cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Iterative Weighted Least Squares Algorithm and Simulation Study for Censored Data M-Estimates

A popular linear regression estimator for censored data is the one proposed by Buckley and James (1979). However, this estimator is not robust to outliers, which is not surprising since it is a modified version of the uncensored data least squares estimator. Lai and Ying (1994) have proposed an M-estimator for censored data that is a generalization of the Buckley- James estimator. In this paper we discuss a weighted least squares algorithm for computing these M-estimates and compare the performance of two Huber M-estimators with the Buckley-James estimator in a simulation study. We find that the Huber M-estimators perform more robustly for a broad range of censoring and error distributions.
A note on testing the mems of normal distributions with known coefficient of variations

We consider two problems in sequential hypothesis testing. The first one deals with testing the mean of a normal distribution with known coefficient of variation. The standard sequential probability ratio test (SPRl) and the fixed-sample test are discussed and compared. The second problem, deals with a version of the Behrens-Fisher problem, for comparing the means of two normal-distributions with unknown variances,, Sequential and fixed-sample tests are developed when either (i) the coefficient of variations are known or (ii) the two distributions have the same unknown coefficient of variation. The fixed-sample test is compared with the" proposed sequential procedure.
On the structure of attainable sets for generalized differential equations and control systems

Abstract Section 1 deals with the study of properties of the set of solutions of (1) /.x ϵ R(t), x(0) = 0, where the set valued map R is measurable with nonempty compact subsets (of a ball of finite radius in En) as values. This is equivalent to the study of solutions of a linear control system. If Mr ⊂ (L∞[0, T] denotes the set of all measurable selections of R, and for r ϵ MR, ( I r)(t) = ∫ 0 t r(τ)dτ , then I (MR)⊂C[0, T] is the space of all solutions of (1). One type of typical “cost functional” for an associated optimization problem is a continuous map F: C[0, T] → E1. An extension of Aumanns theorem is used, together with the Stone-Weierstrass theorem, to show that the set of F: C[0, T] → E1 such that F( I (MR) is compact is dense in the space of all continuous maps from C[0, T] → E1 with the uniform topology. The implications to optimal control problems are evident. Section 2 deals with the nonlinear problem (2) /.x ϵ R(x), x(0) = 0, where R has values as in Section 1. Using the machinery of Section 1, the existence of solutions of Eq. (2), when R is Lipschitzian, a result of Filippov 1966, is shown to be a trivial consequence of a fixed point theorem for contracting set valued mappings. If R is continuous and convex valued, the fact that the set of solutions in C[0, T] is compact and has compact fixed time cross section (Filippov-Roxin theorem) is also an immediate consequence of, now, the Bohnenblust-Karlin fixed point theorem for set valued maps. The remainder of Section 2 gives an example in which the set of points attainable by solutions of an equation of the form (2), at some time T > 0, is actually open! In fact, in this example R has the control representation R(x) = {ƒ (x, u) : u ϵ U} with U compact and ƒ smooth. To construct this, every point of the boundary of the attainable set of the convexified problem is attainable only as a limit of “chattering solutions” of the original system. This is quite difficult to accomplish (in fact many people conjectured it was not possible).
Compliance with data protection laws using hippocratic database active enforcement and auditing

Governments worldwide are enacting data protection laws that restrict the disclosure and processing of personal information. These laws impose administrative and financial burdens on companies that manage personal information and may hinder the legitimate and valuable sharing and analysis of this information. In this paper we describe an integrated set of technologies, known as the Hippocratic Database (HDB), which enables compliance with security and privacy regulations without impeding the legitimate flow of information. HDB's Control Center allows companies to specify fine-grained disclosure policies based on the role of the user, the purpose of the access, the intended recipient, and other disclosure conditions. Its Active Enforcement component transparently enforces these policies by transforming user queries in a middleware layer to ensure that the database returns only policy-compliant information. HDB's Compliance Auditing system efficiently tracks all database accesses and allows auditors to formulate precise audit queries to monitor compliance with privacy and security policies. In this paper, we outline the basic architecture of the HDB solution, discuss the advantages of our approach, and illustrate the features of each component with practical compliance scenarios from the financial services industry.
On the state of anionic groups of demineralized matrices of bone and dentine.

Calcium-binding and biochemical studies have been applied to characterize the state of the carboxylate and protein-bound phosphate groups in the EDTA-demineralized matrices of rat bone and dentine. The organic phosphate and carboxylate content of demineralized bone is virtually identical to that of purified steer skin collagen whereas demineralized dentine has a significantly higher phosphate and carboxylate content, presumably due to the presence of an acidic non-collagenous phosphoprotein. Two classes of calcium-binding sites can be detected in demineralized bone, demineralized dentine, and purified, reconstituted collagen. The number of strong calcium-binding sites correlates with the number of protein-bound phosphate groups. Depending on the preparative procedure, seven to nine such sites (per collagen molecule) are present in dentine, and one to two in the purified reconstituted collagen and in bone. The binding constant for the dentinal sites (1.1×104 M−1), however, is 20 times greater than that for bone or reconstituted collagen fibrils from skin. We tentatively conclude that the strong calcium-binding site in bone and reconstituted collagen is of the form protein-PO 4 − Ca++ whereas in dentine it is of the form the weak binding sites in bone and dentine are of the form protein-COO-Ca++; and that approximately 160 of the 217 carboxylate groups of the collagen molecules of dentine or bone are present as electrostatic linkages of the form protein-COO−+H3N-protein.
The coming of age for age-related macular degeneration genetics.

