (iii) expression of integrin receptors on the apical cell membrane leads to indiscriminate interactions (e.g. the adhesion of desquamated cells to the cells remaining in situ), thus initiating the process of tubular obstruction; and (iv) conglomeration of the desquamated cells via integrin receptors further aggravates tubular obstruction. 2. Importantly, these integrin-based interactions can be blocked by synthetic RGD peptides. The linear RGD peptide injected into the renal artery upon release of the renal artery clamp prevented the elevation of proximal tubular hydrostatic pressure characteristically seen in animals with renal ischaemia that received injection of the vehicle of an inactive peptide. 3. In vivo study of RGD peptides in ischaemic acute renal failure in rats demonstrated attenuation of renal injury and accelerated recovery of renal function. 4. Using linear RGD peptide labelled with 99mTc, we have shown that this probe was retained in ischaemic kidneys. 5. To visualize RGD binding sites at the cellular level, we performed a mapping using fluorescent derivatives of two RGD peptides, a cyclic biotinylated (Bt)-RGD peptide and a linear Rhodamine green-labelled (RhoG)-RGD peptide. 6. The findings suggest that the binding sites for RGD peptide are represented by the αVβ3 integrin in the vasculature and some desquamated cells, whereas the majority of the desquamated cells bind Bt-RGD via β1 integrins. 7. These findings were further tested using cultured endothelial cells co-incubated with leucocytes. When co-incubation experiments were performed in the presence of cyclic RGD pentapeptide, the adhesion of HL-60 cells to both control and hypoxic endothelial monolayers was significantly reduced. Presented at the Experimental Biology Symposium on the Role of Integrins in Acute Renal Failure, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 1997.
The influence of the non-member on an adolescent psychotherapy group

Adolescent group psychotherapy can be enhanced at times by the presence of non-members, entities not identified as patients. These include ex-group members, friends of group members, pets, shadows and food. Their influence on the group process is explored.
Consequences of polylactide stereochemistry on the properties of polylactide-polymenthide-polylactide thermoplastic elastomers

A series of polylactide-polymenthide-polylactide triblock copolymers containing either amorphous poly(d,l-lactide) or semicrystalline, enantiopure poly(l-lactide) or poly(d-lactide) end segments were synthesized. Small-angle X-ray scattering and differential scanning calorimetry data were consistent with microphase separation of these materials. The Young’s moduli and ultimate tensile strengths of the semicrystalline triblock copolymers were 2- and 3-fold greater, respectively, than their amorphous analogs. Symmetric (50:50) and asymmetric (95:5) blends of the triblock copolymers containing two different enantomeric forms of the polylactide segments formed stereocomplex crystallites, as revealed by wide-angle X-ray scattering and differential scanning calorimetry. Compared to the enantiopure analogs, these blends exhibited similar ultimate elongations and tensile strengths, but significantly increased Young’s moduli. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the properties of these new biorenewable the...
Metabolism of fluoroacetic acid-2-C14 in the intact rat☆

Abstract Synthesis and purification of fluoroacetate-2-C 14 is described. During a 4-day period following injection of fluoroacetate into intact rats, 3% of the label appeared in the respiratory CO 2 and 32% was excreted in the urine. Radioautography of the urinary ether extracts revealed at least seven radioactive components. The appearance of urinary fluoroacetate sharply decreased by 48 hr. while that of the fluorocitrate reached maximum in 24 hr. Fluorocitrate in the urine represented only 3% of the total radioactivity administered. The major radioactive component was not inhibitory to aconitase. Concentration of label was very high in heart, kidneys, liver, and brain. Percentage of radioactivity of the homogenates of liver and kidney distributed equally within the subcellular fractions, but the concentration of activity was about four times greater in the mitochrondrial fraction of the kidney than in the liver. Fifteen times as much labeled fluorocitrate was found in the kidney as in the liver. Analysis of liver constituents revealed incorporation of activity into fatty acids and small amounts of label in cholesterol. The results indicate the existence of several pathways of fluoroacetate metabolism hitherto not extensively investigated.
Dynamical error in nonlinear filtering

The authors describe the phenomenon of dynamical error, a source of error in parameter estimates of nonlinear models. They show that dynamical error is the result of complex dynamics of the nonlinear time series, such as limit cycles and chaos, permeating the estimation equations. The decay rate of dynamical error becomes an additional, often dominant, effect in the parameter convergence rate and in the selection of data set size. It is shown that new nonlinear adaptive filtering methods attenuate dynamical error more rapidly than batch methods. Therefore, as a practical matter, sample-by-sample methods are superior to batch methods when the underlying dynamics is nonlinear. Dynamical error is offered as a possible explanation for the difficulty in modeling certain nonlinear time series, particularly the Canadian lynx data. The authors' results are illustrated by numerical examples drawn from the logistic map. >
Capturing Global and Local Dynamics for Human Action Recognition

