cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tracking moving objects during low altitude flight

A computer-vision system to assist pilots during low-altitude flight has been developed in this research study. During this critical section of flight, a system that can detect various objects on the ground would be very useful both for enhancing the safety of navigation and for relieving pilots of a part of their workload in flight control. Such tasks can generally be automated by computer-vision-based methods, which provide the ability for object detection and tracking. This paper describes the algorithms developed for accomplishing such tasks. There are two main stages in the vision system. First, independently moving objects in the scene are detected and segmented from the background. Then, they are tracked from frame to frame, and their 3D motion parameters are recursively estimated with Kalman filtering techniques. Experiments using real-world image sequences have been carried out, and the results show that tracking moving objects is successful and the estimation of object's motion parameters are quite accurate.
Partial protection against odoratism (sweet pea lathyrism) by diets high in gelatin or casein.

SummaryHigh levels of gelatin and of casein delayed, but did not prevent, the onset of odoratism (experimental lathyrism) in the rat. Casein exerted a greater protective action than gelatin.
Morphology of locomotor appendages in Arachnida: evolutionary trends and phylogenetic implications

The morphological diversity of locomotor appendages in Arachnida is surveyed lo reconstruct phylogenetic relationships and discover evolutionary trends in form and function. The appendicular skeleton and musculature of representatives from the ten living arachnid orders ate described, and a system of homology is proposed. Character polarities are established through comparison with an outgroup. Limulus polyphemus Xiphosura). Cladistic analysis suggests that Arachnida is monophyletic and that absence of extensor muscles is a primitive condition. Extensors are primitively absent in Araneae. Amblypygi, Uropygi, Palpigradi, Ricinulei and Acari. Most similarities in the appendages of these orders are symplesiomorphic so that phylogenetic relationships among the ‘extensorless’ groups cannot be resolved solely on the basis of appendicular characters. Extensor muscles appear to have evolved once, and their presence is considered a synapomorphic feature of Opiliones, Scorpiones, Pseudoscorpiones and Solifugae. Solifugae lack extensors, but a parsimonious interpretation of other characters indicates that this is a secondary, derived condition. The phylogenetic relationships among these four orders are clarified by modifications of the patellotibial joint. Cladistic analysis indicates that Opiliones may be the sister group of the other three orders and that Scorpiones is the sister group of Pseudoscorpiones and Solifugae. Conclusions concerning phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary morphology presented here differ substantially from those of earlier studies on the locomotor appendages of Arachnida.
Designing for real-world scientific inquiry in virtual environments

Background: Most policy doctrines promote the use of scientific inquiry in the K–12 classroom, but good inquiry is hard to implement, particularly for schools with fiscal and safety constraints and for teachers struggling with understanding how to do so. Purpose: In this paper, we present the design of a multi-user virtual environment (MUVE) science curriculum project focusing on the creation of virtual experimentation methods and tools that concentrate on real-world inquiry. The study investigated whether students could engage with and learn as much from virtual inquiry as physical inquiry. Furthermore, the impact on teachers was explored. Programme description: These research questions were evaluated through an implementation of the MUVE, River City, a curriculum that is based on hypothesis formation and testing. Sample: We present findings from an implementation of River City with 500 seventh-grade students and their five teachers in a US mid-Atlantic suburban school district. Students were evenly spli...
Synthesis of low-power asynchronous circuits in a specified environment

We introduce a new method for the synthesis of power-optimal asynchronous control-circuits. The method includes two steps: (i) an exact algorithm for 2-level synthesis, and (ii) heuristic algorithms for multi-level synthesis. Unlike most existing synchronous algorithms, we incorporate both temporal dependence and glitch activity in our model to guide synthesis. Results, using only our 2-level minimization, show power reduction up to 33%.
Developing an Integrated Computational Environment for the Detailed Design of a Mixing Impeller

Digital manufacturing significantly reduces the expense and time required to produce custom products. Utilizing this technology, a customized product can be quickly manufactured. But the timescale and expense of the engineering design workflows used to develop these customized products have not been adapted from the workflows used in mass production due to the development of high fidelity models. But with digital manufacturing the economies of scale are eliminated such that producing many unique designs or many of the same designs result in the same manufacturing cost. Developing a design workflow that utilizes the developed and validated high fidelity models of the already produced design can reduce the amount of time and expense developing a slightly varied customized design. Reduced order modeling enables this reuse and magnification of existing high fidelity models by creating a computationally inexpensive representation of a model from high fidelity data. This thesis explores the integration of reduced order modeling and detailed analysis into the engineering design workflow developing a customized design using digital manufacturing. Specifically detailed analysis is coupled with proper orthogonal decomposition to enable the exploration of the design space while simultaneously shaping the model representing the design. This revised workflow is examined using the design of a laboratory scale overhead mixing impeller. The case study presented here is compared with the design of the Kar Dynamic Mixer developed by the Dow Chemical Company. The result of which is a customized design for a refined set of operating conditions with improved performance.
Suicidal children grow up: demographic and clinical risk factors for adolescent suicide attempts

