cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Progressive Erosion of β-Cell Function Precedes the Onset of Hyperglycemia in the NOD Mouse Model of Type 1 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE A progressive decline in insulin responses to glucose was noted in individuals before the onset of type 1 diabetes. We determined whether such abnormalities occurred in prediabetic NOD mice—the prototypic model for human type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Morning blood glucose was measured every other day in a cohort of NOD females. Glucose tolerance and insulin secretion were measured longitudinally by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests in NOD/ShiLtJ and BALB/cJ mice 6–14 weeks of age. Arginine-stimulated insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity were assessed during intraperitoneal arginine or intraperitoneal insulin tolerance tests. RESULTS During prediabetes, NOD females displayed a progressive increase in glucose levels followed by an acute onset of hyperglycemia. First-phase insulin responses (FPIRs) during the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) declined before loss of glucose tolerance in NOD. The failure of FPIR could be detected, with a decline in peak insulin secretion during IPGTT. Arginine-stimulated insulin secretion remained unchanged during the study period. The decline in insulin secretion in NOD mice could not be explained by changes in insulin sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS There was an impressive decline in FPIR before changes in glucose tolerance, suggesting that impairment of FPIR is an early in vivo marker of progressive β-cell failure in NOD mice and human type 1 diabetes. We portend that these phenotypes in NOD mice follow a similar pattern to those seen in humans with type 1 diabetes and validate, in a novel way, the importance of this animal model for studies of this disease.
A clarification of the adiabatic heat transfer coefficient as applied to convective cooling of electronics

The objective is to clarify the concept of adiabatic heat transfer coefficient and its application by reviewing its origins and by examining a series of numerical experiments on a well-defined model problem. The model problem consists of a series of one-dimensional thermal sources spaced on one wall of a parallel planes channel. Flow into the channel is either forced by an external blower, or induced into the channel by buoyancy, that is by natural drafting. Results are examined for the base case of non-conducting substrate. The effects of substrate conduction and local buoyancy effects are subsequently introduced and examined. The important conclusion is that the adiabatic heat transfer coefficient is not dependent on temperature history, depending solely on local hydrodynamics. Two important factors which influence the adiabatic heat transfer coefficient are local buoyancy and board conduction effects. Results are discussed for the cases of buoyancy induced channel flow. The usefulness of the adiabatic heat transfer coefficient for the case of natural convection is considered. >
Correlates of language impairment in children with galactosaemia

Purpose This study describes risk factors associated with language impairment in children with classic galactosaemia.
On applying circular self-test path (CSTP) technique to circuits

It is pointed out that the use of a circular self-test path is an attractive built-in self-test technique due to the advantages of a single test session and ease of control. The authors present a procedure for selecting registers for a circular path so that each combinational block of the circuit is tested functionally exhaustively. High-level structural details like identity modes (I-modes) of the circuit are used to reduce the test time and area overhead at the expense of slightly more complex control. A mixed mode test strategy is suggested to improve the pattern coverage for the circuit. Analytical expressions are derived for estimating test time. >
Common Polymorphism in Promoter of Microsomal Triglyceride Transfer Protein Gene Influences Cholesterol, ApoB, and Triglyceride Levels in Young African American Men Results From the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study

Abstract —The microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) plays a key role in the assembly of apolipoprotein B (apoB)-containing lipoproteins. We investigated the relation between lipid profiles and a common functional polymorphism (−493G/T) of the MTP gene in a large sample of young black men in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study. We performed serial cross-sectional analyses on lipids of 586 black men in 5 exams over 10 years of follow-up. Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and apoB levels were very similar between the GT and GG genotypes; therefore, the GT and GG genotypes were combined as 1 group when the 3 phenotypes were analyzed. The results from ANCOVA showed that the TT group (prevalence 7%) had higher levels of apoB-related lipids than did the GT+GG group: the difference in total cholesterol ranged from 2 ( P =0.79) to 19 ( P =0.002) mg/dL in exams 1 to 5; the difference in LDL cholesterol ranged from 10 ( P =0.14) to 17 ( P =0.003) mg/dL in exams 1 to 4, but in examination 5, the difference became negligible. The TT group had higher levels of apoB, measured in only 2 exams, by 6 ( P =0.12) and 9 ( P =0.03) mg/dL. The TT group had higher levels of triglycerides than did the TG or GG group by 3 to 34 ( P =0.02 to ≈0.003) mg/dL in all 5 exams. HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I levels were similar among the 3 genotypes. Our serial cross-sectional analyses indicated that the TT genotype was associated with higher levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and apoB in young black men. The broad effect of this polymorphism on several atherogenic traits suggests that the MTP gene could be influential in atherosclerosis.
Narrowband interference suppression in CDMA spread spectrum communications

