cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Localization of the G Protein βγ Complex in Living Cells During Chemotaxis

Gradients of chemoattractants elicit signaling events at the leading edge of a cell even though chemoattractant receptors are uniformly distributed on the cell surface. In highly polarizedDictyostelium discoideum amoebas, membrane-associated βγ subunits of heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide–binding proteins (G proteins) were localized in a shallow anterior-posterior gradient. A uniformly applied chemoattractant generated binding sites for pleckstrin homology (PH) domains on the inner surface of the membrane in a pattern similar to that of the Gβγ subunits. Loss of cell polarity resulted in uniform distribution of both the Gβγ subunits and the sensitivity of PH domain recruitment. These observations indicate that Gβγ subunits are not sufficiently localized to restrict signaling events to the leading edge but that their distribution may determine the relative chemotactic sensitivity of polarized cells.
Comparing human observer performance in detecting microcalcifications with energy weighting and photon counting breast CT

Breast CT (BCT) using a photon counting detector (PCD) has a number of advantages that can potentially improve clinical performance. Previous computer simulation studies showed that the signal to noise ratio (SNR) for microcalcifications is higher with energy weighted photon counting BCT as compared to cesium iodide energy integrating detector (CsI-EID) based BCT. CsI-EID inherently weighs the incident x-ray photons in direct proportion to the energy (contradicting the information content) which is not an optimal approach. PCD do not inherently weigh the incident photons. By choosing optimal energy weights, higher SNR can be achieved for microcalcifications and hence better detectability. In this simulation study, forward projection data of a numerical breast phantom with microcalcifications inserted were acquired using CsI-EID and PCD. The PCD projections were optimally weighed, and reconstructed using filtered back-projection. We compared observer performance in identifying microcalcifications in the reconstructed images using ROC analysis. ROC based results show that the average area(s) under curve(s) (AUC) for AUC PCD based methods are higher than the average AUC CsI-EID method.
Malate dehydrogenase isozyme patterns in species of terrestrial isopods

Abstract 1. 1. Populations of nine species within four different families of terrestrial isopods (Order Oniscoidea) were examined with respect to their malate dehydrogenase (Mdh) isozyme patterns using horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. 2. 2. Cytoplasmic Mdh (Mdh-1) was anodal to mitochondrial Mdh (Mdh-2) in seven of the nine species, and the distance between the two forms was greatest in the more terrestrially adapted species. 3. 3. Mdh-2 migrated to the same position in seven, or perhaps eight, of the nine species and was monomorphic. 4. 4. Banding patterns were specific at the familial level, but within the Porcellionidae, two genera (Trachelipus and Cylisticus) had the same pattern, and the three Porcellio species studied had identical patterns. 5. 5. Mdh banding patterns appear to be useful biochemical markers for studying possible taxonomic relationships among the Oniscoidea above the species level.
Die swell measurements of second-order fluids : numerical experiments.

An analysis of the flow of a second-order fluid is presented. Reference values for some variables are defined, and with these a non-dimensional formulation of the governing equations. From this formulation, three dimensionless numbers appear; one is the Reynolds number, and two numbers that are called the first- and second-dimensionless normal stress (NSD) coefficients. The equations of motion are solved by a finite element method using a commercially available program (Fidap), and the steady state converged solution was used to measure the die swell. The factors that influence die swell and that are studied in this work include: the die geometry for circular cross sectional dies, including tubular, converging, diverging, half-converging/half-tubular shapes; fluid characteristics such as Reynolds number and first- and second-DNS coefficients (both positive and negative values); and flow rates, as determined by the maximum velocity in a parabolic velocity profile at the entrance to the die. The results suggest that shear and deformation histories of the fluid directly influence not only swell characteristics, but also convergence characteristics of the numerical simulation
A FORTRAN code for the scattering of EM plane waves by an infinitely long cylinder at oblique incidence

Abstract The analytical equations for the scattering of electromagnetic (EM) waves from an infinitely long cylinder of arbitrary radius and refractive index at oblique incidence are programmed in FORTRAN. The calculated quantities include the scattering coefficients, the scattering amplitudes and intensities, cross sections for scattering and extinction, and the Mueller scattering matrix elements ( S ij ). The range of the input parameters (radius, refractive index, and the tilt angle) are discussed and it is expected that the program gives reliable results provided that the size parameter of the cylinder is not too small ( k 0 a ≥0.05).
High-speed bubble sizing using the double frequency technique for oceanographic applications

A high-speed bubble sizing technique that should have the capability of accurately determining bubble populations in breaking waves has been developed. The system was able to acquire an average bubble spectrum from 2.5 to 6 kHz in 0.1 s. Through the use of a double frequency technique, there would be very little or no contribution from nonresonant bubbles at each frequency of interest. The results of the system were compared to the data obtained by listening to ambient bubble noise with a transducer and from photographic population counts. >
Onboard connectivity network for command-and-control aircraft

