cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ovarian steroid regulation of pulsatile luteinizing hormone release during early gestation in the rat.

Abstract The object of this study was to examine ovarian regulation of pulsatile luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion during early gestation. This was done primarily by analyzing pulsatile LH release in rats that were either sham ovariectomized (OVX) on Day 7 of pregnancy, implanted with empty Silastic capsules, and bled on Day 8, or OVX on Day 7, immediately implanted with Silastic capsules producing plasma levels of estradiol and/or progesterone characteristic of Day 7 to 8 of pregnancy, and bled on Day 8. In addition, the role of progesterone in regulating pulsatile LH secretion was also examined by administration of the progesterone receptor antagonist, RU486, on Day 7 and examining pulsatile LH release on Day 8 of pregnancy. OVX caused a marked increase in LH pulse amplitude and frequency within 24 h. Replacement with physiological plasma levels of estradiol or progesterone alone had no suppressive effect on this OVX-induced increase in pulsatile LH secretion. Restoration of physiological plasma levels of both estradiol and progesterone returned LH pulse amplitude to values seen in sham OVX controls, and prevented the OVX-induced increase in LH pulse frequency. The group mean LH pulse frequency tended to be less in estradiol + progesterone-treated rats than in sham OVX controls, but this difference was not statistically significant. RU486 blocked uterine progesterone receptors as evidenced by endometrial hemorrhaging. In agreement with the OVX + steroid replacement data, RU486 administration also resulted in increases in LH pulse amplitude and frequency. These data demonstrate that the frequency and amplitude of LH pulses on Day 8 of gestation are held in check by negative feedback signals coming from the ovary. Neither steroid alone exerts any suppressive influence over pulsatile LH secretion during early gestation, but both steroids acting together exert a prominent negative feedback regulation on the pulsatile LH release process.
Effects of Nalbuphine on Anterior Pituitary and Adrenal Hormones and Subjective Responses in Male Cocaine Abusers

Abstract Nalbuphine (Nubain®) is a mixed action mu–kappa agonist used clinically for the management of pain. Nalbuphine and other mu–kappa agonists decreased cocaine self-administration in preclinical models. Cocaine stimulates the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, but the effects of nalbuphine on the HPA axis are unknown. Analgesic doses (5 and 10 mg/70 kg) of IV nalbuphine were administered to healthy male cocaine abusers, and plasma levels of PRL, ACTH and cortisol were measured before and at 10, 17, 19, 23, 27, 31, 35, 40, 45, 60, 75, 105, and 135 min after nalbuphine administration. Subjective effects were measured on a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Prolactin (PRL) increased significantly within 17 min (P = .04) and reached peak levels of 22.1 ± 7.1 ng/ml and 54.1 ± 11.3 at 60 min after low and high dose nalbuphine administration, respectively. VAS reports of “Sick,” “Bad” and “Dizzy” were significantly higher after 10 mg/70 kg than after 5 mg/70 kg nalbuphine (P = .05–.0001), and were significantly correlated with increases in PRL (P = .05–.0003). However, sedation and emesis were observed only after a 10 mg/70 kg dose of nalbuphine. Interestingly, ACTH and cortisol levels did not change significantly after administration of either dose of nalbuphine. Taken together, these data suggest that nalbuphine had both mu- and kappa-like effects on PRL (PRL increase) but did not increase ACTH and cortisol.
Increased pulmonary blood flow produces endothelial cell dysfunction in neonatal swine.

Abstract Background . The mechanisms by which increased pulmonary blood flow results in pulmonary hypertension have not been determined. Methods . To determine if increased pulmonary blood flow produces endothelial dysfunction that precedes vascular remodeling and smooth muscle proliferation, neonatal swine (n = 12) (age, 6.1 ± 0.5 days) underwent ligation of the left pulmonary artery (LPA) to increase blood flow to the right lung. At 12 weeks of age, endothelium-dependent vasodilatation was assessed by acetylcholine infusion and endothelium-independent vasodilatation by inhaled nitric oxide (NO) in the LPA group and age-matched controls (CON) (n = 11). Results . Mean pulmonary artery pressure was 24.1 ± 3.0 mm Hg in the LPA group and 20.8 ± 1.9 mm Hg in the CON group ( p p = 0.001). Acute occlusion of the left pulmonary artery in the CON group increased pulmonary vascular resistance to 6.9 ± 3.9 Wood units ( p = 0.04). Administration of acetylcholine in the CON group after preconstriction with the thromboxane A 2 analogue U46619 resulted in a 30.6% ± 5.4% decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance. In the LPA group, acetylcholine produced paradoxical vasoconstriction and a 15.4% ± 4.1% increase in pulmonary vascular resistance ( p p = 0.04 versus CON), indicating preserved endothelium-independent vasodilatation in both groups. Morphometric analysis was performed in 4 animals from each group. Medial wall thickness as percent of external diameter of small arteries ( p > 0.1). Conclusions . Increased pulmonary blood flow in immature animals produces endothelial cell dysfunction with loss of endothelium-dependent vasodilatation before the onset of pulmonary vascular remodeling. Subsequent smooth muscle proliferation may be mediated by endothelium-derived factors.
The mentoring model theory: dimensions in mentoring protocols

