cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of an Instructional Model for Emergency Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE To evaluate a 4-hour ultrasonography course in the setting of an emergency medicine (EM) training program. METHODS EM residents and faculty at a large urban center were provided a 4-hour emergency ultrasonography course. Then, during an 18-month period, a nonconsecutive sample of ultrasonographic examinations were videotaped and later reviewed. The interpretations of the emergency, physician examinations were compared with the following reference standards: 1) an official ultrasound performed and interpreted by the departments of radiology or cardiology; 2) an operative report; 3) A CT scan or i.v. pyelogram (IVP); or 4) a cardiologist's or a radiologist's interpretation of the videotaped examinations. RESULTS Of 258 examinations reviewed, 28 (11%) of these were excluded because the cardiologist or radiologist reviewing the videotape determined them to be "technically limited" studies. Of the remaining 230 examinations, there were: 127 gallbladder studies [disease prevalence = 0.58; sensitivity = 0.89; specificity = 0.80; kappa (kappa) = 0.69; 95% CI: 56-82%]; 39 echocardiograms to rule out pericardial effusions [disease prevalence = 0.15; sensitivity = 0.83; specificity = 0.97 kappa = 0.80; 95% CI: 54-100%]; 25 abdominal ultrasounds to rule out free peritoneal fluid [disease prevalence = 0.32; sensitivity = 0.88; specificity = 0.94; kappa = 0.81; 95% CI: 26-95%]; 16 renal ultrasounds to rule out hydronephrosis [disease prevalence = 0.25; sensitivity = 1.0; specificity = 0.92; kappa = 0.84; 95% CI: 56-100%]; 12 pelvic ultrasounds to rule in an intrauterine pregnancy [disease prevalence = 0.67; sensitivity = 1.0; specificity = 0.75; kappa = 0.80; 95% CI: 43-100%]; and 11 abdominal ultrasounds to rule out abdominal aortic aneurysms [disease prevalence = 0.09; sensitivity = 1.0; 95% CI: 2.5-91%; specificity = 1.0; 95% CI: 68-100%]. CONCLUSIONS This 4-hour ultrasonography course has potential to serve as a foundation for an instructional model for ultrasonography training in the setting of an EM residency program.
A risk-benefit assessment of tacrine in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Tacrine, the first drug specifically approved for Alzheimer's disease, produces symptomatic improvement. The theoretical rationale behind treating Alzheimer's disease with tacrine is based on central cholinergic depletion. Tacrine is centrally acting, uncompetitive reversible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. Multiple clinical trials support the effectiveness of tacrine in Alzheimer's disease. High dosages of tacrine are required for efficacy, with the potential for hepatic and mild gastrointestinal adverse effects. However, the benefits of tacrine currently outweigh its risks, and a trial of the drug should be offered to patients. As clinical experience with tacrine increases, the long term risk-benefit equation may be refined.
Detection of minimal residual disease in peripheral blood prior to clinical relapse of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia using PCR

Abstract Submicroscopic evidence of persistent minimal residual disease (MRD) in first remission bone marrow samples from children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) indicates a high risk of clinical relapse. Since microscopic evidence of leukaemic lymphoblasts is often present in the peripheral blood in the weeks before clinical presentation at diagnosis or relapse, peripheral blood may be used instead of bone marrow to detect MRD in ALL patients. We examined a median of 0·165 μg (from 1·0–2·0×10 4 cells) genomic DNA from archived peripheral blood smears collected 8–16 months prior to clinical relapse in eight children with ALL for evidence of MRD. We used the polymerase chain reaction and primers designed to identify clonal antigen receptor gene rearrangements. Among the seven patients with bone marrow relapse, MRD was detected at a median of 1·2 months (0–8 months) prior to clinical relapse, indicating that MRD in the peripheral blood may be a late event in the course of leukaemic relapse. A prospective MRD study in ALL patients analysing larger numbers of peripheral blood cells will be needed to evaluate the utility of peripheral blood over bone marrow for MRD testing in childhood ALL.
Electrophoretic analysis of liver rRNA maturation in irradiated and 5-fluoroorotic acid treated rats

Abstract Gel electrophoretic patterns of nuclear and cytoplasmic ribosomal RNA (rRNA) from livers of intact and adrenalectomized rats were studied after exposure to gamma radiation (1800 rad) and/or 5-fluoroorotic acid (5-FOA) treatment. By 6 hr after either 5-FOA administration alone, or in combination with irradiation, incorporation of (6- 14 C )orotic acid into 45S rRNA precursors was elevated because maturation was blocked and appearance of 28S and 18S subunits delayed. By 12 hr post-irradiation the 45S block was firmly established. In adrenalectomized rats 5-FOA administration alone produced a block within 0.5 hr and after 6 hr following exposure to radiation. The results obtained in the current study are consistent with the conclusion that radiation selectively inhibits rRNA maturation in liver cells; and the response is influenced by the presence of adrenal glands.
Frequency-dependent effects of ethanol on dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens.

