cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
West Nile Virus: From Africa to Europe, America, and Beyond

Since the mid-1990s, West Nile virus (WNV) outbreaks of increased severity first appeared in Africa, then in Europe, and finally in North America. These outbreaks were due to related lineage one viruses of apparent pathogenicity. More recently lineage 2 strains also of apparent increased pathogenicity have caused outbreaks in Europe. Some of the implicated lineage 1 strains and the lineage 2 strains have a mutation in the NS3 helicase gene, which confers increased viral pathogenesis in birds. The recent pattern of sporadic cases and outbreaks of WNV that has emerged in Europe and North America shows no signs of abating. While broad areas of high risk can be identified, the sporadic, local and regional outbreaks that occur within these areas remain elusively unpredictable. Fewer than one percent of persons infected develop neuroinvasive disease, characterized by meningitis, encephalitis, or acute flaccid paralysis. Increasing age is a risk factor for neuroinvasive disease, both in humans and horses. Four WNV vaccines are currently marketed for horses and clinical trials have been conducted for two human vaccines. Treatment is supportive.
A Bayesian approach to inferring dispersal kernels with incomplete mark-recapture data

Abstract Dispersal is a fundamental ecological process that links populations, communities and food webs in space. However, dispersal is tremendously difficult to study in the wild because we must track individuals dispersing in a landscape. One conventional method to measure animal dispersal is a mark-recapture technique. Despite its usefulness, this approach has been recurrently criticized because it is virtually impossible to survey all possible ranges of dispersal in nature. Here, I propose a novel Bayesian model to better estimate dispersal parameters from incomplete mark-recapture data. The dispersal-observation coupled model, DOCM, can extract information from both recaptured and unrecaptured individuals, providing less biased estimates of dispersal parameters. Simulations demonstrated the usefulness of DOCM under various sampling designs. I also suggest extensions of the DOCM to accommodate more realistic scenarios. Application of the DOCM may, therefore, provide valuable insights into how individuals disperse in the wild.
Analysis of Unbalanced Magnetic Pull in PMSM Due to Static Eccentricity

This paper presents the analysis of Unbalanced Magnetic Pull (UMP) on the rotor due to static eccentricity. It has been shown in previous research that under eccentric conditions the rotor experiences UMP that constitutes of two components: constant pull and oscillating forces. This paper is divided into two parts. The first part discusses the procedure to estimate static eccentricity in Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine by analyzing the vibrations that rise due to oscillating forces. The impact of increased load and saturation on constant pull, at a fixed eccentricity, is shown. The second part discusses the aspects of machine design that can make machine more robust, in the case of static eccentricity, to vibrations.
Independent variable selection for regression modeling of the flow duration curve for ungauged basins in the United States

Abstract The flow duration curve (FDC) is widely used for river management operations, such as hydropower. Percentile flows of the FDC express the percent of time a flow is equaled or exceeded, and often need to be predicted for ungauged basins. Regression models are commonly used to predict percentile flows. However, a major challenge of this approach is selecting basin characteristics to serve as independent variables. The number of basin characteristics precludes an analysis of all possible models. Thus, a subset of models are typically evaluated using an automated regression procedure, like stepwise regression or the more exhaustive branch-and-bound approach. The latter was used as a baseline approach in this study, and was compared to six other less commonly used methods from the field of variable (feature) selection. The performance of all seven approaches was evaluated based on percentile flow regression models developed for a large sample of 918 basins in the United States. The baseline regression procedure only outperformed principal component analysis, the only method that did not use the percentile flows to select variables. Of the variable selection methods that used the percentile flows, the regression procedure performed the worst. This suggests that regression procedures should not be the first choice among variable selection methods for developing percentile flow regression models. Variables selected based on knowledge of the FDC performed nearly as well as the best overall data-based method (i.e. random forests). Random forests, and other methods that performed well, emphasized the influence of geology on percentile flows. A geologic variable (i.e. baseflow index) had the largest effect on predictive performance. All of the models suffered from large predictive error, and future work should apply a regional approach that groups similar basins to predict percentile flows.
Protective Effects of Parental Education Against Youth Cigarette Smoking: Diminished Returns of Blacks and Hispanics.