Spread spectrum (SS) communications offers a promising solution to an overcrowded frequency spectrum amid growing demand for mobile and personal communications services. The proposed overlay of spread spectrum signals on existing narrowband users implies strong interference for the SS system. The paper discusses how system performance can be improved by preprocessing to suppress narrowband interference. Linear prediction filters have been proposed since the 1980s for suppression of narrowband interference. Vijayan and Poor (1991) proposed nonlinear methods of suppressing the narrowband signal with significant increase in the SNR improvement. The present authors derive an enhancement to this nonlinear prediction and achieve further improvement by applying the technique to interpolating filter structures. Finally, they extend results to the case of multiple spread spectrum users and demonstrate how nonlinear filtering can dramatically outperform linear filtering. >
Effect of free volume fluctuations on polymer relaxation in the glassy state. II. Calculated results

The relaxation following a change in temperature of amorphous polymers near the glass transition has been calculated. The calculation uses a chain model consisting of cis and trans backbone rotational states. The relaxation is assumed to proceed by localized conformational changes whose rates are controlled by the fractional free volume in small enough regions of the polymer that thermal fluctuations need to be considered. The relaxation is treated as a stochastic process, and an approximate solution is obtained for a finite set of relaxation environments. Using what is believed to be the most plausible set of parameters for polystyrene, relaxation curves are computed for the internal energy that are very similar to the curves obtained by Kovacs and others for the volumetric relaxation of poly(vinyl acetate) and polystyrene.
Interactive multimedia for promoting physical activity (IMPACT) in children.

GORAN, MICHAEL I. AND KIM REYNOLDS. Interactive multimedia for promoting physical activity (IMPACT) in children. Obes Res. 2005;13:762–771. Objective: To develop and examine the efficacy of a computer-based interactive multimedia curriculum for promoting physical activity in fourth grade children. Research Methods and Procedures: The participants were 209 fourth grade children (mean age of 9.5 0.4 years) from four schools. Two schools received an 8-week multimedia intervention delivered by interactive CD-ROM, supplemented by four classroom and four homework assignments. Two control schools received educational CD-ROMS not related to health outcomes. Measures conducted before and after intervention included height, weight, percentage body fat (bioimpedance analysis), physical activity (5-day accelerometry), and psychosocial aspects of physical activity by questionnaire. All outcomes were examined using general linear models. Results: There was a significant treatment effect for obesity reduction in girls but not in boys. There were no significant treatment effects on total physical activity by accelerometry (total counts per minute), but there was an overall treatment effect on reducing percent of time in moderate-intensity activity (16.5% to 15% of the time) and significant sex-bytreatment interactions for light-intensity activities (reduction in boys from 78% to 75% of the time and an increase in girls from 78% to 81% of the time). There were marginal/ significant treatment effects for improvements in behavioral outcomes, including self-efficacy (p 0.06), social norms (p 0.07), and outcome expectancies (p 0.049). Discussion: The interactive multimedia curriculum favored an improvement in obesity indices in girls and was associated with subtle changes in physical activity in girls and general improvement in psychosocial outcomes related to physical activity.
Emergent structures in modular self-reconfigurable robots

We demonstrate how simple local sensing and control rules achieve useful emergent behaviors in modular self-reconfigurable (metamorphic) robots. Our biologically inspired approach grows structures with the desired functionality even though the final shapes have some unspecified random variation. By contrast, other self-reconfiguration algorithms require an a-priori exact description of a target shape for the given task, which may be difficult when a robot operates in uncertain environments. We present and evaluate several control algorithms through simulation experiments of Proteo, a metamorphic robot system.
Beyond Good Intentions and Patient Perceptions: Competing Definitions of Effective Communication in Head and Neck Cancer Care at the End of Life

Effective communication between dying cancer patients and their health care providers about prognosis and treatment options ensures informed decision making at the end of life. This study analyzed data from interviews with end-stage head and neck cancer patients and their health care providers about communication competence and approaches to communicating about end-of-life issues. Patients rated their oncologists as competent and comfortable discussing end-of-life issues, although few reported discussing specific aspects of end-of-life care. Oncologists viewed giving prognostic information as a process rather than a singular event, and preferred answering patients’ questions as opposed to guiding the discussion. These data reveal subtle disconnects in communication suggesting that patients’ and health care providers’ information needs are not being met.
Exploring The Reliability, Validity, And Utility Of A Higher Education Faculty Review Process

Institutions of learning face significant calls for accountability, leading to an increased interest in measuring faculty performance. The purpose of this research is to describe and analyze the process of faculty evaluation in a college of education at a southeastern university. The process is outlined with attention given to the reliability, validity, and utility through documenting strengths and weaknesses. Included is a detailed review of the instruments utilized in the process. Suggestions for improvements and modifications are central to the outcomes, including plans for aligning the process with relevant research. The degree to which the faculty review process is deemed credible, professional, and relevant may serve as an indicator of the link between theory and practice. Potential ramifications of a weak or bias system, as faculty promotion and tenure are intertwined with this process, are of utmost importance. Legal issues, including challenges, rise to the forefront. This topic is of importance to students, faculty, and administrators, as all involved and impacted by the review process, either directly or indirectly. The applicability of this work beyond the example institution is also addressed.
A novel bipolar electric fence for excluding white-tailed deer from stored livestock feed