Ophthalmic Genetics ISSN: 1381-6810 (Print) 1744-5094 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/iopg20 The Coming of Age for Age-Related Macular Degeneration Genetics Michael B. Gorin To cite this article: Michael B. Gorin (2005) The Coming of Age for Age-Related Macular Degeneration Genetics, Ophthalmic Genetics, 26:2, 57-59, DOI: 10.1080/13816810590969914 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13816810590969914 Published online: 08 Jul 2009. Submit your article to this journal Article views: 13 View related articles Citing articles: 1 View citing articles Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=iopg20 Download by: [UCLA Library] Date: 11 April 2017, At: 12:47
Polyacetylene block copolymers

Abstract Block copolymers of polystyrene/polyacetylene, polyisoprene/polyacetylene and polyethylene/polyacetylene have been synthesized via an anionic to Ziegler-Natta catalysis in which the molecular weight of the anionic polymer is well controlled. The live chains are reacted with Ti(OBu)4, resulting in an alkylated titanium derivative, which after proper aging initiates the polymerization of acetylene, thereby forming the copolymers. Three different types of copolymers have been synthesized: (1) short anionic chains — non-soluble copolymer films (conducting); (2) medium length anionic chains — soluble copolymers (conducting); (3) long anionic chains — soluble copolymers (insulating).
Classical complement pathway activation in membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis

Classical complement pathway activation in membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Levels of components of the classical and alternative complement pathways and the activity of the C3 nephritic factor (C3NeF) were measured in serum specimens from patients with type I (subendothelial deposits) and type II (intramembranous dense deposits) membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) and the results compared with the levels in normal subjects. Although C3 and C5 concentrations were comparably depressed in type I and type II, the levels of Clq and C4 were lower in type I and the correlation coefficients between Clq vs. C4 and C4 vs. C3 were higher than in type II. The profile was highly suggestive of classical pathway activation. In contrast, in type II MPGN, factor B levels were lower and C3NeF activity was more frequently detectable and higher. A feature of interest was that type I, as compared to type II, was characterized by significantly lower serum concentrations of properdin, higher and more significant correlation coefficients between serum properdin concentrations and those of Clq, C4 and C3, and consistent glomerular deposition of properdin. The involvement of properdin in type I may reflect recruitment of a pathway resembling the CI bypass mechanism, said to involve CI, properdin, factor B and C3-9. Voie d'activation classique du complement dans la glomerulonephrite membrano-proliferative. Les concentrations des composants des voies classique et alterne du complement et l'activite du facteur nephritique C3 (C3NeF) ont ete mesures dans des echantillons de serum de malades atteints de glomerulonephrite membrano-proliferative (MPGN) de type I (depots sous-endotheliaux) et de type II (depots denses intra-membraneux) et les resultats ont ete compares avec ceux des sujets normaux. Alors que les concentrations de C3 et de C5 sont egalement abaissees dans les types I et II, les concentrations de Clq et de C4 sont inferieures dans le type I et les coefficients de correlation entre Clq et C4, d'une part, et C4 et C3, d'autre part, sont meilleures dans le type I. Ce profil suggere fortement l'activation de la voie classique. Au contraire, dans le type II, les concentrations du facteur B sont plus faibles et l'activite du C3 NeF est superieure et plus souvent detectable. Un aspect interessant est le fait que le type I, compare au type II, est caracterise par des concentrations seriques significativement inferieures de properdine, par une meilleure correlation entre la concentration de properdine serique et les concentrations de Clq, C4 et C3, et par des depots importants de properdine. L'implication de la properdine dans le type I peut refleter la mise en oeuvre d'une voie similaire au mecanisme de by-pass de Cl dont il est dit qu'elle met en cause Cl, la properdine, le facteur B et C3-q.
Unmaking the ‘great tradition’: Ethnography, national culture and area studies