Command and control (C2) aircraft are host to an array of communications, information processing, and electronic control systems. The previous method of interconnecting this equipment involves point-to-point wiring harnesses between devices. A fiber optic broadband bus can be used to improve this situation by consolidating equipment connections on a shared medium. This network, known as the Onboard Connectivity Network (OCN), is being prototypes for application on the U.S. Government's Special Air Mission aircraft. Significant weight reduction and simplified future systems integration are the primary benefits of the OCN. The OCN design integrates voice, data, control, and video communications on a 3GHZ single mode fiber backbone. Communications within the aircraft use 500 MHz coaxial cable subnetworks connected to the backbone. The entire network is a dual redundant system for enhanced reliability. Node topologies are based on VMEbus to encourage use of commercial products and facilitate future evolution of the backbone topology. Network encryption technologies are being developed for OCN communications security. Automated workstations will be implemented to control and switch communications assets and to provide a technical control, test, and monitoring function.
42: Lactobacillus acidophilus May Help To Decrease Recurrences and Ameliorate Severity of C. difficile-Associated Diarrhea in Lung Transplant Recipients

cially methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA) are common following lung transplantation. Vancomycin is commonly employed to treat these infections, but has several drawbacks including need for intravenous (IV) administration for systemic infection and the promotion of vancomycin-resistant enterococci. We reviewed our experience with linezolid for MRSA and the relative efficacy with vancomycin. Methods and Materials: We queried our transplant infectious disease database at our center, consisting of 2200 infection encounters in 370 lung and heart-lung transplant recipients (LTRs). We identified 93 episodes of staphylococcus aureus respiratory infection (70 were MRSA) by bronchoscopic culture using consensus definitions and evaluable data was available for 92 subjects; 34 were treated initially with oral linezolid and compared these to 58 similar cases treated with IV vancomycin. Effectiviness was judged by eradication of the organism on a follow-up bronchoscopic fluid culture. Results: Oral linezolid eradicated 50% (17 of 34) of all staphylococcal infections by time of subsequent bronchoscopy and vancomycin was similarly effective in 49% of the cases. Conclusions: LTRs who recieved oral linezolid had similar rates of eradication of staphylococcus on follow-up BAL compared to those who recieved IV vancomycin. Oral linezolid may represent an alternative choice for treatment of staphylococcus aureus respiratory infections in LTRs. Further study of relative cost of each therapy and tolerance are ongoing.
Large scale Optimal Transportation Meshfree (OTM) Simulations of Hypervelocity Impact

Large scale three-dimensional numerical simulations of hypervelocity impact of Aluminum alloy 6061-T6 plates by Nylon 6/6 cylindrical projectile have been performed using the Optimal Transportation Meshfree (OTM) method of Li et al. [7] along with the seizing contact and variational material point failure algorithm [17, 18]. The dynamic response of the Al6061-T6 plate including phase transition in the high strain rate, high pressure and high temperature regime expected in our numerical analysis is described by the use of a variational thermomechanical coupling constitutive model with SESAME equation of state, rate-dependent J2 plasticity with power law hardening and thermal softening and temperature dependent Newtonian viscosity. A polytropic type of equation of state fit to in-house ReaxFF calculations is employed to model the Nylon 6/6 projectile under extreme conditions. The evaluation of the performance of the numerical model takes the form of a conventional validation analysis. In support of the analysis, we have conducted experiments over a range of plate thicknesses of [0.5, 3.0] mm, a range of impact velocities of [5.0, 7.0]km/s and a range of obliquities of [0, 70]° at Caltech's Small Particle Hypervelocity Range (SPHIR) Facility. Large scale three-dimensional OTM simulations of hypervelocity impact are performed on departmental class systems using a dynamic load balancing MPI/PThreads parallel implementation of the OTM method. We find excellent full field agreement between measured and computed perforation areas, debris cloud and temperature field.
Major Topics of the Hadith

Hadiths – reports of what the Prophet Muhammad said, did, or tacitly approved – have exerted an extraordinary influence on Muslims for over a millennium. Despite the significance of this literature, its contents remain largely inaccessible to non-Arabic readers, in part due to many Western scholars’ preoccupation with the question of its authenticity rather than the function of hadith in Islamic thought. This article provides an overview of the contents of the canonical Sunni hadith collections along with a sample of ethical hadiths in idiomatic English.
Supporting social navigation on the World Wide Web

This paper discusses a navigation behavior on Internet information services, in particular the World Wide Web, which is characterized by pointing out information using various communication tools. We call this behaviorsocial navigationas it is based on communication and interaction with other users, be it through email, or any other means of communication. Social navigation phenomena are quite common although most current tools (like web browsers or email clients) offer very little support for it. We describe why social navigation is useful and how it can be supported better in future systems. We further describe two prototype systems that, although originally not designed explicitly as tools for social navigation, provide features that are typical for social navigation systems. One of these systems, the Juggler system, is a combination of a textual virtual environment and a web client. The other system is a prototype of a web-hotlist organizer, called Vortex. We use both systems to describe fundamental principles of social navigation systems.
Recognition of User-Defined Turning Features for Mill/Turn Parts