Background High parental educational attainment is protective against youth health risk behaviors such as tobacco use. According to the Marginalization-related Diminished Returns (MDRs) theory, however, higher parental education is less protective for marginalized groups relative to non-Hispanic Whites. Objective To explore race/ethnic differences in the effects of parental educational attainment on cigarette smoking in a national sample of American adolescents. Methods In a cross-sectional study, we used baseline data of 10,878 American youth who had participated in the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH 2013). The independent variable was parental educational attainment. The dependent variables were lifetime cigarette smoking, current (past 30-day) cigarette moking, and daily cigarette smoking. Youth age, youth gender, and parental marital status were the covariates. Race/ethnicity was the moderating variable. Logistic regression model was used for data analysis. Results Overall, a higher parental educational attainment was associated with a lower lifetime cigarette smoking, current (past 30-day) cigarette smoking, and daily cigarette smoking. Parental educational attainment showed significant interaction with race/ethnicity suggesting smaller protective effects of parental educational attainment on youth tobacco outcomes for Black and Hispanic than for non-Hispanic White youth. Conclusion For American youth, race/ethnicity limits the health gains that are expected to follow parental educational attainment. While high parental educational attainment is protective against smoking overall, non-Hispanic Whites (the most socially privileged group) gain most and Blacks and Hispanics (the least socially privileged groups) gain least from such resource. In addition to addressing low SES, researchers and policymakers should identify and address mechanisms by which high SES minority youth remain at risk of tobacco use.
Microtubule-drug interactions studied by Hydrogen-Deuterium exchange and mass spectrometry.

5720 Microtubules are the target of antitumor drugs such as Taxol. GTP bound to the β subunit of the α/β tubulin heterodimer is hydrolyzed upon assembly of tubulin to microtubules. Taxol induces the assembly of stable microtubules. Although photoaffinity labeling and electron crystallography have localized the binding pocket for Taxol on β-tubulin, they do not provide insight into the mechanism by which Taxol stabilizes microtubules. Hydrogen/Deuterium exchange (HDX) in combination with Liquid Chromatograph-Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI MS) permits studies of structure and dynamics of biomolecules in solution. A time course of deuterium incorporation was carried out with purified chicken erythrocyte tubulin heterodimers, or microtubules assembled in the presence of GTP or GTP plus Taxol. The global exchange kinetics of tubulin dimers and microtubules was monitored by LC-ESI MS and the deuterium incorporation into tubulin polypeptide chains was calculated by taking into account the deuterium loss during the HPLC step. After 100 minutes of exchange, 251 (430 total exchangeable amide protons) of the amide hydrogens in the tubulin α-chain were replaced by deuterium. The corresponding number for the β-chain was 263 (425 total exchangeable amide protons). After Taxol-induced polymerization, a marked reduction in deuterium incorporation is apparent with only 188 and 178 amide protons in the tubulin α-chain and β-chain, respectively, replaced by deuterium. This protection reflects decreased solvent accessibility or a more rigid conformation in both polypeptide chains. GTP-dependent polymerization reduced the flexibility of microtubules to a lesser extent. The reduced flexibility is preferentially on the β-chain, as suggested by the significantly reduced deuterium incorporation (243 amide protons) on the β-chain, while only slightly reduced deuterium level was observed on the α-chain (248 amide protons). Local HDX on microtubules was analyzed on peptic peptides by LC-MS. As expected, peptides from the Taxol binding pocket were protected against HDX. A comparison of the deuterium incorporation in the presence or absence of GTP- and Taxol allowed us to determine not only the regions involved in Taxol binding, but also the longitudinal and lateral dimer-dimer interactions. The data demonstrate that HDX coupled to mass spectrometry can be used to study microtubule-drug interactions.
Logistic regression for binary outcomes

Abstract This chapter considers the analysis of binary outcomes and serves as an extension to testing for associations in 2×2 contingency tables. Logistic regression is introduced as a statistical tool for estimating the association between a binary outcome and one or more covariates. The covariates may be either discrete or continuous. Interpretation of model parameters are covered as well as tests of association. Methods for obtaining predicted probabilities from logistic regression models are also shown. This chapter concludes with diagnostics for fitted logistic regression models.
Measuring Structural Racism and Its Association With BMI.

Introduction Structural racism has attracted increasing interest as an explanation for racial disparities in health, including differences in adiposity. Structural racism has been measured most often with single-indicator proxies (e.g., housing discrimination), which may leave important aspects of structural racism unaccounted for. This paper develops a multi-indicator scale measuring county structural racism in the U.S. and evaluates its association with BMI. Methods County structural racism was estimated with a confirmatory factor model including indicators reflecting education, housing, employment, criminal justice, and health care. Using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey data (2011–2012) and a mixed-effects model, individual BMI was regressed on county structural racism, controlling for county characteristics (mean age, percentage black, percentage female, percentage rural, median income, and region). Analysis occurred 2017–2019. Results The study included 324,572 U.S. adults. A 7-indicator county structural racism model demonstrated acceptable fit. County structural racism was associated with lower BMI. Structural racism and black race exhibited a qualitative interaction with BMI, such that racism was associated with lower BMI in whites and higher BMI in blacks. In a further interaction analysis, county structural racism was associated with larger increases in BMI among black men than black women. County structural racism was associated with reduced BMI for white men and no change for white women. Conclusions The results confirm structural racism as a latent construct and demonstrate that structural racism can be measured in U.S. counties using publicly available data with methods offering a strong conceptual underpinning and content validity. Further study is necessary to determine whether addressing structural racism may reduce BMI among blacks.
Stability Demonstration of a 15-cc Mercury-Ion Vacuum Trap Tube