This essay contextualizes and interrogates Milton Singer's When a Great Tradition Modernizes, an influential study of Sanskritic Hinduism and its elite exponents in urban south India. Singer's fieldwork (1954–1964) depended heavily on the assistance of an Indian Sanskritist, V. Raghavan. I focus on their collaboration as it is represented in the published works of both, and consider its implications for South Asia area studies in the US. In their reliance on ethnographic methods, area studies projects offered transnational sites for the consolidation of nationalist discourses—for while Raghavan strategically used ethnographic interactions to fashion and disseminate elite nationalism in India, Singer used India (as mediated by Raghavan) as a “case” in the formulation of civilizational studies and theories of modernization. Analysis of this case illuminates the current contradictions generated by area studies’ reliance on paradigms of nationhood. Deconstruction of the “nation” is coupled with reconstruction...
Complex I inhibition in the visual pathway induces disorganization of the node of Ranvier

Mitochondrial defects can have significant consequences on many aspects of neuronal physiology. In particular, deficiencies in the first enzyme complex of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (complex I) are considered to be involved in a number of human neurodegenerative diseases. The current work highlights a tight correlation between the inhibition of complex I and the state of axonal myelination of the optic nerve. Exposing the visual pathway of rats to rotenone, a complex I inhibitor, resulted in disorganization of the node of Ranvier. The structure and function of the node depend on specific cell adhesion molecules, among others, CASPR (contactin associated protein) and contactin. CASPR and contactin are both on the axonal surfaces and need to be associated to be able to anchor their myelin counterpart. Here we show that inhibition of mitochondrial complex I by rotenone in rats induces reactive oxygen species, disrupts the interaction of CASPR and contactin couple, and thus damages the organization and function of the node of Ranvier. Demyelination of the optic nerve occurs as a consequence which is accompanied by a loss of vision. The physiological impairment could be reversed by introducing an alternative NADH dehydrogenase to the mitochondria of the visual system. The restoration of the nodal structure was specifically correlated with visual recovery in the treated animal.
Modulation and Sleeping Strategies for Wireless Sensor Networks

Motivated by the recent and rapidly increasing interest in energy-saving schemes, this paper presents a novel PHY/MAC layer design for wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Capitalizing on the observed rare-event feature of most WSNs, we rst design an energy-ef cient ternary modulation scheme wherein the modulated symbols can classify (or color) the state of the underlying phenomenon as green, yellow or red. Introducing this new notion of a yellow message (that lies between the binary values represented by green and red) results in great exibility and energy savings when designing a MAC sleeping scheduler (turning nodes on-and-off). The proposed sleeping protocol enjoys low energy consumption and respects a latency constraint by ef ciently using the time-division-multiple-access technique along with the ternary modulation scheme. Numerical results illuminate the energy savings provided by the proposed schemes and quantify the energy-latency tradeoffs. *The work in this paper was supported by the USDoD ARO grant No. W911NF-05-1-0283.
Models for ohmic heating of solid–liquid mixtures under worst-case heating scenarios

Sterilization of solid-liquid mixtures by ohmic heating requires the assurance that all parts of the food or biomaterial in question is treated adequately to ensure inactivation of pathogenic sporeformers. Previous work has identified worst-case scenarios as being associated with a single solid piece (inclusion particle) of substantially different electrical conductivity than its surroundings. Two potentially hazardous situations were modeled, both involving an inclusion particle, but one involving a static medium surrounding the solid; and the other involving a mixed fluid, with a circuit theory analysis for the electric field. Results indicate that the mixed fluid model provides a more conservative prediction of mixture cold-spot temperatures than the static model when the cold-spot occurs within the particle; typically occurring when the medium is more conductive than the solid. However, the static fluid model provides more conservative prediction of the mixture cold-spot temperatures when the cold-spot is within the fluid; typically when the solid is more conductive than the medium. Our results underline the need to evaluate both scenarios in evaluating the potential for an underprocessed region.
Complete controllability of continuous-time recurrent neural networks

This paper studies controllability for the class of control systems commonly called (continuous-time) recurrent neural networks. It is shown that, under a generic condition on the input matrix, the system is controllable, for every possible state matrix. The result holds when the activation function is the hyperbolic tangent.
Cobalt-ions dissociate between calcium uptake through voltage-dependent sodium and calcium channels in synaptosomes.

Abstract Calcium ions are taken up through at least two separate, voltage-dependent channels in rat cortical synaptosomes. One channel is opened by 60 mM K + , blocked completely with 500 μM Co 2+ and unaffected by 1 μM tetrodotoxin; the other is opened by 20 μM veratridine in a sodium-independent manner, blocked by 1 μM tetrodotoxin, and only partially inhibited by Co 2+ . Calcium-uptake through either channel is functional with respect to releasing [ 3 H]ACh.
A Model-Based Analysis of Semiautomated Data Discovery and Entry Using Automated Content-Extraction

Content extraction systems can automatically extract entities and relations from raw text and use the information to populate knowledge bases, potentially eliminating the need for manual data discovery and entry. Unfortunately, content extraction is not sufficiently accurate for end users who require high trust in the information uploaded to their databases, creating a need for human validation and correction of extracted content. In this article the potential influence of content extraction errors on a prototype semiautomated system that will allow a human reviewer to correct and validate extracted information before uploading it was examined, focusing on the identification and correction of precision errors. Content extraction was applied to 6 different corpora, and a Goals, Operators, Methods, and Selection rules Language (GOMSL) model was used to simulate the activities of a human using the prototype system to review extraction results, correct precision errors, ignore spurious instances, and validate...
Review of the Microscopic Colitides