Background Ethanol (EtOH) is known to have excitatory effects on dopamine (DA) release, with moderate-to-high doses (0.5 to 2.5 g/kg) of acute EtOH enhancing DA neuron firing rates in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and DA levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). EtOH has also been shown to reduce DA activity, with moderate doses (1 to 2 g/kg) attenuating electrically evoked release, and higher doses (5 g/kg) decreasing NAc DA levels, demonstrating a biphasic effect of EtOH on DA release. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate EtOH's inhibitory effects on NAc DA terminal release under low- and high-frequency stimulation conditions. Methods Using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry in NAc slices from C57BL/6J mice, we examined EtOH's (40 to 160 mM) effects on DA release under several different stimulation parameters, varying frequency (5 to 125 Hz), number of pulses (1 to 10), and stimulation intensity (50 to 350 μA). Additionally, calcium concentrations were manipulated under high-frequency stimulation conditions (20 Hz, 10 pulses, 350 μA) to determine whether EtOH's effects were dependent upon calcium concentration, and by extension, the amount of DA release. Results Acute EtOH (40 to 160 mM) inhibited DA release to a greater extent under high-frequency, multiple-pulse stimulation conditions, with increased sensitivity at 5 and 10 pulses and frequencies of 20 Hz or higher. High-frequency, multiple-pulse stimulations also resulted in greater DA release compared with single-pulse release, which was controlled by reducing stimulation intensity. Under reduced DA conditions, high-frequency stimulations still showed increased EtOH sensitivity. Reducing calcium levels also decreased DA release at high-frequency stimulations, but did not affect EtOH sensitivity. Conclusions EtOH appears to inhibit DA release at NAc terminals under high-frequency stimulation conditions that are similar to release events observed during phasic burst firing in DAergic neurons, suggesting that EtOH may provide inhibition of DA terminals selectively during phasic signaling, while leaving tonic DA terminal activity unaffected.
A three-dimensional explicit element-free galerkin method

The formulation and implementation of a three-dimensional meshless method, the element-free Galerkin (EFG) method, are described. The formulation is intended for dynamic problems with geometric and material nonlinearities solved with explicit time integration, but some of the developments are applicable to other solution methods. The mechanical formulation is posed in the reference configuration so that the shape functions and their derivatives need to be computed only once. A method for speeding up the calculation of shape functions and their derivatives is presented. Results are presented for sloshing problems and Taylor bar impact problems, including an impact problem in which the bar impacts with an angle of obliquity.
Four-year longitudinal study of conduct disorder in boys: patterns and predictors of persistence.

A prospective study of conduct disorder (CD) was conducted using 4 annual structured diagnostic interviews of 171 clinic-referred boys, their parents, and their teachers. Only about half of the 65 boys who met criteria for CD in Year 1 met criteria again during the next year, but 88% met criteria for CD again at least once during the next 3 years. For most boys with CD, the number of symptoms fluctuated above and below the diagnostic threshold from year to year but remained relatively high. Lower socioeconomic status, parental antisocial personality disorder (APD), and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder were significant correlates of CD in Year 1, but the interaction of parental APD and the boy's verbal intelligence predicted the persistence of CD symptoms over time (i.e., only boys without a parent with APD and with above-average verbal intelligence clearly improved). Conduct disorder (CD) is a pattern of maladaptive behavior of children that is characterized by a variety of antisocial behaviors, including physical aggression, deception, and violation of the property rights of others (Lahey, Loeber, Frick, Quay, & Grimm, 1992). It is generally considered to be a serious childhood disorder that is the primary precursor to chronic antisocial behavior during adulthood (Kazdin, 1987a; Robins, Tipp, & Pryzbeck, 1991). Because it is difficult to reduce the frequency of antisocial behavior in children with CD through psychosocial treatment (Kazdin, 1987b), CD is conceptualized as a disorder that is usually chronic (Kazdin, 1987a). Evidence from longitudinal studies is consistent with the view that antisocial behavior in childhood is persistent over time; however, these same data raise a question about the degree of persistence of the disorder. For example, studies of official court records have shown that 50%-70% of youths who are arrested for delinquent acts during childhood or adolescence are arrested in adulthood (Loeber, 1982, 1990, 1991;McCord, 1979;
Computer Security in the Introductory Business Information Systems Course: An Exploratory Study of Textbook Coverage.