In this paper, we report our recent effort on developing a micro mercury trapped ion atomic clock. In particular, we present preliminary results of a mercury-ion clock using a 15-cc vacuum trap tube. The mercury-ion clock can achieve a short-term fractional frequency instability of $1.5 \times 10^{!12}\tau^{!1/2}$ and reach a fractional frequency instability of $3 \times 10^{! 14}$ after averaging for an hour. The clock can remain at the 10!14 fractional frequency instability level up to several hours. Furthermore, the sealed 15-cc vacuum tube has demonstrated a very long ion lifetime of over two hundred days. We also investigated the mercury vapor density inside the vacuum trap tube by measuring the coherence time of the microwave clock transition.
Use of an artificial stream to monitor avoidance behavior of larval sea lamprey in response to TFM and niclosamide

Abstract The lampricide 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) has been used in liquid form to control larval sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in Great Lakes tributaries since the late 1950s. In the 1980s a dissolvable TFM bar was developed as a supplemental tool for application to small tributaries as a deterrent to larvae seeking water not activated with TFM. The size, mass, and number of bars needed in some streams, as well as the location of the streams, limit the utility of a TFM bar. The development and use of an alternative niclosamide bar has the potential to use fewer bars to achieve similar results. However, the use of a niclosamide bar is dependent upon its larval deterrent capability compared to the TFM bar. In this study, we developed a laboratory-scale, simulated stream fluvarium with several avoidance areas including two side channels and a seep. The objective was to evaluate the deterrent capabilities of TFM and niclosamide. We found similar behavioral responses, with TFM and niclosamide having similar capabilities to prevent sea lamprey from seeking refuge in side channels and seep avoidance areas. TFM-treated side channels and seep increased sea lamprey occupancy in the main channel 2.56 times more than the untreated-controls (95% CI 1.63–4.14) whereas niclosamide-treated side channels and seep increased sea lamprey occupancy of the main channel 2.68 times more than the untreated-controls (95% CI 1.72–4.32). These responses indicate a niclosamide bar would effectively prevent sea lamprey escapement into freshwater during a lampricide treatment at concentrations unlikely to harm aquatic organisms.
Tribuo: Machine Learning with Provenance in Java.

Machine Learning models are deployed across a wide range of industries, performing a wide range of tasks. Tracking these models and ensuring they behave appropriately is becoming increasingly difficult as the number of deployed models increases. There are also new regulatory burdens for ML systems which affect human lives, requiring a link between a model and its training data in high-risk situations. Current ML monitoring systems often provide provenance and experiment tracking as a layer on top of an ML library, allowing room for imperfect tracking and skew between the tracked object and the metadata. In this paper we introduce Tribuo, a Java ML library that integrates model training, inference, strong type-safety, runtime checking, and automatic provenance recording into a single framework. All Tribuo's models and evaluations record the full processing pipeline for input data, along with the training algorithms, hyperparameters and data transformation steps automatically. The provenance lives inside the model object and can be persisted separately using common markup formats. Tribuo implements many popular ML algorithms for classification, regression, clustering, multi-label classification and anomaly detection, along with interfaces to XGBoost, TensorFlow and ONNX Runtime. Tribuo's source code is available at https://github.com/oracle/tribuo under an Apache 2.0 license with documentation and tutorials available at https://tribuo.org.
Strahlenschutz: Mensch und Natur im Kampf gegen Strahlung

Das Problem des Schutzes gegen ionisierende Strahlen — so beredt im Hamburger Denkmal fur die Opfer der Strahlenforschung zum Ausdruck gebracht — hat mit dem Aufkommen der zivilisatorischen Strahlenumwelt gewaltig an Ausmas und Schwere gewonnen.
The dimer-monomer equilibrium constant for [125I]β nerve growth factor

Abstract The equilibrium constant for [ 125 I]β nerve growth factor was determined using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to separate the monomer and dimer. Various concentrations of the radiolabelled nerve growth factor were incubated for 24 and 48 hours. The equilibrium constants obtained for both incubation periods were the same, 3.2 ± 1.4 × 10−11 M and 2.6 ± 1.6 × 10−11 M , respectively. Thus, at physiological concentrations the β nerve growth factor is in the dimeric form almost exculsively.
Microwave Beam Powered Mars Airplane

The feasibility of an unmanned Mars airplane that receives its primary power from an RF (microwave) beam located on the Martian surface has been analyzed. An on-board rechargeable electrochemical storage system to be used for special maneuvers, and possible range extension when the airplane is "out of the line of sight" of the microwave source antenna is included as a back-up to the microwave system. The weight of the on-board microwave beam receiving system, relative to other power systems, and the ability to recharge the on-board energy storage system in flight, results in a payload capability independent of range and significant mission flexibility. Such an airplane, its on-board power system, its methods of utilization, and the transmitting station requirements to support various Martian exploration operations is presented. The status of microwave beam technology is given in addition to the technology advances required for the microwave beam powered Mars airplane. The concept is felt to be feasible but advances in microwave technology are required.
Radical prostatectomy in older men: survival outcomes in septuagenarians and octogenarians.