Microscopic colitis is a common cause of chronic diarrhea in predominantly older adults. Incidence rates of microscopic colitis (including lymphocytic and collagenous colitis) have increased over time to levels comparable to other forms of inflammatory bowel disease. The possibility of drug-induced microscopic colitis is an important consideration when evaluating these patients, although this concept requires further investigation. There are few controlled treatment trials in microscopic colitis, with much of the data on treatment coming from retrospective studies. In patients with microscopic colitis, a systematic approach to therapy often leads to satisfactory control of symptoms. In this review, we will provide an updated assessment of the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of microscopic colitis.
Cratonization and thermal evolution of the mantle

Abstract The stabilization of continental lithosphere to form cratons is accomplished by volatile loss from the upper mantle during magmatic events associated with the formation of continental crust. Volatile depletion elevates the solidus and increases the stiffness of the mantle residuum, thereby imparting a resistance to subsequent melting and deformation. Freeboard is maintained in part by the buoyancy associated with an increased Mg/(Mg + Fe) ratio in the mantle residuum following extraction of crustal material. Augmented subcratonic seismic velocities derive from the same shift in this ratio. The higher effective viscosity of the stabilized subcratonic upper mantle inhibits its entrainment in mantle convection, and locally thickens the conductive boundary layer. Heat approaching from greater depths is diverted away from the stiff craton to other areas that continue to transfer heat by convection, thus yielding a low surface heat flow within cratons. Cratonization by devolatilization and petrologic depletion was most effective in the Archean and has diminished in effectiveness over geologic time as the mantle temperature has fallen because of the declining store of internal heat. From the Archean to the present that ascending mantle material which has undergone partial melting has encountered the solidus at progressively shallower depth, has remained supersolidus over a smaller depth range, has temperatures which have exceeded the solidus by lesser amounts, has undergone diminishing degrees of partial melting, and has experienced less thorough devolatilization. At a given time the rate of production of continental crust is likely to be proportional to the depth extent and fraction of partial melting. Integration of the partial melt zone over time yields a growth curve that is similar to some continental crustal growth curves inferred from isotopic evolution.
RNA catalyses nuclear pre-mRNA splicing

In nuclear pre-messenger RNA splicing, introns are excised by the spliceosome, a dynamic machine composed of both proteins and small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs). Over thirty years ago, after the discovery of self-splicing group II intron RNAs, the snRNAs were proposed to catalyse splicing. However, no definitive evidence for a role of either RNA or protein in catalysis by the spliceosome has been reported so far. By using metal rescue strategies in spliceosomes from budding yeast, here we show that the U6 snRNA catalyses both of the two splicing reactions by positioning divalent metals that stabilize the leaving groups during each reaction. Notably, all of the U6 catalytic metal ligands we identified correspond to the ligands observed to position catalytic, divalent metals in crystal structures of a group II intron RNA. These findings indicate that group II introns and the spliceosome share common catalytic mechanisms and probably common evolutionary origins. Our results demonstrate that RNA mediates catalysis within the spliceosome.
Efficacy of enhanced external counterpulsation in the treatment of angina pectoris

Eighteen patients with chronic angina despite surgical and medical therapy were treated with an improved system of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) (1 hour daily for a total of 36 hours). Patients underwent a baseline treadmill thallium-201 stress test. After EECP treatment, a thallium stress test was repeated for the same exercise duration. One week after treatment, patients also underwent a maximal stress test. All patients improved in anginal symptoms and generally decreased antianginal medications, with 16 obtaining complete relief from angina. Pre- and post-thallium stress testing performed for the same duration showed complete resolution of ischemic defects in 12 patients (67%), reduction in the area of ischemia in 2 (11%), and no change in 4 (22%). Thus, a decrease in myocardial ischemia was observed in 14 patients (78%; p less than 0.01). The exercise duration of maximal stress testing after EECP significantly improved from 8.14 +/- 0.71 to 9.72 +/- 0.77 minutes (p less than 0.005), although the double product did not change significantly. Analysis of these 2 tests in the subgroup of 14 patients with improvement in thallium studies showed significant increases in both exercise duration (8.58 +/- 0.66 to 10.44 +/- 0.59 minutes; p less than 0.001) and double product (21,827 +/- 2,044 to 24,842 +/- 1,707 mm Hg.beats/min; p less than 0.01). The improvement in reperfusion defects and increase in exercise duration are reflections of improved perfusion to ischemic regions of the myocardium. EECP uses additional thigh balloons and sequenced balloon inflation, effecting a significant increase in diastolic augmentation over previously available methods.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Ontogeny of preference and aversion to salt in Fischer 344 rats and syrian hamsters