The authors conducted an evaluation of Management Information Systems (MIS) textbooks and found that computer security receives very little in-depth coverage. The textbooks provide, at best, superficial treatment of security issues. The research results suggest that MIS faculty need to provide material to supplement the textbook to provide adequate coverage of this important and timely issue.
Observations on two patients with paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia treated by the intravenous administration of quinidine lactate

Abstract Two cases of ventricular tachycardia treated by the intravenous administration of quinidine lactate are reported. The possible etiological factors, diagnostic difficulties, and electrocardiographic findings in ventricular tachycardia are presented. The oral and intravenous administration of quinidine are discussed, also.
Role of plasmapheresis in acute disseminated (Postinfectious) encephalomyelitis

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a demyelinating central nervous system disease that is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Although the recognition of ADEM may be facilitated by newer imaging techniques, the optimal treatment of this disease remains uncertain. We describe 4 patients with severe ADEM who responded to treatment that included intensive plasmapheresis. Two of the patients were in coma at the time that plasmapheresis was instituted, and all 4 patients made an excellent recovery. Immunologic studies revealed increased serum IgA levels, increased circulating immune complex levels as measured by the Raji cell assay, and decreased numbers of T and B cells prior to treatment of ADEM. These abnormalities improved following plasma exchange. Plasmapheresis appears to be effective in reversing the neuropathologic process in ADEM. The role of this treatment modality in ADEM requires further evaluation in controlled clinical trials.
Simulations of the penetration of limestone targets by ogive-nose 4340 steel projectiles

In this paper we extend Forrestal's semi-empirical penetration method for limestone targets to account for pitch, yaw and projectile deformation. This is achieved using a combined analytical and computational technique we have developed to calculate permanent projectile deformation without erosion. With this technique we use an explicit transient dynamic finite element code to model the projectile, and an analytical forcing function based on the dynamic expansion of a spherical cavity derived from Forrestal's depth of penetration equation to represent the target. Additionally, this work extends the forcing function methodology by introducing a successive layering technique to account for the loss of confinement due to entrance cratering effects. Results from simulations are compared with the corresponding experimental results and shown to be in good agreement. Furthermore, it is shown that in many of the events the projectile goes through significantly more deformation than what is observed from its post-test configuration.
A Study of Pyramidal Techniques for Image Representation and Compression

Abstract We review and compare a number of linear and nonlinear pyramidal image decomposition techniques which are based on the approach proposed by Burt and Adelson ( IEEE Trans. Comm. 31, 1983, 532-540). We argue that the design of a proper Burt-Adelson type pyramidal decomposition technique is directly related to the design of an optimal (nonlinear in general) image predictor. However, determining such a predictor is not possible in general. We propose four prediction constraints, which uniquely identify the "optimal" predictor as being a morphological opening. This choice naturally leads to one of the morphological image decomposition algorithms proposed by Heijmans and Toet ( Comput. Vision Graphics Image Process. Image Understanding , 54, 1991, 384-400). By using an experimental analysis, based on a collection of four images with a broad spectrum of structural detail, we are able to study the behavior of six pyramidal image representation and compression techniques, and demonstrate the superiority (in terms of compression performance and computational simplicity) of the Heijmans-Toet algorithm.
Effect of a wind tunnel on the acoustic field from various aeroacoustic sources

The effects of the walls of an enclosed test section wind tunnel on measurements of sound fields from various sources has been studied. The acoustic field from a known source in a wind tunnel has been modeled as an infinitely long duct with constant cross section. The model was solved with a numerical panel technique in a control volume near the source, and matched to an outer analytic solution. Several sample problems were studied in a rectangular duct with and without flow. The results indicate that the presence of the duct affects the acoustic field, and that small changes in the product of duct cross dimensions and the source wave number can change the acoustic field significantly. It is also shown that, for low-frequency helicopter rotor harmonic noise, measured in typical wind tunnel rotor tests, the sound levels beyond one rotor diameter from the hub are unreliable indications of the free-field sound levels.
Direct method of damage localization for civil structures via shape comparison of dynamic response measurements

A method of damage localization is introduced which relies on continuous wavelet transformation of the structure's forced dynamic response. Continuous wavelet transforms represent the shape attributes of time series and enhance their delineation in the time-scale domain. As such, they allow identification of localized shape changes of dynamic responses for signal change detection. This change detection capacity enables identifying the damage-affected responses as well as formulating the characteristic effects of individual damaged components on the modeled dynamic response. The results obtained from simulated acceleration of a nine-storey building are 90% and 100% accurate with the steady-state and transient accelerations, respectively.
Lessons Learned from the Development and Implementation of a Parent Nutrition Education Program with Low-Income Latina Mothers in an Urban School District Setting

Abstract This article describes the steps involved in the development and implementation of a parent nutrition education workshop series for a low-income, primarily Spanish-speaking population in an urban school district setting. Overall, those parents who participated in the nutrition education workshops showed positive changes in their knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and behaviors with regard to healthy eating when compared to parents who did not participate in the workshops. Lessons learned from working with a variety of different groups and organizations to complete the project are presented, including the value of formative research for program design, tailoring the intervention to the population of interest, and developing relationships among key stakeholder groups. Our project demonstrates the benefits that may result from academic/community collaborations.
Efficient sleep stage classification based on EEG signals