Where cattle (Bos taurus) and free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) coexist, they frequently share space and resources, potentially resulting in damage to stores of livestock feed and risk of interspecies disease transmission. Preventing use of stored feed by deer can be an important objective in farm management, depending on amount of damage experienced and perceived risk of disease transmission. Woven wire fences (2.4 to 3.0 m high) are generally considered to be the most effective means for excluding deer. However, rapidly deployable temporary means of excluding deer could be useful, especially during late winter when deer are most physiologically stressed and motivated to consume feed meant for cattle. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate a novel 1.2-m-tall electric fence consisting of 4 strands of bipolar tape (not requiring separate ground wires or animal contact with ground) for excluding deer from artificially established feed piles during late winter 2008 in northwestern Minnesota. To induce deer to pause, investigate the fence, and receive negative stimuli before attempting to jump the fence, the bipolar tape was baited with a viscous fluid attractive to deer. The fence was estimated to be >80% effective at reducing deer presence at feed piles (10 treatment sites and 11 control sites) given the late winter to early spring conditions. Despite the efficacy, using the fence as a primary means of protecting stored feed from deer in areas with known disease transmission risk (e.g., presence of bovine tuberculosis) is not recommended because risk could remain unacceptably high if even low numbers of deer access stored feed. Yet, the fence could be effective as immediate protection of stored feed in winter before a more permanent and effective deterrence strategy, such as woven-wire fencing, could be installed during the subsequent summer. The fence would also be effective for reducing deer depredation of stored feed, as well as gardens, small orchards, or other localized or seasonal resources.
Extraction of coexpression relationship among genes from biomedical text using dynamic conditional random fields

Text mining tools and algorithms are being successfully used for information extraction especially on large corpus like biomedical publications. These tools not only aid in information extraction but also in forming new theories and relationships between various fields of biomedical research. Extraction of gene-gene or gene-disease relationship is one such application. In this paper, we introduce a method to detect coexpressed genes from text, using the grammatical dependencies among the words within sentences and Dynamic Conditional Random Fields (DCRFs). Determining the coexpression relationship between and among genes can help in identifying important concepts such as the functionality of gene(s) involved, their pathogenic mechanism, and in deciphering protein-protein interactions. This work attempts to extract relevant sentences by labeling the genes involved as well as the word representing the relationship, from full-length papers collected from PubMed. The results obtained were compared with that of Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Nearest Neighbor with generalization (NNge), and have been found to outperform both.
Medical Management of Migraine‐Related Dizziness and Vertigo

Historically, review of migraine-related vestibular symptoms has focused on the various clinical presentations that occur and the results of diagnostic studies of vestibular function. Treatment of vestibular symptoms related to migraine has been proposed similar to that used for headache control, but few examples of the effectiveness of this therapy have been published. The purpose of this study is to present the various approaches that can be used to manage vestibular symptoms related to migraine, and to evaluate the overall effectiveness of these treatment approaches. This was a retrospective review of 89 patients diagnosed with migraine-related dizziness and vertigo. The character of vestibular symptoms, pattern of cochlear symptoms, results of auditory and vestibular tests, and comorbidity factors are presented. Treatment was individualized according to symptoms and comorbidity factors, and analyzed regarding effectiveness in control of the major vestibular symptoms of episodic vertigo, positional vertigo, and nonvertiginous dizziness. Medical management included dietary changes, medication, physical therapy, lifestyle adaptations, and acupuncture. Complete or substantial control of vestibular symptoms was achieved in 68 (92%) of 74 patients complaining of episodic vertigo; in 56 (89%) of 63 patients with positional vertigo; and 56 (86%) of 65 patients with non-vertiginous dizziness. Similarly, aural fullness was completely resolved or substantially improved in 34 (85%) of 40 patients; ear pain in 10 (63%) of 16 patients; and phonophobia in 17 (89%) of 19 patients. No patient reported worsened symptoms following medical management. The conflicting concept of a central disorder (migraine) as the cause of cochlear and vestibular dysfunction that often has peripheral features is discussed.
INTERACTION OF FOUNDRY SANDS WITH GEOSYNTHETICS

Excess foundry sands from gray-iron casting are a mixture of sand, bentonite, and additives that can have properties desirable for structural fills and hydraulic barriers, depending on their bentonite content. To facilitate beneficial reuse of foundry sands, typical strength parameters need to be available so that designers can make comparisons with designs employing virgin earthen materials. To provide typical design parameters, a testing program was conducted to characterize the strength of foundry sands and their interaction with geosynthetics. Small-scale direct shear tests, large-scale multistage interface shear tests, and pullout tests were conducted using foundry sands with bentonite contents representing the range normally found in the casting industry and three geosynthetics (geotextile, geogrid, and geomembrane). The results indicate that foundry sands can be used effectively in geotechnical construction. Friction angles of the as-compacted foundry sands generally ranged between 39° and 43°, and...
Acute toxicity of triazine pesticides to juvenile signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus).