A mentoring relationship has the potential to be widely used throughout an individual’s lifespan. Including mentoring relationships into one’s life can assist with transition management in and out of various life scenarios. A mentoring model has been proposed that blends human development with the dimensions of mentoring. It is assumed that the dimensions of the model are continuous and multidimensional. We recognize three interactive dimensions that surround the mentoring interaction which shape the mentor and protege relationship. These dimensions are defined as: socialization; task development; and lifespan development. The model can be utilized as a diagnostic tool or as a training model to promote mentoring relationships.
Short-term effects of diet on salt taste preference.

Abstract The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether optimal salt levels in soup were influenced by consumption of a meal either high or low in salt. Following a lunch high in salt, optimal salt levels were reduced; no change in optimal levels followed a lunch low in salt. No changes in optimal sweet preference were observed for either condition. It is suggested that changes in optimal salt levels are due to factors asociated with exposure to salt during the meal.
Three-Port Modeling for Large Signal Devices

The paper has presented the basic concepts of a design oriented 3-port model for large-signal and power applications, restricted to allow only the effect of a single nonlinearity to dominate the problem for modeling. This restriction is not severe and methods are currently being developed to obtain load-pull data directly from the nonlinear results of only two loads. The applicable nature is easily evaluated by observing the reflection and transmission data as the drive level is varied. If the results (calibration not necessary) follow a circle, the 3-port model may be used for design. Such a process offers a simple technique to quickly obtain useful design data for a new or unknown device, substantially decreasing initial circuit design time.
PIASMA ENDOTOXIN-LIKE ACTIVITY (ELA) IN GASTROINTES- TTNAL DISTURBANCES

A limulus gelation microtechnique using 100C heat to extract plasma endotoxin was used to measure ELA in pediatric patients: Most patients were neonates. GN = gram negative. A: Bacteremia simultaneous with ELA test. B: Focal GN infection with neg blood culture, C: Lung infiltrates or amionitia, with neg bacteriology. D: Severe diarrhea or vomiting, gastric retention, hematemesis, bloody stools, pneumatosis intestinalis, obstruction, or ileus. E: Milder vomiting or diarrhea. F: apneic spells, idiopathic jaundice, gram positive infection, hyaline membrane disease, or perinatal hypoxia, with no GN infection and no GI findings. The data suggest plasma ELA is associated with GI dysfunction as well as with GN infection. The possibility is raised that endotoxins of indigenous gut flora may reach the systemic circulation during a variety of GI disturbances.
Strategies for Improving Open Source Software Usability: An Exploratory Learning Framework and a Web-based Inspection Tool

The Open Source Software (OSS) movement has had enormous impact on how software is created and continues to attract interest from researchers, software developers and users. A factor that may be inhibiting OSS from achieving greater success is usability, a fundamental characteristic to user acceptance of software. Motivated by the uniquely user-driven nature of the open source model and the extensive user base that participates in OSS projects, the authors propose an exploratory learning method and an associated web-based inspection environment that enables non-experts to contribute to open source usability inspection. This tool uses patternbased usability guidelines to help identify usability knowledge during inspection. The method emphasizes outlining and exploration features which the authors have formally evaluated and the results of which are described. Data collected from a qualitative study indicates positive impact of the proposed method in helping end-users inspect software and achieve better results in discovering usability problems.
Immunomodulatory peptides from IgSF proteins: a review

The immunoglobulin (Ig) domain is a highly conserved domain predominantly observed in cell surface proteins due to its ability to resist proteolysis. By mutation and selection the Ig domain has evolved to serve diverse biological functions including growth and development, signaling, adhesion and protein-carbohydrate interactions. Collectively, proteins with Ig-like domain constitute the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF). The IgSF proteins make up over 2% of human genes constituting the largest gene family in the human genome. Analogous to the complementarity determining regions (CDR)s that form the antigen combining sites of the antibody, the high specificity of the IgSF receptor-ligand interaction is attributed to the sequence and structure of the CDR-like regions unique to each IgSF protein. Hence, CDR-like regions provide ideal templates for the design of mimetics that can potentially perturb specific IgSF receptor/ligand interactions. The determinants of binding are localized near the CDR-like regions, conformation is determined locally and is unique for each loop. In structure based drug design one of the approaches to identify lead agents is to map the receptor/ligand binding epitope onto a small peptide. Data from theoretical, structural and functional studies have been adopted in the design of novel peptide antagonists of the IgSF protein-protein interactions. Many peptide antagonists have shown significant therapeutic potential in multiple animal models. The design of the IgSF peptide analogs, rationale as therapeutic targets, functional efficacy and the clinical benefits are reviewed here.
Effect of Dietary Sodium Zeolite A and Graded Levels of Calcium on Growth, Plasma, and Tibia Characteristics of Chicks