This paper focuses on efficient algorithms for automatic recognition of user-defined turning features on mill/turn parts. As with other domains, recognition of interacting features is a difficult issue because feature interaction removes faces and alters the topology of the isolated turning features. This paper presents a method for efficiently recognizing both noninteracting and interacting rotational features from CAD model of mill/turn parts. Additionally, the method supports user-defined turning features that are represented using N-REP , a neutral feature representation language. First, the profiles of the revolved faces on a mill/turn part are obtained and the unturnable portions of these profiles are detected. These profiles then are used to construct the part graph and to solve feature interactions between coaxial turning features. Finally, graph-based and rule-based feature recognition are combined to recognize user-defined features.
Periodate oxidation of methionine in proteins.

Abstract Treatment of free methionine with an equimolar amount of periodate gave nearly quantitative formation of the sulfoxide; treatment of free methionine sulfoxide with equimolar periodate gave nearly equal amounts of the original sulfoxide and the sulfone. Treatments of 0.5-1.0% solutions of the following proteins with relatively low concentration of periodate (5 m m ) gave the following approximate values for conversion of methionine sulfoxide from total methionine: bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (2 of 4), chicken ovalbumin (14 or 17), chicken ovotransferrin (5 of 11), human serum transferrin (2 of 8), bovine α-chymotrypsin (1 of 2). It is recommended that when proteins are treated with sodium periodate (and probably with oxidizing agents in general), especially when changes in properties are observed, determinations of methionine sulfoxide should be done.
Study of a small-scale laboratory wet-milling procedure for wheat.

ABSTRACT The objectives of this research were to study the effects of slurry specific gravity, starch table slope, slurry pumping rate, and their interactions on starch recovery and purity; and to propose a small-scale laboratory wet-milling procedure for wheat. First-order and second-order response surface regression models were developed to study the effects and interactions of slurry specific gravity, starch table slope, and slurry pumping rate on starch and gluten separation for a 100-g wheat wet-milling procedure. The starch and starch protein content data fit the first-order models (R2 = 0.99 and 0.96) better than the second-order models (R2 = 0.98 and 0.93). Regression results from the first-order models indicated that specific gravity, table slope, pumping rate, and their interactions all had a significant effect on starch yield and purity. However, these effects could be simplified as the effect of the resident time of starch and gluten slurry on the starch table and the specific gravity. Starch ...
Shear zones and rock history

Abstract Shear zones that have widened with time can display margin-to-interior microstructural profiles unlike the real microstructural history of the interior rocks. Shear zones that have not widened with time can provide more reliable views of microstructural history, and therefore of deformation processes. Even the latter zones can mislead, however, where there has been an annealing overprint during or following the shearing interval. These sources of uncertainty need to be acknowledged more regularly, and if possible eliminated, by workers interpreting deformation processes from shear-zone strain gradients.
Computed tomography in the diagnosis of blunt thoracic injury

background : Computed tomography (CT) is an important diagnostic modality in the evaluation of blunt head and abdominal injuries, but it has not been routinely used to evaluate blunt chest trauma. methods : One hundred seventy stable patients with blunt thoracic trauma were evaluated with chest x-ray (CXR), and subsequently by CT. results : Of a total of 131 fractures, 53% were identified on initial CXR, 39% on CT, and 26% were not seen on either study. Twenty-one pneumothoraces were seen on CT but not on CXR. Chest tubes were placed in 8 patients and 12 patients were observed without incident. One hemothorax identified by CT scan alone required treatment. Four of 6 diaphragmatic injuries were seen on CT and 2 on CXR. Parenchymal abnormalities were apparent in 189 lung fields on CT and in 66 lung fields on CXR. Most represented atelectasis and did not require treatment. Altogether, CT scanning resulted in changes in management for 11 patients (6%). conclusions : Although CXR is less sensitive in detecting parenchymal and pleural injuries than CT, the majority of the injuries identified by CT alone are minor and require no treatment. CXR remains the primary modality for diagnostic evaluation of blunt thoracic trauma.
Induction of heme oxygenase-1 in LMH cells. Comparison of LMH cells to primary cultures of chick embryo liver cells