Fischer 344 (F344) rats and Syrian hamsters, unlike rats of the Sprague-Dawley or Wistar strains, exhibit an aversion to dilute NaCl solutions as adults. In the present studies, using the anterior intraoral infusion method, it is shown that both F344 rats and hamsters accept more dilute NaCl than either water or concentrated NaCl (i.e., show a "single bottle" preference/aversion function identical to Sprague-Dawley rats) at both 6 and 18 days of age. At 18 days of age, they also show a preference for dilute NaCl over water in a simultaneous choice paradigm. In contrast, only 1-3 days later when these animals are weaned, they strongly reject NaCl solutions from sipper tubes in favor of water. It is unlikely that an abrupt discontinuity in neurosensory development can fully explain this dramatic reversal in salt acceptance.
Identification of the Elemental Packing Unit of DNA in Mammalian Sperm Cells by Atomic Force Microscopy

DNA is packaged within the sperm cell nuclei of many vertebrates and all mammals in a highly condensed state by small basic proteins (protamines). Despite continuous investigation for nearly half a century, the actual packing arrangement of the DNA has remained unresolved. Atomic force and electron microscopy studies described in this report provide evidence that the fundamental packing unit for sperm DNA is a toroidal structure, 900A in outside diameter with a 150A diameter hole, which contains up to 60kb of DNA. Although the results presented here are based primarily upon investigations of mammalian sperm cells, they are expected to be valid for all sperm cells which utilize protamines to package DNA.
Sexual harassment proclivities in men

Three studies were conducted to develop and validate a measure of sexual harassment proclivities in males. Previous studies of sexual harassment were reviewed and a gap in the current knowledge of the psychological characteristics of sexual harassers was revealed. A possible technique for studying sexual harassment proclivities was suggested by recent research on rape proclivities. Two initial studies using this technique found (1) that the likelihood of sexually harassing can be reliably measured and 2) that this measure correlated with related attitude and belief measures. The third study demonstrated that the likelihood of sexual harassment measure can predict sexual behaviors in a laboratory setting.
Secular variation of the Late Archean–Early Proterozoic geodynamo

[1] We report new paleomagnetic data from ∼2.5 Ga dikes of the Superior Province and derive estimates of paleosecular variation. When combined with data from coeval dikes of the Karelia Craton (Russia) and older (∼2.7 Ga) volcanics of the Pilbara Craton, these estimates suggest a latitudinal variation of secular variation similar to that of the last 5 million years, but with potentially smaller quadrupole family contributions. The observations are consistent with some numerical models of the field that suggest a more dipolar field when the Earth had a much smaller solid inner core.
Thermoelectric Power of Aluminum and Dilute Aluminum Alloys

The thermoelectric power of dilute alloys of aluminum with Ag, Zn, Mg, and Au has been measured versus pure aluminum between 4.2 and 460\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The solute concentrations were in general 0.1 at.% or smaller. The absolute thermopower of high-purity Al has been measured between 4.2 and 300\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The phonon-drag component ${S}^{g}$ in Al is negative, with a peak at about 70\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. At temperatures above 40 to 80\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, depending on the composition, the alloys show the usual reduction in the phonon-drag thermopower. However, at lower temperatures, an increase in $|{S}^{g}|$ due to alloying is observed in all specimens. It is suggested that this anomaly in the phonon-drag thermopower of the dilute aluminum alloys is because of the anisotropy of the electron scattering. The results can be explained with a relaxation time for electron-phonon scattering which is shorter in the third band than in the main portion of the Fermi surface, in combination with an isotropic electron-impurity interaction. The electron diffusion component ${S}^{e}$ in Al is negative. All alloys show a positive change in ${S}^{e}$.
Validity of the isotropic-distribution approximation in solar energy estimations

Abstract Results of numerical simulation are presented for the diffuse and direct energy passing through a Sun-facing flat surface located at the bottom of plane-parallel models of non-absorbing, homogeneous atmospheres. Computations of the diffuse component were carried out with a high degree of accuracy, and also were carried out using the well-known, isotropic-distribution approximation for the sky energy. It is shown that the results obtained with the isotropic-distribution approximation are consistently smaller than those obtained with the exact procedure. These two sets of results can differ by a factor 1–6 depending upon the optical characteristics of the model and the position of the Sun.
Effective prevention programs for tobacco use