Abstract Sodium zeolite A (SZA), a synthetic sodium aluminosilicate having high ion-exchange capacity, has been shown to increase eggshell specific gravity in laying hens and to improve Ca utilization in chickens. A 4 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was used to investigate the effect of dietary Ca (.6, .8, 1.0, and 1.2%) and SZA (0 and .75%) on growth, plasma, and tibia characteristics of chicks from 5 to 15 days of age. Increasing dietary Ca linearly increased (P
Zionist Settlement Ideology and Its Ramifications for the Palestinian People

(1982). Zionist Settlement Ideology and Its Ramifications for the Palestinian People. Journal of Palestine Studies: Vol. 11, No. 3, pp. 37-57.
Eliminating selective stimulus control: A comparison of two procedures for teaching mentaly retarded children to respond to compound stimuli

Selective stimulus control occurs when behavior fails to come under control of all characteristics of a compound stimulus after discrimination training. Two different assessment procedures, one used in prior research and the other incorporating incorrect stimuli (S - 's) which differed minimally from the correct stimulus (S+), were used to detect stimulus control deficits characteristic of selective stimulus control. The efficacy of two training procedures in eliminating selective stimulus control observed with three trainable mentally retarded children was evaluated in Experiment 1. A training procedure using S - 's that were minimally different from the S+ was designed to reduce the probability that stimulus discriminations could be based on stimulus characteristics other than experimenter-specified characteristics defining the S+. This procedure proved more effective in preventing and eliminating selective stimulus control as measured by both assessment procedures than an alternate discrimination training procedure that failed to impact the more stringent measures of selective stimulus control. Experiment 2 indicated that these improvements in stimulus control were not a function of varying degrees of difficulty between stimulus sets or of a prior history of discrimination training with the less effective training procedure. The need for better assessment procedures to detect selective stimulus control and suggestions for further improvements in discrimination training procedures are discussed.
Modification of epoxidized soybean oil for lubricant formulations with improved oxidative stability and low pour point

To produce soybean oil-based lubricants with good oxidative stability and low pour point, epoxidized soybean oil (SBO) was chemically modified. Epoxidized SBO was reacted with various alcohols in the presence of sulfuric acid as a catalyst to give a ring-opened intermediate product. In this step, the epoxy group was transformed to the functional group of-CH(OR1)CH(OH)-(where the R1=methyl, 1-butyl, 2-butyl, 1-hexyl, cyclohexyl, 2,2-dimethyl-1-propyl, or 1-decyl). The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of the products indicated that transesterification was accompanied by the ringopening reaction except when the bulky 2,2-dimethyl-1-propanol was used. Acid anhydride was used to esterify the hydroxy groups in the ring-opened product. This resulted in a fluid that is a lubricant candidate with the functional group of −CH(OR1)CH(OCOR2)−. Pour point studies of the resulting products showed that the pour points varied with the substituents, R1 and R2. Products with R1=CH3(CH2)5− and R2=CH3(CH2)2−, (CH3)2CH−, or CH3(CH2)4-showed the lowest pour points (−39, −39, and −45°C, respectively) when 1% of pour point depressant was added. For the oxidative stability test, two products, in which R1, R2=CH3(CH2)5−, (CH3)2CH− and R1, R2=CH3(CH2)5−, CH3(CH2)4−, were chosen for a modified Penn State micro-oxidation test. In the oxidative stability test, the products gave 69–71% of oxidative evaporation and 10–17% of tetrahydrofuran-insoluble deposits in 3 h at 175°C. The amounts of deposits were much lower than those of soybean oil (96%) and epoxidized SBO (83%) and even less than those of most petroleum-based lubricant basestocks (3–93%).
Mao's Generals Remember Korea . Translated and edited by Xiaobing Li, Allan R. Millet, and Bin Yu. Lawrence: University of Kansas Press, 2001. xiv, 328 pp. $39–95 (cloth).

Fifty years after the Korean conflict, what is a forgotten war for some Americans is an aching memory for China. With over a million casualties out of the three million soldiers sent into battle, that war looms as large for the People's Republic of China (PRC) - barely a year old when North Korea invaded the South - as World War II does for most other countries. It was the first international war fought by the Chinese Communist regime to halt counterrevolution; it was also a war that the Chinese fully expected to win, by virtue of not only superiority of numbers but also their soldiers' superior "political quality." This book presents a mosaic of memoirs by key Chinese military commanders from that war, drawing not only on their personal papers but also on still-classified archives and on Chinese-language sources unavailable in English. It offers an uncensored, behind-the-scenes story of the Communist campaign, from the decision to intervene through the truce negotiations, that discloses new information on such facets of the war as strategy and tactics, use of propaganda, and mobilization of the Chinese population. It also reveals the generals' concerns about the possible use of nuclear force and the alleged use of biological and chemical weapons by the United States. The book contains a wealth of new materials on the Chinese intervention, including combat operations, logistics, political control, field command, and communications. Among those whose recollections are recorded, then-acting Chief of Staff Nie Rongzhen reveals how party leadership decided on intervention, Commander in Chief Peng Dehuai provides personal accounts of major battles and communications with Mao, and General Yang Dezhi shares secrets of Chinese military strategy and tactics, discussing how the army orchestrated each battle to contend with the better equipped UN forces. The volume also features an updated short history of the PRC's conduct of the war based on Chinese sources, plus rare photos from Chinese archives that put readers behind the lines from the Chinese side. Mao's Generals Remember Korea demonstrates that the PRC continues to draw military, diplomatic, and strategic lessons from the war it fought fifty years ago with the world's most powerful military force. It offers valuable insight into the Chinese way of war and the military mind of Mao that will be a rich resource for Asian and military scholars.
A Vision for Global Research Data Infrastructures

