cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Collaborative narration in preadolescent girl talk: A Saturday luncheon conversation among three friends

Collaborative narration, where several speakers contribute to the development of a story by adding events, evaluations, or details, can occur spontaneously in conversations of friends or family members. Informal conversations during meals provide an opportunity space for narration to become a joint activity among participants. This paper examined the collaborative narratives that developed spontaneously during a luncheon conversation of three American preadolescent girls in a home setting. The conversation was videotaped. Participants were shown the transcript and interviewed about their contributions to the narratives and their prior knowledge of events that were narrated. Co-narration involved repetition of words, phrases, and sounds; onomatopoeia; gesturing; dramatization; and latching. The girls used collaborative narration as play frames to build and demonstrate their friendship. Three collaborative narratives from the luncheon conversation were analyzed to identify narrative features used by the girls and situations that contributed to co-narration.
Schizophrenia and EEG spectral analysis

Abstract Relationships between EEG features and schizophrenia were studied via digital spectral analysis. Ten hospitalized adolescents or young adult schizophrenics in remission from an acute psychotic episode and ten normal controls matched for sex and age underwent an EEG examination obtained from 16 unipolar electrodes in eight stimulus conditions. All channels were digitized in 8 sec samples, and Fourier spectra were computed for frequencies from 0 to 34 c/sec in 17 bands, each 2 c/sec wide. Four analyses of variance were performed on log-amplitude scores to obtain significance for the following findings: 1. 1. The distribution throughout the brain of the 9 c/sec band activity is more uniform for the schizophrenics than for the normals. 2. 2. The peak of dominant alpha frequency occurs at 11 c/sec for the normals and at 9 c/sec for the schizophrenics. 3. 3. Dominant alpha frequency scatter is greater for the schizophrenics for whom broad-band peaks of dominant activity are likely to occur. 4. 4. Peaks at higher frequencies accrue at the 19 c/sec band, significantly higher for the schizophrenics, and at the 29 c/sec band for half the schizophrenics and none of the controls. It is proposed that these possible harmonics of dominant activity in the schizophrenics are a correlate of impaired alertness. The findings indicate that EEG autospectra show correlates to a portion of the patients having the primary diagnosis of schizophrenia in this study. Even though these findings await confirmation, the manner in which the scores in the 19 and 29 c/sec bands are distributed for the schizophrenics points to the possibility that spectral analysis of the EEG could ultimately prove useful in differentiating between the disorders which are currently subsumed under the general heading of schizophrenia.
Solar astronomy from space : Recent advances in image analysis

ABSTRACT Some recent developments in the rapidly advancing field of solar astronomy from space are described. Three-dimensionalimaging of the Sun's corona, improved imaging of coronal mass ejections that cause electromagnetic distubances at the earth,and observations of comets approaching and striking the Sun are discussed.Keywords: Image analysis, astronomy, Sun, comets 1. SOLAR ASTRONOMY: A DRIVER OF SPACECRAFT DEVELOPMENT The progress of scientific understanding of the Sun and its influence on Earth has depended upon (and motivated) thedevelopment of spacecraft that could provide improved instruments for imaging and spectroscopy with better resolution andin bands of the electromagnetic spectrum which are not able to penetrate the terrestrial atmosphere.' Ultraviolet light, X-rays,and gamma radiation, for instance, turned out to be important solar emissions in terms of their contribution to space weatherand radiation hazards for spacecraft and astronauts, and as indicators of impending solar flares and geomagnetic storms. Theimportance of these radiations, which have much shorter wavelengths (and higher photon energies) than visible light, wassurprising because a star like the Sun, with a surface temperature of approximately 57700 K, could reasonably be expected toproduce little ultraviolet light and undetectably small amounts of X-rays and gamma rays as part of its thermal spectrum.And indeed the solar sources of short wavelength, high-energy radiations have been revealed to be characterized by localizedsuperheating or nonthermal energization far in excess of the thermal solar surface environment, with a rich variety of mor-phologies and time behaviors. Since these radiations are strongly absorbed or scattered by the atmosphere, their mysterioussources have been revealed primarily by images obtained in space.The aim of this paper is to introduce the reader to the rich field of image analysis that has resulted from these explorationsin space-based solar astronomy. Much has been accomplished in scientific and technological development of this field, butmany opportunities remain for advancing solar science specifically as well as for developing new general tools for imageanalysis and interpretation. Ref. I .
Enhancing ℓ 1 -minimization estimates of polynomial chaos expansions using basis selection

In this paper we present a basis selection method that can be used with ? 1 -minimization to adaptively determine the large coefficients of polynomial chaos expansions (PCE). The adaptive construction produces anisotropic basis sets that have more terms in important dimensions and limits the number of unimportant terms that increase mutual coherence and thus degrade the performance of ? 1 -minimization. The important features and the accuracy of basis selection are demonstrated with a number of numerical examples. Specifically, we show that for a given computational budget, basis selection produces a more accurate PCE than would be obtained if the basis were fixed a priori. We also demonstrate that basis selection can be applied with non-uniform random variables and can leverage gradient information.
High-Protein Carboxymethylase Activity and Low Endogenous Methyl Acceptor Proteins in Posterior Pituitary Lobe of Rats Lacking Neurophysin-Vasopressin (Brattleboro Rats)