Currently, sleep disorders are considered as one of the major human life issues. There are several stable physiological stages that the human brain goes through during sleep. Nowadays, many biomedical signals such as EEG, ECG, EMG, and EOG offer useful details for clinical setups that are used in identifying sleep disorders. In this work, we propose an efficient technique that could be implemented in hardware to differentiate sleep stages which will assist physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of related sleep disorders. This study depends on different EEG datasets from PhysioNet using the Sleep-EDF [Expanded] Database that were acquired and described by scientists for the analysis and diagnosis of sleep stages. Generally, the EEG signal is decomposed into five bands: delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma to define the change in brain state. In this work, Butterworth band-pass filters are designed to filter and decompose EEG into the above frequency sub-bands. In addition, various discriminating features including energy, standard deviation and entropy are computed and extracted from each δ, □, α, β and γ sub-band. Furthermore, the extracted features are then fed to a supervised learning classifier; support vector machine (SVM) to be able to recognize the sleep stages state and identify if the acquired signal is corresponding to wake or stage 1 of sleep, according to the purpose of this research. The key novelty of this work is to identify the sleep stages from a publicly available EEG signal dataset by using a feasible set of features, easily implementable filters in any microcontroller device, and an efficient classification method. Therefore, physicians can track these sleep stages to identify certain patterns such as detecting fatigue, drowsiness, and/or various sleep disorders such as sleep apnea. The experimental results on a variety of subjects verify 92.5% of classification accuracy of the proposed work.
Serum Androgen Levels in Senescent Crl:CD-1®(ICR)BR Mice: Effects of Castration and Testosterone Treatment

Serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone were measured in intact, orchiectomized and orchiectomized-androgen-treated CD-1 mice. Although dehydroepiandrosterone was not detectable in the serum of old mice, approximately half of the very substantial serum concentration of this hormone found in the mature mice appeared to be of adrenal origin. In contrast to dehydroepiandrosterone, serum levels of testosterone and, when detectable, the other androgens, were the same in mature and senescent intact males. Serum levels responded similarly to castration and testosterone replacement. Seminal vesicle weights reflected the similar serum androgen levels found in both age groups. The results indicate that there is neither an age-associated decline in the serum concentration of testosterone nor an apparent alteration in the hepatic and/or peripheral metabolism of testosterone in aging CD-1 male mice.
The Boolean algebra of Galois algebras

Let B be a Galois algebra with Galois group G , J g = { b ∈ B | b x = g ( x ) b for all x ∈ B } for each g ∈ G , and B J g = B e g for a central idempotent e g , B a the Boolean algebra generated by { 0 , e g | g ∈ G } , e a nonzero element in B a , and H e = { g ∈ G | e e g = e } . Then, a monomial e is characterized, and the Galois extension B e , generated by e with Galois group H e , is investigated.
Top-down approaches for measuring expression ratios of intact yeast proteins using Fourier transform mass spectrometry.

The extension of quantitation methods for small peptides to ions above 5 kDa, and eventually to global quantitative proteomics of intact proteins, will require extensive refinement of current analytical approaches. Here we evaluate postgrowth Cys-labeling and 14N/15N metabolic labeling strategies for determination of relative protein expression levels and their posttranslational modifications using top-down mass spectrometry (MS). We show that intact proteins that are differentially alkylated with acrylamide (+71 Da) versus iodoacetamide (+57 Da) have substantial chromatographic shifts during reversed-phase liquid chromatography separation (particularly in peak tails), indicating a requirement for stable isotopes in alkylation tags for top-down MS. In the 14N/15N metabolic labeling strategy, we achieve 98% 15N incorporation in yeast grown 10 generations under aerobic conditions and determine 50 expression ratios using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance MS in comparing these cells to anaerobically g...
Statistical process control with several components of common cause variability

The most commonly used model of ‘statistical’ control' for industrial production processes is that observations taken over time are independent and identically distributed. Thus, for example, the estimate of variability used to establish Shewhart X¯-chart control limits is almost always based on within-subgroup variability. We review and present generalizations of this in-control model to include multiple components of common cause variability, such as batch-to-batch variability. An example involving integrated circuit processing, with three components of variability, is given to illustrate the proposed techniques. The usefulness of the multi-vari chart is emphasized.
Configuration Understanding: Analyzing The Contents Of A Pile

A technique for analyzing dense range images of a pile of simple but unknown objects is discussed. The technique analyzes the configuration of objects in the pile and uses concepts such as stability, viewpoint independence, and object solidity to hypothesize the shapes and sizes of the objects. These hypotheses are analyzed using the known geometry of the range sensor to rule out the inconsistent configurations. The final result of the analysis is one or more descriptions of the 3-D scene, each of which is consistent with i he sensed data, and with the constraints imposed by the physics of objects in contact.
A study of reactive adhesion promoters and their ability to mitigate pattern collapse in thin film lithography