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 OBJECTIVE To examine the survival outcomes of septuagenarians and octogenarians (aged ≥80 years) who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) at our institution, as the US Preventive Services Task Force recently released recommendations that men aged ≥75 years should not be screened for prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Our institutional RP database (1982–2008) was queried for men aged ≥70 years at the time of surgery to evaluate actuarial survival after RP; 386 aged 70–81 years (median 71) underwent RP. The median (range) follow-up was 6.5 (1–22) years. Clinicopathological characteristics and mortality data were evaluated; mortality data were gathered through Social Security Administration Death Index and causes of death were confirmed with the Center for Disease Control National Death Index information. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate cause-specific survival. RESULTS Ten patients (2.6%) had clinical stage T1a-b, 213 (55.3%) had T1c, and 143 (37.1%) had T2 prostate cancer. The median (range) preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was 6.2 (0.2–49.9) ng/mL, and the biopsy and pathological Gleason sum was 6 (3–9) and 7 (4–9), respectively. Causes of death included prostate cancer (17), other malignancies (14), cardiovascular causes (14), neurological disease (four), pneumonia (two) and accident (one). The prostate cancer-specific survival rate was 97.6%, 94.0% and 90.2% at 5, 10 and 15 years after RP, respectively; the respective cardiovascular survival rate was 99.5%, 97.6% and 92.5%, and the overall survival rate was 93.1%, 82.5% and 68.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS If appropriately selected, older men have excellent overall and prostate-cancer specific survival after RP. The benefits of surgery should be weighed against the increased risks of surgical and anaesthetic complications.
Amyloid-β-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction

As an important molecule in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyloid-beta (Abeta) interferes with multiple aspects of mitochondrial function, including energy metabolism failure, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and permeability transition pore formation. Recent studies have demonstrated that Abeta progressively accumulates within mitochondrial matrix, providing a direct link to mitochondrial toxicity. Abeta-binding alcohol dehydrogenase (ABAD) is localized to the mitochondrial matrix and binds to mitochondrial Abeta. Interaction of ABAD with Abeta exaggerates Abeta-mediated mitochondrial and neuronal perturbation, leading to impaired synaptic function, and dysfunctional spatial learning/memory. Thus, blockade of ABAD/Abeta interaction may be a potential therapeutic strategy for AD.
Moreau de Saint-Méry: Itinerant Bibliophile

This article examines the bookselling, printing, and editorial work of the French colonial lawyer Moreau de Saint-Mery. While residing in Philadelphia from 1794 to 1798, Moreau opened a bookstore and print shop that served as a publishing house and social community hub for his fellow refugees from the French and Haitian Revolutions. After examining the logistics of his involvement with the early North American book trade, I undertake a close reading of one of his imprints. The material history of this expertly crafted, multi-volume account of a Dutch trade mission to China highlights collaboration between European, Caribbean, American, and Chinese technicians and artists who lived migratory lives during the imperial conflicts of the late eighteenth century. The article considers Moreau’s professional book activities in light of his work as a collector whose personal collection of books, manuscripts, and maps became a cornerstone of the French colonial archives.
Neuropharmacology. Odorants may arouse instinctive behaviours.

The prevailing view of the mammalian olfactory system is that odorants are detected only in the nasal olfactory epithelium, whereas pheromones are generally detected in the vomeronasal organ1,2,3. Here we show that vomeronasal neurons can actually detect both odorants and pheromones. This suggests that in mammals, as in insects4,5,6, odorous compounds released from plants or other animal species may act as 'semiochemicals' — signalling molecules that elicit stereotyped behaviours that are advantageous to the emitter or to the receiver.
Production and characteristics of hemolysins of Escherichia coli.

Snyder, Irvin S. (University of Iowa, Iowa City), and Nancy A. Koch. Production and characteristics of hemolysins of Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 91:763–767. 1996.—Filterable and nonfilterable hemolysins were produced by Escherichia coli in beef-heart infusion, casein hydrolysate, and chemically defined media. Differences were found among the three media in the time of appearance and in the relationship between production of these two hemolysins. The nonfilterable hemolysin produced in the three media, as well as the filterable hemolysin produced in the beef-heart infusion medium, were destroyed in 1 hr at 56 C. The filterable hemolysin produced in the casein hydrolysate and chemically defined media was unaffected by exposure to 56 C for 1 hr. Formalin inactivated the hemolysins produced in all three media. The optimal pH for activity of the nonfilterable hemolysin varied with time of production, whereas the optimal pH for the filterable hemolysin was constant. Certain carbohydrates were required for the production of filterable hemolysin by E. coli grown in casein hydrolysate and chemically defined media.
Free-space fluorescence tomography with adaptive sampling based on anatomical information from microCT