The activity of protein carboxymethylase and the endogenous protein methyl acceptor capacity were examined in the posterior, intermediate, and anterior lobes of the pituitaries of homozygous Brattleboro rats with diabetes insipidus and in heterozygous Brattleboro and Long-Evans control rats. Protein carboxyl methylation is selectively altered in the posterior pituitary lobes of homozygous Brattleboro rats. Protein carboxymethylase activity is higher (+40%) and endogenous methyl acceptor protein capacity is lower (-80%) with respect to heterozygous Brattleboro and Long-Evans control rats. This latter change is correlated with decreased methylation of proteins of a molecular weight of approximately 11K daltons, is selective for the posterior pituitary lobe, since it does not occur in the intermediate and anterior lobes, and probably reflects the absence of vasopressin-associated neurophysin in homozygous Brattleboro rats. Our results support a physiological role of protein carboxyl methylation in the neurosecretory process in the posterior pituitary gland.
The effect of vitamin E on the healing of gingival wounds in rats.

Forty male and female albino rats received a standardized gingival wound (gingivectomy) between the mandibular incisor teeth. One half of the animals received 60 I.U. of d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate daily, administered orally by pipette. An additional control group of 20 animals was not wounded and half of these animals received 60 I.U. of d-alpha-tocopheryl daily. Four animals in each of the two gingivectomy groups (Groups 1, 2) were sacrificed at periods of 1, 2, 4, 7 and 14 days following gingivectomy. Two animals in each of two control unwounded groups (Groups 3, 4) were sacrificed at similar times. Gingival healing was studied grossly and histologically. The animals receiving the vitamin E supplements healed more rapidly, with almost complete restoration of gingiva by 7 days. Complete healing was seen in both control and experimental groups by 14 days. Vitamin E was shown to accelerate gingival wound healing in experimental animals.
Infra-Red Absorption Analyses Used in Control of a Pilot-Plant Process

The methods described herein are of general interest because they illustrate the effectiveness of infra-red in the analysis of hydrocarbons and the control of experimental and pilot-plant processes. Some particular problems are discussed. These problems vary in complexity from analyzing for two components in a mixture of two, to analyzing for three components in a mixture of twelve or six in a mixture of six. In some cases the analyses are possible only for certain ranges of concentration; in other cases the concentrations of the components can vary from 0 to 100 percent.The analyses were determined with an accuracy of plus or minus 1 percent, providing the range of concentration of the various components stayed within the limits for which the method was calibrated.In some cases it was necessary to set up calibration curves with inadequate standard samples. It is most interesting that even under these adverse conditions it was possible to attain reasonable accuracy and to make a contribution to the problem of controlling the pilot-plant. In control problems it is frequently not important to know the absolute composition; it is sufficient to know relative values of concentration from day to day.
Community formation as an activity of daily living: The case of Nicaraguan immigrant elderly

Abstract This study focuses on the social contributions of the elderly to society. It demonstrates the ways in which the elderly can contribute to community formation and maintenance by examining the Nicaraguan immigrant community in San Francisco, California. The aged are shown to provide valuable contributions to the symbolic, interactional, organizational, and structural elements of the community. In the context of the debate over intergenerational equity and conflict, this study demonstrates one way in which the daily activities of the elderly can contribute to society, even when their activities are outside of market-place relationships.
Molecular mechanics calculations (MM2) on aliphatic nitriles

Abstract A force field has been developed to extend MM2 so that molecular mechanics calculations can be carried out on nitriles. Structural data on simple molecules in the literature have been well fitted, and a few predictions are made. Heats of formation may also be calculated with experimental accuracy.
Effect of Vaporizer Temperature on Ambient Non-Refractory Submicron Aerosol Composition and Mass Spectra Measured by the Aerosol Mass Spectrometer

Aerodyne Aerosol Mass Spectrometers (AMS) are routinely operated with a constant vaporizer temperature (Tvap) of 600°C in order to facilitate quantitative detection of non-refractory submicron (NR-PM1) species. By analogy with other thermal desorption instruments, systematically varying Tvap may provide additional information regarding NR-PM1 chemical composition and relative volatility, and was explored during two ambient studies. The performance of the AMS generally and the functional integrity of the vaporizer were not negatively impacted during vaporizer temperature cycling (VTC) periods. NR-PM1 species signals change substantially as Tvap decreases with that change being consistent with previous relative volatility measurements: large decreases in lower volatility components (e.g., sulfate, organic aerosol [OA]) with little, if any, decrease in higher volatility components (e.g., nitrate, ammonium) as Tvap decreases. At Tvap < 600°C, slower evaporation was observed as a shift in particle time-of-flig...
Subsidization to induce tipping