OBJECTIVES: Crustacea are at high risk of toxic effects of agricultural pesticides. Currently, many questions regarding the toxicity of triazine herbicides to crayfish remain unresolved. The aim of this research was to evaluate the acute toxicity of atrazine, hexazinone, metribuzine, prometryne, simazine, and terbutryne to juvenile signal crayfish ( Pacifastacus leniusculus). DESIGN: Acute toxicity tests were performed in accordance with standardized guidelines for testing of chemicals, OECD no. 203, using a semistatic test system. Signal crayfish juveniles (n=672) of 49.0–81.5 mg weight and 12.8–16.0 mm total length were used for the bioassay. Mortalities were recorded daily to 96 h. Each pesticide was tested at concentrations of 1, 10, 40, 70, and 100 mg.l –1 . Percent mortalities were analyzed by linear regression, and median lethal concentration (LC50) values were computed using probit analysis EKO-TOX 5.2 software. RESULTS: 96hLC50 values for juvenile signal crayfish were 12.1 mg.l –1 for atrazine, 13.9 mg.l –1 for terbutryne, 14.4 mg.l –1 for prometryne, 19.5 mg.l –1 for hexazinone, 30.6 mg.l –1 for metribuzine, and 77.9 mg.l –1 for simazine. Atrazine showed the greatest toxicity to signal crayfish. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that triazines are toxic to signal crayfish. Signal crayfish is more sensitive than the fish for atrazine, hexazine, metribuzine, and for these triazines signal crayfish can be used as a bio-indicator of environmental contamination.
Arterial pressure responses to increasing interstitial potassium in hindlimb muscle of dogs

Static contraction of hindlimb skeletal muscle is known to increase reflexly arterial pressure and heart rate. Potassium is known to be released by the working muscle and is thought to activate the afferents responsible for the reflex cardiovascular responses to muscular contraction. However, it is not known whether potassium, at interstitial concentrations within the range observed during static contraction, is capable of stimulating these afferents. Thus we injected potassium into the gracilis artery of chloralose-anesthetized dogs while we measured interstitial potassium concentrations in the gracilis muscle with potassium-selective electrodes. In 16 dogs, we found that potassium injections, which increased interstitial potassium concentrations by 4.7 +/- 0.3 mM, increased mean arterial pressure by 18 +/- 3 mmHg and heart rate by 12 +/- 8 beats/min; cutting the obturator nerve abolished these increases. These heart rate and blood pressure responses were of short duration (20 +/- 7 s), even though interstitial potassium remained elevated for a period of several minutes. In 5 of the 16 dogs, static contraction of the gracilis muscle for 60 s increased interstitial potassium concentration by 4.3 +/- 0.3 mM. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that potassium plays a role in causing the reflex cardiovascular responses to static muscular contraction.
Addressing cheating and workload characterization in on-line games

The Internet has enabled the popular pastime of playing video games to grow rapidly by connecting game players in disparate locations. However, with popularity have come the two challenges of hosting a large number of users and detecting cheating among users. For reasons of control, security, and ease of development, the most popular system for hosting on-line games is the client server architecture. This is also the most expensive and least scalable architecture for the game publisher, which drives hosting costs upwards with the success of the game. In addition to the expense of hosting, as a particular game grows more competitive and popular, the incentive to cheat for that game grows as well, All popular on-line games suffer from cheats in one form or another, and this cheating adversely affects game popularity and growth. In this dissertation we follow a hypothetical game company (GameCorp) as it surmounts challenges involved in running an on-line game. We develop a characterization of gamer habits and game workloads from data sampled over a period of years, and show the benefits and drawbacks of multiplexing online applications together in a single large server farm. We develop and evaluate a geographic redirection service for the public server architecture to match clients with servers. We show how the public server game architecture can be used to scalably host large persistent games such as massively multiplayer (MMO) games that previously used the client server architecture. Finally we develop a taxonomy for client cheating in on-line games to focus research efforts, and specifically treat one of the categories in detail: information exposure in peer-to-peer games. The thesis of this dissertation is: a methodology for accurate usage modeling of server resources can improve workload management; public-server resources can be leveraged in new ways to serve multiplayer on-line games; and that information exposure in peer-to-peer on-line games is preventable or detectable with the adoption of cryptographic protocols.
Unapportioned Direct-Consumption Taxes and the Sixteenth Amendment

The point of this essay is simple: a direct-consumption tax like the Forbes-Armey-Hall-Rabushka flat tax or the Nunn-Domenici USA tax is not a "tax on incomes" within the meaning of the Sixteenth Amendment. As a result, such a tax would be constitutional only if it were apportioned among the states on the basis of population. And since these taxes would not be apportioned-how could they be and work as they are intended to work?-they would be unconstitutional.
Effects of B-Diethylaminoethyl Xanthene 9-Garboxylate Methobromide (Banthine∗) on Human Gastrointestinal Function.†

SummaryIn 10 patients Banthine decreased the volume of gastric secretion without significantly altering gastric acidity. Gastric and small intestinal motor activity was markedly diminished in 2 studies. Banthine depressed gastric secretion in a manner similar to atropine, but side effects were less pronounced. 100 mg of Banthine produced no undesirable side effects other than dryness of the mouth.
80 CARBOPLATIN AND ETOPOSIDE IN ATTENUATED DOSES CAN BE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE IN ELDERLY OR MEDICALLY INFIRM PATIENTS WITH EXTENSIVE STAGE SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER.