This longitudinal study reports rates and demographic and clinical risk factors for adolescent suicide attempts during a 6- to 8-year follow-up period of an initial sample of 106 preadolescent and young adolescent psychiatric inpatients and 101 preadolescent and young adolescent nonpatients. Survival analysis was used to evaluate risk for a first suicide attempt in the follow-up period for 133 subjects who were interviewed. No deaths occurred. Suicidal inpatients, compared with nonpatients, had earlier first suicide attempts in the follow-up period. Adolescents who attempted suicide in the follow-up period were seven times more likely to have a mood disorder during the follow-up period than those who did not attempt suicide. Implications for clinical practice and research are discussed.
Going-Private Decisions and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002: A Cross-Country Analysis

This article investigates whether the regulatory regime created by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) has driven firms in general, and small firms in particular, out of the public capital market. Previous attempts to address this question have had difficulty controlling for other factors that could have affected exit decisions around the enactment of SOX. To address this difficulty, we examine the post-SOX change in the propensity of public American target firms to favor private acquirers over public ones with the corresponding change for foreign target firms, which were outside the purview of SOX. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that SOX induced small firms to exit the public capital market during the first year of its enactment. Large firms, by contrast, do not appear to have been affected.
Effects of temperature and strain rate on the mechanical properties of lead-free solders

Recently studies of mechanical properties of lead-free solders show that large reductions in stiffness, yield stress, ultimate strength, and strain to failure (up to 35%) were found after 2 months of aging at room temperature. It also shows that the tensile properties of both lead-free solders and Sn–Pb solders tend to become relatively stable after 10 days of aging at room temperature. In this study, in order to minimize any room temperature aging contribution in the investigation of the dependence of temperature and strain rates, all specimens tested were preconditioned after 10 days of aging at room temperature. All tests were conducted under the same conditions. Testing has been performed at three strain rates, 10−3, 10−4, and 10−5 s−1, in temperature range from −40 to 150 °C. A linear relationship was found between the temperature and the tensile properties (elastic modulus, yield stress, and ultimate stress), while a power law relationship was found between strain rate and tensile properties. Constitutive models have also been developed based on the experimental data with multiple variables of strain rate and temperature for both lead-free and lead content solders. With the obtained constitutive models, tensile properties of lead-free solders can be predicted at any testing strain rate and temperature.
Tacrolimus Trough Levels After Month 3 as a Predictor of Acute Rejection following Kidney Transplantation; a Lesson Learned from DEKAF Genomics

Most calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) based protocols reduce blood trough goals approximately 2–3 months post-transplant in clinically stable kidney transplant recipients. The CNI target trough level to prevent rejection, after reduction, is unknown. Using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model we determined the association of time-varying tacrolimus (TAC) trough levels with acute rejection (AR) occurring in the first 6 months post-transplant, but specifically we assessed this association after 3 months. 1,930 patients received TAC based immunosuppression prior to AR in a prospective study. Of the 151 (7.8%) who developed AR, 47 developed AR after 3 months post-transplant. In an adjusted time varying multivariate model, each 1 ng/mL decrease in TAC trough levels was associated with a 7.2% increased risk of AR [HR=1.07, 95% CI (1.01, 1.14) P=0.03] in the first 6 months. There was an additional 23% increased risk of AR with each 1 ng/mL decrease in the TAC trough levels in months 3–6 [HR=1.23, 95% CI (1.06, 1.43) P=0.008]. In conclusion, lower TAC trough levels were significantly associated with increased risk of AR in the first 6 months post-transplant with additional risk of AR between months 3–6 post-transplant. The timing and practice of TAC dose reduction should be personalized based on the individual’s risk factors.
Laboratory Automation: Total and Subtotal

Worldwide, perhaps 2000 or more clinical laboratories have implemented some form of laboratory automation, either a modular automation system, such as for front-end processing, or a total laboratory automation system. This article provides descriptions and examples of these various types of automation. It also presents an outline of how a clinical laboratory that is contemplating automation should approach its decision and the steps it should follow to ensure a successful implementation. Finally, the role of standards in automation is reviewed.
Apparent antibody-producing capacity of chicken thymocytes