Abstract In binary choice games with strategic complementarities and multiple equilibria, we characterize the minimal cost subsidy program to guarantee agents play the Pareto optimal equilibrium. These subsidies are generally asymmetric, whether or not agents are identical and even if private values are anonymous.
Control over heat exchange and deceleration of a “magnetized” body in a rarefied plasma flow

The rotation of the induction vector of a self-magnetic field with respect to the velocity vector of an incident plasma flux is shown to be an efficient mean for controlling convective heat exchange and the aerodynamic quality of a magnetized dielectric axisymmetric body.
Analyzing High Dimensional Toxicogenomic Data Using Consensus Clustering

Rapid development of high-throughput toxicogenomics technologies has created new approaches to screen environmental samples for mechanistic toxicity assessment. However, challenges remain in the analysis, especially clustering of the resulting high-dimensional data. Because of the lack of commonly accepted validation methods, it is difficult to compare clustering results between studies or to identify the key experimental or data features that impact the clustering results. We applied consensus clustering (CC), an approach that clusters the input data repeatedly through iterative resampling, and identifies frequently occurring high-confidence clusters. We used CC to analyze a set of high dimensional transcriptomics data with temporal resolution, which were generated using our E. coli whole-cell array system for a diverse variety of toxicants at different dose concentrations. The CC analysis allowed us to evaluate the clustering results' robustness and sensitivity against a number of conditions that represent the common variations in high-throughput experiments, including noisy data, subsets of treatments, subsets of reporter genes, and subsets of time points. We demonstrated the value of utilizing rich time-series data and underscored the importance of careful selection of sampling times for a given experimental system. The results also indicated that temporal data compression using our proposed Transcriptional Effect Level Index (TELI) concept followed by CC largely conserved the cluster resolution. We also found that for our cellular stress response ensemble-based high-throughput transcriptomics assay platform, the size and composition of the reporter gene set are critical factors that affect the resulting coherency of clusters. Taken together, these results demonstrated that more robust consensus clustering such as CC may be valuable in analyzing high-dimensional toxicogenomic data sets.
Observation of ferromagnetic ordering in hcp3He

High-density bcc and hcp3He have been cooled into the magnetically ordered state by direct nuclear demagnetization. Pressure changes during precooling and demagnetization indicated the magnetic state of the system. For a bcc sample withv=20.10 cm3/mole, the two well-known magnetic transitions were observed. For hcp samples precooled to 0.614 mK in a field of 2.485 T, for which the spin entropy is almost zero, the transition to the ferromagnetic state was observed.
Saturated fatty acids activate TLR-mediated proinflammatory signaling pathways

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and TLR2 were shown to be activated by saturated fatty acids (SFAs) but inhibited by docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). However, one report suggested that SFA-induced TLR activation in cell culture systems is due to contaminants in BSA used for solubilizing fatty acids. This report raised doubt about proinflammatory effects of SFAs. Our studies herein demonstrate that sodium palmitate (C16:0) or laurate (C12:0) without BSA solubilization induced phosphorylation of inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB α, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p44/42 mitogen-activated-kinase (ERK), and nuclear factor-κB subunit p65, and TLR target gene expression in THP1 monocytes or RAW264.7 macrophages, respectively, when cultured in low FBS (0.25%) medium. C12:0 induced NFκB activation through TLR2 dimerized with TLR1 or TLR6, and through TLR4. Because BSA was not used in these experiments, contaminants in BSA have no relevance. Unlike in suspension cells (THP-1), BSA-solubilized C16:0 instead of sodium C16:0 is required to induce TLR target gene expression in adherent cells (RAW264.7). C16:0-BSA transactivated TLR2 dimerized with TLR1 or TLR6 and through TLR4 as seen with C12:0. These results and additional studies with the LPS sequester polymixin B and in MyD88−/− macrophages indicated that SFA-induced activation of TLR2 or TLR4 is a fatty acid-specific effect, but not due to contaminants in BSA or fatty acid preparations.
Adapting rain data for hygrothermal models

Abstract Design for moisture control has now become an established part of building envelope design. Hygrothermal modeling tools, capable of simulating moisture transfer in materials, are a key element of the design process. There are three principle methods of moisture transfer in envelopes. They are, in order of magnitude, capillary action, vapour convection, and vapour diffusion. Wind-driven rain has the potential to deposit large amounts of liquid water on the exterior surface, as well inside walls through rain penetration, providing a significant source for moisture transport. Most hygrothermal models are capable of handling wind-driven rain impinging on or penetrating the surface of the envelope. Correct results presuppose the availability of reliable rain intensity data. Many data sets, however, do not record hourly rain intensities but qualitative intensities such as light, moderate, or heavy. This paper examines several methods for assigning quantitative values to weather observations available in Canada. Real data, such as data from rain gauges, is preferable although the latter have shortcomings. Differences in catch can be up to 50% depending on gauge type, size, and exposure. When only rain codes are available the values recommended by the local meteorological service can provide adequate estimates. In case where there is observer bias a better estimate can be obtained by adjusting the value for light rainfall. If very little information is available stochastic modeling of rainfall is possible though the accuracy, especially for individual months is low.
Northern Illinois University autonomous mobile robots