As integrated circuit fabrication continues to advance towards the 22 nm node and below, it has become clear that although line edge roughness and resolution are important, other issues such as pattern collapse must be addressed in order for technology to continue to progress. One of the primary modes of pattern collapse at small feature sizes is adhesion failure caused by loss of adhesion of the resist to the substrate during the drying process. The main forces which govern pattern collapse by adhesion failure are related to substrate/resist interactions. Significant research has been conducted to find methods for reducing capillary forces, such as use of surfactants in rinses, to reduce pattern collapse. However, the use of spin drying has also been observed to exhibit other collapse related effects that are not sensitive to such treatments. To this end, in this work a reactive adhesion promoter capable of covalently attaching to hydroxystyrene-based positive tone resist copolymers has been developed and demonstrated. A vinyl-ether-modified silane was prepared and effectively applied using a solution silanization reaction. A model hydroxystyrene-based positive tone resist was applied and subjected to post apply bake to cause reaction of the surface modifier with the photoresist to occur prior to patterning using e-beam lithography. Contact angle studies and ellipsometry were used to characterize the surface silanization reaction. Pattern collapse test structures were fabricated and analyzed after development and drying on the different surfaces to quantify the impact of the use of the covalent surface linker and compare it to more standard adhesion promoter processes such as those utilizing hexamethyldilazane (HMDS). The effect of soft bake condition on the performance of the reactive adhesion promoter has also been studied. Ultimately, the results of critical stress analysis and SEM studies of the resulting patterns confirm that use of surface priming agents that covalently attach the resist to the substrate can significantly enhance resist-substrate adhesion and dramatically reduce pattern collapse.
Newly available treatments for epilepsy: review of clinical studies of lacosamide, ezogabine, perampanel and eslicarbazepine acetate

Despite that many different treatment options are available for epilepsy, approximately 30% of epilepsy patients still remain refractory. Among patients who are refractory to medical treatment, only small percentage of patients may be candidates for epilepsy surgery. For the remaining majority of refractory seizure patients, combination treatment of different medications, especially with new or novel medications, can be an appropriate therapeutic option. The most recent antiepileptic medications may offer new mechanisms of action and more favorable safety profiles than the previous-generation medications. The purpose of this review article is to review clinical studies of newly approved medications for partial epilepsy such as lacosamide, ezogabine, perampanel and eslicarbazepine acetate.
Gelation: Grow with the flow

So far, flow-induced transitions and structures formed by the assembly of surfactant micelles have been reversible. Now, a microporous extensional flow process forms a permanent gel, which remains intact even after flow has stopped.
The Correlation of Physiological Differences and Varions Leaf Forms of an Aqnatic Plant

An analysis of the celluar constituents of the leaves of an aquatic fern, Marsilea vestita, was done after and during the formation of different leaf forms. Land leaves of Marsilea produced almost twice as much dry material, soluble carbohydrate, insoluble protein and soluble peptides compared to submerged leaves on a fresh weight basis, but on a dry weight basis there is tittle difference between the two types of leaves. the submerged leaf soluble nitrogen fraction consisted mostly of ammonia and free amino acids, while that of the land leaf probably con tained mostly peptides. Free arginine was present in large quantities in megaspores and as the plant matured, at the expense of the megaspore, the amount of arginine left in the pool diminished. A correlation was found between soluble sugar increase and leaf elongation, Just prior to the production of submerged leaves the developing leaves contained low levels of protein and soluble sugar, but high levels of soluble nitrogen and an increased amount of starch. A theory which involves metabolism was proposed to account for the leaf form changes in Marsilea.
Previous cesarean section: the risks and benefits of oxytocin usage in a trial of labor.

Abstract Permitting a trial of labor in patients with a previous cesarean birth is rapidly becoming an accepted alternative to routine elective repeat cesarean section. As interest in this approach has grown and the risks associated with a trial of labor have been better defined, the use of oxytocin in these patients emerges as a pertinent issue. Our retrospective experience of oxytocin use in patients undergoing a trial of labor suggested no increased maternal or fetal risk compared to patients who did not receive oxytocin. On the basis of our prior experience, we set out to investigate prospectively the role of oxytocin in 732 patients with prior cesarean section who underwent a trial of labor. During the study period, 289 (40%) patients received oxytocin for either induction (32, 11%) or augmentation (257, 89%) of labor and 443 patients did not receive oxytocin. Successful vaginal delivery was achieved in 200 patients (69%) as opposed to 395 (89%) of the patients who did not receive oxytocin. The incidences of dehiscence in the oxytocin and no oxytocin groups were 3% and 2%, respectively. Further analysis of vaginal and cesarean delivery complications for the two groups were contrasted and no significant differences were found with respect to the incidence of hemorrhage, uterine atony, hysterectomy, or the requirement of transfusions. Neonatal outcome was also compaable for both groups. On the basis of our prospective experience, it appears that the use of oxytocin, when carefully monitored, is a safe and reasonable consideration in the patient andergoing a trial of labor.
NP-completeness of some problems concerning voting games