Abstract The mean PFC frequency in thymuses of MRBC-immunized birds was less than 2 percent of that in spleens. PFC's were numerous in spleens of embryonic hosts grafted with spleen cells or peripheral blood of immunized birds but were rare in hosts administered thymocytes or bone marrow cells. MRBC-thymocyte mixture with little immune activity in embryonic hosts, however, enhanced the humoral immune responsiveness of newly hatched chicks. The amplified responsiveness acquired from thymocyte transfer was equally apparent in chicks made immuno-deficient by testosterone proprionate (TP) or cyclophosphamide (Cy) treatments. No enhancement was elicited with thymocytes from TP- and Cy-treated donors. The roles of T and B cells in thymocyte suspensions and a requirement for a suitable host environment for expression of enhanced humoral immune responsiveness are discussed.
The Interaction of Monovalent Cations with a Model DNA Hairpin

Capillary electrophoresis was used to study the interactions of monovalent cations with DNA hairpins, using as a model the 16 residue oligonucleotide ATCCTATTTTTAGGAT, which is known to form a stable hairpin with a 6 base pair stem and a 4 base loop. The unstructured 14 base oligonucleotide ACCTGATCACGTTA served as a reference analyte. All measurements were performed in the absence of Mg2+ at pH 7.3 using diethylmalonate as the buffering anion. Increasing the concentration of Na+ in the buffer increased the melting temperature of the hairpin, as predicted by the mFOLD algorithm. Isothermal measurements at 20° indicate that Na+ forms a saturable complex with the hairpin, with a KD of about 100 mM, but does not form a complex with the unstructured reference oligonucleotide. These measurements suggest that the increase in the melting temperature of the hairpin with increasing Na+ is due to the preferential binding of Na+ ions to the hairpin conformation. The cations Li+, K+, Tris+ and tetramethylammonium+ (TMA+) bind equally well to the model hairpin and affect its melting temperature similarly. The tetraethylammonium+ (TEA+) ion also binds equally well to the hairpin, but only to the extent of ∼50% saturation. The tetrapropylammonium+ (TPA+) and tetrabultylammonium+ (TBA+) ions bind to the hairpin very weakly if at all. Surprisingly, the melting temperature of the hairpin is systematically diminished as TMA+ is replaced in turn by TEA+, TPA+ or TBA+, suggesting that the larger tetraalkylammonium ions may destabilize the hairpin conformation by a through-solvent mechanism.
Symbolic Testing and the DISSECT Symbolic Evaluation System

Symbolic testing and a symbolic evaluation system called DISSECT are described. The principle features of DISSECT are outlined. The results of two classes of experiments in the use of symbolic evaluadon are summarized. Several classes of program errors are defined and the reliability of symbolic testing in finding bugs is related to the classes of errors. The relationship of symbolic evaluation systems like DISSECT to classes of program errors and to other kinds of program testing and program analysis tools is also discussed. Desirable improvements in DISSECT, whose importance was revealed by the experiments, are mentioned.
A Structural Blueprint for Group Facilitators: Three Group Modalities

This article provides a conceptual model, typology, or blueprint to unify and more clearly understand the spectrum of task-, socio-, and psycho-group processes used by guidance and counseling personnel. The authors provide a structure for group leaders to follow within their various group forms or modalities.
A antropologia numa era de confusão

The study of anthropology has always tried to understand the human nature and the varieties of human culture. Such ambitious task has constantly faced methodological and theoretical difficulties. The so-called social evolution theory has been seen as both prejudicial and one that lacks enough evidence, having also some racist inference due to the European hegemony then. The antidotes - rigorous fieldwork inspired in functionalism, structuralism, or "culturalism" - were also seen as contaminated by colonialist world order hierarchies. The post-modern attention to such "orientalism" in a post-colonial world has brought forth numerous papers that will help anthropologists pay due attention to such matters, which has caused a decline in both production and anthropological understanding. This conference takes in consideration these dilemmas, the current debates on "culture" and "cultural survival," and how anthropologists could proceed in such confusion era, confusion that comes as a result of globalization and the appearance of the idea of State-nation.
Finite element formulation for thermal stress analysis of thin reactor structures

Abstract This paper describes the formulation of a finite-element procedure for the thermal stress analysis of thin wall reactor components. A general temperature-dependent constituent relationship is derived from a Gibbs potential function and a temperature-dependent yield surface. This form of constitutive relationship is applicable to problems of small strain. A similar form of a hypoelastic-plastic type is also developed for large strains. The variation of the yield surface with temperature is based upon a temperature-dependent, work-hardening model. The model uses a temperature-equivalent stress-plastic strain diagram which is generated from isothermal unaxial stress-strain data. The above constitutive relationships are incorporated into two computer codes and a previously developed numerical algorithm is used with minor modifications. A set of problems is presented validating the thermal analysis capability of the computer codes to a variety of problem types.
Nurse-midwifery as a career.