We have developed a pair of autonomous mobile robots that have been programmed to navigate benign, though unstructured, natural terrain. The impetus behind our creations is to perform research on mobile robot autonomy, and to test our results by competing in the annual AUVS (Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems) ground vehicle competition.
Moral dimension of man and artificial intelligence

Steady technological and economic progress gives science and the scientific method a distinguished position in today's culture. Therefore, there may be an impression that areas not belonging to science may hamper this progress of humanity. The views of Dean E. Wooldridge exemplify this position. The only hope is seen in the rational dimension of man in which there is no room for ethical considerations. This rational dimension is also the sole representation of man in the image created by artificial intelligence. Before, AI was at least interested in philosophical issues concerning a model of man, now, AI has no interest in them; it has become an applied science trying to produce workable systems for military and industrial application. However, the model of rational man remained, and because of the prestige of computer science, the model is the most widely recognized as an official model of our epoch.
Network dimensionality and ligand flexibility in lanthanide terephthalate hydrates

Abstract Various lanthanide open framework materials incorporating the terephthalate (TP) entity were prepared using hydrothermal synthesis methods at a moderate temperature of 170 °C. The compounds Nd2(TP)3(H2O)4(1), Er2(TP)3(H2O)4(2), Yb2(TP)3(H2O)2(3), Yb2(TP)3(H2O)6(4), and Yb2(TP)3(H2O)8·2H2O (5), were characterized by single crystal structural analysis and FT-IR spectroscopy. While compounds 1 and 2 have been reported before on the basis of powder X-ray diffraction, the structural characterization of any ytterbium terephthalate species is unprecedented. Compounds 1–5 crystallize in triclinic settings with space group P-1. The compounds are compared with their previously reported Er and Tb-counterparts and the reduction of the dimensionality of the resulting networks from 3D over 2D to 1D with increasing level of hydration is discussed. Compounds 1, 2, and 3 with the lowest water content assemble in three-dimensional network lattices. Compounds 4 and 5, however, form 2D layered systems and 1D rod like chains, respectively, which are held together by hydrogen bonds originating from coordinating H2O. The crystal lattices of the 3D networks experience higher levels of tension as can be seen by increasing out-of-plane torsion with regard to the terephthalate carboxylate groups. Moreover, there seems to be a correlation between the level of strain on the aromatic ligands and the reduction of the number of carboxylate oxygen atoms that are part of the coordination polyhedra.
Public Opinion and Judicial Behavior in Direct Democracy Systems: Gay Rights in the American States

Although the U.S. judiciary is designed to be an independent and counter-majoritarian arbiter of the law, many states feature electoral institutions that may expose judges to public pressure. Scholars have demonstrated that judicial elections provide a clear link between public opinion and judicial decision making that may undermine the ability of courts to act in counter-majoritarian ways to protect minority rights. We extend this line of inquiry by examining whether direct democracy institutions have a similar effect of enhancing the impact of public opinion on judicial behavior and reducing the likelihood of judges voting in favor of minority rights. Empirical results from an analysis of gay rights cases in the American states from 1981 to 2004 provide evidence that direct democracy, in conjunction with electoral retention methods, significantly increases the effect of public opinion on judicial decisions.
Seasonality and weight gain during the first year of life.

A comparison is made between weight increments at 0-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12 months of life between infants born in the fall, winter, spring, and summer seasons in Sui Lin, Taiwan. The focus of the study is on (1) whether in a tropical region the effects of seasonality on weight gain interact with the developmental stage of the infant and (2) whether these interactions are partly regulated by the growth history of the infant. The main hypothesis is that the highest growth velocities will occur in the dry, cold months of the year (fall and winter) and the lowest velocities will occur in the hot, rainy months (spring and summer). The highest and lowest mean birth weights were recorded in the spring and summer seasons, respectively. Season had no effect on weight gain during 0-3 months; on the other hand, birth weight and length were significantly related to weight gain during this 0-3 month period. In the last two seasons of the first year, the highest weight increments occurred in the fall and the lowest occurred in the spring and summer. At the end of the 12 months of life there were no weight differences between cohorts.
Who is watching the watchmen: Is quality reporting ever harmful?