The problem of confirming lower bounds on the number of coalitions for which an individual is pivoting is NP-complete. Consequently, the problem of confirming non-zero values of power indices is NP-complete. The problem of computing the Absolute Banzhaf index is #P-complete. Related problems for power indices are discussed.
Measurement of Contrast Ratios for 3D Display

3D image display devices have wide applications in medical and entertainment areas. Binocular (stereoscopic) imaging without glasses, especially spatial-multiplexed displays such as lenticular display, barrier strip display, and single-lens stereoscopic display, is one of the most powerful and popular ways for life-like presentation of our 3D environments. The definition and relationship of the image contrast and viewer crosstalk are reviewed and clarified. They are measured and compared on three different types of 3D display systems, including shutter-glasses stereoscopic display, image splitter autostereoscopic display and dual-panel autostereoscopic display.
If we could change the world: young people and America’s long struggle for racial equality

by Rebecca de Schweinitz, Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina Press, 2009, 368 pp., $36.00 (cloth), ISBN‐10 0807832359 What if? Across time and space, young people find it easier than adults ...
Dimension change profile analysis: A systematic approach to health-related quality of life instrument selection in novel applications

This manuscript suggests a new method of instrument selection in novel applications. Dimension change profile analysis was developed to ensure the credibility and validity of the observed outcomes while maximizing the probability of obtaining statistically significant results.
Brillouin scattering near the ferroelectric phase transition in TSCC

Abstract Brillouin spectra from longitudinal phonons in ferroelectric tris-sarcosine calcium chloride (TSCC) propagating along [100], [010] and [001] have been measured as functions of temperature. Large anomalies were found in the Brillouin shift and linewidth in the [100] and [001] phonons. These anomalies are interpreted as arising from the linear coupling of the polarization and phonons. From the the temperature where the linewidth is maximum, the relaxation time of the polarization fluctuations is estimated to be τ = 3.1×10−12/(Tc−T) sec, where Tc is the ferroelectric transition temperature. We also observed anomalies in Brillouin shift and linewidth of the [010] phonons which propagate along the ferroelectric axis. These anomalies are interpreted as coming from electrostrictive coupling. The energy relaxation time was estimated to be τE=2.5×10−10/(T−Tc) sec in the paraelectric (PE) phase and τE=1.0x10−9/(T−Tc) sec in the ferroelectric (FE) phase, by comparing our Brillouin results with those f the u...
Electromagnetic theory predictions of the directional scattering from triangular surfaces

Angular predictions of directional scattering distributions for metal and dielectric surfaces with length scales of the order of the wavelength are made from rigorous electromagnetic scattering theory. The theoretical and numerical formulation of the electromagnetic scattering solution based on the extinction theorem is presented. One-dimensional triangular surface profiles are generated using a Fourier series representation for various correlation lengths, deviations, and surface peak positions. Bidirectional reflection functions and directional emissivities are calculated for the surface geometry parameters above and various optical properties. Angular enhancements in bidirectional reflection and emissivity are quantified. Angular scattering and emissivity predictions have been extended beyond those previously reported to include surfaces with equivalent correlation length and deviation.
Influences on fruit and vegetable consumption by low-income black American adolescents.

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to identify personal, behavioral, and environmental factors influencing fruit and vegetable consumption among 10- to 13-year-old low-income black American youth in the lower Mississippi Delta region. Social Cognitive Theory, along with other theoretical constructs, guided focus group questions and analysis Design A qualitative study using focus group methodology. Setting Enrichment program of a sports summer camp for low-income youth. Participants Forty-two adolescents (21 female, 21 male) participated in 6 focus groups. Main Outcome Measures Personal, behavioral, and environmental influences on fruit and vegetable consumption. Analysis Content analysis methods were used by 3 independent reviewers to identify themes within the focus group transcripts. Themes were summarized and then categorized into the 3 domains of Social Cognitive Theory. Results The major themes were taste, availability, extended family influence, visual proof of the benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption, and the need for gender-specific behavioral skills. Conclusions and Implications This formative research will-aid in the development of a culturally relevant nutrition intervention for low-income black American adolescents in the lower Mississippi Delta region. The results indicate that this group is more likely to respond to interventions that use role models who can provide proof that fruit and vegetable consumption is related to improved health.
Case studies of particle formation events observed in boreal forests: implications for nucleation mechanisms