Abstract Nurse-midwifery education prepares individuals for unique professional practice. The diversity of opportunities allows nurse-midwives to seek positions that match their interest and needs. As an expanding field, nurse-midwifery has national, increasing state and local, public and private, areas of support. In the climate of opportunity where the demand for nurse-midwives exceeds their availability, there is a need for both pioneers and maintainers of practices, services, educational programs, and research efforts.
The Ethics of Biobusiness, Technology, and Genetic Engineering

When we think of ethics in medicine or business, we typically focus on whether the dignity and autonomy of patients and stakeholders are being respected. Ethicists have devoted a great deal of energy to showing how particular practices either foster or damage healthy personal relations. It is my contention that these analyses, while sometimes insightful, do not grapple with the key question: What does it mean to act in an increasingly technological age? Is it legitimate simply to apply some set of standard ethical categories to evaluate good and bad practices in medicine or business? This article argues that this type of applied ethics completely misses the larger ethical issues arising from the fact that our practices, including medicine, have become thoroughly technological in character. Technology by its very nature transforms our practices and our selves. What is more, it alters us in such a way that we simultaneously lose our capacity to judge the meaning and consequences of this transformation.
Preparation and adsorption property of xylan/poly(acrylic acid) magnetic nanocomposite hydrogel adsorbent

Adsorbents based on natural polysaccharides have attracted increasing interest because of their low-cost and biodegradability, particularly, polysaccharide-based nanocomposite adsorbents. In this study the xylan/poly(acrylic acid) magnetic nanocomposite hydrogel adsorbent was prepared from wheat straw xylan and Fe3O4 nanoparticles, and its adsorption property was studied on methylene blue removal. The prepared hydrogel adsorbent had a semi-interpenetrating network structure and exhibited a macro-porous structure with interconnected porous channels. Super-paramagnetic characteristic behavior was observed from magnetic analysis using a vibrating sample magnetometer. The optimum condition for methylene blue adsorption on the adsorbent was found at pH 8 with an adsorbent dosage of 3g/L and an initial concentration of 400mg/L, and the removal percentage reached above 90%. The adsorption isotherm of methylene blue on the prepared hydrogel adsorbent was fitted to the Langmuir model, and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model could describe the adsorption process. All obtained results indicated that the prepared hydrogel adsorbent is promising for water treatment applications.
A ribosomal RNA operon from Pseudomonas stutzeri Zobell

A ribosomal RNA operon from the marine bacterium, Pseudomonas stutzeri Zobell, was cloned and characterized by Southern hybridization and sequence analysis. The 16S rRNA, 23S rRNA, 5S rRNA and 2 tRNA genes (alanine and isoleucine) were identified by homology with sequences in GenBank. The rRNA gene exhibited typical eubacterial organization (16S-tRNAs-23S-5S). A putative ribosomal promoter and anti-terminator regions were also identified and described. Significant differences in spacing of the anti-terminator regulatory elements were observed between P. stutzeri Zobell and Escherichia coli.
Reliability of the Raven Coloured Progressive Matrices for Anglo and for Mexican-American Children.

The present study investigated the internal consistency reliability estimates of the Raven Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPM) for Anglo and Mexican-American third-grade boys from low socioeconomic status background. The results showed that the reliability estimates of the CPM for the two ethnic groups were acceptably high and extremely similar in magnitude. In light of these findings, plus previous cross-cultural reliability studies of the CPM, it appears that the CPM is a promising nonverbal intelligence measure when used with children of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Boron coatings on graphite for fusion reactor applications

Abstract This study is an experimental investigation of boron coatings on graphite and the preliminary determination of some of their physical and nuclear related properties. The boron was obtained by the decomposition of diborane in argon at 500 °C and 1 atm. Adhesion to the graphite (POCO AXF-5Q) was good if a slightly roughened surface was provided. The boron was pseudo-amorphous, had high purity with no observable porosity and the fractured surface showed no growth features. It was very hard (VHN25 = 2400 kgmm-2) and had good resistance to hydrogen ion erosion and to arcing. It may, therefore, be a suitable candidate for first wall and limiter coatings in toroidal magnetically confined fusion reactors.
Dielectric and interface properties of pyrolytic aluminum oxide films on silicon substrates

Aluminum oxide films have been deposited on silicon substrates by thermal decomposition of aluminum-isopropoxide. MOS capacitance and conductance measurements have been made on Al2O3-Si structures,and the influence of deposition parameters and silicon surface preparation on interface properties has been examined. The density of interface states varies from 1010 to 1011 cm−2(ev)−1, and the flatband voltage (for ∼1000A oxide) can vary between zero and several volts positive depending upon the deposition parameters and silicon surface preparation. Postdeposition annealing in moist or dry-O2 at 800°C decreases the flatband voltage. Infrared measurements indicate that this effect is accompanied by the growth of a thin interface SiO2 film. Only a very thin interface SiO2 film (∼50A) is required to produce zero flatband voltage. Biastemperature stress increases the flatband voltage value under negative gate bias. Excessive localized conduction and breakdown can be correlated with the occurrence of silicon surface defects. The radiation resistance of Al2O3-Si structures is strongly dependent upon the presence of a thin interface SiO2 film.
An epidemiologic study of aboriginal adolescent risk in Canada: the meaning of suicide.