Background:Quality reporting is increasingly used as a tool to encourage health systems, hospitals, and their practitioners to deliver the greatest health benefit. However, quality reporting systems may have unintended negative consequences, such as inadvertently encouraging “cherry-picking” by inadequately adjusting for patients who are challenging to take care of, or underpowering to reliably detect meaningful differences in care. There have been no reports seeking to identify a minimum level of accuracy that ought to be viewed as a prerequisite for quality reporting.Method:Using a decision analytic model, we seek to delineate minimal standards for quality measures to meet, using the simplest assumptions to illustrate what those standards may be.Results:We find that even under assumptions regarding optimal performance of the quality reporting system (sensitivity and specificity of 1), we can identify a minimal level of accuracy required for the quality reporting system to “do no harm”: the increase in h...
Organometallic compounds of group III: XIVV. Orientation in the hydralumination of conjugated olefin hydrocarbons. Behavior of allylic organoaluminum systems

Abstract In order to evaluate steric and electronic factors in the hydralumination of pπ- and dπ-conjugated olefins, the following compounds have been treated with diisobutylaluminum hydride: 1,1-diphenylethylene; 1,1-diphenylallene; 1,1-diphenyl-1,3-butadiene; acenaphthylene; triethylvinylsilane; and triphenylvinylsilane. The sites of the resulting carbon—aluminum bonds in the adducts have been deduced by a combination of NMR spectroscopy, hydrolysis with D2O, oxidation and carbonation. Hydralumination of 1,1-diphenylethylene gave only the 1,1-diphenyl-2-aluminoethane adduct; 1,1-diphenylallene gave a mixture of the 3-alumino-1,1-diphenyl- and 3-alumino-3,3-diphenyl-propenes, whose proportions varied with the Lewis base present; and 1,1-diphenyl-1,3-butadiene gave a mixture of 4-alumino- and 3-alumino-1,1-diphenyl-1-butenes, together with 1-alumino-1,1-diphenyl-2-butene, whose composition was subject to both kinetic and thermodynamic control. Both the vinylsilanes gave a 70 30 mixture of the 1-silyl-1-alumino- and 1-silyl-2-alumino-ethanes with diisobutylaluminum hydride. When triethyl(vinyl)silane was heated with one-third mole of triisobutylaluminum, the ratio of 1- and 2-aluminoethanes fell to 18 82 . Finally, acenaphthylene underwent smooth hydralumination to yield 1-acenaphthyl-(diisobutyl)aluminum. Protolysis yielded varying amounts of acenaphthene and its ring protonated isomer, while carbonation yielded only acenaphthene-3-carboxylic acid. These results show that, in the absence of adverse steric factors, pπ- and dπ-conjugation favor the internal attachment of aluminum in hydralumination. Moreover, in cases where allylic aluminum systems result, the aluminum seems to prefer attachment to the site of highest electron density in the hypothetical anion R.
Adjustment versus no adjustment when using adjustable sutures in strabismus surgery.

Purpose To compare long-term postoperative outcomes when performing an adjustment to achieve a desired immediate postoperative alignment versus simply tying off at the desired immediate postoperative alignment, when using adjustable sutures for strabismus surgery. Methods We retrospectively identified 89 consecutive patients who underwent a reoperation for horizontal strabismus with the use of adjustable sutures and also had a 6-week and 1-year outcome examination. In each case, the intent of the surgeon was to tie off and only to adjust if the patient was not within the intended immediate postoperative range. Postoperative success was predefined on the basis of the angle of misalignment and diplopia at distance and near. Results Of the 89 patients, 53 (60%) were adjusted and 36 (40%) were tied off. Success rates were similar between patients who were simply tied off immediately after surgery and those who were adjusted. At 6 weeks, the success rate was 64% for the nonadjusted group versus 81% for the adjusted group (P = 0.09; difference of 17%; 95% CI, −2% to 36%). At 1 year, the success rate was 67% for the nonadjusted group versus 77% for the adjusted group (P = 0.3; difference of 11%; 95% CI, −8% to 30%). Conclusions Performing an adjustment to obtain a desired immediate postoperative alignment did not yield inferior long-term outcomes compared with tying off to obtain that initial alignment. If patients who were outside the desired immediate postoperative range had not been adjusted, it is possible that their long-term outcomes would have been worse. Therefore, overall, an adjustable approach may be superior to a nonadjustable approach.
Evidence of morphological and physiological transformation of mammalian cells by strong magnetic fields

Cultures of L-929 and WI-38 cells, frozen to 4.2 degrees K and exposed for 4 to 8 hours to 5000-oersted magnetic fields, were markedly inhibited in their growth as compared to controls. In cultures grown on cover slips, approximately 7 days after exposure, morphologically distinct cells emerged and were propagated from generation to generation; 3 weeks later, in flask cultures, contact inhibition was abolished. It is concluded that under certain experimental conditions, strong magnetic fields induce morphological and physiological transformations of target cells.
Optimizationof VCSEL structure for high-speed operation

The optimization of our tapered-oxide-apertured VCSEL structure for high-speed operation is presented. Using a new aperture design and p-doping recipe in the top mirror, bandwidths >20 GHz and 35 Gb/s error-free operation has been demonstrated.
High-power V-band AlInAs/GaInAs on InP HEMTs

The DC and RF performance of delta -doped channel AlInAs/GaInAs on InP power high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) are reported. A 450- mu m-wide device with a gate-length of 0.22 mu m has achieved an output power of 150 mW (at the 1-dB gain compression point) with power-added efficiency of 20% at 57 GHz. The device has a saturated output power of 200 mW with power-added efficiency of 17%. This is the highest output power measured from a single InP-based HEMT at this frequency, and demonstrates the feasibility of these HEMTs for high-power applications in addition to low-noise applications at V-band. >
Parents' perspectives on talking to preteenage children about sex.