New high-throughput scientific instruments, telescopes, satellites, accelerators, supercomputers, sensor networks, and running simulations are generating massive amounts of data. In order to be able to exploit these huge volumes of data, a new type of e-infrastructure, the Global Research Data Infrastructure (GRDI), must be developed for harnessing the accumulating data and knowledge produced by the communities of research. This paper identifies the main challenges faced by the future GRDIs, defines a conceptual framework for GRDIs based on the ecosystem metaphor, describes a core set of functionality that these GRDIs must provide, and gives a set of recommendations for building the future GRDIs.
Physiology of Mechanotransduction: How Do Muscle and Bone “Talk” to One Another?

The complexity of cell interactions with their microenvironment and their ability to communicate at the autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine levels has gradually but significantly evolved in the last three decades. The musculoskeletal system has been historically recognized to be governed by a relationship of proximity and function, chiefly dictated by mechanical forces and the work of gravity itself. In this review article, we first provide a historical overview of the biomechanical theory of bone–muscle interactions. Next, we expand to detail the significant evolution in our understanding of the function of bones and muscles as secretory organs. Then, we review and discuss new evidence in support of a biochemical interaction between these two tissues. We then propose that these two models of interaction are complementary and intertwined providing for a new frontier for the investigation of how bone–muscle cross talk could be fully explored for the targeting of new therapies for musculoskeletal diseases, particularly the twin conditions of aging, osteoporosis and sarcopenia. In the last section, we explore the bone–muscle cross talk in the context of their interactions with other tissues and the global impact of these multi-tissue interactions on chronic diseases.
Buffer-gas loaded magnetic traps for atoms and molecules: A primer

Over the past three years we have developed the technique of buer-gas cooling and loading of atoms and molecules into magnetic traps. Buer-gas cooling relies solely on elastic collisions (thermal- ization) of the species-to-be-trapped with a cryogenically cooled helium gas and so is independent of any particular energy level pattern. This makes the cooling technique general and potentially applicable to any species trappable at the temperature of the buer gas (as low as 240 mK). Using buer-gas loading, paramagnetic atoms (europium and chromium) as well as a molecule (calcium monohydride) were trapped at temperatures around 300 mK. The numbers of the trapped atoms and molecules were respectively about 10 12 and 10 8 . The atoms and molecules were produced by laser ablation of suitable solid precursors. In conjunction with evaporative cooling, buer-gas loaded magnetic traps oer the means to further lower the temperature and increase the density of the trapped ensemble to study a large variety of both static (spectra) and dynamic (collisional cross-sections) properties of many atoms and molecules at ultra-low tem- peratures. In this article we survey our main results obtained on Cr, Eu, and CaH and outline prospects for future work.
Dual relationships in group activities: A counselor education accreditation dilemma

Abstract The CACREP requirement for a small group activity conflicts with the AACD Ethical Standard that prohibits dual relationships.
Evidence for nuclear targeting of prothymosin and parathymosin synthesized in situ.

Abstract To test the hypothesis that prothymosin and parathymosin contain amino acid sequences that cause them to be targeted to the cell nucleus, expression vectors were constructed containing a simian virus 40 promoter and cDNAs that would code for chimeric proteins composed of truncated human growth hormone (hGH) linked to the NH2 terminus of prothymosin or parathymosin. The truncated hGH lacked the signal peptide sequence required for its secretion. After transfection of these constructs into HeLa S3 cells, which do not normally synthesize hGH, the use of indirect immunofluorescence staining to follow the localization of the hGH chimeras demonstrated that both prothymosin and parathymosin caused targeting to the cell nucleus. Controls with a construct coding for native hGH only, and one coding for the truncated hGH lacking the signal peptide, revealed secretion into culture medium and staining in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus in the first case, and diffuse staining throughout the cytoplasm in the second. The results provide direct evidence, with proteins synthesized in situ, for the presence of nuclear localization signals in both prothymosin and parathymosin.
Interpretation of crack-induced rotor non-linear response using instantaneous frequency