Image reconstruction is one of the main challenges for fluorescence tomography. For in vivo experiments on small animals, in particular, the inhomogeneous optical properties and irregular surface of the animal make free-space image reconstruction challenging because of the difficulties in accurately modeling the forward problem and the finite dynamic range of the photodetector. These two factors are fundamentally limited by the currently available forward models and photonic technologies. Nonetheless, both limitations can be significantly eased using a signal processing approach. We have recently constructed a free-space panoramic fluorescence diffuse optical tomography system to take advantage of co-registered microCT data acquired from the same animal. In this article, we present a data processing strategy that adaptively selects the optical sampling points in the raw 2-D fluorescent CCD images. Specifically, the general sampling area and sampling density are initially specified to create a set of potential sampling points sufficient to cover the region of interest. Based on 3-D anatomical information from the microCT and the fluorescent CCD images, data points are excluded from the set when they are located in an area where either the forward model is known to be problematic (e.g., large wrinkles on the skin) or where the signal is unreliable (e.g., saturated or low signal-to-noise ratio). Parallel Monte Carlo software was implemented to compute the sensitivity function for image reconstruction. Animal experiments were conducted on a mouse cadaver with an artificial fluorescent inclusion. Compared to our previous results using a finite element method, the newly developed parallel Monte Carlo software and the adaptive sampling strategy produced favorable reconstruction results.
Framing Nancy Mairs: A Documentary Project

This article is an interview and conversation between disability activist and writer Nancy Mairs, and videomaker Janice Dewey. They discuss the making of a documentary about Mairs’ life and explore intersects between writing, film, and disability.
Evidence for Thermally Generated Defects in Liquid and Glassy As 2 Se 3

Measurement of transient photoconductivity in $a$-${\mathrm{As}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Se}}_{3}$ through the glass transition temperature ${T}_{g}$ gives the temperature dependence of the density of recombination centers. The activation energy of this density increases suddenly at ${T}_{g}$, leading to identification of the centers with negative-$U$ defects.
Convergence of an Iterative Implicit Solver for Incompressible Flows with Direct Divergence-linked Pressure Corrector

This communication presents an investigation of the convergence criteria for an iterative implicit solver for incompressible flows with a direct, divergence-linked pressure corrector. Such a method for the modified Crank-Nicolson formulation of the implicit discretized Navier-Stokes equations presents an attractive alternative to the popular semiexplicit procedures, which typically require a slow implicit step for the pressure. Although the direct iteration approach was successively demonstrated by Peyret and associates, their convergence analysis was based on the neglect of inertia terms and the use of a synchronous updating scheme similar to Jacobi iteration. The present analysis includes the inertia terms that are important at high Reynolds numbers, and is based on a more efficient immediate-updated iteration pattern similar to the Gauss-Seidel iteration, which was judged to be too difficult to analyze by Peryet and associates. The results suggest the need to modify the method to employ variable relaxa...
Promoting civil rights through the welfare state: how Medicare integrated Southern hospitals.

Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed segregation and banned racial discrimination in employment and education, compliance was uneven across institutional spheres. Racial integration proceeded more rapidly and smoothly in the health care system than in other institutions because the new Medicare program, the largest expansion of the welfare state since the New Deal, provided the leverage to force health care providers to comply with the law. In this paper, I extend the axiom that the welfare state is a mechanism of social stratification to theorize processes of racial stratification. Drawing upon power resource and feminist theories of the welfare state, I argue that the welfare state can promote racial equality if 1) political resources are available to challenge racially-discriminatory practices; 2) institutions that reproduce systems of oppression are incorporated into the public sphere; 3) the rules and conditions for the distribution of benefits support the objective of racial equality; and 4) the benefits are provided on a continuous and universal basis.
Autonomic testing of women with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome

Purpose Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is characterized by urinary urgency, frequency, nocturia, pain worse as the bladder fills and improved after emptying. These features might suggest abnormal autonomic bladder control mechanisms. We compared the structural integrity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in IC/BPS and control subjects.
Acute bilateral angle closure glaucoma induced by methazolamide

Purpose: To report a case of bilateral acute myopia and angle closure glaucoma after ingestion of methazolamide. Methods: An interventional case report of a 70-year-old male who developed bilateral, acute myopia and angle closure glaucoma after ingesting methazolamide tablets for the treatment of normal tension glaucoma. Results: Bilateral anterior chamber shallowing associated with ciliary body edema, supraciliary effusions, and shallow posterior choroidal effusions were documented with slit-lamp photography and high-frequency ultrasonography. Near complete resolution of these signs after discontinuation of methazolamide were also documented. Conclusion: Methazolamide may be associated with secondary myopia and angle closure glaucoma. Discontinuation of methazolamide leads to resolution of this process, as documented by slit-lamp photography and high-frequency ultrasonography.
The Rosetta phone: a hand-held device for automatic translation of signs in natural images