Purpose Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is increasingly diagnosed in elderly patients, who are at increased risk of treatment-related morbidity and mortality. We conducted a single-arm phase II study to assess the activity and safety of attenuated doses of carboplatin and etoposide in patients with extensive stage (ES) SCLC and an ECOG performance score of 2-3 or age $ 70 years. Patients and Methods ES-SCLC patients older than 70 years of age or with ECOG PS of 2-3 were enrolled to receive up to 6 courses of carboplatin AUC 4 on day 1 and etoposide 60 mg/m2 /day on days 1-3 every 3 weeks. Primary end points were response rate and survival and the secondary end point was toxicity. Response was assessed after completion of 2 cycles and after completion of all chemotherapy. Results So far 14 patients have been enrolled. Median number of cycles delivered was 5 (range 1-6). Five (38%) patients completed all 6 cycles. Response rate was 69% with 1-year survival probability of 30% and median survival of 10 months. Treatment was well tolerated with neutropenia being the most common toxicity (45% grade 3 or 4). Conclusion In elderly and medically infirmed patients with ES-SCLC, an attenuated regimen of carboplatin and etoposide is active with a favorable toxicity profile. Accrual to this study continues.
Physiologic and Acoustic Effects of Opera Performance.

Summary Introduction/Hypothesis Opera performance is physiological and emotional, and singing performers utilize their larynges in often strenuous ways. Historically, the training of a classical voice has been considered the paragon of healthy singing. However, the natural history of a performing larynx has not been studied systematically. There is paucity of scientific studies to guide practice patterns, particularly with regard to the course and extent of post-performance physiologic and acoustic changes. Study Design A prospective case series was carried out. Methods Principal singers in the Houston Grand Opera's 2012–2013 repertory were enlisted, for a total of seven singers. Stroboscopy was performed prior to the start of rehearsals, and at the completion of the opera's run. Data points included erythema, edema, masses or lesions, mucosal waveform, supraglottic posture; acoustic measurements were also performed. Results There were statistically significant differences ( P 0 . Measures of intra- and inter-rater reliability indicated varying levels of intra-rater reliability, and generally poor inter-rater reliability. Conclusions This pilot study describes physiologic and acoustic changes that may occur over the course of a series of rehearsals and performances in the operatic larynx. In so doing, it highlights a need for larger studies with increased frequency of serial examinations to study in a systematized way what may be natural reactive changes that occur during performance.
Apoptosis as a Normal Mechanism of Growth Control and Target of Toxicant Actions during Spermatogenesis

Production and development of mature male gametes is essential for normal reproductive efficiency and survival of species. Epidemiological research and observations of wildlife have reported an increase in male reproductive abnormalities, including declining sperm counts in human males, thus opening a debate as to the role of environmental pollutants and other factors. The complex organization of the testis of man and common laboratory mammals, and the lack of a good in vitro spermatogenesis system for direct study, has hampered routine chemical testing and frustrated attempts to define the extent of the problem. The challenge is further exacerbated by our incomplete understanding of normal testicular control mechanisms, despite intense research activity over the last 25 years and the acquisition of powerful new tools of cellular and molecular biology for accumulating data. Future progress in understanding human health effects, and the impact of environmental factors on survival of species and ecosystems, has been linked to the development of new animal models and test systems.
Dicer Assay in Drosophila S2 Cell Extract

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is the trigger of RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated gene regulation. Dicer processes dsRNAs into short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), which are incorporated into the effector RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) and direct degradation of homologous target mRNAs. In plants and invertebrates, the RNAi machinery also acts as an antiviral mechanism through production of viral siRNAs by Dicer and silencing of replicating viruses. Viral suppressors of RNAi (VSRs) are encoded by some viruses and serve as a strategy to counteract the RNAi-based antiviral immunity. In this chapter, we describe a Dicer activity assay in extracts prepared from Drosophila melanogaster S2 cells. We also introduce a simple procedure to study VSR activity in the in vitro Dicer assay.
Penile prostheses. An overview.

