cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimization of the matrix inversion tomosynthesis (MITS) impulse response and modulation transfer function characteristics for chest imaging.

Matrix inversion tomosynthesis (MITS) uses linear systems theory, along with a priori knowledge of the imaging geometry, to deterministically distinguish between true structure and overlying tomographic blur in a set of conventional tomosynthesis planes. In this paper we examine the effect of total scan angle (ANG), number of input projections (N), and plane separation/number of reconstructed planes (NP) on the MITS impulse response (IR) and modulation transfer function (MTF), with the purpose of optimizing MITS imaging of the chest. MITS IR and MTF data were generated by simulating the imaging of a very thin wire, using various combinations of ANG, N, and NP. Actual tomosynthesis data of an anthropomorphic chest phantom were acquired with a prototype experimental system, using the same imaging parameter combinations as those in the simulations. Thoracic projection data from two human subjects were collected for corroboration of the system response analysis in vivo. Results suggest that ANG=20 deg. , N=71, NP=69 is the optimal combination for MITS chest imaging given the inherent constraints of our prototype system. MITS chest data from human subjects demonstrates that the selected imaging strategy can effectively produce high-quality MITS thoracic images in vivo.
Progress of water service providers in meeting millennium development goals in Kenya

Over the past decade, the Kenyan Government has undertaken several water sector reforms in an attempt to increase water access. The most recent of these reforms (2002) was the privatization of water through the creation of autonomous Water Service Providers (WSPs). Among other things, that reform was sold as necessary to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with respect to water and sanitation. This paper uses Data Envelopment Analysis to evaluate the progress of the WSPs towards achieving the MDGs by 2015. Based on data availability and reliability, 44 WSP were selected and analysed on various efficiency measures, including technical efficiency and scale efficiency. The findings reveal that all WSPs are operating at significantly below capacity and unlikely to meet the MDGs. Over 50% of small WSPs have achieved less than 30% of targets considered necessary for achieving the MDGs. We propose the use of peer benchmarks as a way of mitigating poor performance.
Quasiparticle scattering from vortices in d -wave superconductors. II. Berry phase contribution

In the mixed state of a $d$-wave superconductor, Bogoliubov quasiparticles are scattered from magnetic vortices via a combination of two effects: Aharonov-Bohm scattering due to the Berry phase acquired by a quasiparticle upon circling a vortex, and effective potential scattering due to the superflow swirling about the vortices. In this paper, we consider the Berry phase contribution in the absence of superflow, which results in branch cuts between neighboring vortices across which the quasiparticle wave function changes sign. Here, the simplest problem that captures the physics is that of scattering from a single finite branch cut that stretches between two vortices. Elliptical coordinates are natural for this two-center problem, and we proceed by separating the massless Dirac equation in elliptical coordinates. The separated equations take the form of the Whittaker-Hill equations, which we solve to obtain radial and angular eigenfunctions. With these eigenfunctions in hand, we construct the scattering cross section via partial wave analysis. We discuss the scattering effect of Berry phase in the absence of superflow, having considered the superflow effect in the absence of Berry phase in a separate paper. We also provide qualitative comparison of transport cross sections for the Berry phase and the Superflow effects. The important issue of interference between the two effects is left to future work.
The erotic charisma of Alexander Hamilton

As an outsider with a mysterious childhood, Alexander Hamilton is, as psychologists say, a good “hook” for a projective identification. For his admirers Hamilton is a source of political capital. His ideas and proposals about the debt, protectionism, and an American manufacturing base are in the news in the early twenty-first century. Although the Old Left saw Hamilton as an elitist, possibly a monarchist, and a promoter of industrial capitalism, contemporary American progressives have called attention to his explicit support for habeas corpus, his efforts on behalf of banking, and his surprisingly enlightened attitudes about race and slavery. As one of the founders of a new republic, Hamilton knew he would be in the history books, but his image, representations of his physical presence, and speculation about his private life circulate on the Internet in ways that would surely astonish him. Alexander Hamilton not only has admirers in the fields of politics and history; he also has fans.
Trigeminal Projections to Contralateral Dorsal Horn: Central Extent, Peripheral Origins, and Plasticity