BACKGROUND: Current rates of Aboriginal youth suicide suggest that an epidemiologic review is needed to understand the impact of culture, community, and environment specific to suicide within this population. PURPOSE: This paper aims to (a) examine the literature on the incidence of suicide with special attention to that of adolescents in Aboriginal communities in Canada, (b) review factors hypothesized to place Aboriginals at risk, and (c) explore research directions that would contribute to our understanding of an Aboriginal perspective of suicide. CONCLUSION: A clear description of the meaning of adolescent Aboriginal suicide and an understanding of the factors that create risk is needed. Language: en
Stimulation and artifact-free extracellular electrophysiological recording of cells in suspension

We have developed instrumentation which stimulates and records electrophysiological signals from populations of suspended cells in microfluidic channels. We are employing this instrumentation in a new approach to cell sorting and flow cytometry which distinguishes cells based on their electrophysiology. This label-free approach is ideal for applications where labeling or genetic modification of cells is undesirable, such as in purifying cells for tissue replacement therapies. Electrophysiology is a powerful indicator of phenotype for electrically-excitable cells such as myocytes and neurons. However, extracellular field potential signals are notoriously weak and large stimulus artifacts can easily obscure these signals if care is not taken to suppress them. This is particularly true for suspended cells. Here, we describe a novel microelectrode configuration and the associated instrumentation for suppressing stimulus artifacts and faithfully recovering the extracellular field potential signal. We show that the device is capable of distinguishing cardiomyocytes from non-cardiomyocytes derived from the same stem cell population. Finally, we explain the relationship between extracellular field potentials and the more familiar transmembrane action potential signal, noting the physiologically important features of these signals.
Patterns of recruitment and spawning in Hawaiian reef fishes

Recruitment of juvenile fishes to five 25 m2 quadrats on an extensive natural reef in Kona, Hawaii was monitored over 51 months. Pronounced between-year variability in recruit abundance was evident for some species. Many exhibited strikingly low levels of recruitment. Overall recruitment was highly seasonal with a major peak in June and July, and a generally smaller, secondary peak in February and March. Recruitment was minimal during early winter (October–December) and a review of other studies similarly indicates minimal recruitment in Hawaii during this period. Spawning in Hawaiian fishes generally begins during the winter months of relatively low temperatures, increases during late winter and early summer and declines rapidly as maximum summer water temperatures are reached (September–October). Seasonal changes in food availability, ocean currents or salinity seem unlikely to be responsible for observed patterns of recruitment and spawning. Rather, the patterns appear to be most closely tied to changes in water temperature or photoperiod. Loss of propagules to offshore-moving eddies or other unfavorable currents may be responsible for the low levels of juvenile recruitment found in this and other Hawaiian studies. In Kona, at least 6 species of fishes recruited in pulses during quarter or new moon phases. Four other species have been reported elsewhere in Hawaii to recruit during either new or full moon phases. Lunar spawning periodicity was present in fewer than half of the species so far examined, and no single adaptive function for lunar periodicity was applicable to all species.
Bifurcation of Arabidopsis NLR Immune Signaling via Ca2+-Dependent Protein Kinases

Nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat (NLR) protein complexes sense infections and trigger robust immune responses in plants and humans. Activation of plant NLR resistance (R) proteins by pathogen effectors launches convergent immune responses, including programmed cell death (PCD), reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and transcriptional reprogramming with elusive mechanisms. Functional genomic and biochemical genetic screens identified six closely related Arabidopsis Ca2+-dependent protein kinases (CPKs) in mediating bifurcate immune responses activated by NLR proteins, RPS2 and RPM1. The dynamics of differential CPK1/2 activation by pathogen effectors controls the onset of cell death. Sustained CPK4/5/6/11 activation directly phosphorylates a specific subgroup of WRKY transcription factors, WRKY8/28/48, to synergistically regulate transcriptional reprogramming crucial for NLR-dependent restriction of pathogen growth, whereas CPK1/2/4/11 phosphorylate plasma membrane-resident NADPH oxidases for ROS production. Our studies delineate bifurcation of complex signaling mechanisms downstream of NLR immune sensors mediated by the myriad action of CPKs with distinct substrate specificity and subcellular dynamics.
Updated results from the SAMPLE experiment

The SAMPLE collaboration has recently completed its measurements of the parity violating elastic electron scattering asymmetry from hydrogen and the quasielastic asymmetry from deuterium [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Neutral weak form factors of the nucleon, both vector and axial, can be extracted from these data and used to determine the strange quark contribution to electromagnetic form factors. The results of the original measurements at a Q 2 of 0.1 (GeV/c)2 [2, 3] have recently been reanalyzed [4], incorporating improvements in simulation and new background data, and combined with a new measurement of the quasielastic deuteron asymmetry at a Q 2 of 0.038 (GeV/c)2 [5]. Final results from this new analysis and data set will be presented.
Coupling of late transcription to viral replication in bacteriophage T4 development.