SUMMARY Penile prosthesis implantation in selected patients can achieve very gratifying results. Satisfactory surgical results can be obtained in a high percentage of cases, and if the patient and his partner are well informed preoperatively, patient and partner satisfaction can also be very good.
The Discursive Limits of Modern Immigration Debates

The disconnect between reality and perception found in immigration debates in the U. S. captures what Richard Hofstadter describes as a paranoid style of politics. This paper looks at how this paranoid politics creates and sustains a fear of immigrants as a pernicious threat to the stability and continuity of many of our prized social and political institutions by presumably refusing to culturally and linguistically assimilate. The paranoid style aptly describes the politics that surround the push for new immigration laws in many states across the U. S., thereby serving as a valuable framework in helping us to understand the rhetorical and communicational devices that frame these legislative initiatives, as well as the pathology.
Polymorphic acetylation of arylamines and DNA-adduct formation.

Inbred mouse strains congenic for rapid and slow N-acetyltransferase (NAT) (A.B6, rapid and B6.A, slow) were used to separate the effect of the NAT polymorphism from the influence of other genetically polymorphic enzymes on DNA adduct formation induced by exposure to arylamine carcinogens. Adduct formation was measured by HPLC analysis of 32P-postlabeled nucleotides from DNA of the urinary bladder and liver. Acetylator phenotype was a significant determinant of DNA damage in females as slow acetylators had higher levels of bladder DNA adducts than rapids. This correlation was the reverse of that seen with liver DNA. Older mice (20-23 weeks) formed much higher bladder DNA adduct levels than young mice (7 week). The increase in bladder adduct formation with age was seen in both sexes of all mouse strains. The older male B6 mice showed a 26-fold increase in bladder adducts and the older females showed no more than a 2-fold increase. In addition, the older male B6 mice produced significant amounts of an unidentified, early eluting adduct peak. Biochemical studies of liver NAT and O-acetyltransferase (OAT) activities showed a direct correlation between the levels of liver 2-aminofluorene (AF) NAT activity and levels of liver DNA-adduct formation, but the role of OAT activity in adduct formation in the mouse remains unclear. These results indicate that the NAT phenotype, age and sex are all important determinants of arylamine-DNA adduct formation in mice.
Biochemical magnetic resonance imaging of knee articular cartilage: T1rho and T2 mapping as cartilage degeneration biomarkers

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease whose hallmark is the degeneration of articular cartilage. There is a worsening epidemic of OA in the United States today, with considerable economic costs. In order to develop more effective treatments for OA, noninvasive biomarkers that permit early diagnosis and treatment monitoring are necessary. T1rho and T2 mapping are two magnetic resonance imaging techniques that have shown great promise as noninvasive biomarkers of cartilage degeneration. Each of the two techniques is endowed with advantages and disadvantages: T1rho can discern earlier biochemical changes of OA than T2 mapping, while T2 mapping is more widely available and can be incorporated into existing imaging protocols in a more time-efficient manner than T1rho. Both techniques have been applied in numerous instances to study how cartilage is affected by OA risk factors, such as age and exercise. Additionally, both techniques have been repeatedly applied to the study of posttraumatic OA in patients with torn anterior cruciate ligaments.
Subsequent Surgery after Revision Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction : Rates and Risk Factors from a Multicenter Cohort

Background:While revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) can be performed to restore knee stability and improve patient activity levels, outcomes after this surgery are reported t...
Bilateral Ovarian Steroid Cell Tumors and Massive Macronodular Adrenocortical Disease in a Patient With Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and Renal Cell Cancer Syndrome

Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma syndrome (HLRCC) is a rare autosomal dominant syndrome associated with heterozygous germline mutations of the fumarate hydratase ( FH ) gene on chromosome 1q42.3-43. Common clinical manifestations include cutaneous and uterine leiomyomas (LMs) and renal cancer. While rare/solitary cases of uterine leiomyosarcomas, bilateral macronodular adrenocortical disease (BMAD), Leydig cell tumors of testis, and ovarian cystadenomas have …
Diurnal salivary alpha-amylase dynamics among dementia family caregivers.

OBJECTIVE The study examined diurnal regulation of salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) in association with daily stressors, adult day services (ADS) use, and other caregiving characteristics. METHOD A sample of 165 family caregivers of individuals with dementia (IWD) completed an 8-day diary study. Caregivers provided 5 saliva samples across the 8 days. On some days, caregivers provided all or most of the care. On other days, their relative attended ADS for part of the day. A 3-level unconditional linear spline model was fit to describe the typical sAA diurnal rhythms. Predictors were then added to the unconditional model to test the hypotheses on ADS use and daily stressors. RESULTS Daily ADS use did not have an effect on diurnal sAA regulation. However, controlling for daily ADS use, greater ADS use over the 8 days was associated with a more prominent rise between 30 min after wake-up and before lunch, and a more prominent decline between before lunch and late afternoon. Fewer ADS days were associated with a more flattened sAA diurnal rhythm. Additionally, greater daily care-related stressor exposures had a within-person association with lower sAA levels in the late afternoon. Care-related stressor exposures had significant within- and between-person associations with sAA diurnal slopes. Furthermore, daily positive experiences had a significant between-person association with sAA diurnal slopes. CONCLUSIONS Caring for a disabled family member may heighten the vulnerability to potential physiological conditions. Respite from care stressors from ADS use may have some biobehavioral benefits on sAA regulations. (PsycINFO Database Record
Multitarget detection by stretch processing of chirp diversity waveforms