Human action analysis has achieved great success especially with the recent development of advanced sensors and algorithms that can effectively track the body joints. Temporal motion of body joints carries crucial information about human actions. However, current dynamic models typically assume stationary local transition and therefore are limited to local dynamics. In contrast, we propose a novel human action recognition algorithm that is able to capture both global and local dynamics of joint trajectories by combining a Gaussian-Binary restricted Boltzmann machine (GB-RBM) with a hidden Markov model (HMM). We present a method to use RBM as a generative model for multi-class classification. Experimental results on benchmark datasets demonstrate the capability of the proposed method in exploiting the dynamic information at different levels.
The Impact of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Later Sexual Victimization among Runaway Youth.

Path analysis was used to investigate the impact of childhood sexual abuse on later sexual victimization among 372 homeless and runaway youth in Seattle. Young people were interviewed directly on the streets and in shelters by outreach workers in youth service agencies. High rates of both childhood sexual abuse and street sexual victimization were reported, with females experiencing much greater rates compared with their male counterparts. Early sexual abuse in the home increased the likelihood of later sexual victimization on the streets indirectly by increasing the amount of time at risk, deviant peer affiliations, participating in deviant subsistence strategies, and engaging in survival sex. These findings suggest that exposure to dysfunctional and disorganized homes place youth on trajectories for early independence. Subsequently, street life and participation in high-risk behaviors increases their probability of sexual victimization.
The application of the single-channel random phase approximation to radiative properties of dense He and Li plasmas

Abstract We performed single-channel, single-component random phase approximation calculations for dense He and Li plasmas for an electron temperature of kT=10 eV . Results are presented for excitation energies and oscillator strengths for the (1,2)s−np (n=2−5) transitions using both the ion-sphere and ion-correlation (IC) models. Our results indicate that ion correlations are not a significant effect for these systems and conditions.
Knowledge-based Multiagent Coordination

In many domains, intelligent agents must coordinate their activities in order for them to be successful both individually and collectively. Over the last ten years, research in distributed artificial intelligence has emphasized building knowledge-lean systems, where coordination emerges either from simple rules of behavior or from a deep understanding of general coordination strategies. In this paper, we contend that there is an alternative for domains in which the types and methods of coordination are well structured (even though the environment may be very unstructured and dynamic). The alternative is to build real-time, knowledge-based agents that have a broad---but shallow---understanding of how to coordinate. We demonstrate the viability of this approach by example. Specifically, we have built agents that model the coordination performed by Navy and Air Force pilots and controllers in air-to-air and air-to-ground missions within a distributed interactive simulation environment. The major contribution of the paper is an examination of the requirements and approaches for supporting knowledge-based coordination, in terms of the structure of the domain, the agents' knowledge of the domain, and the underlying AI architecture.
A 610mW zero-overhead class G full-rate ADSL central-office line driver

A full-rate ADSL central-office line driver consumes 610mW through active termination and a zero-overhead class G technique. The supply switching scheme features very low overhead voltage, logic control, and controlled supply-rail ramp rate, and requires analog signal-peak prediction to be performed on the digital data stream.
Comparison of 1-O-alkyl-, 1-O-alk-1'-enyl-, and 1-O-acyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamines and -3-phosphocholines as agonists of the platelet-activating factor family

Abstract Four naturally occurring platelet-activating factor (PAF) analogs, 1-alk-1'-enyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, 1-hexade-canoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, 1-octadecanoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, and 1-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine, stimulated human neutrophils (PMN) to mobilize Ca2+, degranulate, and produce Superoxide anion. They were, respectively, 5-, 300-, 500-, and 4000-fold weaker than PAF in each assay; inhibited PMN-binding of [3H]PAF at concentrations paralleling their biological potencies; and showed sensitivity to the inhibitory effects of PAF antagonists. PAF and the analogs, moreover, desensitized PMN responses to each other but not to leukotriene B4 and actually increased (or primed) PMN responses to N-formyl-MET-LEU-PHE. Finally, 5-hydroxyicosatetraenoate-enhanced PMN responses to PAF and the analogs without enhancing the actions of other stimuli. It stereospecifically raised each analog's potency by as much as 100-fold and converted a fifth natural analog, 1-alk-1'-enyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine from inactive to a weak stimulator of PMN. PAF and its analogs thus represent a structurally diverse family of cell-derived phospholipids which can activate, prime, and desensitize neutrophils by using a common, apparently PAF receptor-dependent mechanism.
Analysis of a direct-sequence spread-spectrum cellular radio system