CONTEXT:Although parent-child communication about sex can significantly affect children’s sexual behavior, many parents do not talk to their children about sex. Qualitative research can elucidate parents’ attitudes toward and experiences with communicating with their children about sex. METHODS:In 2007, 16 focus groups were conducted with 131 mothers and fathers of children aged 10–12 in three cities in different regions of the United States. Separate groups were conducted for mothers and fathers, and for black, white and Hispanic parents. Content analysis was used to identify core themes and patterns. RESULTS:Parents believed it is important to talk to their children about sex and believed that doing so can be effective, but many had not done so. Primary barriers were parents’ perception that their children are too young and not knowing how to talk to their children about the subject. Parents found it easiest to talk to their children about sex if they had a good parent-child relationship, took advantage of opportunities to talk and began having the discussions when their children were very young. Some differences were noted by parents’ race, ethnicity, gender and location. CONCLUSIONS:Interventions aimed at encouraging parents to talk to their children about sex should enhance parents’ understanding of the stages of children’s sexual development and focus on the parents of young children. In addition, interventions should support parents in a range of strategies that complement discussions about sex.
New Methods for Estimating Ocean Eddy Heat Transport Using Satellite Altimetry

AbstractAttempts to monitor ocean eddy heat transport are strongly limited by the sparseness of available observations and the fact that heat transport is a quadratic, sign-indefinite quantity that is particularly sensitive to unresolved scales. In this article, a suite of stochastic filtering strategies for estimating eddy heat transport are tested in idealized two-layer simulations of mesoscale oceanic turbulence at high and low latitudes under a range of observation scenarios. A novel feature of these filtering strategies is the use of computationally inexpensive stochastic models to forecast the underlying nonlinear dynamics. The stochastic model parameters can be estimated by regression fitting to climatological energy spectra and correlation times or by adaptively learning these parameters “on-the-fly” from the observations themselves.The authors show that, by extracting high-wavenumber information that has been aliased into the low wavenumber band, “stochastically super-resolved” velocity fields wi...
Cell Sorting daring Pattern Formation in Dictyostelium

Formation of the prestalk-prespore pattern in Dictyostelium was investigated in slugs and submerged clumps of cells. Prestalk and prespore cells were identified by staining with vital dyes, which are shown to be stable cell markers. Dissociated slug cells reaggregate and form slugs that contain a prestalk-prespore pattern indistinguishable from the original pattern. The pattern forms by sorting out of stained prestalk cells from unstained prespore cells. Sorting also occurs in clumps of dissociated slug cells submerged in liquid or agar. A pattern arises in 2 h in which a central core of stained cells is surrounded by a periphery of unstained cells. Sorting appears to be due to differential chemotaxis of stained and unstained cells to cAMP since exogenous cAMP (>10 −7 M) reverses the normal direction of sorting-out such that stained cells sort to the periphery of the clumps. Isolated portions of slugs regenerate a new prestalk-prespore pattern. Posterior isolates regenerate a pattern within 2 h due to sorting of a population of vitally stained ‘anterior-like’ cells present in posteriors. Anterior-like cells do not sort in intact slugs due to the influence of a diffusible inhibitor secreted by the anterior region. During posterior regeneration this signal is absent and anterior-like cells rapidly acquire the ability to sort. Anterior isolates regenerate a staining pattern more slowly than posterior isolates by a process that requires conversion of stained prestalk cells to unstained prespore cells. The results suggest that pattern formation in Dictyostelium consists of two processes: establishment of appropriate proportions of two cell types and establishment of the pattern itself by a mechanism of sorting-out.
A multilevel file system for high assurance

The designs of applications for multilevel systems cannot merely duplicate those of the untrusted world. When applications are built on a high assurance base, they will be constrained by the underlying policy enforcement mechanism. Consideration must be given to the creation and management of multilevel data structures by untrusted subjects. Applications should be designed to rely upon the TCB's security policy enforcement services rather than build new access control services beyond the TCB perimeter. The results of an analysis of the design of a general purpose file system developed to execute as an untrusted application on a high assurance TCB are presented. The design illustrates a number of solutions to problems resulting from a high assurance environment. >
GABAB receptor GTP-binding is decreased in the prefrontal cortex but not the hippocampus of aged rats

Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)B receptors (GABABRs) have been linked to a wide range of physiological and cognitive processes and are of interest for treating a number of neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. As many of these diseases are associated with advanced age, it is important to understand how the normal aging process impacts GABABR expression and signaling. Thus, we investigated GABABR expression and function in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus of young and aged rats characterized in a spatial learning task. Baclofen-stimulated GTP-binding and GABABR1 and GABABR2 proteins were reduced in the prefrontal cortex of aged rats but these reductions were not associated with spatial learning abilities. In contrast, hippocampal GTP-binding was comparable between young and aged rats but reduced hippocampal GABABR1 expression was observed in aged rats with spatial learning impairment. These data demonstrate marked regional differences in GABABR complexes in the adult and aged brain and could have implications for both understanding the role of GABAergic processes in normal brain function and the development of putative interventions that target this system.
Power and Performance Management in Priority-Type Cluster Computing Systems

Cluster computing not only improves performance but also increase power consumption. %over that of a single computer. It is a challenge to increase the performance of a cluster computing system and reduce its power consumption simultaneously. In this paper, we consider a collection of cluster computing resources owned by a service provider to host an enterprise application for multiple class business customers where customer requests are distinguished, with different request characteristics and service requirements. We start with a development of computing an average end-to-end delay and an average energy consumption for multiple class customers in such an application. Then, we present approaches for optimizing the average end-to-end delay subject to the constraint of an average energy consumption and optimizing the average end-to-end energy consumption subject to the constraints of an average end-to-end delay for all class and each class customer requests respectively. Moreover, a service provider processes the service requests of customers according to a service level agreement (SLA), which is a contract agreed between a customer and a service provider. It becomes important and commonplace to prioritize multiple customer services in favor of customers who are willing to pay higher fees. We propose an approach for minimizing the total cost of cluster computing resources allocated to ensure multiple priority customer service guarantees by the service provider. It is demonstrated through our simulation that the proposed approaches are efficient and accurate for power management and performance guarantees in priority-type cluster computing systems.
On importance sampling for linear block codes

We introduce an importance sampling scheme for linear block codes with message-passing decoding. This novel scheme overcomes an existing difficulty in the IS practice that requires codebook information. Experiments show large IS gains for single parity-check codes and short-length block codes. For medium-length block codes, IS gains in the order of 10/sup 3/ and higher are observed at high signal-to-noise ratio.
Dynamic Light Scattering and Zeta Potential of Colloidal Mixtures of Amelogenin and Hydroxyapatite in Calcium and Phosphate Rich Ionic Milieus

The concept of zeta-potential has been used for more than a century as a basic parameter in controlling the stability of colloidal suspensions, irrespective of the nature of their particulate ingredients—organic or inorganic. There are prospects that self-assembly of peptide species and the protein–mineral interactions related to biomineralization may be controlled using this fundamental physicochemical parameter. In this study, we have analysed the particle size and zeta-potential of the full-length recombinant human amelogenin (rH174), the main protein of the developing enamel matrix, in the presence of calcium and phosphate ions and hydroxyapatite (HAP) particles. As calcium and phosphate salts are introduced to rH174 sols in increments, zeta-potential of the rH174 nanospheres is more affected by negatively charged ions, suggesting their tendency to locate within the double charge layer. Phosphate ions have a more pronounced effect on both the zeta-potential and aggregation propensity of rH174 nanospheres compared to calcium ions. The isoelectric point of amelogenin was independent on the ionic strength of the solution and the concentration of calcium and/or phosphate ions. Whereas rH174 shows a higher affinity for phosphate than for calcium, HAP attracts both of these ions to the shear plane of the double layer. The parallel size and zeta-potential analysis of HAP and rH174 colloidal mixtures indicated that at pH 7.4, despite both HAP and rH174 particles being negatively charged, rH174 adsorbs well onto HAP particles. The process is slower at pH 7.4 than at pH 4.5 when the HAP surface is negatively charged and the rH174 nanosphere carries an overall positive charge. The results presented hereby demonstrate that electrostatic interactions can affect the kinetics of the adsorption of rH174 onto HAP.
Rehabilitation of a patient with 'floating shoulder' and associated fractures: a case report.

Study design: Case report. Background: Scapular fractures are uncommon, and displaced glenoid fractures are even rarer. Surgery is usually performed for severely displaced fractures and positive outcomes have been reported, although some patients have residual limitations. Published rehabilitation guidelines are limited. The purpose of this case report is to describe the physical therapy (PT) rehabilitation of a patient with a complicated scapular fracture, and to describe factors influencing his outcome. Case description: Exercise, manual therapy, and modalities were used in the rehabilitation process. Outcome measures included manual muscle testing for strength, goniometry for range of motion (ROM), and the shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI) for function. Outcomes: Improvements in strength, ROM, and function were noted. The patient had full ROM, 4 + /5 to 5/5 strength, and a SPADI score of 3/100 at discharge from PT. Discussion: The patient achieved a favorable outcome, in spite of having a long...
High-Intensity Interval Training: An Alternative for Older Adults