Abstract The relationship between T4 bacteriophage DNA replication and late messenger synthesis has been investigated in phage-infected Escherichia coli B. Cells have been infected with a temperature-sensitive mutant in DNA polymerase (gene 43), DNA replication stopped at various stages of phage development by shifting to the non-permissive temperature and late transcription analyzed thereafter. Our experiments show that: (1) DNA replication is continuously required in order to sustain normal proportions of late transcription. The proportion of late messenger, determined with the DNA-RNA hybridization competition technique, drops from 40 to 50% (before DNA synthesis arrest) to about 10% (after DNA synthesis arrest). We have no evidence of any differential effect on different late messengers. (2) The absolute rate of late RNA synthesis and the rate of late protein synthesis drastically decrease after the inhibition of DNA replication. (3) All proteins necessary for late transcription can be synthesized in the absence of DNA replication but late transcription can not normally take place without DNA replication. (4) Experiments performed with other DNA synthesis-negative (D0) temperature-sensitive mutants (genes 32, 41, 42, 44, 45) give qualitatively the same results as the ones described above. Our results indicate that an unstable special DNA template, which is competent for late transcription, becomes available during infection and that continuous replication is essential in order to ensure a continuous and full supply of this competent template.
Novel technology to prepare oral formulations for preclinical safety studies

A novel method to prepare oral formulations, normally suspended dosage form, for preclinical safety studies in animals has been developed using a rotation/revolution mixer. Small hard balls made of zirconia were added to the mixing process to evaluate effectiveness in making a high quality suspension. The driving with balls loaded in the cylindrical container (vessel) of the mixer was quite efficient in dispersing and milling the particles of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in an aqueous medium. The API powder and a small amount of oral aqueous medium (vehicle) were successfully mixed by the spinning motion of the balls in the vessel as though the paste-like suspension was kneaded with a mortar and pestle. It was found that the milled suspension with the mean size of 10-20microm could be prepared, in addition finer milling of less than 10microm could be achieved by selecting the material of vessel. Optimum driving conditions including mixing time, size and quantity of balls, and the standard operational procedure was established using compounds varying in physicochemical properties. The particle size and quantitative analysis by HPLC showed that the resultant suspension was well-milled and highly homogeneous with the nearly intended concentration of API. The proposed method established by this experiment could be applied to the actual safety studies in the real preparation scale of oral suspension.
Health risks, past usage, and intention to use weight loss products in normal weight women with high and low body dysphoria

Objective: There are many health risks involved with the use of weight loss products by normal weight women. The mass media may compound this problem through the promotion of weight loss products and a thin body size. This study tested women’s perceptions of different weight loss product ads to determine if body dysphoria (i.e., an over concern with body size and shape in normal weight people) was associated with risk beliefs, past behaviors, and intention toward using weight loss products. Method: Normal weight women (age range = 18–41 yr), who were classified as either high (n=45) or low (n=43) on a measure of body dysphoria, rated different weight loss products according to their perception of health risks, past behavior, and their intention to consume the products. These products were a dietary fat substitute (olestra), a prescription obesity medication (sibutramine), and an over-the-counter appetite suppressant (phenylpropanolamine). Results: High body dysphoric women reported higher intentions to use the products as well as increased prior use of two of the three weight loss products. High body dysphoric women did not believe that these weight loss products were harmless. They recognized potential health risks associated with using such products, but nonetheless, expressed intention to use these weight loss products at a higher frequency. Also, several variables related to body image were found to effectively discriminate normal weight women at risk for abusing weight loss products. Discussion: This study found that women who do not need to lose weight but have significant body image concerns were willing to use potentially harmful weight loss products despite the knowledge that such products might pose significant health risks. Techniques utilized by advertising regulatory agencies such as warning labels did not have a strong deterrent effect for stated intentions to use the products. Implications of these findings for public health policy issues were discussed.
Lower order positivity and holomorphic operators

Abstract Questions concerning holomorphic extensions of operator-valued functions in domains D (or complex manifolds) of C n are studied. Conditions for such an extension are formulated in terms the of positive-definiteness of order 3 of certain hermitian kernels on D × D. The results of this study constitute a generalization and an extension of previous results of Hindmarsh and FitzGerald and Horn, and recent results of Burbea.
Botulinum toxin therapy for laryngeal dystonia and other hyperfunctional laryngeal disorders