Several types of prevention programs have shown effects on delaying or reducing youth tobacco use for periods of 1-5 years or more. These are referred to as evidence-based programs. However, they are not widely used. At the same time, with few exceptions, adolescent tobacco use rates have been stable or have increased in the 1990s. The challenge for prevention is to identify critical components shared by effective prevention programs--that is, components most associated with effect, and then to evaluate factors that are most likely to promote adoption, implementation, and diffusion of effective programs across schools and communities in the United States. Effective tobacco prevention programs focus on counteracting social influences on tobacco use, include either direct training of youth in resistance and assertiveness skills or, for policy and community organization interventions, direct or indirect (through adults) training in community activism, and are mainly theory-based, with an emphasis on three levels of theory: (a) personal (attitudes, normative expectations, and beliefs); (b) social (social or group behavior); and/or (c) environmental (communications and diffusion). Program effects increase with the use of booster sessions, standardized implementor training and support, multiple program components, and multiple levels of theory. Overall, multi-component community programs that have a school program as a basis, with supportive parent, media, and community organization components, have shown the most sustained effects on tobacco use. Positive program adoption by the school or community, extent and quality of program implementation, and existence of credible networks of leaders to promote the program are critical for any effect. Research on predictors of adoption, implementation, and diffusion of evidence-based programs is scanty relative to outcome research. In addition, more research is needed on why multi-component programs appear to be most effective, whether effect is related to existing tobacco policies, whether prevention programs have differential effects on youth with different natural trajectories of tobacco use, and whether prevention programs can be used to recruit smokers into cessation programs.
Handedness and Dream Content

We tested the hypothesis that dream content would vary as a Junction of handedness. Seventy-nine self-reported right-handers and 30 self-reported left-handers provided written descriptions of a recent dream. There were no significant differences between handedness groups in mean word length per dream or in mean theme/word ratios. However, compared to dreams reported by right-handers, the dreams of left-handers were characterized by a significantly greater number of high imagery words and words describing affective states. In addition, left-handers were more likely to report that their dreams did not accurately reflect their everyday life-experience. We conclude that handedness may be an important indicator of dream characteristics.
Preclinical models: Status of basic research in depression

Approximately one half-century ago several classes of medications, discovered by serendipity, were introduced for the treatment of depression and bipolar disorder. These highly effective medications revolutionized our approach to mood disorders and helped launch the modern era of psychiatry. Yet our progress since those serendipitous discoveries has been disappointing. We still do not understand with certainty how those medications produce their desired clinical effects. We have not introduced newer medications with fundamentally different mechanisms of action than the older agents. We have not identified the genetic and neurobiological mechanisms underlying depression and mania, nor do we understand the mechanisms by which nongenetic factors influence these disorders. We have only a rudimentary understanding of the circuits in the brain responsible for the normal regulation of mood and affect, and of those circuits that function abnormally in mood disorders. In approaching these gaps in our knowledge, this workgroup highlighted four major areas for future investment. These include developing better animal models of mood disorders; identifying genetic determinants of normal and abnormal mood in humans and animals; discovering novel targets and biomarkers of mood disorders and treatments; and increasing the recruitment of investigators from diverse backgrounds to mood disorders research.
Stereology-based quantitative characterization of dispersion from TEM micrographs of polymer–clay nanocomposites

Quantitative characterization of the state of dispersion and extent of exfoliation is critical in developing processing structure–property relationships in polymer–clay nanocomposites. Quantification of dispersion, exfoliation, and nanostructure in polymer–clay nanocomposites by 3D stereological parameters using image analysis of 2D transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs were recently proposed. The 3D dispersion quantifying parameters are designed such that they are free of the bias associated with not sampling the true particle diameter in a 2D TEM section. In this article, the ability of the proposed 3D dispersion quantifying parameters to describe the dispersion over the entire possible range of exfoliation, and to capture independent aspects of dispersion are demonstrated by quantifying several sets of samples that were designed using a polypropylene (PP)/maleated PP/clay system. The details of the image analysis procedure, the underlying challenges, and errors involved in the segmentation process are also discussed. The 3D dispersion quantifying parameters, exfoliation number and inter-particle distance, were critically compared against the standard 2D dispersion quantifying parameters, such as mean length, thickness, and aspect ratio. In all cases examined in this study, the sensitivity and resolution of the 3D parameters in terms of quantifying the dispersion of the nanostructure appeared comparable if not better than the standard 2D parameters. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Double-stranded replicative form of poliovirus RNA: Phenotype of heterozygous molecules

Abstract Heterozygous replicative form of poliovirus RNA has been constructed by annealing together the appropriate genotypic forms of positive and negative strands. The resulting heterozygous molecules are infectious and have a phenotype which corresponds to the genotype of the positive (or genome like) strand. The negative strands released by denaturation of heterozygous replicative form are not infectious.
Discrete mass tyre model for ride investigation over uneven rigid terrain

The goal of this study is to develop a tyre model able to capture the vertical tyre dynamic behaviour while traversing over an uneven rigid surface. The proposed tyre model takes advantage of modelling the wheel-tyre assembly as a multi body dynamic system in order to investigate the tyre ride behaviour over such terrain. Several experiments are conducted for the tyre model parameter identification and the tyre model validation with an indoor quarter car tyre test rig and an outdoor portable tyre trailer test rig. The selected scenarios are simulated by using the discrete mass tyre model with the tyre parameters obtained from the experiments. The simulation results of the selected scenarios are presented and compared with the experimental data.
“Spaces Invested with Content”: Crossing the ‘Gaps’ in Comics with Readers in Schools