Heme oxygenase catalyzes the degradation of heme into biliverdin, carbon monoxide, and iron. Two forms of this enzyme, heme oxygenase-1 and -2, have been identified; only heme oxygenase-1 is subject to induction by heme, metal ions, and other chemical and physical perturbations (e.g. drugs, oxidants, and heat shock). Primary chick embryo liver cells are widely used for the study of heme metabolism because of their ease of preparation, low cost, and high degree of similarity to human heme metabolism. Nonetheless, this system has some limitations: new cultures must be prepared every week; the resulting cell populations are non-homogeneous; and cells are short-lived, limiting the feasible duration of time course and transfection studies. LMH cells are the first chicken hepatoma cell line to be established. The aim of this study was to characterize the regulation of heme oxygenase-1 in LMH cells, and to compare this regulation to that previously described in primary chick embryo liver cells. The induction of heme oxygenase-1 was assessed by measuring changes in mRNA levels or enzyme activities in response to several treatments, including heme, heavy metals, sodium arsenite, and heat shock, which have been shown to increase the expression of heme oxygenase. Similarities were observed with respect to regulation of heme oxygenase-1 expression in primary hepatocytes and LMH cells. We report the first measurable heat shock response of heme oxygenase-1 in CELC or LMH cells; and show that LMH cells are a useful model for the study of heme oxygenase-1 regulation.
Range Preserving Unbiased Estimators in the Multinomial Case

Abstract Consider estimating the value of a real-valued function f(p), p = (p 0, p 1, …, pr ), on the basis of an observation of the random vector X = (X 0, X 1, …, Xr ) whose distribution is multinomial (n, p). It is known that an unbiased estimator exists if and only if f is a polynomial of degree at most n, in which case the unbiased estimator of f(p) is unique. In general, however, this estimator has the serious fault of not being range preserving; that is, its value may fall outside the range of f(p). In this article, a condition on f is derived that is necessary for the unbiased estimator to be range preserving and that is sufficient when n is large enough.
Can vascular surgery be performed soon after myocardial infarction

We undertook the present study to test the hypothesis that in a contemporary setting of high rates of use of effective medical therapy and coronary revascularization, vascular surgery soon after myocardial infarction (MI) may not be prohibitively risky within 1 year. Elective vascular surgery is generally contraindicated within the first six months of MI. However, this principle is based on high complication rates from old case series. Forty six consecutive patients underwent 63 vascular procedures after MI. Thirty major arterial reconstructions, 9 thromboembolectomies, and 22 amputations or revisions were performed. We compared patients who had vascular surgery within six months after MI (Group I, n=30) to patients who had surgery six to 12 months after MI, Group II (n=16). Both groups had similar demographic characteristics, coronary risk factors and Goodman and Cooperman scores of operative risk. The high overall prevalence of coronary revascularizations (37%) and treatment with aspirin (87%), beta-blockers (65%) and ACE-inhibitors (76%), did not differ significantly between both groups. There was no significant difference in the incidence of reinfarction, cardiac mortality, or total mortality in the two groups. Patients undergoing vascular surgical procedures soon after acute MI may not have prohibitively high rates of death and cardiovascular complications. These favorable outcomes may be associated with the use of effective medical therapy and coronary revascularization. Vascular surgery should not be postponed in patients with recent MI.
Regulation of myosin light chain kinase expression by angiotensin II in hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Increased growth and contraction of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are major abnormalities in many vascular disorders. To investigate the signaling pathways that mediate these processes, we studied the expression of smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase (smMLCK) in VSMCs. METHODS: Primary cultured VSMCs isolated from normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were treated with angiotensin II (Ang II). smMLCK expression was examined in the cells using western blot analysis. In vivo, a specific inhibitor of smMLCK or MAP kinase kinase (MEK) was delivered to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) using an osmotic pump, and their blood pressures were measured using tail-cuff sphygmomanometry. RESULTS: Expression of smMLCK protein is rapidly increased by Ang II, an important agonist responsible for increased vasoconstriction and vascular remodeling, in concert with increased myosin light chain phosphorylation. Inhibiting Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptor, Ras, or MEK blocked the Ang II-induced increase in smMLCK expression. In vivo, inhibiting MEK decreased smMLCK expression, blood pressure, and vascular thickening in SHRs. Moreover, inhibiting smMLCK activity decreased blood pressure and smooth muscle mass in arteries in SHRs. CONCLUSIONS: The regulation of smMLCK expression by Ang II via Ras signaling is important in the regulation of vascular remodeling and blood pressure. Targeting this pathway could be an effective strategy for developing novel therapeutics to treat hypertension.
Grain‐boundary effects in Brillouin scattering at ambient and high pressure

[1] Although refraction of light at grain boundaries can significantly alter Brillouin spectra–hence inferred acoustic velocities–of powder samples, we demonstrate that the effects of (multiple) elastic scattering can be eliminated through 1) use of refractive index-matching oils or 2) application of high pressures (≥1 GPa). In this manner, we determine the acoustic-wave velocities of soda-lime glass powder to pressures of 13 GPa, finding good agreement with previous measurements on bulk samples. Our results provide a baseline for reliable acoustic-wave velocity measurements at high pressures via Brillouin spectroscopy on polycrystalline samples.
Dorsomedial hypothalamic hypophagia: self-selection of diets and macronutrients, efficiency of food utilization, "stress eating", response to high-protein diet and circulating substrate concentrations.