Instantaneous frequency was introduced to describe the dependency of frequency components on time for non-stationary signals. A powerful alternative to the Fourier-based spectral analysis that provides insufficient resolution for the temporal progression of all frequency components, the concept of instantaneous frequency has rarely been applied to machine monitoring and diagnosis. The confusing fact that instantaneous frequencies determined could occasionally be negative and the associated amplitudes could be infinite for certain types of vibration signals inevitably limits the adaptability of the concept to fault detection as a result. Significant insight into the applicability of instantaneous frequency is gained through re-examining the fundamentals upon which the concept was first defined. It is found that the Hilbert-transform-based definition of instantaneous frequency is applicable only to signals of monocomponent, thus implying the need for separating a multicomponent signal into its monocomponent subsets. Misuse of the definition to multicomponent signals would result in the individual instantaneous frequency associated with each inherent monocomponent being averaged and thus obscure the underlying characteristics of the signal. A mathematically complete decomposition scheme effective in resolving a multicomponent signal into an orthogonal space spanned by its intrinsic monocomponents is explored. Several examples are considered to show that the scheme not just enables the removal of the difficulties commonly encountered in applying instantaneous frequency but also imparts valid renditions to the interpretation of fault-induced bifurcation and dynamic instability.
Middle infrared multispectral aircraft scanner data: analysis for geological applications.

Multispectral middle IR (8-13 microns) data were acquired with an aircraft scanner over Utah. Because these digital image data were dominated by temperature, all six channels were highly correlated. Extensive processing was required to allow geologic photointerpretation based on subtle variations in spectral emittance between rock types. After preliminary processing, ratio images were produced and color ratio composites created from these. Sensor calibration and an atmospheric model allowed determination of surface brightness, temperature, emittance, and color composite emittance images. The best separation of major rock types was achieved with a principal component transformation, followed by a Gaussian stretch, followed by an inverse transformation to the original axes.
Post-resuscitation strategies to avoid ongoing injury following intrapartum hypoxia-ischemia.

Summary The interruption of placental blood flow during labor with redistribution of cardiac output resulting in increased flow to brain, heart, and adrenal glands at the expense of flow to kidney, gut, and skin can result in systemic organ as well as cerebral injury. Thus, post-resuscitation strategies should focus on both the management of potential systemic organ dysfunction and on methods of preventing ongoing brain injury in high-risk infants. General management strategies should include ventilator management to maintain pCO 2 values in the normal range, close attention to blood pressure to avoid hypotension, striving to avoid hypoglycemia, and control of seizures. Modest hypothermia administered within the first 6 hours has been shown to reduce neurodevelopmental deficits and death in those infants at highest-risk infants for developing hypoxic–ischemic brain injury.
Vocational rehabilitation for people with mental health problems

Abstract The majority of people with mental health problems want to work, yet they have the lowest employment rate for any disabled group of people in the UK. Research shows that unemployment is linked to worsening physical and mental health, whilst having a job is good for a person’s physical and mental health and can lead to a reduction in symptoms, fewer hospital admissions and reduced service use. Mental health professionals have an important role in promoting employment opportunities for people with mental health problems, in terms of helping them to both gain and retain employment. However, evidence suggests that all too often the advice and guidance given by mental health professionals is not in line with the research evidence available for helping people with mental health problems gain and retain employment. There is currently a range of vocational rehabilitation services for people with mental health problems provided or commissioned by mental health services, though few are evidence-based in their approach. Over the last decade there have been significant developments in an evidence-based approach within vocational rehabilitation for people with severe mental health problems which have demonstrated that people can gain and retain employment. The Department of Health has published guidance on vocational services for people with severe mental health problems. In addition, there is an emerging evidence base identifying factors and interventions that promote job retention. The extent to which mental health services promote confidence in work is critical if success is to be achieved.
Control of the Vetch Bruchid, Bruchus brachialis, in Oregon

Insecticides were evaluated in Oregon for control of the vetch bruchid, Bruchus brachialis Fahr., in hairy vetch seed production in an attempt to reduce the possibility of a chemical residue on the small-grain companion crop normally seeded with vetch. The following toxicants selected and their control performances compared with the standard DDT recommendation: methoxychlor, malathion, Guthion® ( O,O -dimethyl S -(4-oxo-1,2,3-benzotriuzin-3-(4 H )-ylmethyl)phosphorodithioate), and Dibrom® (1,2-dibromo-2,2-dichloroethyl dimethyl phosphate) plus Volck® Supreme Oil. All treatments reduced vetch bruchid populations, and seed collected from treated plots germinated in excess of 90%. In addition, the populations of the pea aphid ( Macrosiphum pisi (Harris)) were reduced in those plots treated with an organic phosphate insecticide.
Touch-evoked agitation produced by spinally administered phospholipid emulsion and liposomes in rats. Structure-activity relation.

BackgroundPhospholipid-based liposomes can alter the kinetics of spinally administered agents. We have observed that spinal delivery of these preparations results in an unexpected touch-evoked agitation, a state in which light touch evokes vocalization by the rat. In the current study we characteriz
The roles of distractor noise and target certainty in search: a signal detection model.