When traveling in a region where the local language is not written using the Roman alphabet, translating written text (e.g., documents, road signs, or placards) is a particularly difficult problem since the text cannot be easily entered into a translation device or searched using a dictionary. To address this problem, we are developing the "Rosetta Phone," a handheld device (e.g., PDA or mobile telephone) capable of acquiring a picture of the text, identifying the text within the image, and producing both an audible and a visual English interpretation of the text. We started with English, as a developement language, for which we achieved close to 100% accuracy in identifying and reading text. We then modified the system to be able to read and translate words written using the Arabic character set. We currently achieve approximately 95% accuracy in reading words from a small directory of town names.
Explorations of identity in anthropological and historical context

Milanich, Jerald T. and Charles Hudson. Hernando de Soto and the Indians of Florida. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 1993. xv + 292 pp. including chapter references and index. $34.95 cloth. McDonogh, Gary W., ed. The Florida Negro: A Federal Writers’ Project Legacy. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1993. xxxv + 177 pp. including afterword, 3 appendices, chapter references, and index. $30 cloth. Sider, Gerald M. Lumbee Indian Histories: Race, Ethnicity, and Indian Identity in the Southern United States. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993. xxvi + 309 pp. including sources and perspectives, chapter references, and index. $59.95 cloth, $17.95 paper.
Developing Compassionate Leadership in Underserved Youths

(2003). Developing Compassionate Leadership in Underserved Youths. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance: Vol. 74, No. 5, pp. 33-39.
Novel ellipsometer design for the study of large thin films

This paper describes a novel long-scanning reflection ellipsometer to characterize large thin films. The ellipsometer uses a frequency stabilized Zeeman-split He-Ne laser as the source. Two common-path left and right circularly polarized beams, with a slight frequency difference, work as the incident beams. Beat frequency signals are detected from the reflected beams on a sample, and the thin film properties are studied. An optical common-mode rejection technique is employed to minimize the effects of environmental conditions. Measurements are not sensitive to low frequency noise and ignore any electronic dc offset effects. The variations of the beam intensities of the source do not affect the experimental results. The optical system is designed to be arranged on a long air-bearing slide with an autofocus system of 0.1 {mu}m resolution in the range of 25 mm. Measurements will covert the range from 3 {mu}m to 600 mm. Experimental results can be taken in the ordinary experimental conditions.
Neutron excitation functions for 45Sc, 93Nb, and 58Ni in the energy range 13–19 MeV

Abstract Activation techniques have been used to measure the excitation functions for 45 Sc( n , 2 n ) 44 m + g Sc and Nb( n ,2 n ) 92 m Nb in the energy range 13–19 MeV and 58 Ni( n , p ) 58 m + g Co and 58 Ni( n ,2 n ) 57 Ni in the energy range 13–17 MeV. The neutrons were produced by the 3 H( d , n ) 4 He reaction with the Auburn University 3 MV Dynamitron accelerator. Absolute cross-sections were measured using the mixed powder method with 27 Al( n , α ) 24 Na as the monitor reaction. The experimental isomeric-yield ratios were determined by measuring the ground state gamma activity resulting from the reaction and making a least squares fit to the time behavior of the activity in which the cross-section ratio was treated as a variable parameter. Cross-sections calculated from the semi-empirical relation due to Pearlstein are given for qualitative comparisons with the present results.
Moyamoya syndrome associated with Sneddon's syndrome and antiphospholipid-protein antibodies

Background : There are anecdotal reports of the rare combination of Sneddon's syndrome, lupus anticoagulant, and Moyamoya. To our knowledge, we now report the first case of anticardiolipin antibodies, Sneddon's syndrome, and Moyamoya. Methods : Case-report and systematic literature review. Results : A 37-year-old woman had 31/2 years of recurrent left-sided sensory-motor symptoms. More recently, she had experienced vertigo, diplopia, and imbalance. Medical history included headaches, labile hypertension, left arm venous thrombosis requiring anticoagulation, and cigarette smoking. On examination she had livedo reticularis, limited left eye abduction, and left hemiparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed right frontal, left parieto-occipital and pontine high intensity lesions on T 2 -weighted images consistent with ischemia and abnormally increased flow-void in the basal ganglionic regions. Conventional cerebral angiography showed a Moyamoya pattern. Transesophageal echocardiography and electroencephalogram were normal. Serologic studies were remarkable for anticardiolipin antibodies immunoglobulin G isotype only. She responded favorably to carbamazepine as treatment of presumptive focal seizures, and long-term anticoagulation. Seven other cases reported in the literature were found and reviewed, with different combinations of Moyamoya, Sneddon's syndrome, and antiphospholipid-protein antibodies. The mean age was 37 (range 18–59, SD±16) years, male/female ratio 3/5; clinical features included cognitive changes (4 pts), ischemic stroke (6pts), seizures (1pt), and intracranial hemorrhage (2pts). Anticoagulation/steroids/anti-platelet agents were empirically associated with a favorable survival and functional outcome in 6 cases. Conclusion : This case expands the spectrum of associations with Moyamoya, and in conjunction with a review of the literature, suggests that evaluation for antiphospholipid-protein antibodies is recommended in cases of Moyamoya syndrome.
Study of the Nuclear Structure Effect in the 161-keV Transition of Cs 133