Compared to sham-operated controls, male weanling rats with bilateral dorsomedial hypothalamic lesions (DMNL rats) showed hypophagia, reduced ponderal and linear growth, normal body composition and decreased efficiency of food utilization (EFU) two weeks after the hypothalamic operation. Subsequently, all animals were given a choice between three equicaloric diets with different macronutrient content for a period of 31 days. DMNL rats selected significantly less high-fat (HFD) and high-protein (HPD) diet than controls, but in percent of total intake, they selected only less from the HPD. DMNL rats consumed less of all three macronutrients than the controls, but in percent of total calories consumed, their intake was comparable to that of the controls; the EFU during this period was normal. Tail pinch (TP) stress did not result in hyperphagia, nor in a macronutrient choice different from the non-TP rats. However, TP caused reduced EFU and linear growth irrespective of hypothalamic damage, suggesting a stress response. During the 25-day availability of a HPD (43.2%), both DMNL rats and controls ate amounts of macronutrients comparable to the self-selection experiment. Although the DMNL rats were hypophagic in comparison with the controls, they ate more protein than in the self-selection experiment because of the higher protein content of the diet. Thus, DMNL rats will eat more protein when other macronutrients are limited. In both fed and 48h-fasted rats, there was no significant alteration in plasma glucose, glycerol, and total protein that could be related to the DMN lesions. It is concluded that the DMNL rat, despite its dramatically reduced size and energy intake, has not lost the capacity to select macronutrients for normal growth and health within the framework of its reduced somatic-metabolic potential.
Evaluation of the effect of consultant characteristics on telemedicine diagnosis and treatment

This study examined teleconsultants' specialty, practice setting, type of employment, years and training in telemedicine to evaluate the effect of these characteristics on diagnoses and treatment. A postuse survey was conducted during 1998-2003 (n = 454 consultations) in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences' Rural Hospital, Telehealth Project. There were 61 consultants who conducted the teleconsultations. The teleconsultants established a diagnosis in 121 consultations and reported a change in diagnoses in 29 consultations.The consultants established a treatment plan in 219 consultations and reported a change in the treatment plan in 100 consultations. Dermatologists were significantly more likely to establish (P < .01) and change (P = .005) the diagnosis and to establish a treatment plan (P = .03), when compared to all other specialties. Teleconsultants who were self-employed were significantly more likely to change the treatment plan (P = .012). The findings suggest that teleconsultants' characteristics can affect diagnoses and treatment in telemedicine.
Redundancy in perceptual-motor testing : confirmation and generalization

The Developmental Test of Visual-motor Integration was administered to 63 children in regular classrooms and 51 children in Special Education. Prediction based on total score (r = .68) was similar to a multiple R utilizing only five scores (.67). The over-all raw test score, based on all 24 designs, correctly classified 85% of the children while a combined abbreviated score utilizing only 5 designs achieved an 80% differentiation. Results were interpreted as confirming the hypothesis of redundancy in this perceptual-motor test.
A Pincherle Theorem for Matrix Continued Fractions

Pincherle theorems equate convergence of a continued fraction to existence of a recessive solution of the associated linear system. Matrix continued fractions have recently been used in the study of singular potentials in high energy physics. The matrix continued fractions and discrete Riccati equations previously studied by the author, which were motivated by discrete control theory, had symplectic coefficient matrices. However, the matrix continued fractions employed by Znojil do not have symplectic structure. The previous definition of a recessive solution is modified to allow extension of the Pincherle theorem to include a wider class of continued fractions.
Working memory capacity as a dynamic process.

A well-known characteristic of working memory is its limited capacity. The source of such limitations, however, is a continued point of debate. Developmental research is positioned to address this debate by jointly identifying the source(s) of limitations and the mechanism(s) underlying capacity increases. Here we provide a cross-domain survey of studies and theories of working memory capacity development, which reveals a complex picture: dozens of studies from 50 papers show nearly universal increases in capacity estimates with age, but marked variation across studies, tasks, and domains. We argue that the full pattern of performance cannot be captured through traditional approaches emphasizing single causes, or even multiple separable causes, underlying capacity development. Rather, we consider working memory capacity as a dynamic process that emerges from a unified cognitive system flexibly adapting to the context and demands of each task. We conclude by enumerating specific challenges for researchers and theorists that will need to be met in order to move our understanding forward.
Effect of polytyrosine on the hydrophobicity of hydroxyethyl starch microspheres.