Prior studies have documented a trigeminal (V) mandibular primary afferent projection to the dorsomedial portion of the contralateral medullary and cervical dorsal horns in cat, hamster, and rat. We now report the existence of a much more substantial V ophthalmic primary afferent projection to the ventrolateral portion of contralateral medullary and cervical dorsal horns in rat. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injections into the V ganglion or V brainstem complex anterogradely labeled a fascicle of primary afferent axons that exited the caudal ventrolateral V spinal tract to form a rostrocaudally continuous, transversely oriented, V primary afferent decussation. These fibers terminated most heavily in laminae III-V of the ventrolateral dorsal horn in contralateral caudal medulla and the first and second cervical segments. Retrograde tracing with diamidino yellow (DY) or fluorogold and anterograde tracing with Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin also demonstrated a substantial commissural projection of central origin in medullary dorsal horn laminae I-VII. The latter projection had a more diffuse trajectory and termination pattern than that of the V primary afferent decussation. Unilateral HRP injections into medullary and cervical dorsal horns also retrogradely labeled V primary afferent collaterals contralateral to the injection site in corresponding regions of dorsal horn, and also in ventromedial interpolaris, oralis, and principalis, rostral to their decussation. Axons (1.5 +/- 0.8 microns mean diameter; 0.4-3.9 microns range) therefore terminated both ipsi- and contralateral to their cells of origin. These HRP injections also labeled an average of 40.4 +/- 13.0 V ganglion cells (mean +/- SD, corrected for split somata) in dorsomedial, ophthalmic regions of the contralateral ganglion. Their mean diameter was slightly larger than that of cells labeled ipsilaterally (29.9 vs. 26.3 microns). Double-labeling studies assessed possible ophthalmic receptor surfaces innervated by centrally crossing primary afferents. DY was injected into right medullary and cervical dorsal horns, and HRP was applied to either the left cornea, the ethmoid nerve, or the dura overlying cerebral cortex. Though DY labeled from 75 to 125 left ganglion cells per animal, no cells were double-labeled. All of these findings suggest that nociceptive-specific ganglion cells are not a source of the crossed ophthalmic primary afferent projection. Unilateral transection of the infraorbital nerve on the day of birth did not alter the crossed primary afferent projection to the partially deafferented side of the brainstem. This is further evidence of an absence of central sprouting in spared V primary afferents following neonatal V deafferentation.
Describing Suicidality: An Investigation of Qualitative SSF Responses.

Given the incidence and seriousness of suicidality in clinical practice, the need for new and better ways to assess suicide risk is clear. While there are many published assessment instruments in the literature, survey data suggest that these measure are not widely used. One possible explanation is that current quantitatively developed assessment instruments may fail to capture something essential about the suicidal patient's experience. The current exploratory study examined a range of open ended qualitative written responses made by suicidal outpatients to five assessment prompts from the Suicide Status Form (SSF)--psychological pain, press, perturbation, hopelessness, and self-hate. Two different samples of suicidal outpatients seeking treatment, including suicidal college students (n = 119) and active duty U.S. Air Force personnel (n = 33), provided a wide range of written responses to the five SSF prompts. A qualitative coding manual was developed through a step-by-step methodology; two naive coders were trained to use the coding system and were able to sort all the patients' written responses into the content categories with very high interrater reliability (Kappa > .80). Certain written qualitative responses of the patients were more frequent than others, both within and across the five SSF constructs. Among a range of specific exploratory findings, one general finding was that two thirds of the 636 obtained written responses could be reliably categorized under four major content headings: relational (22%), role responsibilities (20%), self (15%), and unpleasant internal states (10%). Theoretical, research, and clinical implications of the methodology and data are discussed.
Pharmacokinetics of highly ionized drugs. II. Methylene blue--absorption, metabolism, and excretion in man and dog after oral administration.

Methylene blue was administered orally to seven normal human subjects at a dose of 10 mg. in capsule form. Total urinary recovery ranged from 53 to 97% of the dose, with an average of 74%. Of the material recovered, an average of 78% was excreted as Ieucomethylene blue (stabilized in some salt, complex, or combination form) and the remainder as methylene blue. Some excretion rate-time plots of both methylene blue and leucomethylene blue showed evidence of a circadian rhythm. In a male dog and a female dog, administered 15 mg./kg. methylene blue orally, no drug was detected in blood. The female dog was catheterized and urine was collected for 10 hr. postdosing; recovery was 2.4% of the dose. The female dog was also administered a 10-mg. dose of methylene blue orally, and urine was collected by catheter over 14 hr. Recovery was 3.8% of the dose. It was concluded that methylene blue is well absorbed in man and poorly absorbed in the dog after oral administration.
Nestin-CreER Mice Reveal DNA Synthesis by Nonapoptotic Neurons following Cerebral Ischemia–Hypoxia

The standard method of detecting neurogenesis uses bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) to label DNA synthesis followed by double labeling with neuronal markers. However, DNA synthesis may occur in events unrelated to neurogenesis including aneuploidy and abortive cell cycle reentry. Hence, it is important to confirm neurogenesis with methods other than BrdU incorporation. To this end, we have generated transgenic nestin-CreER mice that express tamoxifen-inducible Cre recombinase under the control of a nestin enhancer. When crossed with a ubiquitous Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP)-Cre-reporter line, the bitransgenic animals can reveal the nestin-positive progenitors and their progeny with EGFP after tamoxifen induction. This system has many applications including visualization of embryonic neural progenitors, detection of postnatally transformed radial glial cells, and labeling adult neural progenitors in the subventricular zone (SVZ). To examine the contribution of SVZ progenitors to cell replacement after stroke, tamoxifen-induced mice were challenged with focal ischemia or combined ischemia-hypoxia followed by BrdU injection. This analysis revealed only very few EGFP-positive cells outside the SVZ after focal ischemia but robust DNA synthesis by hippocampal neurons without immediate cell death following ischemia-hypoxia. These results suggest that the nestin-CreER system is a useful tool for detecting embryonic and adult neurogensis. They also confirm the existence of nonproliferative DNA synthesis by old neurons after experimental brain injury.
The Government Budget Constraint