Abstract Observers searched arrays of briefly presented near-isoluminant colored disks for a single disk of known color (feature search) or unknown color (oddity search). Speed and accuracy were converted to a single, model-based measure of performance (Perf), in units of (d′)2 per second of latency. Perf decreased with set size in feature search and increased in oddity. In both types of search, grouping the distractors, making them homogeneous in color, and reducing their saturation, all increased Perf. These commonalities suggested an SDT-based model in which distractors increase noise in the same way in both types of search. However, in oddity, though not in feature search, distractors must be attended and so adding distractors also boosts the effective target contrast, overcoming the added noise. A model with two free parameters for noise and one for attention accounted for every combination except for oddity searches among heterogeneous grouped distractors.
Efficacy of the Genetic Sonogram in a Stepwise Sequential Protocol for Down Syndrome Screening

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the genetic sonogram in Down syndrome screening for women who have received the stepwise sequential test. Methods This retrospective cohort study included women with singleton pregnancies who underwent stepwise sequential (first-trimester combined and second-trimester serum) screening and then had a genetic sonogram between March 2005 and January 2010. Stepwise sequential Down syndrome risks were multiplied by either a positive or negative likelihood ratio based on the second-trimester sonographic findings to determine the final Down syndrome risk. A final Down syndrome risk of 1:270 or higher was considered screen positive. Results A total of 6286 women fulfilled our criteria, including 17 with Down syndrome-affected fetuses. After stepwise sequential testing, the Down syndrome detection rate was 88.2% (15 of 17), and after the genetic sonogram, there was a non-significant reduction in detection to 82.4% (14 of 17; P > .05). For the 6269 unaffected pregnancies, the genetic sonogram converted 58 screen-negative results (1%) to positive and 183 screen-positive results (3.1%) to negative. The net effect was a change in the false-positive rate from 6.2% (390 of 6269) after stepwise sequential screening to 4.2% (266 of 6269) after the genetic sonogram. Conclusions The genetic sonogram should be applied cautiously for women who have received prior prenatal screening tests. Women with screen-positive results need to be counseled that a negative sonographic result can be falsely reassuring. Conversely, for women with screen-negative results who have a risk close to the cutoff, a sonographic examination could assist in the decision of whether to accept or reject amniocentesis.
Spectrum of Clinical Disease in Pulmonary Infection with Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare

Cases of infection with Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare reported in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, have become more common in recent years, and their incidence--50 cases per year--is now similar to that of tuberculosis. Cases usually occur in middle-aged men with underlying lung diseases, but variations in age, sex, presentation, and severity of disease are wide. Several cases that illustrate pathogenesis and spectrum of disease, from primary, to chronic-active, to healing stages, are presented. The disease tends to run an indolent course in most cases, but extensive disease and unfavorable early course indicate poor prognosis. At a 10-year review, mortality had reached sizable numbers in this aging population with frequent serious underlying problems. Only a small number of these deaths can be attributed directly to mycobacterial disease.
Intramural Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Type-1 and Coronary Atherosclerosis

Altered expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 in vessel walls, reviewed here, might affect coronary atherogenesis. Upregulation might exacerbate vasculopathy by potentiating thrombosis and by inhibiting vascular smooth muscle cell migration, resulting in attenuation of thickness of elaborated fibrous caps implicated in the vulnerability of atheroma to rupture.
Degree of mapping for nonlinear mappings of monotone type: Strongly nonlinear mapping

Abstract The classical degree function developed earlier for pseudomonotone operators from a reflexive Banach space to its dual is extended for the special case of Sobolev spaces to the sum of a pseudomonotone mapping (representing a nonlinear elliptic operator) and a strongly nonlinear lower order term.
Compton Scattering of X-Rays from Nonspherical Charge Distributions

The Waller-Hartree theory for the incoherent Compton scattering of x-rays is extended to include the effects fo the inherent nonsphericity of atomic charge distributions. The dependence of the scattering on atomic orientation is treated by a general formalism which depends on the use of the matrix elements of a unitary representation of the group of three-dimensional rotations. Application is made to derive the one-electron scattering matrix elements from atoms with $s$, $p$, and $d$ electrons. It is shown that by a proper averaging over all orientations of the scattering vector, "mean" scattering formulas result which may be used directly for predicting the scattering from monatomic gases.
Language and Ethnic Boundaries.

Abstract This paper examines the phenomenon of group bilingualism, the origins of the contact situations which lead to it, and the role of language in maintaining ethnic boundaries, especially in revitalization movements. Special attention is given to the role of the mother tongue language in ethnic minority groups as well as to reasons for these groups' insistence on maintenance bilingual education rather than acceptance of transitional assimilation goals.
Letter-Case-Specific Priming in the Right Cerebral Hemisphere with a Form-Specific Perceptual Identification Task

In a form-specific perceptual identification task, subjects identify and write letter strings in the same letter case as they appear on a computer display. Letter-case-specific repetition priming was observed in this task when test items were presented directly to the right hemisphere, but not when they were presented directly to the left hemisphere, similar to results in previous word-stem completion experiments. This pattern of results was not obtained in a standard perceptual identification task. Results indicate that a specific visual-form subsystem, but not an abstract visual-form subsystem, operates more effectively in the right hemisphere than in the left, and task demands greatly affect which subsystems are recruited in different priming tests.
The maintenance of matching behavior when contrast occurs in multiple concurrent concurrent schedules of reinforcement