Botulinum toxin decreases hyperactivity with the blockade of the release of acetyl choline. We first injected a case of laryngeal dystonia in April 1984, and since this time have over 1400 patients. These include the treatment of adductor and abductor spasmodic dysphonia, adductor respiratory dystonia, and Singer's dystonia. The use of botulinum toxin for focal laryngeal dystonia (spasmodic dysphonia) has become the “gold standard” for the management of this disorder. The toxin has also been used for many other hyperfunctional laryngeal disorders including essential voice tremor, muscle tension dysphonia, puberophonia, arytenoids rebalancing, hyperfunctional contact granulomas and nodules, tracheoesophageal speech failures, and cricopharyngeal achalasia. A review of technique, dosing, and results will be presented.
Noise Studies in Implanted Piezoresistors

Noise in piezoresistors can be divided into two types: Johnson or white noise and 1/f noise. Johnson noise is uniform across all frequencies and depends on the resistance and temperature. 1/f noise is a conductance fluctuation that has been shown to be related to piezoresistor fabrication parameters such as anneal temperature and surface effects. This study presents a collection of controlled piezoresistor fabrication runs with associated noise data and design rules and operation conditions for noise reduction in piezoresistors.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Therapeutic cecostomy tubes in infants with imperforate anus and caudal agenesis

Background/Purpose: Caudal agenesis is indicative of a poor prognosis for achieving normal bowel function in children with high imperforate anus (HIA). Complications with impaction, soiling, megarectosigmoid, and adverse responses to rectal enemas are inevitable and associated with long-term psychosocial dysfunction. In an attempt to avoid these outcomes, the authors began a prospective evaluation in these high-risk patients of skin level cecostomy tubes placed in infancy. Methods: Between October 1997 and March 2001, 8 infants with variants of caudal agenesis underwent presumptive therapeutic placement of a cecostomy tube in conjunction with colostomy closure (n = 7) and anal transposition (n = 1). Mean age at time of cecostomy placement was 16 months. Efficacy of daily irrigations with individually modified electrolyte solutions has been evaluated over the subsequent 1 to 41 months with a mean follow-up of 22 months. Results: Effective daily colonic evacuation was achieved in 7 infants. Transient episodes of incomplete emptying often associated with soiling were resolved with adjustments in solution contents and volume. No patient has required admission for impaction, and only 1 patient has required rectal enemas. There have been no major complications, and minor problems with cramping, granulation tissue, and site discomfort quickly resolved. One patient with anal anastamotic stricture consistently has not responded to antegrade irrigation and continues to require intermittent rectal enemas and anal dilation. Attempts to wean the irrigations occur as the infants grow older and are able to participate in toilet training; however, in this preschool population, tapering of the frequency has been tolerated only transiently. Conclusions: Antegrade enemas via a cecostomy device are highly effective for bowel management in infants with HIA and caudal agenesis. They can be placed with minimal morbidity at the time of initial reconstruction or colostomy closure. Consideration of this procedure in all infants with HIA may be indicated.
On Transmit Beamforming for MIMO Radar

Methods for transmit beamforming in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar based on the design of multiple correlated waveforms have been proposed. This paper points out that this approach couples the spatial (beamformer) and temporal (waveform) parts of the problem, significantly complicating the design. It is shown here that the most general form of transmit beamforming can be achieved in a decoupled form, using orthogonal (uncorrelated) waveforms and a multi-rank transmit beamformer. This formulation allows the use of standard beamformer design procedures. Examples are provided to illustrate the design of multi-rank beamformers for search and tracking applications. The examples include single and multiple beamformers, adaptive beamformers, and wide beams for illumination. These examples are illustrated by simulation results.
Risk in the Making: Narrative, Problematic Integration, and the Social Construction of Risk

Narrative plays a prominent role in interpretations and explanations of social reality, particularly in our efforts to understand uncertainties in time, such as social constructions of risk. This article synthesizes narrative and problematic integration theory as a way to illuminate the construction of risk. We argue that the very existence of risks in our lives is constituted and signified through storied explanations, expectations, and evaluations of potentially significant but uncertain experiences through time. We illustrate these ideas with an analysis of news reporting on several contemporary risks and offer alternative understandings to complete the argument that, as social constructions, risks can be understood and lived in multiple ways.
Probing the Validity of Normative Data

Data validity is as critical an issue for practice as it is for research. This Research Note is a brief account of an effort to subject family functioning data to a validity analysis by using multiple informants. Results indicate that knowledge about variations in degree of validity by subject areas canenhance the quality of data for use in professional practice.
Abdominal fat distribution and metabolic risk factors: effects of race.