This paper restates the government budget constraint and addresses the issue Abstract of symmetry (asymmetry, as it turns out) between the definitions of monetary and fiscal policy, as originally advanced by Blinder and Solow. The emphasis is on the arbitrary definition of monetary policy. It suits their convenience, but renders their approach inoperative. A consideration of several analytical, operational, and definitional problems constitutes a defense of the monetarist position on the government budget constraint.
Displacements that null forces

Experimental results indicate that the inner product defined by stiffness does in fact provide the correct force-error nulling directions along which to move a robotic end-effector. These directions, which are defined as the twists of compliance, form the (K)-orthogonal complement to the twists of freedom of a partially constrained gripper (where the matrix (K) describes the stiffness of the robot and not its task). This implementation of kinestatic control is accomplished via the synthesis of two scalar gains to effect the six-dimensional, simultaneous control of force and displacement. >
Historical perspectives: Group B Streptococcus in Neonatal Sepsis: Emergence as an Important Pathogen

In the preantibiotic era, the group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus was much more likely to be associated with serious bacterial infection of women and infants than was group B beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GBS). Soon after the introduction of penicillin and other antibiotics, the most likely organisms to be cultured from neonates who had sepsis were gram-negative bacilli, most notably Escherichia coli. When penicillin-resistant staphylococci emerged, Staphylococcus aureus became prominent. By 1958, a review of neonatal sepsis (septicemia) indicated that GBS could be a devastating organism. (1) Between 1933 and 1943, two cases of neonatal sepsis due to GBS (also called S agalactiae ) were reported, and four more were seen between 1943 and 1947. Of the six infants, four had meningitis and two had pneumonia; all died. (1) Over the next few years, the importance of GBS in perinatal infection began to emerge. First documented as an important organism in the perinatal period (for both women and infants) by Hood and associates in 1961, (2) early-onset meningitis caused by GBS was reported in 1962, (3) and the role of GBS in neonatal infection was emphasized by Eickhoff and colleagues in 1964. (4) During the next decade, the ascendancy of GBS continued, to the extent that by 1973, McCracken (5) considered it to be “the new challenge” and a year later, with a colleague, described a wide spectrum of disease resulting from GBS infection. (6) The emergence of GBS infection was not limited to the United States; it appeared to be widespread throughout Europe. In the early 1970s, there were reports of infection in the language of the country from Bulgaria, France, Germany, Hungary, and the United Kingdom. (7) At about this time, the idea of “early-”and “late-”onset infections was proposed (8) and was well established by the end of the decade. …
Combined systemic and ocular chemotherapy for anterior segment metastasis of systemic mantle cell lymphoma

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an aggressive subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that rarely metastasizes to the iris and the anterior segment. Blastic/pleomorphic morphology is thought to have an adverse effect on prognosis in MCL. MCL is resistant to conventional chemotherapeutic regimens with a tendency for multiple relapses. Management of anterior segment metastasis of systemic MCL has not been described in literature. A 58-year-old male presented with an aggressive, relapsing, metastatic, systemic blastic variant of MCL with ocular involvement. At the time of initial presentation, large tumor cells were visible in the anterior chamber (AC) along with hypopyon and fibrin. The AC cells stained positively for CD20. The iris was thickened and coated with lymphoma cells. Iris neovascularization was present. Given extensive systemic and ocular involvement, the patient was given combination chemotherapy with systemic ibrutinib and intravitreal injections of methotrexate and rituximab. The disease response was monitored using multimodal imaging, including anterior segment optical coherence tomography and ultrasound biomicroscopy. Following combination of systemic and intraocular chemotherapy, there was a marked decrease in the ocular tumor load and the systemic disease. Combination therapy with intravitreal injections of chemotherapeutic agents targeting monoclonal B-cell population and novel systemic agents may help to achieve remission in anterior segment metastasis of aggressive subtypes of NHL such as blastic variant of MCL. Multimodal imaging may assist in the management of these cases.
PKC θ activity maintains normal quantal size in chromaffin cells

Protein kinase C (PKC) activity mediates multiple neurosecretory processes, but these are poorly understood due in part to the existence of at least 12 PKC isoforms. Using amperometry to record quantal catecholamine release from chromaffin cells, we found that both broad spectrum PKC antagonists and rottlerin, a selective inhibitor of the novel isoforms PKC theta and PKC delta, decreased quantal size and the number of secretory events recorded per stimulus. In contrast, drugs that selectively inhibit the atypical and conventional PKC isoforms had no effect on these parameters. While both PKC theta and delta were expressed in chromaffin cells, mice deficient for PKC theta, but not for PKC delta, exhibited lower quantal size than wild-type and were insensitive to rottlerin. Finally, an inhibitory PKC theta pseudosubstrate produced rottlerin-like responses in wild-type mice, indicating that the lack of rottlerin response in the PKC theta mutants was not the result of a form of compensation. These findings demonstrate neurosecretory regulation by a novel PKC isoform, PKC theta, and should contribute to defining mechanisms of activity-dependent regulation of neurosecretion.
Development and validation of the Single Item Narcissism Scale (SINS).