The $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$, ${e}_{K}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$, and $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}{e}_{K}$ directional correlations have been measured for the 276-161-keV cascade in ${\mathrm{Cs}}^{133}$. The $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ correlation was measured using two NaI(Tl) detectors, and also using NaI(Tl) to detect the 161-keV $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray and a cylindrical Ge(Li) to detect the 276-keV $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ ray. The results of the measurements are ${A}_{2}(\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma})=\ensuremath{-}0.450\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.011$, ${A}_{4}(\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma})=\ensuremath{-}0.014\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.012$, for the first method, and ${A}_{2}(\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma})=\ensuremath{-}0.432\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.022$, ${A}_{4}(\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma})=\ensuremath{-}0.038\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.025$ for the second. The directional correlations involving conversion electrons were made using a surface-barrier detector and a NaI(Tl) detector. The results of these measurements are ${A}_{2}({e}_{K}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma})=\ensuremath{-}0.740\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.047$, ${A}_{4}({e}_{K}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma})=0.047\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.042$, ${A}_{2}(\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}{e}_{K})=\ensuremath{-}0.244\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.023$, and ${A}_{4}(\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}{e}_{K})=0.071\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.038$. In addition, the $\frac{K}{(L+M+\ensuremath{\cdots})}$ ratio of the 161-keV transition has been measured with the result $\frac{K}{(L+M+\ensuremath{\cdots})}=4.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3$. The $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ directional correlation agrees quite well with other measurements which are consistent with a spin sequence of ${\frac{1}{2}}^{+}\ensuremath{-}{\frac{5}{2}}^{+}\ensuremath{-}{\frac{7}{2}}^{+}$. The ${e}_{K}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ directional correlation is also in agreement with this spin sequence. The $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}{e}_{K}$ directional correlation is consistent with the $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ and ${e}_{K}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ measurements only if we use a theory which includes nuclear structure effects. The combination of ${A}_{2}(\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}{e}_{K})$ and $\frac{K}{(L+K+\ensuremath{\cdots})}$, when compared with nuclear-structure-dependent particle parameters and conversion coefficients, gives the most probable value of the ratio of the penetration matrix element to the normal $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray matrix element, $\ensuremath{\lambda}=40\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}15$, for the 161-keV transition.
HSV-mediated Transfer of Artemin Overcomes Myelin Inhibition to Improve Outcome After Spinal Cord Injury

Artemin is a neurotrophic factor of the glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family of ligands that acts through the GDNF family receptor α3 (GFRα3)/ret receptor found predominantly on sensory and sympathetic neurons. In order to explore the potential utility of artemin to improve functional outcome after spinal cord injury (SCI), we constructed a nonreplicating herpes simplex virus (HSV)-based vector to express artemin (QHArt). We found that QHArt efficiently transfects spinal cord neurons to produce artemin. Transgene-mediated artemin supported the extension of neurites by primary dorsal root ganglion neurons in culture, and allowed those cells to overcome myelin inhibition of neurite extension through activation of protein kinase A (PKA) to phosphorylate cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding protein (CREB) and increase expression of arginase I. Intraspinal injection of QHArt immediately after thoracic spinal cord dorsal over hemisection produced a statistically significant improvement in motor recovery over the course of four weeks measured by locomotor rating score.
Effect of digestion by pure cellulases on crystallinity and average chain length for bacterial and microcrystalline celluloses

In this study we employed Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) and X-ray diffraction to monitor the molecular weight and crystallinity of bacterial cellulose I and II (BC-I, BC-II) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) digested with three “pure” Thermobifida fusca cellulases (Cel6A, Cel6B, and Cel9A ). For each enzyme, cellulose crystallinity was found to increase modestly with treatment time. The digestion rate of BC-II was higher than that of BC-I for Cel6A and Cel9A, both endocellulases. SEC results show that the endocellulases create a very rapid decrease in cellulose molecular weight while a slower molecular weight loss was observed with Cel6B, an exocellulase. This work suggests that conversion of native cellulose I to cellulose II by mercerization may beneficially impact the rate of sugar release by cellulases from biomass. In general, lower conversion rates are observed for MCC compared to BC, possibly due to a higher initial crystallinity for MCC. Surface area effects may also be important.
Faculty perceptions and practices regarding carrying concealed handguns on university campuses