Aerosol nucleation events observed worldwide may have significant climatic and health implications. However, the specific nucleation mechanisms remain ambiguous. Here, we report case studies of eight nucleation events observed during an intensive field campaign at a boreal forest site (Hyytiala, Finland) in spring 2005. The present analysis is based on comprehensive kinetic simulations using an ion-mediated nucleation (IMN) model in which the key physical and chemical parameters are constrained by a variety of recent measurements. Out of the 22 days of the campaign on which nucleation events were observed, eight major events were selected for detailed analysis on the basis of indications that the observed air masses were relatively homogeneous. In most of these cases, reasonable agreement is found between IMN predictions and field data for a range of variables, including critical nucleation sizes, size-dependent overcharging ratios, and the concentrations of 1.8–3 nm stable clusters and 3–6 nm particles, and their diurnal variations. The possible reasons leading to substantial differences between observation and theory in some cases are also explored. Statistically, roughly 80% of the nucleation events recorded during the Hyytiala campaign exhibited mean size-dependent particle overcharging ratios within the range of, or exceeding, those predicted by the IMN model, suggesting that ion nucleation processes were significant during these events. The nucleation rates calculated using the IMN modeling approach are contrasted with those predicted by other theories/models, and key differences between the results are discussed. In particular, it is concluded that the ion nucleation model originally developed by Lovejoy et al. (2004) significantly under-predicts ion nucleation rates, and cannot explain the new observations from Hyytiala regarding the electrical properties of nanoparticles. We also show that, for the well documented conditions of the Hyytiala project, the binary and ternary homogeneous nucleation rates calculated using the most current theories would fall well below ~10 −7 cm −3 s −1 , and thus would be negligible.
Group II intron splicing factors derived by diversification of an ancient RNA-binding domain

Group II introns are ribozymes whose catalytic mechanism closely resembles that of the spliceosome. Many group II introns have lost the ability to splice autonomously as the result of an evolutionary process in which the loss of self-splicing activity was compensated by the recruitment of host-encoded protein cofactors. Genetic screens previously identified CRS1 and CRS2 as host-encoded proteins required for the splicing of group II introns in maize chloroplasts. Here, we describe two additional host-encoded group II intron splicing factors, CRS2-associated factors 1 and 2 (CAF1 and CAF2). We show that CRS2 functions in the context of intron ribonucleoprotein particles that include either CAF1 or CAF2, and that CRS2-CAF1 and CRS2-CAF2 complexes have distinct intron specificities. CAF1, CAF2 and the previously described group II intron splicing factor CRS1 are characterized by similar repeated domains, which we name here the CRM (chloroplast RNA splicing and ribosome maturation) domains. We propose that the CRM domain is an ancient RNA-binding module that has diversified to mediate specific interactions with various highly structured RNAs.
Ellipsometry of cytochrome c on gold surfaces: effect of 4,4′-dipyridyl disulfide

Abstract Ellipsometry has been used to study the mode of adsorption of horse heart cytochrome c on gold in the presence and absence of the promoter 4,4′-dipyridyl disulfide. In the absence of 4,4′-dipyridyl disulfide, cytochrome c unfolds on the surface and forms an irreversibly adsorbed layer that completely covers the electrode. Adsorbed cytochrome c can mediate the reduction of cytochrome c in solution via electron transfer through the unfolded protein layer; the oxidation of cytochrome c in solution was not observed. On gold modified with 4,4′-dipyridyl disulfide, cytochrome c adsorbs irreversibly but retains its native configuration. Ellipsometry and charge transfer measurements show that the layer of adsorbed cytochrome c completely covers the gold surface in the presence of the promoter. Both the reduction and oxidation of cytochrome c in solution occurs through the adsorbed protein layer on the modified surface. These results show that 4,4′-dipyridyl disulfide plays a key role in preventing the unfolding of adsorbed cytochrome c at the electrode solution interface.
A haptic control interface for a motorized exercise machine

A haptic interface is generated for a powered arm curl machine for modulating resistance "on-the-fly" during strength training and rehabilitation. Force signals from a load cell are input to an impedance loop based on the desired resistance law, which then outputs position commands to a servomotor. The kinematics between the actuator drive and arm curl angle are derived, and the admittance control implementation used for realizing the resistance laws is described. Preliminary experimental results are presented for viscous and inertial control laws.
Natural Isolates of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Display Complex Genetic Variation in Sporulation Efficiency

Sporulation is a well-studied process executed with varying efficiency by diverse yeast strains. We developed a high-throughput method to quantify yeast sporulation efficiency and used this technique to analyze a line cross between a high-efficiency oak tree isolate and a low-efficiency wine strain. We find that natural variation in sporulation efficiency mirrors natural variation in higher eukaryotes: it shows divergence between isolated populations, arises from loci of major effect, and exhibits epistasis. We show that the lower sporulation efficiency of the wine strain results from a failure to initiate sporulation, rather than from slower kinetics of meiosis and spore formation. The two strains differentially regulate many genes involved in aerobic respiration, an essential pathway for sporulation, such that the oak tree strain appears better poised to generate energy from this pathway. We also report that a polymorphism in RME1 that affects sporulation efficiency in laboratory strains also cosegregates with significant phenotypic differences in our cross of natural isolates. These results lay the groundwork for the study of variation in sporulation efficiency among natural isolates of yeast.
Prediction models for carbon dioxide emissions and the atmosphere

The object of the present study is to develop statistical models for predicting the carbon dioxide emissions and the atmosphere in the United States. We used monthly emissions data from 1981 to 2003 that was collected by the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center. For the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, we used the data that was collected in Mauna Loa from 1965 to 2004 by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The developed statistical models take into consideration trends and seasonal effects. The quality of the prediction process is illustrated using the actual data.
Computer Simulation of Oscillatory Behavior in Cerebral Cortical Networks