Main Objectives The narcissistic personality is characterized by grandiosity, entitlement, and low empathy. This paper describes the development and validation of the Single Item Narcissism Scale (SINS). Although the use of longer instruments is superior in most circumstances, we recommend the SINS in some circumstances (e.g. under serious time constraints, online studies). Methods In 11 independent studies (total N = 2,250), we demonstrate the SINS' psychometric properties. Results The SINS is significantly correlated with longer narcissism scales, but uncorrelated with self-esteem. It also has high test-retest reliability. We validate the SINS in a variety of samples (e.g., undergraduates, nationally representative adults), intrapersonal correlates (e.g., positive affect, depression), and interpersonal correlates (e.g., aggression, relationship quality, prosocial behavior). The SINS taps into the more fragile and less desirable components of narcissism. Significance The SINS can be a useful tool for researchers, especially when it is important to measure narcissism with constraints preventing the use of longer measures.
Association of Nrf2 with airway pathogenesis: lessons learned from genetic mouse models

Nrf2 is a key transcription factor for antioxi- dant response element (ARE)-bearing genes involved in diverse host defense functions including redox balance, cell cycle, immunity, mitochondrial biogenesis, energy metabo- lism, and carcinogenesis. Nrf2 in the airways is particularly essential as the respiratory system continuously interfaces with environmental stress. Since Nrf2 was determined to be a susceptibility gene for a model of acute lung injury, its protective capacity in the airways has been demonstrated in experimental models of human disorders using Nrf2 mutant mice which were susceptible to supplemental res- piratory therapy (e.g., hyperoxia, mechanical ventilation), cigarette smoke, allergens, virus, environmental pollut- ants, and fibrotic agents compared to wild-type littermates. Recent studies also determined that Nrf2 is indispensable in developmental lung injury. While association studies with genetic NRF2 polymorphisms supported a protective role for murine Nrf2 in oxidative airway diseases, somatic NRF2 mutations enhanced NRF2-ARE responses, and were favorable for lung carcinogenesis and chemoresist- ance. Bioinformatic tools have elucidated direct Nrf2 tar- gets as well as Nrf2-interacting networks. Moreover, potent Nrf2-ARE agonists protected oxidant-induced lung phe- notypes in model systems, suggesting a therapeutic or pre- ventive intervention. Further investigations on Nrf2 should yield greater understanding of its contribution to normal and pathophysiological function in the airways.
Becoming First Graders in an L2: An Ethnographic Study of L2 Socialization

This ethnographic report “thickly describes” (Geertz, 1973) the participation of ESL children in the daily classroom events of a mainstream first-grade classroom. Data for this paper come from a yearlong study of one classroom in an international school on a college campus in the U.S. Using a language socialization and micropolitical orientation, the report describes how, through socially significant interfactional routines, the children and other members of the classroom jointly constructed the ESL children's identities, social relations, and ideologies as well as their communicative competence in that setting. The sociocultural ecology of the community, school, and classroom shaped the kinds of microinteractions that occurred and thus the nature of their language learning over the course of the year.
Shape analysis of brain structures using physical and experimental modes

We present a framework for analyzing the shape of structures within the human brain. A mathematical model is developed describing the deformation of any brain structure whose shape is affected by both gross and detailed physical processes. The total shape deformation is decomposed into physical modes of variation obtained from finite element analysis, and experimental modes of variation obtained from sample data using principal component analysis. This mathematical model is used to classify diseases that affect the shape of the ventricular system of the brain. Because ventricular shape is affected not only by pathology but also by overall brain shape, disease discrimination is difficult. By modeling the brain's elastic properties, we are able to compensate for some of the nonpathological modes of ventricular shape variation. This allows us to experimentally characterize modes of variation that are indicative of disease processes. >
Visualizing clusters in artificial neural networks using Morse theory

This paper develops a process whereby a high-dimensional clustering problem is solved using a neural network and a lowdimensional cluster diagram of the results is produced using the Mapper method from topological data analysis. The lowdimensional cluster diagram makes the neural network's solution to the high-dimensional clustering problem easy to visualize, interpret, and understand. As a case study, a clustering problem froma diabetes study is solved using a neural network. The clusters in this neural network are visualized using the Mapper method during several stages of the iterative process used to construct the neural network. The neural network and Mapper clustering diagram results for the diabetes study are validated by comparison to principal component analysis.
A quorum-based framework for establishing control channels in dynamic spectrum access networks