The uplink and downlink performance of a digital cellular radio system that uses direct sequence code division multiple access is evaluated. Approximate expressions are derived for the area averaged bit error probability while accounting for the effects of path loss, log-normal shadowing, multipath-fading, multiple-access interference, and background noise. Three differentially coherent receivers are considered: a multipath rejection receiver, a RAKE receiver with predetection selective diversity combining, and a RAKE receiver with postdetection equal gain combining. The RAKE receivers are shown to improve the performance significantly, except when the channel consists of a single faded path. Error correction coding is also shown to substantially improve the performance, except for slowly fading channels. >
Evidence on the Effects of Unverifiable Fair-Value Accounting

SFAS 142 requires firms to use fair-value estimates to determine goodwill impairments. Watts (2003) and Ramanna (2007) argue the unverifiable nature of those fair-value estimates gives firms discretion to manage impairments. We test this argument in a sample of firms with market indications of impairment (firms with book goodwill and market-to-book ratio below one). We find that the frequency of non-impairment in this sample is about 71%, and that non-impairment is increasing in financial characteristics predicted to be associated with greater unverifiable fair-value-based discretion. To investigate whether non-impairment is associated with managers producing on average better estimates of goodwill than the market, we test whether non-impairment increases in industries with higher average information asymmetries. We fail to find evidence consistent with this proposition.
Electromagnetic transmission through a small radome of arbitrary shape

A simple moment solution is presented for the problem of electromagnetic transmission through a small radome of arbitrary shape. The radome is excited by either a plane wave (receive mode) or an elementary dipole inside the radome (transmit mode). The equivalence principle is used to replace the radome by a set of equivalent electric and magnetic surface currents radiating into an unbounded medium. A set of coupled integral equations involving the surface currents is obtained by enforcing the boundary conditions on the tangential components of the total electric and magnetic fields. The method of moments is used to solve the integral equations. The surfaces of the radome are approximated by planar triangular patches and linearly varying vector functions are used for both expansion and testing functions. In the receive mode, the total field inside the radome is computed along a number of straight lines and in the transmit mode the far transmitted field is computed. A spherical and a Von Karman radome are studied. The computed results are in excellent agreement with the exact or other available published data.
Developmental pattern of CB1 cannabinoid receptor immunoreactivity in brain regions important to zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) song learning and control.

Zebra finches learn song during distinct developmental stages, making them an important species for studying mechanisms underlying vocal development. Distinct interconnected forebrain regions have been identified as important to specific features of zebra finch vocal learning and production. Because prior experiments have demonstrated that late postnatal exposure to cannabinoid agonists alters zebra finch song learning, we have sought to identify brain regions likely involved in it. By using an affinity-purified polyclonal antibody directed against the zebra finch CB1 cannabinoid receptor, we have studied staining patterns in groups of males at 25, 50, 75, and >100 days of age (adults). A general waxing and waning of staining intensity were observed over this developmental period. Distinct staining of song-related brain regions was also noted. Early establishment of staining patterns within rostral telencephalic song regions [area X and lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior nidopallium (lMAN)] suggests a role in auditory learning. Later establishment and maintenance in adulthood of small somata and neuropil staining within regions of rostral telencephalon [HVC and robust nucleus of the arcopallium (RA)] are consistent with a vocal motor role for cannabinoid signaling. Our results provide insight into brain regions likely responsible for cannabinoid-altered vocal learning and add to accumulating evidence supporting an important role for cannabinoid signaling in CNS development. J. Comp. Neurol. 496:739–758, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Reconstructing Gas Flows Using Light-Path Approximation

Transparent gas flows are difficult to reconstruct: the refractive index field (RIF) within the gas volume is uneven and rapidly evolving, and correspondence matching under distortions is challenging. We present a novel computational imaging solution by exploiting the light field probe (LF-Probe). A LF-probe resembles a view-dependent pattern where each pixel on the pattern maps to a unique ray. By observing the LF-probe through the gas flow, we acquire a dense set of ray-ray correspondences and then reconstruct their light paths. To recover the RIF, we use Fermat's Principle to correlate each light path with the RIF via a Partial Differential Equation (PDE). We then develop an iterative optimization scheme to solve for all light-path PDEs in conjunction. Specifically, we initialize the light paths by fitting Hermite splines to ray-ray correspondences, discretize their PDEs onto voxels, and solve a large, over-determined PDE system for the RIF. The RIF can then be used to refine the light paths. Finally, we alternate the RIF and light-path estimations to improve the reconstruction. Experiments on synthetic and real data show that our approach can reliably reconstruct small to medium scale gas flows. In particular, when the flow is acquired by a small number of cameras, the use of ray-ray correspondences can greatly improve the reconstruction.