In recent years, reading scholars have increasingly attended to children’s responses to picturebook page breaks, reasoning that the inferences young readers make during the turning of the page are central to understanding how children construct continuous narratives in semiotically rich texts. In this paper I argue that comics (including comic books and graphic novels) offer similar gap-filling affordances as picturebooks, but for older children and adolescent readers. A major site of meaning-making in comics is the “gutter” between panels. This is where much of the magic occurs for readers while transacting with the medium. Since the comics medium is popular with many students and has received increased attention from teachers, researchers, and curriculum developers during the multimodal and multiliterate turns of the past decades, I argue that it is vital for educators not only to use comics in their classrooms, but to focus explicitly on gutters in order to exercise the medium’s full potential. Pulling from numerous sources, I provide several pedagogical activities that emphasize gutters as rich sites of constructing meaning.
Cocytus: Have you begun your descent?

Abstract The vast majority of trainees entering a fellowship express a sincere interest in pursuing an ‘academic career'. However, even the most dedicated souls will find their own path toward that worthy goal fraught with a number of unanticipated hazards—any one of which could result in a fullstop of professional advancement. Of interest, many of the obstacles are actually self-imposed, usually buried within the subconscious self. Without guidance of how to recognize and address these shortcomings, abandonment of one's original career trajectory may be seriously considered, and often acted upon. By the time any one of us has completed training, taken the boards, and gotten to this inflection point, we are at least in our mid- to late-30s. What then, is there to do, about this looming phenomenon, whenever it may occur? Perhaps we can draw comfort from a historical figure who has been there, and done that. His journey embodies the value of mentoring in traversing the succession of personal perils that are commonplace in today's professional environment.
Histopathologic findings in eyes with retinoblastoma treated only with chemoreduction.

Objective To evaluate the histopathologic findings in the eyes with retinoblastoma that had been treated only with chemoreduction. Design Clinicopathologic series. Study Material Ten eyes of 8 patients with retinoblastoma that were enucleated after therapy consisting only of systemic chemotherapy (chemoreduction). Methods All cases received a chemoreduction regimen including a combination of intravenous carboplatin, etoposide phosphate, and vincristine sulfate. Adjuvant treatment to the tumor was not provided in any case. The enucleated globes were studied by routine light microscopy. Main Outcome Measure Histopathologic features of retinoblastoma following chemoreduction. Results At presentation, there were 8 eyes in Reese-Ellsworth group V, 1 eye in group IV, and 1 eye in group III. After chemoreduction (mean, 4 cycles; range, 1-6 cycles), the main tumor regressed a mean 34% in thickness and 24% in basal diameter. The indication for enucleation was retinoblastoma recurrence as subretinal and/or vitreous seeds in 7 eyes and extensive vitreous hemorrhage in 3 with uncertainty about viable-appearing tumor. In no case was enucleation performed for recurrence of the main tumor. In all eyes, there was histopathologic evidence of tumor regression. In 8 of 10 eyes, histopathologic examination disclosed tumor regression without viable-appearing retinoblastoma in the main tumor. Of these 8 eyes, 2 showed a completely calcified glial scar and 6 showed an apical calcified glial scar and a basal residual well-differentiated component with retinomalike and/or retinocytomalike features. In the remaining 2 eyes, an area of posttherapeutic regression was present but contained foci of mitotically active, viable-appearing malignant retinoblastoma cells. The 6 eyes found to contain well-differentiated component with retinomalike and/or retinocytomalike features showed a mean decrease of 17% in largest basal dimension and 32% in thickness after a mean of 3 cycles of chemoreduction. In contrast, the 4 eyes that did not contain well-differentiated component with retinomalike and/or retinocytomalike features showed a mean decrease of 35% in largest basal dimension and 55% in thickness after a mean of 5 cycles of chemoreduction. Of those 7 eyes enucleated for recurrent subretinal and/or vitreous seeds, viable tumor seeds were confirmed histopathologically in all cases. There was no histopathologic evidence of chemotherapeutic toxicity to the eye. Conclusions Histopathologic examination of 10 enucleated eyes following chemoreduction alone revealed that the main retinoblastoma regressed in all eyes. Additionally 6 eyes showed basal residual well-differentiated component with retinomalike and/or retinocytomalike features, and these eyes also displayed less shrinkage with chemoreduction. Despite the lack of viable-appearing retinoblastoma within the main tumor, enucleation was performed for viable subretinal and/or vitreous seeds in 7 cases and confirmed histopathologically.
Piperidinyl-2-phenethylamino inhibitors of DPP-IV for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes

A highly ligand efficient lead molecule was rapidly developed into a DPP-IV selective candidate series using focused small library synthesis. A significant hurdle for series advancement was genetic safety since some agents in this series impaired chromosome division that was detected using the in vitro micronucleus assay. A recently developed high-throughput imaging-based in vitro micronucleus assay enabled the identification of chemical space with a low probability of micronucleus activity. Advanced profiling of a subset within this space identified a compound with a clean safety profile, an acceptable human DPP-IV inhibition profile based on the rat PK/PD model and a projected human dose that was suitable for clinical development.
Utilization and cell-surface binding of hemin by Histoplasma capsulatum.