Establishing a control channel for medium access control is a challenging problem in multi-channel and dynamic spectrum access (DSA) networks. In the design of multi-channel MAC protocols, the use of channel (or frequency) hopping techniques (a.k.a. parallel rendezvous) have been proposed to avoid the bottleneck of a single control channel. In DSA networks, the dynamic and opportunistic use of the available spectrum requires that the radios are able to "rendezvous" -- i.e., find each other to establish a link. The use of a dedicated global control channel simplifies the rendezvous process but may not be feasible in many opportunistic spectrum sharing scenarios due to the dynamically changing availability of all the channels, including the control channel. To address this problem, researchers have proposed the use of channel hopping protocols for enabling rendezvous in DSA networks.This paper presents a systematic approach, based on quorum systems, for designing and analyzing channel hopping protocols for the purpose of control channel establishment. The proposed approach, called Quorum-based Channel Hopping (QCH) system, can be used for implementing rendezvous protocols in DSA networks that are robust against link breakage caused by the appearance of incumbent user signals. We describe two optimal QCH systems under the assumption of global clock synchronization: the first system is optimal in the sense that it minimizes the time-to-rendezvous between any two channel hopping sequences; the second system is optimal in the sense that it guarantees the even distribution of the rendezvous points in terms of both time and channel, thus solving the \emph{rendezvous convergence} problem. We also propose an asynchronous QCH system that does not require global clock synchronization. Our analytical and simulation results show that the channel hopping schemes designed using our framework outperform existing schemes under various network conditions.
Treatment of asthmatic paroxysm with nicotinic acid

Abstract 1.1. Severe asthmatic paroxysms were controlled in sixteen of twenty-one patients by intravenous injection of 0.1 Gm. of nicotinic acid. 2.2. Relief was obtained within three to five minutes following the injection and seemed to coincide with the appearance of the flush. 3.3. Of nine chronic asthmatic patients who received 0.2 Gm. doses of nicotinic acid orally, five were benefited. 4.4. Of eighteen patients who received intravenous therapy, oral therapy also proved effective in eleven patients.
Polarization and Publicity: Rethinking the Benefits of Deliberative Democracy

Though openness in government has obvious benefits, recent scholarship has devoted less attention to the possibility that it might also have costs. I use a formal framework to investigate the effect of public versus private decision making on opinion polarization. Existing work emphasizes that public debate helps to reduce polarization and promote consensus, but I argue that when debate takes place between representatives the opposite may be true. When representatives make decisions in public, they face incentives to use their actions as a signal of loyalty to their constituents, potentially ignoring private information about the true desirability of different policies. Anticipating this, constituents will not alter their prior policy beliefs following a debate of this type. When representatives instead make policy decisions in private, they are more likely to allow private information to influence their actions. An important consequence is that even if constituents do not observe actions or statements of...
Reduced Fas ligand-expressing splenic CD5+ B lymphocytes in severe collagen-induced arthritis.

Introduction The objective was to study immune regulation in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis that exhibits considerable heterogeneity of disease activity. Methods T-cell receptor transgenic mice, in which nearly all CD4+ T cells recognize a single peptide of type II collagen, were immunized with collagen and observed for development of arthritis for 4 weeks. At 28 days post-immunization, splenocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry and in vitro assays for markers of immune activation and regulation. Results Disease severities ranging from 0 to 12 (on a 12-point scale) were observed. Among splenic lymphocyte populations, only the CD5+ B-cell subset displayed a decrease in relative numbers as arthritis severity increased. Splenic CD5+ B cells expressed higher levels of Fas ligand (FasL) than did CD4+ T cells or CD5- B cells in all mice, and antigen-dependent T-cell death correlated with higher levels of CD5+ B cells in cocultures. Ratios of interleukin (IL)-17 to interferon-gamma production were higher in antigen-driven cultures of splenocytes from severely arthritic mice compared to mildly or nonarthritic mice. A correlation was established between the reduced production of IL-17 in antigen-driven T-cell/B-cell cocultures and FasL, but not IL-10. Confirmation of the direct killing effect of B cells on T cells was demonstrated using an antigen-specific T hybridoma cell line. Conclusions Reduced numbers of splenic FasL+ CD5+ B cells correlated with increasing arthritis severity and decreased T-cell death in a T-cell receptor transgenic mouse model of collageninduced arthritis. These 'killer' B cells may provide a novel mechanism for inducing T-cell death as a treatment for arthritis.
A Mixed-Method Study of Teachers' Attitudes About Teaching in Urban and Low-Income Schools