High-intensity interval training (HIT) is characterized by intermittent periods of work and rest and may include work bouts lasting seconds to minutes. HIT has typically been applied to older, diseased, and at-risk populations using longer work intervals (2-4 minutes), whereas more recent definitions of HIT include work intervals of 30 to 60 s. Both traditional endurance training (TET) and HIT exert a peripheral affect increasing the capacity of muscle cells to oxidize substrate via signaling cascades that support the activation of transcription factors that orchestrate the coexpression of nuclear and mitochondrial genes, with HIT triggering these benefits following minutes of training. With 1 exception, reports of central adaptations (eg, increased stroke volume) have been based on longer work intervals (eg, 4 minutes). Recent investigations have tied HIT to increased lipolysis and enhanced insulin sensitivity. HIT favors the activation of oxidative as opposed to hypertrophic pathways. Although the lengt...
Quantum Spin Hall Effect

The quantum Hall liquid is a novel state of matter with profound emergent properties such as fractional charge and statistics. Existence of the quantum Hall effect requires breaking of the time reversal symmetry caused by an external magnetic field. In this work, we predict a quantized spin Hall effect in the absence of any magnetic field, where the intrinsic spin Hall conductance is quantized in units of 2 e/4{pi}. The degenerate quantum Landau levels are created by the spin-orbit coupling in conventional semiconductors in the presence of a strain gradient. This new state of matter has many profound correlated properties described by a topological field theory.
Consumer displays of the future

New display technologies are challenging the CRT for different markets. These are both direct view as well as projection displays. This paper will review these options and describe their advantages and disadvantages for different applications.
Analysing real time power of the microprocessor to estimate thermal time constant of the hotspot

The power dissipation in a microprocessor is spatially and temporally non-uniform resulting in hot spots, high temperature gradients and as a consequence, high thermal stresses. This temperature non-uniformity and existence of hotspots in the processor poses a threat to the performance and reliability of the processor in the long run. The dynamic thermal management (DTM) techniques applied at the architectural level are proven to be more efficient to address the rapid power variation in the processor components. Since, the efficiency of DTM techniques is based on the thermal response of the microprocessor, it is imperative to reduce the time lag between the thermal response of the chip and strategy adopted by DTM to manage the hotspot temperature. This strategy will also be applicable in boosting up the clock frequency momentarily for high performance without causing any chip damage due to high temperature excursions. This paper studies the temporal and spatial variation of power dissipation in a commercially available single-core microprocessor. The real power dissipation estimates are obtained for benchmarks using cycle-accurate microarchitectural simulator. In the selected benchmarks, the hottest component has significantly high power dissipation compared to remaining components of the processor. The real time power dissipation of the components is then analyzed to study the thermal time constant of the hotspot and the combined thermal effect of the other components on the hotspot temperature. The analysis is done both for a finer and coarser time intervals to identify the effect of time scale on the thermal time constants.
A zero-overhead IC identification technique using clock sweeping and path delay analysis

The counterfeiting of integrated circuits (ICs) has become a major issue for the electronics industry. Counterfeit ICs that find their way into the supply chains of critical applications can have a major impact on the security and reliability of those systems. This paper presents a new method for uniquely identifying ICs through path delay analysis. There is no overhead in terms of area, timing, or power for this method, since it extracts the intrinsic path delay variation information of the IC. Simulation results from 90nm technology and experimental results from 90nm FPGAs demonstrate the effectiveness of our technique.
RAN GTPase and Osteopontin in Pancreatic Cancer

Introduction: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) has the worst prognosis among cancers, mainly due to the high incidence of early metastases. RAN small GTPase (RAN) is a protein that plays physiological roles in the regulation of nuclear transport and microtubule spindle assembly. RAN was recently shown to mediate the invasive functions of the prometastatic protein osteopontin (OPN) in breast cancer cells. We and others have shown previously that high levels of OPN are present in PDA. In this study, we analyzed the expression and correlation of RAN with OPN in human pancreatic lesions, and explored their regulation in PDA cell lines. Methods: Real time PCR was used to analyze RAN and OPN mRNA levels in PDA, adjacent non-malignant, and benign pancreatic tissues. Expression levels were correlated with survival and different clinicopathological parameters using different statistical methods. Transient transfection studies using OPN and RAN plasmids, and knockdown experiments using siRNA were used to examine their mutual regulation. Results: OPN and RAN levels highly correlated with each other (p<0.0001). OPN or RAN levels did not correlate with venous lymphatic invasion, diabetes, obesity, T stage, BMI, or survival. However, we found a significant association between RAN levels and perineural invasion (HR=0.79, 95% CI 0.59, 1.07; p=0.0378.). OPN and RAN colocalized in PDA tissues and cell lines. Increasing RAN expression in PDA cells induced OPN transcription and RAN silencing reduced total OPN levels. OPN did not have any significant effect on RAN transcription. Conclusions: The high levels of RAN in PDA and its correlation with OPN and with perineural invasion suggest that RAN may contribute to PDA metastasis and progression through the induction of OPN. RAN’s role in the regulation of OPN in PDA is unique and could provide potential novel therapeutic strategies to combat PDA aggressiveness.