Previous studies have shown differences between African-American and Caucasian populations in the prevalence of obesity and obesity-related diseases such as type IIoffabetes. The purpose of this study was (1) to compare the insulin sensitivity index (SI) from the minimal model in 37 African-American and 22 Caucasian women matched for age and obesity, and (2) to determine whether the relationship between intraabdominal fat distribution and SI (and other health risk factors) was similar in both races. To address the second question, intraabdominal fat distribution was assessed by computed tomographic (CT) scans in a subset of 23 African-American and 15 Caucasian women. Despite having a similar body mass index ([BMI] weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) and waist to hip ratio (WHR), African-American women had a mean SI value that was approximately 36% lower than in the Caucasian women (3.45 +/- 0.42 v 5.40 +/- 0.55 x 10(-5) min(-1) / pmol x L, P = .007). Visceral fat area was smaller in African-American women (98.0 +/- 8.5 CM2) than in Caucasian women (117.3 +/- 12.4 CM2) despite similar BMI and WHR. Visceral fat area was strongly correlated with WHR in the Caucasian women (r = .76, P < .001), as previously observed, but not in the African-American women (r = .24, NS). WHR was significantly correlated with fasting insulin and serum cholesterol in the Caucasian women but not in the African-Americans. Visceral fat was correlated with metabolic risk factors in both groups, but subcutaneous abdominal fat was significantly correlated with SI and fasting insulin only in the African-American women. These results suggest that the relationship between body fat distribution and health risk factors may be different in African-Americans and Caucasians. Additionally, reduced insulin sensitivity in African-American women may in part explain the high diabetes rate in this population.
Attributes that come to mind in the TOT state.

This study explored the sorts of attributes that college students were able to report when in the tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) state. Forty-five questions were posed; the answers sought were mostly names of famous people or characters in famous literary works. When students believed an answer they provided was wrong but believed that they would recognize the to-be-recalled item if they saw it, they were asked to provide any information they could about the answer. They then received a four-alternative, forced-choice recognition test. In addition to such structural attributes as word length, letters in the target name, and phonemic features, the students often reported frequency of occurrence of the word and such semantic attributes as country or language associated with the name, descriptive attributes, and context or situational attributes. The TOT states were predictive of superior recognition, but the number and types of attributes reported did not appear to be systematically related to recognition success.
Monocular estimates of distance and direction with stabilized and non-stabilized retinal images.

Abstract Do eye movements help the visual system measure distances? Using both stabilized and non-stabilized retinal images, two subjects tried to match distances and angles defined by bright, coplanar points about 2° apart. Within an experimental uncertainty of ± 2 min arc, or 3 per cent of the distances to be matched, both subjects carried out matches as accurately with a stabilized image as with a non-stabilized image. Further, with a stabilized image, the distance and direction of a retinal point from the fovea were estimated with approximately the same accuracy as the point's distance and direction from another, non-foveal point. These results indicate that accurate spatial estimates may be obtained from extra-foveal areas of the retina, and that eye movements do not improve the accuracy of spatial judgments.
Post-copulatory mate guarding in decorated crickets

Abstract Although post-copulatory mate guarding occurs in a variety of crickets, its adaptive significance remains largely unknown. Mate guarding may function to prevent females from prematurely removing the externally attached sperm ampulla, thereby ensuring maximum insemination. This hypothesis was tested in decorated crickets, Gryllodes supplicans , by comparing ampulla retention times of females guarded by their mates with those of unguarded females. There was no difference in ampulla attachment duration between the two groups, thus falsifying the ‘ampulla-retention assurance’ hypothesis. Two additional hypotheses related to the function of mate guarding were also tested: (1) mate guarding allows a male to remain in close proximity to his mate during the time it takes to produce a new spermatophore and (2) guarding functions to deter rivals from courting the recently mated female. The ‘spermatophore renewal’ hypothesis was rejected because the average inter-copulatory interval of males greatly exceeded the average guarding duration. The ‘courtship reduction’ hypothesis was supported by four lines of evidence: (1) guarded females were less likely to be courted by intruders than were females whose mates had been removed, (2) unguarded females mounted intruders significantly more often than guarded females, (3) the ampullae of unguarded females were more likely to be partially dislodged by the copulatory attempts of intruding males than were those of guarded females, and (4) guarded females were more likely to be maximally inseminated than were unguarded females.
Social and Emotional Learning in the Kindergarten Classroom: Evaluation of the Strong Start Curriculum

There has been increasing interest in the promotion of social and emotional learning in schools, and research has shown positive outcomes. However, relatively few studies have been conducted in kindergarten classrooms or considered the feasibility of kindergarten implementation. This study examined the effects of Strong Start on the social and emotional competence of 67 kindergarten students, using a time-series design. Four kindergarten teachers taught the ten Strong Start lessons in their classrooms. Results indicated gains in students’ prosocial behaviors and decreases in internalizing behaviors, as rated by teachers and parents. Implementation integrity and teachers’ ratings of social validity were high, suggesting the program’s feasibility and potential effectiveness in natural classroom settings. Limitations and implications are discussed.