This multimethod study investigates the attitudes teachers in urban and low-income schools have about teaching early elementary students. The authors examine the contextual characteristics of elementary schools where such teachers are willing to take responsibility for children's learning. The quantitative analyses focus on a subsample of students and teachers in low-income schools from The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study—Kindergarten cohort. The qualitative data are drawn from a 2-year intensive study of eight kindergarten teachers and four first-grade teachers in urban public schools, with a focus on interviews with a subset of “highly responsible” teachers. The authors discuss policy implications, especially related to how to improve teachers' attitudes toward children from low-income environments.
Multi-Composite Bioactive Osteogenic Sponges Featuring Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Platelet-Rich Plasma, Nanoporous Silicon Enclosures, and Peptide Amphiphiles for Rapid Bone Regeneration

A novel bioactive sponge was created with a composite of type I collagen sponges or porous poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), BMP2-loaded nanoporous silicon enclosure (NSE) microparticles, mineralizing peptide amphiphiles (PA), and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Primary MSC from cortical bone (CB) tissue proved to form more and larger colony units, as well as produce more mineral matrix under osteogenic differentiation, than MSC from bone marrow (BM). Coating pre-treatments were optimized for maximum cell adhesion and mineralization, while a PRP-based gel carrier was created to efficiently deliver and retain MSC and microparticles within a porous scaffold while simultaneously promoting cell recruitment, proliferation, and angiogenesis. Components and composite sponges were evaluated for osteogenic differentiation in vitro. Osteogenic sponges were loaded with MSC, PRP, PA, and NSE and implanted subcutaneously in rats to evaluate the formation of bone tissue and angiogenesis in vivo. It was found that the combination of a collagen sponge with CB MSC, PRP, PA, and the BMP2-releasing NSE formed the most bone and was most vascularized by four weeks compared to analogous composites featuring BM MSC or PCL or lacking PRP, PA, and NSE. This study indicates that CB MSC should be considered as an alternative to marrow as a source of stem cells, while the PRP-PA cell and microparticle delivery system may be utilized for diverse tissue engineering applications.
A top-down methodology for microprocessor validation

A major challenge in today's functional verification is the lack of a formal specification with which to compare the RTL model. We propose a novel top-down verification approach that allows specification of a design above the RTL. From this specification, it is possible to automatically generate assertion models and RTL reference models. We also demonstrate that symbolic simulation and equivalence checking can be applied to verify an RTL design against its specification.
Embryonic polarity: A role for microtubules

Researchers have suspected that initial polarization of the Caenorhabditis elegans embryo might be directed by microtubules, but demonstrating this has faced obstacles. A new study has cleverly bypassed these obstacles.
Community structure and leaf trait heterogeneity in a deciduous thicket community of the Middle Zambezi River Valley, Zambia

Abstract Deciduous Zambezi thicket forms a mixed-layered, dry woodland community on deep alluvial soils of the Middle Zambezi Valley. The dominant species are spiny, thicket-forming deciduous shrubs and small trees with no single dominant species and variable composition along the valley. A detailed community study of deciduous thicket along the Middle Zambezi River provided an indication of the wide variation of species-specific characteristics of growth form, phenology, and leaf traits that combine to produce a heterogeneous assemblage. Two families, the Capparaceae and Leguminosae, are particularly well represented. Leaf traits of nitrogen content, specific leaf area, δ 13 C, and δ 15 N are highly variable between species, with indications of some consistency in family traits within the Capparaceae and Leguminosae. A number of species exhibit a strong pattern of association with termite mounds, and termitaria are known to have significant potential impacts on spatial patterns of soil nutrient availability and water relations in savanna communities. There remains a poor understanding of the significance of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in deciduous African thicket, and savanna, and woodland communities and its importance in ecosystem fluxes of nitrogen, and these issues cannot be resolved by simple measurements of δ 15 N alone. Intraregional patterns of variation in leaf traits may impact the broad application of regional ecosystem models, as with those developed in the SAFARI 2000 program, when the variance between species is high, demonstrating that climatic controls on ecosystem δ 15 N abundance are scale‐dependent.
Implicit Theories and Capital Sentencing: An Experimental Study

Social psychological research shows that some individuals ("entity theorists") view others as possessing fixed, unchanging moral traits; some individuals ("incremental theorists") see others' moral traits as malleable and dynamic. Such individual differences in implicit theories reliably predicts people's levels of punitiveness, their endorsement of certain moral theories and punitive philosophies, their likelihood of stereotyping others, and other legally relevant judgments. Empirical legal research on such beliefs relevant to the law, however, is almost non-existent. Accordingly, in three experimental mock juror studies, I investigated the effect of respondents' implicit theory on their capital sentencing decisions. Primary results demonstrate that across samples, (1) incremental theorists are less likely to impose a death sentence; and (2) entity theorists are more willing to impose a death sentence when the defendant is African-American. Policy implications are discussed.
The effects of copper pyrithione, an antifouling agent, on developing zebrafish embryos