It has been known for many years that specific regions of the working cerebral cortex display periodic variations in correlated cellular activity. While the olfactory system has been the focus of much of this work, similar behavior has recently been observed in primary visual cortex. We have developed models of both the olfactory and visual cortex which replicate the observed oscillatory properties of these networks. Using these models we have examined the dependence of oscillatory behavior on single cell properties and network architectures. We discuss the idea that the oscillatory events recorded from cerebral cortex may be intrinsic to the architecture of cerebral cortex as a whole, and that these rhythmic patterns may be important in coordinating neuronal activity during sensory processing.
Peripheral and Alveolar Response in Guinea Pigs to an Aerosol Exposure of Thermoactinomyces candidus Spores Periphere und alveoläre Immunantwort in Meerschweinchen nach Aerosol‐Exposition mit Thermoactinomyces candidus‐Sporen

Summary: The development of peripheral and alveolar cell mediated immunity (CMI) in guinea pigs was studied after an aerosol sensitization with Thermoactinomyces candidus spores. Skin tests, the production of macrophage inhibition factor, and lymphocyte transformation studies revealed no development of CMI in the peripheral system. Cell stimulation studies using alveolar cells revealed the development of CMI after the second exposure. However, the reactivity diminished following the third exposure. This occurred in spite of the fact that the total number of alveolar cells remained significantly above control animal cell counts. The possible relationship between these findings and individuals with asymptomatic hypersensitivity pneumonitis is discussed. Zusammenfassung: An Meerschweinchen wurde die Entwicklung der peripheren und alveolaren zellvermittelten Immunantwort nach Sensibilisierung mit Sporen von Thermoactinomyces candidus in einem Aerosol untersucht. Im peripheren System konnte die Entwicklung einer zellvermittelten Immunantwort weder durch Hautteste, noch durch die Produktion von Makrophagen inhibierendem Faktor noch im Lymphozyten-Transformationstest nachgewiesen werden. Dagegen zeigten Untersuchungen zum Nachweis einer spezifischen Stimulierung alveolarer Zellen die Entwicklung einer zellvermittelten Immunantwort nach der zweiten Exposition. Die Reaktivitat nahm jedoch im Anschlus an eine dritte Exposition wieder ab. Dieser Ruckgang der Reaktivitat entwickelte sich, obwohl die Gesamtzahl der alveolaren Zellen signifikant hoher blieb als die Zellzahl in Kontrolltieren. Die mogliche Bedeutung dieser Befunde fur das Verstandnis der Vorgange bei Personen mit asymptomatischer Hypersensivitatspneumonie wird diskutiert.
An electrically small coaxial loop antenna for HF

A mechanically-tuned electrically small loop antenna for HF use is proposed. The antenna is composed of a tuned outer loop that is inductively coupled to a smaller coaxial loop. Measurements taken at the 29 MHz band are consistent with theoretical predictions.
Tree Species Discrimination in Tropical Forests Using Airborne Imaging Spectroscopy

We identify canopy species in a Hawaiian tropical forest using supervised classification applied to airborne hyperspectral imagery acquired with the Carnegie Airborne Observatory-Alpha system. Nonparametric methods (linear and radial basis function support vector machine, artificial neural network, and k-nearest neighbor) and parametric methods (linear, quadratic, and regularized discriminant analysis) are compared for a range of species richness values and training sample sizes. We find a clear advantage in using regularized discriminant analysis, linear discriminant analysis, and support vector machines. No unique optimal classifier was found for all conditions tested, but we highlight the possibility of improving support vector machine classification with a better optimization of its free parameters. We also confirm that a combination of spectral and spatial information increases accuracy of species classification: we combine segmentation and species classification from regularized discriminant analysis to produce a map of the 17 discriminated species. Finally, we compare different methods to assess spectral separability and find a better ability of Bhattacharyya distance to assess separability within and among species. The results indicate that species mapping is tractable in tropical forests when using high-fidelity imaging spectroscopy.
Epstein-Barr Virus-Induced T Cell Lymphoma in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in transplant recipients can lead to lymphomas termed posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs). Most PTLDs are malignancies of B lymphocytes and are linked to EBV infection, but the rare T lymphocyte PTLDs have been inconsistently linked to EBV infection. Although the B lymphocyte is the main host cell of EBV, it has been suggested that T lymphocytes may also become infected by EBV. A review of EBV-induced PTLDs at our institution identified one of 61 cases that was restricted to T lymphocytes. Of 36 cases of T cell PTLD identified through a literature review, 21 were investigated for the presence of EBV, and eight (38%) were documented to be EBV-induced. We compared the features of EBV-positive and EBV-negative T cell PTLDs and concluded that cases of EBV-positive T cell PTLD have some distinctive clinical features.