ABSTRACTThe polypeptide, poly-1-tyrosine (PTYR) was incorporated into hydroxyethyl starch (HES) micro-spheres to modify the surface hydrophobicity in order to allow subsequent radioiodination and assessment of uptake into the intestinal mucosa following oral administration. The HES microspheres were prepared by a crosslinking polymerization process and characterized for particle size, peptide content and surface morphology. The hydrophobicity of the characterized microspheres was assessed by two techniques-water uptake (swelling) of the microspheres and contact angle measurement using the sessile drop method. Spherical microspheres containing PTYR were prepared with a greater than 80% loading efficiency in the 1–10 pm size range. The surface morphology suggested localization of the PTYR at the surface proportionate to the loading. The percent water uptake of the blank HES microspheres was 87%, whereas that of the 5, 10 and 20% PTYR/HES microspheres was 84%, 61% and 55%, respectively. HES/PTYR was polymeri...
The Impact of Parents' Education Level on College Students: An Analysis Using the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study 1990-92/94

Little is known about first generation students whose parents did not attend college and specifically their experiences surrounding educational outcomes of college. This study used structural equation modeling to investigate differences in first generation and non-first generation students using data from the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS) 90/92/94. This study adds to the body of literature regarding differences in experiences of first generation and non-first generation college students. Factor loadings indicate first generation students differ from non-first generation students on the following: (a) expected highest level of education; (b) entrance exam score; (c) nonacademic experiences; and (d) aspirations for education. Path coefficients indicate College Experiences were a stronger influence on Educational Outcomes for first generation students than were Precollegiate Traits. While for non-first generation students, Precollegiate Traits were a stronger influence on what the student does in college and on what happens four years later. Areas in which institutions can assist in developing curricular and co-curricular experiences are then presented.
Principles and practice of brachytherapy dosimetry

Brachytherapy is an important radiation treatment modality and continues to play important roles in the management of various cancers. In brachytherapy, depending on the location of the target volume, cell type, and treatment convenience, radiation dose can be delivered to the target volume in different ways. Brachytherapy is significantly different from the external beam therapy in the dose delivery and dosimetric distribution. This article is intended to provide brief descriptions to the dose calculation formalism in brachytherapy, dosimetric determination of a brachytherapy source, biophysical characteristics of commonly used sources, and radiation safety during brachytherapy procedures.
Phonological and Semantic Priming in Children with Reading Disability.

Lexical priming was assessed in children with reading disability (RD) and in age-matched controls (M= 11.5 years), in visual and auditory lexical decision tasks. In the visual task, children with RD were found to have deficits in semantic (SHIP–BOAT), phonological/graphemic (GOAT–BOAT), and combined (FLOAT–BOAT) priming. The same pattern of semantic priming deficits also occurred in auditory lexical decisions, suggesting that the semantic deficits are not confined to reading. Children with RD also showed less priming than reading-age matched controls, suggesting that their priming deficits are not simply due to lower reading level but are due to the reading disability in particular. These semantic deficits may contribute to both the word reading and the comprehension problems seen in children with RD.
Video-assisted, retroperitoneal approach for abdominal aortic aneurysm exclusion

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair is a common procedure associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although attempts have been made to reduce operative risk in patients with significant comorbid disease by combining aneurysm exclusion with axillofemoral bypass, the morbidity is not greatly reduced when the standard operative approach is required for exclusion. The authors describe a technique for staple exclusion of AAA using a minimally invasive, video-assisted retroperitoneal approach.
A hierarchical approach to facial aging

Active Appearance Models (AAMs) have been used as a promising tool in the field of synthetic age progression. However, they are yet to be demonstrated on a large human population with wide variation. This paper presents a novel AAM-based hierarchical approach to facial aging. This work is motivated from studies in medical and anthropological literature on classification of human faces based on gender, ethnic and age groups. The proposed hierarchical model approach is a ethnicity and gender specific aging paradigm. Specifically, the Caucasian (European descent) and African American ethnic groups are considered. This work will further show that using individual hierarchical models generate better age-progressed synthetic images when compared to a general model approach. The results are evaluated by visual perception of the intended age group and preservation of identity. Also, a quantitative evaluation was performed using FaceVACS, a commercial face recognition system, as a surrogate measure. Higher match scores for synthetic images generated by hierarchical models when compared to those generated by a general model suggests the efficiency of the proposed hierarchical model approach.
High-velocity solid ejecta fragments from hypervelocity impacts