It is well-known that the use of stretch processing of FMCW pulses in multitarget scenarios results in the detection of false targets. The problem arises from the delay-Doppler coupling where the beat frequency cannot be attributed to a unique delay-Doppler pair. There have been many proposed waveform designs that attempt to resolve this ambiguity, however, the problem is aggravated as the number of targets grows. Existing approaches for multitarget detection use waveforms of limited configurability, such as up-down chirps separated by CW segments for measuring Doppler. In this paper, we propose a chirp diversity pulse train waveform and the associated detector structure that isolates the returns that lie within one pulse interval. This separation reduces the number of combinations needed to solve for the targets. Furthermore, the waveform is tuned to resolve delay-Doppler coupling of multiple targets with no need for a separate CW segment often used to solve for Doppler. The coupling is resolved by the least squares fit of the beat frequencies to the most likely target delay-Doppler profiles.
Primary Care in Cuba

The Cuban health system surprises the international health community with strong health indicators despite economic hardship and international political tensions. This paper provides an analysis of the Cuban health system with a special focus on the role of primary care and primary care practitioners in Cuban culture. The paper also includes a discussion of Cuban health indicators, current epidemiological issues, national health initiatives, and the effects of Cuba’s political situation on its health care system.
Bargmann type estimates of the counting function for general Schrodinger operators

The paper concerns upper and lower estimates for the number of negative eigenvalues of one- and two-dimensional Schrodinger operators and more general operators with the spectral dimensions d ⩽ 2. The classical Cwikel–Lieb–Rosenblum (CLR) upper estimates require the corresponding Markov process to be transient, and therefore the dimension to be greater than two. We obtain CLR estimates in low dimensions by transforming the underlying recurrent process into a transient one using partial annihilation. As a result, the estimates for the number of negative eigenvalues are not translation invariant and contain Bargmann type terms. The general theorems are illustrated by analysis of several classes of the Schrodinger type operators (on the Riemannian manifolds, lattices, fractals, etc.). We provide estimates from below which prove that the results obtained are sharp. Lieb–Thirring estimates for the low-dimensional Schrodinger operators are also studied. Bibliography: 32 titles.
Earth and Planetary System Science Game Engine

The widespread use of on-line computer games makes the medium a prime vehicle for communicating information and their scalability is especially conducive for facilitating global collaboration focused on developing a better understanding of the underpinnings and complexities of planetary systems beginning with climate change. Game engines generally provide an intuitive interface allowing focus to be shifted to the understanding of scientific elements rather than hiding them between a wealth of menus and other counterintuitive user interface components. Unconventional interaction and visualization techniques are introduced as a method to experience geophysical environments. Players are provided with dynamic visualization "assets," which enable them to discover, interrogate and correlate scientific data in a game space. The spirit of exploration is to give players the impetus to truly understand how complex Earth and planetary systems work and their intrinsic beauty, the impact of humans, and a sense of responsibility to serve as caretakers of those systems.
Lower Leg Anthropometry as a Correlate to Performance and Metabolism from Dynamic Exercise

Lower leg exercises are impacted by the anatomy of the triceps surae-Achilles tendon complex. Such exercises utilize series elastic energy (SEE), temporarily stored within the Achilles tendon, to augment forces exerted by the triceps surae. SEE’s contribution to bipedal jumping and walking were previously assessed. Other forms of lower leg exercise yet to receive similar scrutiny includes seated calf presses done on flywheel-based hardware. Subjects did two identical calf press workouts on a flywheel ergometer. Three criterion variables were obtained from workouts: the total work (TW) performed, net energy costs, and peak blood lactate concentration ([BLa-]). With multivariate regression, four variables attempted to correlate with each of our criterion measures’ variance: lower leg length (LLL) and cross-sectional area (CSA), as well as the lengths of the triceps surae (ML) and Achilles tendon (ATL). Our predictor variables correlated to significant amounts of TW and net energy cost, but not [BLa-] variance. Univariate matrices showed CSA was the best overall predictor for our criterion measures, while ML and ATL were generally weaker correlates. ATL did not have as great an impact as with other lower leg exercises; likely because the slow rate of ankle joint movement greatly limited SEE activity during ergometer repetitions. The limited degree of foot support for ergometer repetitions was also a factor that likely weakened the impact of ATL as a correlate. More research on anthropometry’s impact on this novel form of exercise is warranted.
The Suspension of Habeas Corpus During the Civil War: Anomaly or Dangerous Precedent?