Pigeons were trained on a multiple schedule of reinforcement in which each component was a concurrent schedule. The concurrent schedules were programmed by the changeover-key procedure. The primary purpose was to determine if the relative behavior allocated to two response alternatives is affected when absolute changes in these behaviors occur; i.e., to determine if matching is affected when positive behavioral contrast occurs. Results showed that (1) relative behavior in the unaltered component of the multiple schedule is not disrupted when positive contrast occurs in that component, (2) positive contrast occurred when the overall frequency of reinforcement in the reinforcement-correlated component(s) was high, but not when it was low, (3) changeover behavior was susceptible to positive contrast effects, and (4) changeover contrast and food-key contrast are independent phenomena.
The practical use of evidence. Practice and research connected.

noted that private- and public-sector policy-makers hunger for reliable and valid information onwhich to base their decisions on how to efficiently andcost-effectively use scarce healthcare dollars. The infor-mation needed to make those decisions, however, is notreadilyavailable,andwhenavailable,notwellsynthesizedand disseminated. They concluded that large gaps existbetween the need of employers for information and theadequacyofacademicresearchtoaddressthisneed.Thisconclusionisbasedoninterviewsandsurveysofemploy-ers,consultants,andotherkeystakeholdersinCalifornia.For example, although 86% of the respondents soughtdata on “engaging consumers in their own care manage-ment,includingencouragingenrollmentindiseaseman-agementandwellnessprograms”(thehighest-ratedcate-goryintermsofimportance),only19%feltthatresearchon this subject was adequate. Employers noted that theyvalueoutsideresearchconductedbyareputable,nonpar-tisan organization and would welcome establishment ofa “clearinghouse” to compile, assess, and disseminatepolicy-relevant research.The report released by the Task Force on CommunityPreventiveServices(TaskForce)ofthe
Assessing blood-brain and blood-tumor barrier opening using Gd-DTPA uptake during the course of radiotherapy treatment of high grade gliomas

Materials/Methods: In a population-based cohort derived from the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program, we identified all cases of B-cell NHL localized to the skin. Age-adjusted incidence rates of CBCL in the population, relative survival, and overall survival were calculated using standard methods. Significant clinical-pathologic predictors of overall survival were identified using multivariable Cox proportional hazards modelling.
Novel role for the transient potential receptor melastatin 4 channel in guinea pig detrusor smooth muscle physiology.

Members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) channel superfamily, including the Ca2+-activated monovalent cation-selective TRP melastatin 4 (TRPM4) channel, have been recently identified in the urinary bladder. However, their expression and function at the level of detrusor smooth muscle (DSM) remain largely unexplored. In this study, for the first time we investigated the role of TRPM4 channels in guinea pig DSM excitation-contraction coupling using a multidisciplinary approach encompassing protein detection, electrophysiology, live-cell Ca2+ imaging, DSM contractility, and 9-phenanthrol, a recently characterized selective inhibitor of the TRPM4 channel. Western blot and immunocytochemistry experiments demonstrated the expression of the TRPM4 channel in whole DSM tissue and freshly isolated DSM cells with specific localization on the plasma membrane. Perforated whole cell patch-clamp recordings and real-time Ca2+ imaging experiments with fura 2-AM, both using freshly isolated DSM cells, revealed that 9-phenanthrol (30 μM) significantly reduced the cation current and decreased intracellular Ca2+ levels. 9-Phenanthrol (0.1–30 μM) significantly inhibited spontaneous, 0.1 μM carbachol-induced, 20 mM KCl-induced, and nerve-evoked contractions in guinea pig DSM-isolated strips with IC50 values of 1–7 μM and 70–80% maximum inhibition. 9-Phenanthrol also reduced nerve-evoked contraction amplitude induced by continuous repetitive electrical field stimulation of 10-Hz frequency and shifted the frequency-response curve (0.5–50 Hz) relative to the control. Collectively, our data demonstrate the novel finding that TRPM4 channels are expressed in guinea pig DSM and reveal their critical role in the regulation of guinea pig DSM excitation-contraction coupling.
Gendered vulnerabilities to a neglected disease: A comparative investigation of the effect of women’s legal economic rights and social status on malaria rates:

Although seldom noted in scholarly accounts, malaria represents a leading cause of death and underdevelopment in poor nations. Enormous cross-national variation in malaria rates across its endemic zones suggests the importance of large-scale factors in explaining comparative disease trends. While the biological vulnerability of women and children to malaria is often acknowledged, the literature has yet to investigate how gender inequalities contribute to patterns of malaria prevalence. Utilizing structural equation modeling on a sample of 90 less-developed nations and engaging insights from gender stratification perspectives, we consider the influence of both legal economic status and social dimensions of women’s status on malaria rates. We find that women’s legal economic status has an indirect relationship on malaria rates by enhancing women’s social standing and strengthening general health provisions. The results suggest that addressing issues of gender inequality in poor nations is central to tacklin...
Determination of the Maximum Water-Free Production Rate of a Horizontal Well With Water/Oil/Interface Cresting