A substitute for the organotins has been the use of metal pyrithiones, principally zinc and copper (CuPT) as antifouling agents. Zebrafish, Danio rerio, embryos were exposed after fertilization to increasing concentrations of CuPT (2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 32 and 64 μg/L) for 24 h. Morphological abnormalities at 30, 96 and 120 hours post fertilization (hpf) were recorded. Abnormalities at concentrations of 12 μg/L and higher were observed. Notochords became severely twisted as concentrations increased. These distortions of the notochord originated in the tail at the lower concentrations and proceeded rostrally with increasing dose. Edema was observed in the cardiac and yolk sac regions at the 12 and 16 μg/L CuPT concentrations. Light microscopy showed disorganization of muscle fibers, disruption and distortion of the transverse myoseptum and vacuolization of the myocyte. Hatching was measured every 12 h for 5 days following the 24 h exposure. Hatching decreased in a dose dependent manner. At 120 hpf, 47 % of the 64 μg/L CuPT treated embryos hatched. Inductively coupled plasma atomic absorbance spectrophotometry (ICPAAS) revealed copper bioaccumulation in whole embryo tissue and was significantly elevated in 32 and 64 μg/L CuPT treatment groups as compared to controls. Lipid peroxidation end products were significantly increased in animals exposed to 32 and 64 μg/L of CuPT. These data demonstrate that oxidative stress may play a role in the toxicity. The abnormalities and deformities observed in fish larvae would significantly decrease survival in polluted aqua-systems and question the use of this product as an antifouling agent.
Challenges and Opportunities in the Development of Conjugated Block Copolymers for Photovoltaics

Fully conjugated block copolymers that covalently link donor and acceptor units within the molecular structure have the potential to simultaneously control the mesoscale assembly and interfacial structure. As a consequence, utilizing block copolymers as the active layer provides a unique opportunity to tune charge and energy transfer processes while retaining a mesoscale scaffold for efficient charge extraction within photovoltaic devices. Recent progress in synthesis, structural characterization, modeling, and device fabrication suggest significant advances in block copolymer materials are in the near future—both as model materials for systematic studies of charge and energy transfer and as high performance materials for photovoltaic devices. In this Perspective, we describe recent efforts, current challenges, and opportunities in the development of fully conjugated block copolymers for organic photovoltaics.
Decision Making in Psychiatric Emergencies

Social workers increasingly are being required to assist clients in emergency situations. Such conditions typically require rapid decision making and quick action. In this article, the processes practitioners use in their interventions in psychiatric emergencies are examined. This examination is based on concepts derived from cognitive psychology and decision-making theory. Implications for practice and training also are discussed.
Delayed extra-adrenal epinephrine secretion after bilateral adrenalectomy in rats.

Regulated systemic extra-adrenal epinephrine secretion has been demonstrated in long-term bilaterally adrenalectomized humans. To determine whether this is demonstrable immediately after adrenalect...
Abstract ADV11: Cancer communication to minority populations/MOCHA Prostate Cancer Symposium.

The development of programs targeted toward underrepresented populations and evaluation of communications strategies to assess the effectiveness of such programs to improve health outcomes is essential to diminish disparities. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of a community symposium and education program to highlight prostate cancer disparities among high risk populations. MOCHA was contacted in March 2012, by Mass Department of Public Health, to present a community program to highlight prostate cancer. The prostate cancer symposium was intended to utilize an innovative community based partnership and research concept to disseminate health information in specific settings for special populations. Over 150 persons attended the MOCHA Prostate Cancer symposium, held at a regional convention and events center in Springfield, Massachusetts. 118 completed distributed surveys to assess opinions about PSA screening and impact of program format. A utilization of community based programs that focus on minority populations can represent an effective strategy and approach to communicate with special populations- particularly men of color. Men of color still support use of PSA blood test as a screening tool for prostate cancer, and minority groups will attend symposiums if encouraged by representatives that resemble their population. Men of color will support programs with research focuses and find information beneficial to their overall health. Citation Format: Sanford E. Jeames. Cancer communication to minority populations/MOCHA Prostate Cancer Symposium. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr ADV11. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-ADV11
A Note on Estimating the Mean of a Normal Distribution with Known Coefficient of Variation

The purpose of the present note is to find the best possible estimator of the parameter θ in the normal distribution N (θ, aθ2) (θ > 0) where α is a known positive constant. It is shown that neither the sample mean nor the sample standard deviation with suitably chosen constant is any longer the best unbiased estimator in the sense of minimum variance. Among a typical class of unbiased estimators, the one with minimum variance is obtained. It is also shown that the suggested estimator is B.A.N. (beat asymptotically normal).
Mycological Taxonomy as Related to Practical Problems in Microbiology

(1958). Mycological Taxonomy as Related to Practical Problems in Microbiology. Mycologia: Vol. 50, No. 1, pp. 97-102.
Classical Teaching of the Traditional Virtues of Education

In the middle school teaching classical Chinese traditional virtue to carry out education,from from the characters,events analysis,from the thought,the spirit of the mining,training in reading,in the background,knowledge,essays,extracurricular reading for students Traditional virtues of education.
Effect of Colostrum Tablets on Cellular and Humoral Immunity Function of Mice