Histoplasma capsulatum, a dimorphic fungus capable of causing severe respiratory illness in immuno-compromised individuals, resides in macrophages during mammalian infection. Previous studies sugge...
Coalescence of double-walled carbon nanotubes: Formation of novel carbon bicables

Here, we demonstrate that by coalescing double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs), a novel and stable structure consisting of flattened tubules containing two single-walled tubes (SWNTs) is created. The process occurs due to the coalescence and reconstruction of the outer shells of DWNTs, leaving the inner cylinders almost intact, the latter being encapsulated inside the large diameter coalesced tube (bicable). We propose that the coalescence process is due to: (1) the thermal activity of the outer shells, which is driven by a surface energy minimization process, and (2) a zipping mechanism followed by atom reconstruction, in which two outer shells interact and anneal.
Biodegradable optode-based nanosensors for in vivo monitoring.

Optode-based fluorescent nanosensors are being developed for monitoring important disease states such as hyponatremia and diabetes. However, traditional optode-based sensors are composed of nonbiodegradable polymers such as poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) raising toxicity concerns for long-term in vivo use. Here, we report the development of the first biodegradable optode-based nanosensors that maintain sensing characteristics similar to those of traditional optode sensors. The polymer matrix of these sensors is composed of polycaprolactone (PCL) and a citric acid ester plasticizer. The PCL-based nanosensors yielded a dynamic and reversible response to sodium, were tuned to respond to extracellular sodium concentrations, and had a lifetime of at least 14 days at physiological temperature. When in the presence of lipase, the nanosensors degraded within 4 h at lipase concentrations found in the liver but were present after 3 days at lipase concentrations found in serum. The development of biodegradable nanosenso...
Theory of Clarifier Operation. VI. The Precipitation Process in Reactor-Clarifiers

Abstract A mathematical model is developed for the effect of the rapid-mix step on floe settling velocity in reacter clarifier operation. Data on ferric hydroxide floes are consistent with the model. The most important parameter is the duration of the rapid-mix step; the longer this is, the more slowly does the floe settle. This is thought to be due to the finite rate at which the precipitation reaction causes the supersaturated solution to decay to equilibrium. Some applications are suggested, and the results of some pilot scale studies are reported.
An Algorithm for Optimizing a Spectral Filter

An elementary proof is presented of the existence of a spectral filter which maximizes the signal-to-noise ratio of a detector. It is shown that an optimal filter can be obtained which is transparent or opaque at each frequency. An algorithm is given which determines the regions of transparency.
Risks of cardiac operations for elderly patients: reduction of the age factor

Background. Age has been considered an important risk factor for cardiac operations. Recent refinements have been designed to reduce cardiac, neurologic, and renal complications. Methods. Analysis of cardiac surgical outcomes including mortality, length of stay, complications, and costs were undertaken for a consecutive series of 285 patients 70 years old and older and 568 patients younger than 70 years who underwent operation during 1991 through 1995. Management included antegrade and retrograde cold and warm blood cardioplegia, epicardial echocardiography, retrosternal dissection for reoperations, maintenance of "normal" arterial pressure, and measures to avoid renal dysfunction. Parsonnet risk stratification and multiple regression were used to account for risk factors. Results. The 30-day mortality rate for elderly patients was 1.8% (5/285) and 1.8% (10/568) for patients less than 70 years old ( p = not significant). The hospital mortality rate for the elderly patients was 3.2% (9/285) versus 2.5% (14/568) for the younger group ( p = not significant). The frequencies of complications were not different. Over the 5-year period, length of stay decreased from 12.5 ± 1.5 days to 8.9 ± 0.9 days for patients 70 years old and older and from 11.5 ± 0.1 to 6.4 ± 0.3 days for patients less than 70 years old. Hospital charges for the elderly group were 13% higher. Conclusions. Modern cardiac surgical techniques and clinical practices have reduced the importance of the age factor.
College and University Student Suicide Trends and Implications

Suicide among college and university students is unquestionably an important issue on the nation's college campuses. This is true not only because of the frequency of suicidal attempts/completions, but also because of the severe trauma often precipitated by suicide. Although there are numerous writings discussing the general phenomenon of suicide -and in particular child and adolescent suicide -less has been written concerning suicidal trends specifically among college students. Thus the purpose of this article will be to summarize the prominent literature in the area of college student suicide, provide a critical review, identify relevant themes, and discuss future directions.