Abstract The recent discovery of meteorites from the moon and the strong probability that the 8 SNC (Shergottite, Nakhlite and Chassignite) meteorites originated on Mars indicate that large hypervelocity impacts eject some solid debris at very high speed (more than 2.5 and 5 km/sec in the above cases). The standard Hugoniot relation between particle velocity and shock pressure predicts that lunar ejecta should be very heavily shocked (40–50 GPa) and Martian ejecta should be vaporized (100–200 GPa). However, the lunar meteorite ALHA 81005 was in fact subjected to less than 15 GPa, while the most highly shocked SNC meteorite was exposed to ca. 50 GPa, while others showing no detectable shock damage at all. Theoretical work shows that the normal Hugoniot relation doesn't apply in the vicinity of a free surface. The free surface is, by definition, a pressure-free boundary, so shock pressures on it must be identically zero. On the other hand, the acceleration of debris is proportional to the pressure gradient , so that near-surface material may be accelerated to high speed and still escape compression to correspondingly high pressure. This process occurs only in a restricted zone near the free surface. The thickness of this zone is proportional to the rise time of the stress-wave pulse generated by the impact. The rise time of the stress wave generated by a large impact is typically a/v i , where a is the projectile radius and v i its impact velocity. The near-surface zone in this case is comparable in thickness to a fraction of the projectile radius. Since the cratering event itself displaces many thousands of times the projectile mass, the quantity of lightly-shocked, high speed ejecta is small, amounting to only a few percent of the projectile's mass (for ejecta speed>few km/sec). The fastest solid ejecta leave at about 1/2 the impact velocity. Although the total quantity of high speed solid ejecta is thus small in comparison to the total crater ejecta, it is significant because no other process yields such high velocity fragments. Many meteorites appear to be near-surface samples of their parent bodies (many are regolith samples and one is a vesicular lava) and so may have been ejected by this process.
A qualitative study of the attitudes to teamwork of graduates from a traditional and an integrated undergraduate medical course.

Introduction: In 1994 the University of Manchester medical school introduced an integrated undergraduate course using problem-based learning throughout. This study explores differences between the new and old (traditional) course graduates' attitudes to, and conceptualization of, teamwork. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 graduates of the traditional course (graduating in 1998) and 23 from the new course (1999 graduates), representing approximately 14% of graduates from each cohort. Theories were then developed from concepts emerging from the data. Results: The new course graduates (NCGs) had a broader view of members of a health professional team. The NCGs believed that the medical team should provide support and were more comfortable consulting them when faced with problems. Conclusions: The new curriculum has had some impact on conceptualization and attitude to teamwork. However, further development is required if graduates are to see themselves as part of a multi-professional team.
Role of Endothelin in Mediating Tumor Necrosis Factor-Induced Hypertension in Pregnant Rats

Hypertension during preeclampsia is associated with an increase in plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, a cytokine known to contribute to endothelial dysfunction. Recently, our laboratory reported that a 2-fold increase in plasma TNF-alpha produces hypertension in pregnant rats. Endothelin is also elevated in preeclampsia and endothelin synthesis is enhanced by TNF-alpha. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of endothlelin in mediating TNF-alpha-induced hypertension in pregnant rats. To achieve this goal, TNF-alpha (50 ng/d for 5 days) was infused into control pregnant rats and pregnant rats treated with an endothelin receptor A antagonist, ABT 627 (5 mg/kg per day for 5 days). At day 19 of gestation, arterial pressure was measured and aorta, kidneys, and placentas were harvested. Infusion of TNF-alpha into pregnant rats increased plasma concentration of TNF-alpha (13.5+/-0.8 to 28.0+/-3.7 pg/mL) and arterial pressure (101+/-2 to 122+/-1 mm Hg). The increase in arterial pressure was associated with an increase in preproendothelin mRNA expression in placenta, aorta, and kidneys measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Pretreatment with the endothelin receptor A antagonist completely abolished the blood pressure response to TNF-alpha in pregnant rats (105+/-1 versus 97+/-2 mm Hg). In sharp contrast, the ETA receptor antagonist had no effect on arterial pressure in normal pregnant rats (97+/-2 versus 101+/-2 mm Hg). Moreover, chronic infusion of TNF-alpha had no significant effect on arterial pressure or renal preproendothelin levels in virgin rats. These results suggest an important role for endothelin in mediating TNF-alpha-induced hypertension in pregnant rats.
Reductive transformation of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine, octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine, and methylenedinitramine with elemental iron.

Reductive (pre)treatment with elemental iron is a potentiallyuseful method for degrading nitramine explosives in water and soil. In the present study, we examined the kinetics, products, and mechanisms of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) degradation with elemental iron. Both RDX and HMX were transformed with iron to formaldehyde, NH, N2O, and soluble products. The yields of formaldehyde were relatively constant (71% ± 5%), whereas the yields of NH and N2O varied, depending on the nitramine and the mechanism. The reactions most likely were controlled by a surface process rather than by external mass transfer. Methylenedinitramine (MDNA) was an intermediate of both RDX and HMX and was transformed quantitatively to formaldehyde with iron. However, product distributions and kinetic modeling results suggest that MDNA represented a minor reaction path and accounted for only 30% of the RDX reacted and 14% of the formaldehyde produced. Additional experiments showed that RDX reduction with elemental iron could be mediated by graphite and Fe2+ sorbed to magnetite, as demonstrated previously for nitroaromatics and nitrate esters. Methylenedinitramine was degraded primarily through reduction in the presence of elemental iron, because its hydrolysis was slow compared to its reactions with elemental iron and surface-bound Fe2+. Our results show that in a cast iron-water system, RDX may be transformed via multiple mechanisms involving different reaction paths and reaction sites.
24-hour control of body temperature in the rat: II. Diisopropyl fluorophosphate-induced hypothermia and hyperthermia.