[Objective]To study the colostrum tablets on immune function of mice,and explore the immunoloregulation mechanism preliminarily[Methods]A total of 48 clean female Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group and low,medium and high dose group,with 12 mice in each.Route of administration is oral.Colostrum tablets were administrated at doses of 1.0,2.0 and 3.0 mg / kg,equal volume of deionized water was given to control group,1 time/ day.DPH,spleen lymphocytes transformation,spleen antibody forming cells,HC-50 and organ coefficient were observed in continuous 30 days.The 4 sets of experimental data were tested by F-test.[Results]The joint swelling degree of 3 dose groups was(0.84±0.22),(0.93±0.26) and(0.97±0.26)mm,comparing with(0.61±0.26)mm of control group,the differences were significant(P0.05 or P0.01);HC-50of medium and high dose group was significantly different with that of control group,the difference was significant(P0.05).Colostrum tablets had no effect on spleen and thymus organ coefficient.[Conclusion]This colostrum tablets can greatly enhance mice cellar and humoral immunity function.
The first triple-layer 2-D coordination polymer:.

An unprecedented triple-layer 2-D open-framework metal−organic polymer, stack interlocked into a 3-D structure, was synthesized via a self-assembly reaction under hyrodthermal conditions.
Species differences in responsiveness to 1,4-bis[2-(3,5-dichloropyridyloxy)]-benzene, a potent phenobarbital-like inducer of microsomal monooxygenase activity.

1,4-Bis[2-(3,5-dichloropyridyloxy)]-benzene (TCPOBOP), previously shown to be an extremely potent inducer of the phenobarbital pleiotropic response in mice, was surprisingly ineffective in the rat. Hepatic aminopyrine N-demethylase, benzphetamine N-demethylase, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, microsomal epoxide hydrolase and φ aldehyde dehydrogenase activities, cytochrome P-450, and liver weight were all increased in the rat by sodium phenobarbital, but not by TCPOBOP at a dose of 10 mg/kg (equivalent to 50 times the mouse ED50). At higher doses, TCPOBOP did produce an increase in hepatic benzphetamine N-demethylase activity, but this response plateaued at about 40% of the maximal response produced by phenobarbital. TCPOBOP appears to have diminished potency and intrinsic activity in the rat, but it does not antagonize the effect of phenobarbital (i.e., act as a partial agonist). In four strains of mice and Syrian golden hamsters, TCPOBOP (3 mg/kg) was a potent inducer of hepatic aminopyrine N-demethylase activity, but four strains of rats and guinea pigs failed to respond. This greatly diminished potency of TCPOBOP in the rat (ED50 1.2 x 10-4 moles/kg) compared with the mouse (ED50 = 4.9 x 10-7 moles/kg) is not attributable to (a) a rapid metabolism or excretion, because in both species [3H] TCPOBOP has a long half-life and is stored primarily as the parent compound; or (b) a toxic effect preventing the hepatic induction response. The species difference in sensitivity to TCPOBOP appears to be due to some evolutionary change affecting the mechanism of induction by TCPOBOP but not by phenobarbital.
Archaeological Monitoring for the Casa Rio Restaurant Expansion, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

During early 1991, an archaeologist from The Center for Archaeological Research (CAR), the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), monitored the expansion of the Casa Rio Restaurant in downtown San Antonio. The expansion exposed, but did not damage, the foundation of the first Beckmann home constructed in 1859. Research for the property also revealed that the basement and support structures for the second Beckmann home probably exist within the parking lot immediately to the south of the expanded facility. No further historical work is required for this project but any future modifIcation to the area must address the critical potential resources.
ARIMA-based modeling and validation of consumption readings in power grids

Smart meters are increasingly being deployed to measure electricity consumption of residential as well as non-residential consumers. The readings reported by these meters form a time series, which is stored at electric utility servers for billing purposes. Invalid readings may be reported because of malicious compromise of the smart meters themselves, or of the network infrastructure that supports their communications. Although many of these meters come equipped with encrypted communications, they may potentially be vulnerable to cyber intrusions. Therefore, there is a need for an additional layer of validation to detect these intrusion attempts. In this paper, we make three contributions. First, we show that the ARMA model proposed in the anomaly detection literature is unsuitable for electricity consumption as most consumers exhibit non-stationary consumption behavior. We use automated model fitting methods from the literature to show that first-order differencing of these non-stationary readings makes them weakly stationary. Thus, we propose the use of ARIMA forecasting methods for validating consumption readings. Second, we evaluate the effectiveness of ARIMA forecasting in the context of a specific attack model, where smart meter readings are modified to steal electricity. Third, we propose additional checks on mean and variance that can mitigate the total amount of electricity that can be stolen by an attacker by \(77.46\,\%\). Our evaluation is based on a real, open dataset of readings obtained from 450 consumer meters.