The presence of firearms in an environment significantly increases firearm trauma. So far, four states have passed legislation permitting the carrying of concealed handguns on university campuses and several other states are considering such legislation. The purpose of this study to assess the perceptions and practices of college faculty regarding support for carrying concealed handguns on their campuses. A valid and reliable questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 1,125 faculty at 15 randomly selected state universities in five Great Lakes states. A two wave postal mailing in the Spring of 2012 was conducted to help ensure an adequate response rate. A total of 791 (70 %) of the faculty responded. The vast majority felt safe on their campuses (98 %) and were not supportive of people carrying concealed handguns on their campuses (94 %). Seven of the eight potential disadvantages of carrying concealed handguns on campus were supported by the majority of faculty members. Those who were significantly more likely to perceive there to be disadvantages to carrying concealed handguns on campus were: those who did not own a firearm (OR = 4.89), Democrats (OR = 4.52) or Independents (OR = 2.25), Asians (OR = 2.49), and females (OR = 1.51). The vast majority of faculty felt safe on their campuses and perceived that carrying concealed handguns on campuses create more risks than benefits to the campus environment. Aggressive efforts are needed to help maintain the uniquely safe environment of college campuses.
Biochemical studies on the induction of synchronized cell division.

Abstract Thirty to sixty minutes chilling (15 °C) of actively multiplying cultures of B. megaterium induces a synchronous cell multiplication on subsequent incubation at 34 °C. Cell division is completely arrested within 30 minutes of the chilling period. This effect could not be correlated with a comparable arrest of synthesis of any of the measured cell components, all of which are affected to a lesser degree. Dry weight and turbidity are influenced least by the decrease in temperature. Syntheses of DNA, RNA, and protein are affected in increasing order. These results are in agreement with semi-quantitative cytological observations indicating an increase in cell volume and in proportion of nuclear material in cold-arrested cells of B. megaterium. Synchronization seems to be the product of a critical period of “unbalanced growth”, which by favoring DNA synthesis may permit all the nuclei to be brought “into phase” in the non-multiplying cells. This conclusion is necessitated by the inability to associate, so far, the complete arrest of nuclear and cellular division with a corresponding drastic alteration of any specific reaction.
Microsporidium goeldichironomi n. sp. and Microsporidium chironomi n. sp. (Microsporida: Apansporoblastina): Two new microsporidia from Florida chironomids

Abstract Two new species of Microsporida belonging to the genus Microsporidium are described. Microsporidium goeldichironomi n. sp. parasitizes the fat body of Goeldichironomus holoprasinus and Microsporidium chironomi n. sp. infects Chironomus attenuatus . Both microsporidia form uninucleate spores from rosette-shaped sporonts. M. goeldichironomi sporonts form 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, and possibly more spores. Two shapes of spores are produced, oval, or slightly pyriform spores measuring 3.70 ± 0.09 × 2.49 ± 0.13 μm and pyriform spores measuring 3.74 ± 0.44 × 2.04 ± 0.17 μm. Electron micrographs show that both types of spores are uninucleate, have 8 to 11 polar filament coils and a lamellate polaroplast showing several distinct regions. M. chironomi spores are pyriform and are often joined at the posterior end in groups of two or four. They measure 4.12 ± 0.37 × 2.45 ± 0.26 μm. The spores are uninucleate, have six to seven polar filament coils and a lamellate polaroplast showing two distinct regions. Neither species can be transmitted per os and thus are assumed to be transovarially transmitted. No pansporoblastic membrane is present in either species.
Differential temporal behavior between males and females in the hibernating ground squirrel, Citellus lateralis

1. 1. In order to elucidate the differences in the temporal behavior between captive males and females of the hibernating ground squirrel, Citellus lateralis, animals were kept for 4yr at an ambient temperature of 5 ± 1°C and a photoperiod of 12L/12D, with food and water ad lib. 2. 2. Seven parameters were measured, with the following results: (1) the mortality rate of males is higher than females, (2) males hibernate less often than females, (3) the length of the heterothermic period is greater for females than males; but both sexes increase the length of this in successive years, (4) there is no difference between the sexes in the length of the free-running circannual period, provided the females do not breed, (5) the circannual body weight rhythm is dependent upon the homothermicheterothermic rhythm, or vice versa (6) males spend less time than females in hibernation during a heterothermic period, due to a shorter period, but (7) males exhibit longer continuous periods of hibernation within a whole heterothermic period. 3. 3. The physiological and ecological significance of these differences between the sexes is discussed.
Role of protein phosphatases and mitochondria in the neuroprotective effects of estrogens

In the present treatise, we provide evidence that the neuroprotective and mito-protective effects of estrogens are inexorably linked and involve the ability of estrogens to maintain mitochondrial function during neurotoxic stress. This is achieved by the induction of nuclear and mitochondrial gene expression, the maintenance of protein phosphatases levels in a manner that likely involves modulation of the phosphorylation state of signaling kinases and mitochondrial pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins, and the potent redox/antioxidant activity of estrogens. These estrogen actions are mediated through a combination of estrogens receptor (ER)-mediated effects on nuclear and mitochondrial transcription of protein vital to mitochondrial function, ER-mediated, non-genomic signaling and non-ER-mediated effects of estrogens on signaling and oxidative stress. Collectively, these multifaceted, coordinated action of estrogens leads to their potency in protecting neurons from a wide variety of acute insults as well as chronic neurodegenerative processes.