Abstract Diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) and other anticholinesterase (antiChE) agents have been found to induce marked hypothermic responses in laboratory rodents. To characterize the effects of DFP on autonomic and behavioral thermoregulation, rats of the Long-Evans strain were injected with DFP while housed in a temperature gradient. The gradient allowed for the measurement of selected ambient temperature ( T a ) and motor activity (MA) over a 6- to 7-day period. Core temperature ( T c ) and heart rate (HR) were also monitored simultaneously using radiotelemetry. Injection of the peanut oil vehicle led to transient elevations in T c , HR, and MA, but no change in selected T a . The next day animals were injected with 0.25, 1.0, or 1.5 mg/kg DFP. DFP (1.0 AND 1.5 mg/kg) led to a marked reduction in T c . The decrease in T c was accompanied by reductions in HR, MA, and selected T a . During the first night after DFP, selected T a remained elevated as T c recovered to its preinjection level. The second 24-h period after 1.0 and 1.5 mg/kg DFP was associated with a significant elevation in the daytime T c . In conclusion, with the option of using behavioral thermoregulatory responses, the hypothermic effects of acute DFP treatment are mediated by a selection for cooler T a s . An elevation in T c during recovery from acute DFP corroborates the many incidents of fever in humans exposed to anti-ChE agents.
Financial Incentives and Central Bank Authority in Industrializing Nations

Institutionalist models of macroeconomic performance in advanced industrial countries focus on central bank independence. In newly industrializing countries, however, the behavioral authority of the central bank is a much more significant predictor of inflation than is legal independence, because laws there are not the source of central bank ability to create or defend macroeconomic stability. Financial structures and the incentives they create for government politicians, private bankers, and industrialists explain cross-national variation in the interest and capacity of central banks in developing countries. The greater public sector deficits are, the weaker and/or more dependent private banks are on state assistance; and the larger the portion of industry finance covered by commercial bank loans or state credits, the less likely it is that there will be an authoritative, conservative central bank. Mexico, Thailand, Brazil, and South Korea are the four country cases considered in depth.
Study on Intelligent Firewall System Combining Intrusion Detection and Egress Access Control

To satisfy the special needs of confidential networks, a protection method of combining ingress and egress access control for network boundary security is proposed. In preventing network attacks, a combined mechanism of packets filtering firewall and intrusion detection system based on artificial neural network and rule matching is implemented to increase the accuracy of intrusion detection. In preventing information leakage, techniques of identity authentication and content filtering are integrated into the mechanism of egress access control so that strategies with more flexibility in security auditing and access control can be implemented, which is effective to prevent the sensitive or secret data from leaking out and to trace the source of leakage.
Integrated Fluency Instruction: Three Approaches for Working with Struggling Readers.

Effective fluency instruction should focus on reading with understanding, rather than simply reading quickly or expressively. This article outlines three research-based instructional approaches that assist students in developing accurate, automatic word recognition and prosody; at the same time, they ensure learners attend to the text’s meaning as they read. All three approaches integrate instructional principles known to improve reading fluency (modeling, scaffolding, repetition, and extensive opportunity for the reading of connected text). They are also clear and easy-to-implement and have proven successful with struggling readers. As a result, these approaches contribute to learners’ reading success both within and outside of the classroom.
Rethinking Automated Synthesis of MPSoC Architectures

Emerging heterogeneous multiprocessors have custom memory and bus architectures that must balance resource sharing and system partitioning to meet cost constraints. We propose an augmented simulated annealing synthesis tool that uses system performance and layout evaluation to drive simultaneous data mapping, memory allocation and bus synthesis. A detailed look at the resulting automated design process reveals an approach that, contrary to prior approaches, optimizes bus topology first rather than last, providing design insight for the development of future tools.
Art for Democracy's Sake? Group Membership and Political Engagement in Europe

Theorists contend that private social groups—particularly those that have no overt political missions such as bowling leagues, sports clubs, and choral societies—make major contributions to democracy by generating engagement with democracy in the form of political interest and participation. Although this discussion is generally at an aggregate level, it is based on seldom-tested assumptions about individual-level phenomena. This study expands our understanding of how (and where) memberships in various groups are associated with political engagement of individual citizens. We test if the effects of group membership vary across eleven European democracies and test which types of groups have the strongest association with political engagement. We find that major social groups differ in their relationship with engagement, and we also find that formal political arrangements for group accommodation may condition the effects of some memberships on engagement.