The number of horizontal oil wells has been increasing rapidly in the past few years because of several advantages of their application. However, further improvement of oil production rate of horizontal wells is limited by the encroachment of the water crest when bottom water exists. This paper focuses on the theoretical and numerical analysis of water-oil-interface cresting behavior in horizontal wells. The objectives of this investigation include: (1) to find a simple approach to determination of the maximum water-free production rate of horizontal wells with water-oil-interface cresting, and (2) to determine the location of the water-oilinterface under critical condition. The maximum water-free oil production rate (critical rate), which is defined as the oil producing rate at which the unstable water crest forms, is determined analytically for horizontal oil wells using conformal mapping theory. The resulting solution shows that the critical oil production rate is proportional to the conductivity and thickness of the oil reservoir, and water-oil density contrast. This critical oil rate is also a function of the critical crest height and wellbore location in the oil bearing formation. The lateral extension of the water crest under critical condition is also determined analytically. This solution indicates that the water-oil-interface cresting is a local phenomena in an oil reservoir. The water crest extends laterally within one thickness of the oil reservoir.
Dietary folate deficiency enhances induction of micronuclei by arsenic in mice.

Folate deficiency increases background levels of DNA damage and can enhance the genotoxicity of chemical agents. Arsenic, a known human carcinogen present in drinking water supplies around the world, induces chromosomal and DNA damage. The effect of dietary folate deficiency on arsenic genotoxicity was evaluated using a mouse peripheral blood micronucleus (MN) assay. In duplicate experiments, male C57Bl/6J mice were fed folate-deficient or folate-sufficient diets for 7 weeks. During week 7, mice on each diet were given four consecutive daily doses of sodium arsenite (0, 2.5, 5, or 10 mg/kg) via oral gavage. Over the course of the study the folate-deficient diet produced an approximate 60% depletion of red blood cell folate. Folate deficiency by itself was associated with small but significant increases in MN in normochromatic erythrocytes (NCEs) and polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs). Arsenic exposure was associated with significant increases in MN-PCEs in both folate-deficient and folate-sufficient mice. MN-PCE frequencies at the 10 mg/kg dose of arsenic were increased 4.5-fold over vehicle control in folate-deficient mice and 2.1-fold over control in folate-sufficient mice. At the 5 and 10 mg/kg doses of arsenic, MN-PCE levels were significantly higher (1.3-fold and 2.4-fold, respectively) in folate-deficient mice compared to folate-sufficient mice. Very few MN from either control or treated animals in either experiment exhibited kinetochore immunostaining, suggesting that the MN were derived from chromosome breakage rather than from whole chromosome loss. These results indicate that folate deficiency enhances arsenic-induced clastogenesis at doses of 5 mg/kg and higher. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 40:71–77, 2002. Published 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Atmospheric enhancement of metal deposition in Adirondack lake sediments1

Sediment cores were collected from Woodhull Lake (Adirondack State Park, New York) in July 1975. Of 44 metals analyzed by neutron activation and atomic absorption spectrophotometry, 9 (Ag, Au, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Sb, V, and Zn) showed increased rates of deposition in the last 30 years. These increases are attributed to increased rates of atmospheric deposition. Similar results were obtained from cores of Honnedaga Lake (Adirondack State Park, New York) and Lake of the Clouds (Mt. Washington, New Hampshire).
Assembly of a phased diploid Candida albicans genome facilitates allele-specific measurements and provides a simple model for repeat and indel structure

Background: Candida albicans is a ubiquitous opportunistic fungal pathogen that afflicts immunocompromised human hosts. With rare and transient exceptions the yeast is diploid, yet despite its clinical relevance the respective sequences of its two homologous chromosomes have not been completely resolved. Results: We construct a phased diploid genome assembly by deep sequencing a standard laboratory wild-type strain and a panel of strains homozygous for particular chromosomes. The assembly has 700-fold coverage on average, allowing extensive revision and expansion of the number of known SNPs and indels. This phased genome significantly enhances the sensitivity and specificity of allele-specific expression measurements by enabling pooling and cross-validation of signal across multiple polymorphic sites. Additionally, the diploid assembly reveals pervasive and unexpected patterns in allelic differences between homologous chromosomes. Firstly, we see striking clustering of indels, concentrated primarily in the repeat sequences in promoters. Secondly, both indels and their repeat-sequence substrate are enriched near replication origins. Finally, we reveal an intimate link between repeat sequences and indels, which argues that repeat length is under selective pressure for most eukaryotes. This connection is described by a concise one-parameter model that explains repeat-sequence abundance in C. albicans as a function of the indel rate, and provides a general framework to interpret repeat abundance in species ranging from bacteria to humans. Conclusions: The phased genome assembly and insights into repeat plasticity will be valuable for better understanding allele-specific phenomena and genome evolution.