With the American government currently fighting a "new kind of war," debate concerning the curtailing of civil liberties while the war is being fought is not without historical precedent. Examples include the internment of Japanese-Americans during the Second World War and the arrests of anti-war radicals such as Socialist leader Eugene Debs during the First World War. In those examples, the Supreme Court acquiesced with the policies implemented by the other two branches of the government. During the Civil War, however, the high court ruled against the Lincoln Administration's most egregious violation of civil liberties: the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus. Regardless of the Supreme Court's opposition, and the opposition of a large number of private citizens, the writ's suspension remained in effect throughout the war's course. The suspension of the writ during the Civil War proves that during a time of war, the Judiciary's powers are subjugated, particularly, to those of the Executive branch, but also to those of the Legislative body, as well. As scholar Joseph Gambone writes, "During wartime, military leaders have to make fast and drastic decisions; the American judicial system operates too slowly to be effective under such circumstances." 1
Association of Salivary MicroRNA Changes With Prolonged Concussion Symptoms.

Importance Approximately one-third of children who experience a concussion develop prolonged concussion symptoms. To our knowledge, there are currently no objective or easily administered tests for predicting prolonged concussion symptoms. Several studies have identified alterations in epigenetic molecules known as microRNAs (miRNAs) following traumatic brain injury. No studies have examined whether miRNA expression can detect prolonged concussion symptoms. Objective To evaluate the efficacy of salivary miRNAs for identifying children with concussion who are at risk for prolonged symptoms. Design, Setting, and Participants This prospective cohort study at the Penn State Medical Center observed 52 patients aged 7 to 21 years presenting for evaluation of concussion within 14 days of initial head injury, with follow-up at 4 and 8 weeks. Exposures All patients had a clinical diagnosis of concussion. Main Outcomes and Measures Salivary miRNA expression was measured at the time of initial clinical presentation in all patients. Patients with a Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT3) symptom score of 5 or greater on self-report or parent report 4 weeks after injury were designated as having prolonged symptoms. Results Of the 52 included participants, 22 (42%) were female, and the mean (SD) age was 14 (3) years. Participants were split into the prolonged symptom group (n = 30) and acute symptom group (n = 22). Concentrations of 15 salivary miRNAs spatially differentiated prolonged and acute symptom groups on partial least squares discriminant analysis and demonstrated functional relationships with neuronal regulatory pathways. Levels of 5 miRNAs (miR-320c-1, miR-133a-5p, miR-769-5p, let-7a-3p, and miR-1307-3p) accurately identified patients with prolonged symptoms on logistic regression (area under the curve, 0.856; 95% CI, 0.822-0.890). This accuracy exceeded accuracy of symptom burden on child (area under the curve, 0.649; 95% CI, 0.388-0.887) or parent (area under the curve, 0.562; 95% CI, 0.219-0.734) SCAT3 score. Levels of 3 miRNAs were associated with specific symptoms 4 weeks after injury; miR-320c-1 was associated with memory difficulty ( R , 0.55; false detection rate, 0.02), miR-629 was associated with headaches ( R , 0.47; false detection rate, 0.04), and let-7b-5p was associated with fatigue ( R , 0.45; false detection rate, 0.04). Conclusions and Relevance Salivary miRNA levels may identify the duration and character of concussion symptoms. This could reduce parental anxiety and improve care by providing a tool for concussion management. Further validation of this approach is needed.
Enhanced Identification of Long Versus Short Voice Onset Time Consonant–Vowel Syllables in a Dichotic Listening Task

Purpose This study investigated the influence of voice onset time (VOT) on the perception of consonant–vowel (CV) signals during a dichotic listening (DL) task. Method Sixty-two young adults with n...
Advanced texturing in undergraduate computer graphics course: tutorial presentation

This tutorial is intended for educators in four-year colleges teaching undergraduate Computer Graphics courses, and anyone interested in programming in unmanaged C/C++ with OpenGL API. The audience is assumed to be familiar with computer graphics concepts generally covered in college textbooks, e. g. [1] and [2].
Defining and Measuring Laser Beam Quality

This lecture will review a very useful approach that has recently been developed for defining the transverse beam quality as well as other propagation parameters of arbitrary real laser beams. We will also describe a convenient new instrument for measuring the propagation parameters of high-power laser beams, and summarize the results of beam quality measurements made on various types of laser devices.
Optimization of the Trade-Off Between Speckle Reduction and Axial Resolution in Frequency Compounding

We measured the reduction of speckle by frequency compounding using Gaussian pulses, which have the least time-bandwidth product. The experimental results obtained from a tissue mimicking phantom agree quantitatively with numerical simulations of randomly distributed point scatterers. For a fixed axial resolution, the amount of speckle reduction is found to approach a maximum as the number of bands increases while the total spectral range that they cover is kept constant. An analytical solution of the maximal speckle reduction is derived and shows that the maximum improves approximately as the inverse square root of the Gaussian pulse bandwidth. Since the axial resolution is proportional to the inverse of the pulse bandwidth, an optimized trade-off between speckle reduction and axial resolution is obtained. Considerations for the applications of the optimized trade-off are discussed.